Yes, mics on the floor (aka floorcatcher array around here) :-)
Mechanical noise is mostly the pedalkeyboard which is quite near to the mics (2,5-3m) and in need of some new felt.
The open diapason 8' sounds quite real (it's big).

Main AB pair here

That's very béchamel and hollandaise of you heva....we're mostly very open-sauce around here, about our mic arrays !

Sounds good!
Can't see any spots in the darkness and wonder if this was just the AB pair.
So curious about more detailes about the recording - and also of your subjective impression of the sE8..!?
::
Mads

Thanx!
Subjectively, I think it's a good microphone by any standard : its sonic signature is not so distinct that it can't be used in a lot of roles (main pair, spot etc.)
For this concert, the SE8 Omni are the main pair and make the bulk of the sound.
SE8 omni : main pair
CM3 : spots for 1st and 2nd violins
SE8 Cardio : spot for alti
SP CS1 : Double bass
SE T2 : Celli

I do two types of work in the classical field : as an employee for the main broadcaster in my country (access to lots of DPA, Schoeps and Neumann mics) or as a freelancer, in which case I use my own microphones (along with a MOTU AVB system) or rent what I need (DPA 4006, Neumann 133A, Sennheiser 8090, Milab DC196).
The thing is that when recording in less than excellent spaces, Schoeps or DPA tend to reveal too much of the character of the room. I've found that CM3 or SE8 are a bit less sensitive and a tiny bit less detailed (up-down and front to back), which is sometimes a good thing.

I've got no beef with the frequency response of the self noise of my own microphones.

Thanks for your detailed answer. Curious about the setup you used for sE8 omni main pair - distance, hight and spread? Also your experience with T2 (to stay in sE territory) have you ever compared them to DC196?
::
Mads

I think the AB pair was 34 cm wide, about 2,8m high and 2m from the soloist, pointed at him/the front row of strings. That way I didn't need a spot for the viola.

About the SE T2, I'd like to have a pair but from what I've used it on, I'd say it might be faster than the milab, and have a bit more harmonics. The milabs are very good microphones, but a bit restrained. The T2 seems to have a bit more reach yet still sounds neutral enough that it could be used on many instruments. Without having done any straight comparisons, I'd say they are different types of utility clean microphones, good for spots in most circumstances.

Thanks (again) for your detailed answer. I think I get your description of the DC196 - even though this is one of my favorite directional microphones, yes they can be a little restrained in some situations.
::
Mads

SE8 omnis used as flanks in this recording, one chair behind the virst violin and the first cello. Soloists have a T2, main pair are Neumann KM133A (exquisite microphones in every way).
4 CM3 used for the winds.

Have used the sE omni a couple of times recently, they seem quiet to me.
This sample is 'nothing': after flipping the last lightswitch at the organ, me walking downstairs, there are lots of pubs around are church.

Mics flat on the floor, 40cm AB, pointed out +/- 20 degrees
Audiofire4 at 30dB gain, 24/88200 digital into DR100mk3

If you use the SE omnis as boundary layer microphones, the signal to noise ratio actually gets 6 dB better.

Please explain.
I can imagine the soundlevel to increase (by 6 dB?), but would think the mics s/n ratio can’t change. Don’t know.

The signal appears 6dB higher but the mic noise stays the same.

sE8 omnis in 'floorcatcher array' - no enhancements.
Mind the neighbours

What's your floor-catcher array? =)

heva created it...an inverted Superlux S502 ORTF mic in 'boundary contact mode with the floor'...see pic in post no. 283 below.

Superlux s502

Also described :example of Floorcatcher array©®TM.


and post no. 338 and beyond here: Superlux s502

I guess you could also call it "FLOORTF" ....

Thank you! Really appreciate the thinks.

What’s the spacing between SE8s? And they were flush with the floor?

Spacing about 30cm, mics pointing outward +- 30 degrees(?), flush with the gravestone, using the backpack as a sort of (demi) “tête charlin” :-)
The panoramic picture exagerates distance, the organ was closer than it seems here

Having used the sE8omnis in varying position (tall stand, boundary, etc), it seems to me they’re fine for pipeorgan; soft high boost, deep bass, nice allround sound, low noise. Keepers.