3 challenging recordings this week.. Limited equipment.

[Nukes]

Hey guys,

Im pretty new to live sound, and ive been thrown in at the deep end.. I have 3 recordings this week, monday is an all female choir of between 20-30, tuesday a 30-piece steel band and wednesday an 8 piece flute choir.. the catch is... im limited to 2 inputs and few microphones.

Im using a Macbook Pro and Apogee Duet and have access to the following mics:

1 x AKG C414
2 x Neumann TLM 193
2 x CAD GXL2200
2 x Shure SM58
2 x Shure SM57
2 x AKG C1000
1 x AKG C3000
1 x Rode NT1A
1 x AT4033
1 x Set of SP-TFB-2 (Binural Microphones) w/ Zoom H4 recorder.

Currently i am thinking of using a spaced pair on the female choir (TLM 193's, with an option of using the Binural's as an ambient at the back of the hall), an m-s pair on the flute choir (C414 & TLM 193) and again a spaced pair on the steel band (TLM 193's). Would these suffice?

Nukes

[David Rick]

When you say "two inputs" do you mean "two recorded tracks" or do you truly mean "only two mics"? Just trying to understand if you could run a live mix. Three gigs in three days will certainly pay for a Mackie or something.

David L. Rick
Seventh String Recording

P.S. There used to be a guy who hung out on rec.audio.pro who specialized in recording steel drum bands. Try doing a google search and see if you can contact him for pointers.

[Ken K]

Originally Posted by Nukes

Currently i am thinking of using a spaced pair on the female choir (TLM 193's, with an option of using the Binural's as an ambient at the back of the hall),

Nukes

It's not clear from your post how you would get four mic inputs with your duet but that would probably work well. (I guess you would use the Zoom recorder - I read a review that made 4 tracks sound like a pain)

To make it simple I would probably just use the TLM 193's as a spaced pair for all three recordings. If you have a stereo bar you could try ORTF.

If you stick with a spaced pair or ORTF when the concert is over your done other then assembling the CD. The Duet doesn't do m/s on input so you'll have to do it afterwards. You didn't say what program you use on your laptop. Digital Performer has a plugin that does the m/s matrix but you'd still have to run a mix. Not sure about other programs so you might have to copy the 414 track, flip the phase and mix. It's your time.

[pkautzsch]

193s for all three, and LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN.
Rather use your time to optimize main pair placement than to mess with some room pair which will only pick up audience coughing.

Choir sounds great with just a spaced pair, I guess 2 or 3 ft is a good starting point, and often you'll end up somewhere near the conductor. Flutes might require a smaller spacing so they don't spread all across between the speakers but sound more like an ensemble with a nice-sounding space around.

[Nukes]

Hey, thanks for the responses,

@ David, it's two mic's, i'll check that guy out, thanks for the heads up!

@ Ken, sorry for the confusion. I was thinking of doing a two recorder job, using the Zoom H4 for the binurals, then the Duet for the main mic's. Im using Logic, i understand Smart Electronix do an AU MS Decoder....

Finally, pkautszch, thanks for the info... looks like im going with the 193's!

Cheers guys!