Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Recording a large choir to an existing track

pianokeys · 24th May 2009

Hi everyone.

Next week I'm recording a 150 piece choir in a church to an existing gospal track - full band - big sound.

The choir will be set up on two sets of risers - facing eachother. This as I'm told is unavoidable.

My plan is to play the track over powered monitors - 2 facing each direction from the centre aisle while recording from the centre using two stereo pairs - and perhaps a third pair from above or way back for room.
I'll place the monitors out extra wide to keep some distance between them and the mics and of course keep each set of monitors closer to the choir than the mics - so that the mics won't pick up direct monitor sound. For this reason I'm also expecting to use cardiod or perhaps wide cardiod patterns.

I'm hoping that after everyone leaves - if I then record the track through the exact same mics, in exact same positions, exact settings etc - then flip the phase - that most or all of the amplified track that bleeds into the choir sound will be gone.

I know that 150 bodies affect the acoustics of the room but it is unrealistic to expect them to be silent while I record the track for phase flipping I believe.

**Please note that I have never tried this and I am apprehensive to say the least. Does this phase trick really work? Are there things I need to know that I'm not mentioning? Other ideas to consider?

Thanks ever so much!!

24th May 2009	#1
pianokeys Gear addict Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 487 Thread Starter	Recording a large choir to an existing track - advice needed! Hi everyone. Next week I'm recording a 150 piece choir in a church to an existing gospal track - full band - big sound. The choir will be set up on two sets of risers - facing eachother. This as I'm told is unavoidable. My plan is to play the track over powered monitors - 2 facing each direction from the centre aisle while recording from the centre using two stereo pairs - and perhaps a third pair from above or way back for room. I'll place the monitors out extra wide to keep some distance between them and the mics and of course keep each set of monitors closer to the choir than the mics - so that the mics won't pick up direct monitor sound. For this reason I'm also expecting to use cardiod or perhaps wide cardiod patterns. I'm hoping that after everyone leaves - if I then record the track through the exact same mics, in exact same positions, exact settings etc - then flip the phase - that most or all of the amplified track that bleeds into the choir sound will be gone. I know that 150 bodies affect the acoustics of the room but it is unrealistic to expect them to be silent while I record the track for phase flipping I believe. **Please note that I have never tried this and I am apprehensive to say the least. Does this phase trick really work? Are there things I need to know that I'm not mentioning? Other ideas to consider? Thanks ever so much!!