Re: Recording mandolin - dealing with breath noise
One other idea that can certainly work... giving you both distance (avoiding close the close mic 'sound') and reducing breath noise is to use a figure-of-8 mic or hypercardiod set optimally. I like the Beyer M160 hypercardiod ribbon for this, though if you are also trying for room ambiance, it may not suit. Very smooth, nice, mic however, great on mandolin.
A lot of classical recordings are done with omni's, in a great space. You might actually find it worth exploring the possibility of take a portable rig into a really good room. Theaters, churches, synagogues... those kind of places. That way, you get some 'good' ambience. Trying to "fix it in the mix" is never a good strategy.
Gibson F5 'Harvey' Fern, Gibson F5 'Derrington' Fern
Distressed Silverangel F 'Esmerelda' aka 'Maxx'
Northfield Big Mon #127
Ellis F5 Special #288
'39 & '45 D-18's, 1950 D-28.
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