Phil Woods Project

[boojum]

First, I want to compliment you guys on being informative and also so civil. How refreshing!

Now, let me ask a question: I am just starting out and am working with an SD 722 and a pair of Schoeps cards (CMC 64's). Does anyone ever record live/remotes with just an ORTF setup or DIN or similar??? Eargle does four track with a pair of cards and a pair of flanking omnis, but with just a two track for now and two mics I am not able to.

I have been advised by a soul who seems to know that I must first learn how two mics work before I try to learn four or more.

So, 1) anyone for ORTF? and, 2) am I on the right track? And it is jazz and blues. I am hoping to get a chance to tape chamber and choral, too. Actually, I will tape anything. A slow kid whistling on a corner might get taped. ;o)

Cheers

[bongo]

We mixed everything in 8 1/2 hours on Saturday. 55 minutes on the first CD and 50 minutes on the second CD. To save time, we didn't record the mixes until Sunday, which took another two hours. I attached a part of a mix to give you an idea of what it's like. Here's the story of the project.

Now that's over with I need to concentrate on the live sound. The string section has said OK to the lavs. The theater has Sennheiser's, but I don't know which model. I want to give the guys doing the DVD the best possible sound, but I have to run FOH. Ribbons or no ribbons. LDC's or not?
Thanks!

[mal]

Glad to hear the recording went well...
I record a lot of live jazz at various venues and festivals in Australia...some possible suggestions for you:
I usually talk with the live sound engineer well in advance to talk about
what will work for both requirements..sometimes if it is a really large venue you can get away with some more sensitive mics..170s/89's/shure ksm series etc...but you need to be careful with monitors...ribbons can be asking for trouble unless you are really careful due to the figure 8...if you have a screaming trumpet it may be ok..but I personally wouldn't use them on much else...We had Wayne Shorter's engineer here a few years back with ribbons on kik and o'heads...feedback city...

At the Wangaratta Jazz fest each year (our biggest) this is usually what we work with which works well for PA and recording:
kik-m88
snr-sm81
hats-sm 81
oh's- 2 x 414 TL11
bass-km 84 or scheops plus di (and a small 1 metre high plexi screen to lessen cymbal spill)
piano-2 x 414 ulb....maybe also a dynamic for pa monitors only
guitar-m88/409
horns & brass-a combination of mostly U89s (not overly bright & tight patterns)..the odd 87, old 414, 170, Shure KSM mics, RE 20 esp for tbones or tpets in large ensembles...and
extras like percussion get 57s or 88s for close things like congas etc, and sm 81s or km 84s for ohead...

Hope this helps...

[mal]

forgot to add..definitely go with the clip on string mics..esp if with a view to post production...I did a project of sop sax/bass/drums & string quartet live that came out as a cd a few years back..on occasions the intonation of the players was not so fab,,to be able to dip a player out as required was invaluable...not something you could do if mic'd ohead...you can add reverb as required to match the ambience of the stage...

[mal]

Just had a listen to the MP3 of the session...great job..

[bongo]

Thanks Mal,
The rehearsal is today. I think I'll stay away from the ribbons except I'll use my SF-12 on the overheads and maybe a 121 on the trumpet. I'll take backups for those. The stage volume should be fairly low and the use of monitors is minimal, which should help. Of course, that's the plan. Who knows what will happen later today. I am dealing with srting players!

Here's another mix. Phil can sure play a ballad!

[Remoteness]

Very strong!

Kudos to you and yours.

Originally Posted by bongo

We mixed everything in 8 1/2 hours on Saturday. 55 minutes on the first CD and 50 minutes on the second CD. To save time, we didn't record the mixes until Sunday, which took another two hours. I attached a part of a mix to give you an idea of what it's like. Here's the story of the project.

Now that's over with I need to concentrate on the live sound. The string section has said OK to the lavs. The theater has Sennheiser's, but I don't know which model. I want to give the guys doing the DVD the best possible sound, but I have to run FOH. Ribbons or no ribbons. LDC's or not?
Thanks!

[fifthcircle]

If your string section has OK'd Lav mics- by far the best choice out there is the DPA 4061. They are probably the only mic that I've clipped on a string instrument, left the EQ off and been fine with the sound... They really do sound fantastic.

Sennheiser MKE2 lavs are ok, but a bit brighter. I'm not a fan of Countryman Isomax (which is another standard for string micing).

--Ben

[Remoteness]

Ben,

I'm with you on this one! 4061s sound very good on strings.