I need advice from the experts

Doug_Marshall wrote on 6/12/2006, 8:20 PM

OK, I'm posting here because I'm doing this project in Vegas, because Vegas users are about the smartest people on the planet, and because I can really use some advice.

I've been asked to record a live concert in surround and I need advice on mic placement and supplementing my equipment to meet the task. I currently have 4 Earthworks QTC-1 mics (omni) and an Echo Mona sound card. What suggestions do you have for additional equipment that I will need? Do you have mic type and placement advice? Here's some background:

The venue is a very high and reverberant cruciform church with a dome (about 5 secs reverb). It seats 1800. The work is William Albright's "Song to David" for double choir (about 30 professional singers total), two narrators, soloists from within the choir, double organ (chancel and gallery) and audience participation. The choir will be front and center with the two groups separated by the organ console (in other words, separated by about 8 feet).

How should I be miking this to get the best surround effect in this situation? What additional mics should I consider, etc.? I'm looking for any insider secrets you folks may have to share. I suspect I should really be using cardioids for the choir, for example.

Thanks for all help!
Doug

Comments

Geoff_Wood wrote on 6/13/2006, 3:58 PM

Consider a different venue ! Or record in stereo and just add some over-the-top reverb preset.

But seriously, arranging the mics in a big rectangle (like corner speakers, but the FR and FL *facing* the front material, of course) is the best way to start. Augment with a centre mic for solo, narration, etc, material , or derive that from FL and FR (I've always considered centre to be invalid, and a cop-out for poor imaging anyway). For the 0.1 DI the bass and/or derive LF info from all other channels if relevant stuff is there.

Good luck. Does sound like a bit of a diarreagh,hill,pin scenario wrt satisfactory results....

geoff (NOT an expert, but I'll give it a try ...)

rraud wrote on 6/13/2006, 5:45 PM

I would be more conserned about the room factor than anything else as you describe. One should initially have a "present" sound to begin with, Then... build the amb./surround channels around it.

- Have mics on stands or H/Hs for intros, narrations, solos, ect.
- Is there a house PA? if so, will the above mics be going to that? Would you be taking a feed off the house board, mic splits, or direct outs from the house.
- Get the mics "as-close-as-possible" to the choir to minimize the room reflections.
- Use additional mic arrays for ambient/room/audience.
These suggestions will give you more control in post.
Happy recording

Doug_Marshall wrote on 6/14/2006, 6:58 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. As to the venue, it certainly is going to be a challenge! Fortunately, the program material suits the acoustic well.

There is a house PA which will be independent of our equipment. I will put mics at the narrator stands. The soloists sing from within the choir, so they'll probably end up on their own!

For surround mics is there a rule of thumb about how far back to place them when recording in a large venue?

Then, a hardware question. My Echo Mona has only four inputs and I'll need more, so will probably replace it. Looking for sonic quality first, whose multi-channel mic pre's/sound cards should I be looking at?

Doug