Basically, the audio sounds exactly as I would expect given the sub-optimal microphone placement in that particular room, I can fully understand the singer's disappointment. You had some things working against you; lighting, camera position, room acoustics and microphone position. The microphone was closer to the strings and behind the singer, so the strings sound pretty close and the singer sounds further away, not much can be done about this. The mic needed to be closer to the singer and preferably somewhere in front of her. A directional mic would have helped somewhat to reduce the effects of the reverberant room.

No software (currently) can make the microphone sound closer. That said, I spent about 10 minutes in Izotope RX Advanced, it has an amazing module which can reduce or eliminate reverberation in a recording. I also removed the general background noise in the room (I did nothing with the EQ), however, it still sounds like the mic was too close to the strings and a fair distance away from the singer and behind her. In those situations, mic placement is everything and a well-placed external mic would have made a huge difference. I'm afraid that your recording is what it is and no amount of post-processing is going to be able to "fix" it.

Here is an MP3 audio file of the Izotope RX processed audio:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8437229/Ms%20Natali%20Bogosyan%20%28Izotope%20RX%20processed%29.mp3

The strings sound great but the singer does not sound great because she is projecting her voice away from the microphone location. So all the microphone gets from her is the sound reflecting back from the room. The human voice is directional.

Another microphone placed in a location where her voice is being projected to would make a huge difference. Not too close and not too far away. Also not obtrusive and/or annoying.

Camera placement needed to be such that one can see her face in front instead of behind her.

Some work on the white balance would have helped as well.

Keep at it and keep trying. We make mistakes and learn from them. I made a ton of them over the years.

I wish you the best with future recordings.

www.dannyfye.com

Wow, that is really amazing! Thank you John!
Really I have no idea about sound and probably will have never:))
Being a guy with a considerable hearing loss and who uses hearing apparatus almost since 35 years:))

Thanks a lot VidMus... Really, my urge to learn new things every other day,grows as I get older and older:)) (61 yrs)

Beautiful piece!

John C, great job cleaning up the background noise and over all recording.

As others have already mentioned multiple mics especially one on the lovely vocalist would have greatly enhanced the quality of the recording. Her voice has lots of dynamics that a dedicated vocal track w/ some compression or limiter would have helped.

I've started using multiple portable recorders, Roland R9 and a Tascam DR-40. You could get away w/ one DR-40 because it has 2 built in mic and 2 external XLR channels. I just picked up a 2nd Tascam DR-90 and will use it at my next recording.

As Vidmus mentioned a 2nd camera would greatly enhance the quality of the viewing experience.

Here's an example of multiple microphone recording using the portable recorders and audio from the cameras. Dedicated onboard DR-40 mics are on the bass drum, R9 on the bass and lightly mixed the audio from the cameras on the pianist, drummer and front camera.

I realize there are a ton of video mistakes but I was really trying to capture the music. Some of the handheld footage drifted off the subject because I was listening to the music rather than paying attention to the recording. And yes, that mic stand in the middle of the stage is major eyesore! ((;


(The other Project Monday tunes are recorded w/ this setup if you want a listen.)

Here's a sample recording of the DR-40 onboard mics on the top of the drum kit picking up the cymbals and used an SM57 to on the bass drum. The onboard mics sound a little bright for me but thought I'd share what they sound like. The R9 recorder is recording the front of the band. NOTE: The DR-40 mics are not directional,they pick up everything, alot of audience noise bled into the onboard mic track. After this video I started using the internal mics on bass or bass drums and SM57 or AKG CS1000 for the rest of drum kit.



Again, the video sucks it was a very dark venue.

I also have tinnitus from my Army days crewing helicopters w/ out hearing protection, so do most of the sound editing w/ headphones and final mixing touchups w/ reference monitors.

Since I had some time on this Sunday afternoon, I dropped the video clip into Vegas and did a quick white balance correction and added the processed audio track.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8437229/Ms%20Bogosyan%20%28audio%20and%20video%20processing%29.mp4

However, nothing is going to change the fact that this video was simply shot from the wrong position, from both a picture and audio standpoint.

I just have to ask....

What in the would would possess you to do a venue with a singer, where audio is foremost the number one thing on the clients mind, when you know nothing about audio and have hearing problems? My children are performers and I sympathise with the singer who had a wonderful opportunity to perform in that cathedral with a live string ensemble with little to show for it.

I can see how the client was disappointed. I think Clint Eastwood said it best, "A Man's Got to Know his Limitations".

A real help in these situations is to attend and record the rehearsal. Then you can work out the details of camera and sound. If you have bad hearing, as suggested, hire a sound person. They can hand you the file at the end of the show, edit and voila, great pics and music. j

my only thought was it shot on a boat? a tripod wouldn't have gone amiss...

https://vimeo.com/157102369

Thanks to all for your priceless opinions.
This forum has always been to me like a school.

In this video I'm much closer.
But can't evaluate the audio part due to my hearing loss.
Is it acceptable, or nearly acceptable or needs some dramatic changes:))

I really appreciate your help and efforts.
Thanks a lot.

Well I'm 63 but my hearing is still pretty good despite lots of abuse from heavy metal.

To do a reasonable job of recording such performances I use an XY microphone and a good recorder. That yields an "ambient" recording. That's today considered a bit old school but without vast complexity and cost it's still more than good enough.

Mic I use is a Rhode NT4 and for a recorder I use the Edirol R4.

There's better mics and better recorders but the price does go up for not a huge improvement. As already noted microphone placement is critical. If there's a conductor then traditionally the mic should be over his head, he's the one controlling the mix after all. That's not always practical of course so I use a position a little behind him if available.
In post I rarely touch the recording, what's recorded should sound like it did in that space.

Bob.

Not only were you closer but you were in front of the singer and the strings were further away. This sounds much better, not perfect, but the audio perspective is certainly better. From this vantage point, it sounds like the audio limiter/compressor in the camera was working a bit too hard and there is some audible "pumping".