Hi peeps, what techniques do you use? I have one of the half moon shapes but it always sounds quite clunky to me. Are there livelier versions?

Bibs

Tricks to tambourine recording:
 
Recording environment: I make do with my bedroom which is not dead-quiet but doesn't sound fantastic either.
 
Pre-FX: Level adjustment: I find I need to use a fairly hot input level to pick up the subtlties of the instrument.
This in turn means standing back from the microphone, and least 2 or 3 feet.
 
Multi-tracking: I usually record in mono and take the two best takes and pan them left and right.
 
Post-FX: Compression: I need to add fairly aggressive compression to even out the sound. Tambourines always seem to have a very strong on-the-beat peak and then subtle off-beat jingles, at least that's my experience.
 
Post-FX: Reverb: I always add reverb, the amount depends on the needs of the track  but there's always some required to compensate for my room acoustics. Even if the recording space were entirely dead, then you'd definitely need some reverb to liven up the track.
 
(I forgot to add: My instrument is the full circle, wood kind. I don't have any experience with others. My playing technique is so awkward and clumsy that I use gardening gloves to protect my hands from blisters. Perhaps I should try a different instrument.)

I like the brass jingles.

Back away from the microphone and don't face it directly. It's not cheating to use two tambourines at once, even hitting them against one another.

I was serious about the brass jingles.
 
I bought a few tambourines last year and got serious about using them for pop styles.
 
I like using a stereo mic setup and standing back from the mic so you get some "space".
 
The biggest thing to keep in mind... the tambourine is a serious percussion instrument. You have to play it with skill and a dedicated musical sensibility to make it seem worthwhile.
 
I started practicing tambourine a bunch while listening to favorite pop songs and it really helped.
 
YouTube has some great technique videos too, which gave me inspiration to play with a focus on the quality of the sound coming off the instrument.
 
 
best regards,
mike
 
 
 
edit grammar

I record tambo. It seems to be aggressive in the mic, so I back down on the pre-amp, and try to hit peaks around -12. Then mix it as appropriate.
 
In my latest, I doubled the snare hits in the song with a recorded tambourine, it's not "out there?" In fact, it's really intended to just enhance the snare, but I know sometimes you can shake it too (and I do) 
 
It's difficult to line it up sometimes, and a little off is ok? You should listen back to it and hear where you need to split and nudge it, and where you need to re-record. 
 
The latest with a live tambo (me playing and recording it)
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Old-Skool-Remix-1-9813-m2880906.aspx
 
I think it came out pretty nice :-) Then compress it appropriately so it doesn't spike too much, and maybe push the transients a little. Good luck. (Oh and I panned mine with the snare. In this song, it's subtle? More of an effect almost, but the tambourine is a critical component in lots of rock music.)
 
P.S., when I record a tambo part like this? I typically put the mic up here (holds hand up and away) and hold the tambo down here (holds hand down and away) and typically hold it with one hand and hit it with the palm of the other. This works best for me to be "on the beat." The shaking it part is trickier... And I typically need to comp it in to get the rhythm right. 

Wow, this is way more info than i thought i would ever get, thanks so much to everyone for posting :)
 
My current technique is to use a condenser and play it from a few feet away, but i have a pair of stereo mics so will give that a go, sounds interesting.
 
Didn't even give a thought to the materials/technique affecting the sound (which is silly, i know), definitely easy to overlook the importance of what could easily be perceived as the insignificant instruments section. I guess its paying attention to the smallest details that give the most professional results.
 
I intend to use more live percussion in songs so again thanks for everyones input, really helps.
 
BIBs

Live percussion is so awesome to use. You can really get into the grove once you learn how to embellish with simple instruments.

I did a latin song a while back using claves, castanets, and a guiro live. It was so much fun.

Make sure you stay an arms length from the mic as you don't want to overload or clip the signal.

Have fun.

Rimshot

I play 90degrees to the mic. If you play directly into/aimed at the mic, the 'on' hits are really loud and high and shrill. The off are comparatively low. If you want that extreme dynamic it's ok, but generally I find it too percussive and sharp. Compression only goes so far.

Distance also helps to naturally compress the peaks a lot.

Keep in mind it's very important to listen with respect to the music. Alone, it can sound completely wrong and out of place, but once in the song it fits PERFECTLY.

Commenting on an old thread I know, but, because Bitflipper does point out that the tambourine loops and one shots are really slick in the going out of business sale, thought I'd tie to the two topics together.
 
Link to the thread on the sale:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Nine-Volt-Audio-going-out-of-business-m2931983.aspx