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Where to put my unit?

Humabass

Humabass

Gold Supporting Member
Mar 16, 2002
1,520
396
Northern Virginia
#1
I'm thinking of getting a minidisc recorder to capture live gigs that I'm playing. Anybody else do this when you don't have someone else in the club to help? Trying to figure out where to put the unit where I can get to it, on top of my amp probably, and where to put the mic or mics where they/it won't be in the way, get stepped on, and make a balanced ambient recording without one instrument way too loud drowning out one or more other instruments. Thanks for any advice from those of you who have experience with this.
 
#2
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#3
Obvious punch-lines aside:

What you are describing is somewhat an 'oxy-moron'

You want the device close to you on stage and the mics out of the way, yet you also want the 'best location for recording'.
IMHO
Where you put the recorder is of no significance as long as the mics are placed well. The best place for the mics is gonna be out in the room, the basic rule of thumb would be to move around the room during a sopundcheck and put the mics in the spot where the mix sounds the best (aka the sweet spot). Just a guess, it would be in the center about 1/4-3/8 of the way back( yeah, right where you need someone to protect them).
Any further and room reflections get to be a larger concern. (They're always a concern, just moreso as you get further away from the source). You could use a stereo mic, or a pair of mics in a stereo config. I like either cardiods in an XY or my fav is a pair of small omni condensors with a jecklin disc.
 
#5
Actually I'm not interested in "the best location for recording" as much as the best location given my restrictions. I'm only interested in archiving the performance so it doesn't have to be perfect just useable. I was thinking something right along the line of the monitors. I think that would be the only feasible place for the mic/mics.
 
#6
Humabass said:
Actually I'm not interested in "the best location for recording" as much as the best location given my restrictions. I'm only interested in archiving the performance so it doesn't have to be perfect just useable. I was thinking something right along the line of the monitors. I think that would be the only feasible place for the mic/mics.
Click to expand...

hmm can you go line out of the PA mixer?
 
#7
A line out of the PA is a great idea IF:
a) everything is mic'd
b) you have an extra AUX send available
c) you take the time to at least get a reasonable mix from the AUX line prior to the event.

You could roam the stage and locate the spot where the band sounds best and put the mic there. Same principle as before. Try it and give it a listen.

fwiw, I like 'live' recording where stereo mics capture the actual room tone/mix better then board mixes. Even though board mixes can be cleaner overall.

(edited numerous times because I can't type on Monday mornings - - eeeck)
 
#9
Line out won't work because not everything is mic'd. I think I'll just put it center stage along the monitor line and see what happens. I'm concerned that the drums will drown everything out and the vocals will be lost. I'll experiment.
 
#10
Humabass, will you be using one mic or two? If you're using one is it a stereo mic?

If you plan to use two mics for stereo, I'd recomend checking out the 'microphone university' section at The DPA Microphones website. They have a great section on stereo mic techniques. It explains the technique, the thought process behind it and even has a graphic that shows how the mics should be set up.

Let us know how it works out. Good luck!
 
#11
I just got a Sony pro MZ-100. Great unit, great mic included, first class all the way. I tried to record a small jazz trio this weekend from the bandstand. First set, too much drums, second set too much piano, third set too much bass. Wherever I moved it, it was unbalanced.

This is kind of like "where can I get a Fodera for less than $1000?" I just don't see it happening, from my experience.
 
#17
Humabass, there's no silver bullet here, you've just gotta experiment to work it out. In rehersals I try to position my Rode NT4 so that the heads are pointing towards the sax and the vocals. Everything else has enough room energy to force it's way into the mix.

Same goes for onstage. Some stuff is naturally going to be less prominent on stage, and if you want it in the mix you've got no choice but to tailor the mic position so that it catches enough of that instrument and hope that the rest makes it through!

Aux mixes off the desk are IME a terrible way to go. Even if you take the time to make a special Aux mix. They're very unforgiving and the EQ settings that sound good in the room invariably sound terrible on disc.

I've often left the whole shebang sitting with the mixer. Provided you trust your engineer to A: make you sound good and B: remember to press record, you can't go too wrong. The best sound in the house is usually where the engineer chooses to set up - right in the apex of the speakers. However, if the desk is crammed in a corner like it so often is, you might wanna think twice about that approach.


alotabass said:
Ive used minidics for years but switched to a hard drive recorder. I usually record all my rehearsals then e-mail clips to the band. Its a god send.
Click to expand...
I use a minidisc, and I also record all my rehearsals and email them to the band. Aside from the slightly slower transfer speed and the 1Gb limit I see no difference between a HD and a MD recorder... except that a top of the range MD recorder only cost me US$150 leaving more left over to buy a decent mic!
 

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