Recording High School Concert Band

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"more_cowbell" <goodpickn@dopplerexpress.net> wrote:
> I will be recording a 60+ piece concert band next month and would
> welcome any suggestions on best mic use and placement. I have up to 16
> tracks of "retired" ADAT I can bring to the gig, a mackie 1604 VLZ
> mixer and A variety of mics including 2 Shure SM 81s, an akg c-414 an
> akg c-3000 and a variety of dynamic mics including a pair of akg d112s,
> 7 sm 57s and 4 sm 58s. Mixing and editing will be done in my DAW.
>
> The room is a fairly large auditorium, about 80'-100' from backstage to
> the back doors. The room is fairly live. The stage is hardwood
> flooring and about 50 feet wide. A reflective sound shell will be
> placed behind the band.
>
> The director tells me the quietest section is the clarinets. Brass and
> percussion tend to dominate. My initial thought is to place my SM 81s
> in an x-y configuration in front of the band on a tall boom and to use
> another condenser (the 414) in a hypercardioid pattern, also on a boom
> and directly in front of the clarinet section.
>
> I can probably borrow a couple of pzms and place them on stage right
> and left to capture anything that the xy pair doesn't pick up. Does
> this sound like a good idea, or overkill? Any ideas on best mic
> placement with the tools I have are welcome.

My suggestion, my opinion:

Use the SM81s in ORTF on the tall boom placed appropriately in front of the
band and up high (assuming you have a very high ceiling). This is the main
pair. Use the c-414 as a spot mic on the clarinets - remember to time delay
this track accordingly to the main pair and mix in carefully to just add a
little presence, not much more or it will sound out of place. That's it.
Anything more and it won't sound like a concert band should in a large
space. If the room acoustics are terrible, move the main pair closer to the
band and use a little reverb in post.

bobs

Bob Smith
BS Studios
we organize chaos
http://www.bsstudios.com