Microphone technique is largely a matter of personal taste—whatever method sounds right for the particular instrument, musician, and song is right. There is no one ideal microphone to use on any particular instrument. There is also no one ideal way to place a microphone. Place the microphone to get the sound you want. However, the desired sound can often be achieved more quickly and consistently by understanding basic microphone characteristics, sound-radiation properties of musical instruments, and acoustic fundamentals.