Post pictures of your portable recording equipment

[pkautzsch]

Originally Posted by SpeakUpStudios

used this rig on a baroque recording session... humble beginnings i suppose

What were the spot mics?

[tfitch]

A minor upgrade from the Remote LE rig

[hv_]

Here's the mainstay remote recording rig which is the secret weapon for my rtpress piano concert video sound tracks on YouTube. A Sound Devices 744T recorder teamed with a pair of DPA 4021 compact cardioid mics in the xy part of the ortf combo holder. Pretty much invisible on stage with the recorder stashed behind a piano leg. Plenty of time for unattended battery-powered recording of the longest concerts while I'm off in the rafters shooting video. The mics and holder, btw, are part of the 3521 stereo kit and are the same heads used in their 4011 handhelds, just shrunk down to 1-inch high. If the piano player also sings, I usually set up a Neumann KS105 and tap the lineout from my Bose PAS sound system to feed channel 3 of the 744T... only 2 mic pres on this 4-channel recorder. I synch by eye and ear later after importing the audio mix into a video editor.

Here's a video sound track recorded using the 744T, a couple KS105 vocal mics and 2 keyboards lined-in: Angel From Montgomery
And a test recording in my living room using the dpa's on the piano with a KS105 on the vocal: Map To The Treasure

Howard

[hv_]

For larger bands I usually use the slightly bigger-sized 8-channel Sound Devices 788T. Unlike its little brother, it has mic pres on all of its inputs. But it does suck down more juice so I try to power it with ac if possible. Pictured here with the same DPAs along with a couple of my older stereo AT825s which I still use for dual-piano shows. Also shown are a couple of black Neumann 105's and a nickle 104 I might use for vocals. And a couple Earthworks qtc40's I like for drum overheads.

Howard

[recordinghopkins]

Originally Posted by tfitch

A minor upgrade from the Remote LE rig

Welcome to Gearslutz!
That's a fine setup you have there, I bet you get great results!

[SpeakUpStudios]

Originally Posted by pkautzsch

What were the spot mics?

On this particular session we used an sm 81 on theorbo, beta52 on violone, at4040 on cello, beta 87's on the harpsichords, akg c1000's on the violin sections, at873r on the violas, and sm 57's on the recorders and oboe - the mic up front is a Crown Mark II PZM. We just bought two at4050's for a new baroque recording we just did of a smaller ensemble

we are still studying in college so we dont have the money for high end equipment so we try to make up for it by extensive mixing.

[GuySonic]

Recorded in a local coffee house often hosting live music. This place has the acoustics of a shower room! Usually almost impossible ambient for recording live acoustic at moderate distances with a single mic.

But turned out OK using a baffled stereo-surround rig consiting of mic + custom mic pre + DAT deck regardless of these worst conditions.

Here are the pictures of the portable rig and view of the place from performers perspective.

And here is one of the raw recordings done at that session:
http://74.208.10.48/mp3/roverss3.mp3

[fifthcircle]

Originally Posted by SpeakUpStudios

we are still studying in college so we dont have the money for high end equipment so we try to make up for it by extensive mixing.

As somebody who has been on both sides of the figurative gear divide, you may want to reconsider this line of thought. We all go through a phase where we want absolute control and mix the heck out of things. Sometimes it turns out well, but more often than not, we make justifications for bad sound by saying "oh, but there is a spot there- it'll be fine." Or you grab a mic that is completely inappropriate for a source because it is the only thing you have (in your case, a beta 52 is about the last thing I'd ever grab for a violone)

A suggestion for your future work in classical music. Start with a "standard" mic technique using the microphones that you own. Perhaps a pair of SM81's or AT4040 or something like that. You can do far worse than those (I spent my first 4 years of recording using nothing but a single pair of SM81 mics going through an original Mackie1202). Get the best sound you can using just those mics. Listen for your image, not just from left to right, but listening for the sense of front to back depth. The instruments in the back shouldn't be as present as those in the front.

Give that a try and learn to improve your microphone technique. Then when you go to higher end gear, you'll be even more impressed with the improvement in your results.

--Ben

[NorseHorse]

Echoing what Ben said, try just using one Crown SASS and few/no spots on the next gig. The SASS mic is a wonderful tool for learning how to place your main pair. Put it in the center line and move it forward or backward till you get a great sound. Hard to get more simple than that! thumbsup

[Vintageblue02]

Picture's not the sharpest, but this is the current rig.

thumbsup

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by tfitch

A minor upgrade from the Remote LE rig

nice rig.

[Anaon]

Here is my first humble mobile rig. I'm currently recording vocals

[NorseHorse]

For a piano recital, followed by a string quartet recital.

My "Revox R16" sits nicely on a verticle 4U rack case.

[pkautzsch]

What's the expensive-looking 8ch device in that vertical rack, btw?

[fifthcircle]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like a Grace 801.

-Ben

[Gdiddy]

My recording/live sound rig consists of:
Allen & Heath GL2400-24
Alesis HD24 w/EC-2 converter upgrade
dbx 166XL compressor

[BradLyons]

An Allen & Heath iLive console with a Tascam X48, (2) Presonus ADL600, Focusrite RED8, Presonus MP20, and (2) Presonus Digimax96's.....locked to picture, great sound!

[Remoteness]

Nice rig...

Hey, Just curious - what did you use as your back-up multi-track recorder?

Originally Posted by BradLyons

An Allen & Heath iLive console with a Tascam X48, (2) Presonus ADL600, Focusrite RED8, Presonus MP20, and (2) Presonus Digimax96's.....locked to picture, great sound!

[Remoteness]

I never heard of the EC-1 upgrade.
Do you mean, an Alesis HD24 w/ the EC-2 converter upgrade?

Originally Posted by Gdiddy

My recording/live sound rig consists of:
Allen & Heath GL2400-24
Alesis HD24 w/EC-1 converter upgrade
dbx 166XL compressor

[Gdiddy]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

I never heard of the EC-1 upgrade.
Do you mean, an Alesis HD24 w/ the EC-2 converter upgrade?

Yes, I meant EC-2.

[scanner]

Originally Posted by Gdiddy

Yes, I meant EC-2.

At the risk of going OT....Does anyone know where to get a good deal on the EC-2 ? $799 looks like the standard price across the board.

[BradLyons]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Nice rig...

Hey, Just curious - what did you use as your back-up multi-track recorder?

I didn't, I trust it enough :-) HOWEVER---what I didn't trust was the video truck who STOPPED ROLL IN THE FIRST SONG, kicking me offline. I was able to edit and such. I should post some clips I recorded from that system, it has some nice punch to it.

[Remoteness]

I trust my gear too, but we never leave home without a back up and sometimes a back up for the back up.

For us, back ups are paramount.

[Fuzzy Logic]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

I trust my gear too, but we never leave home without a back up and sometimes a back up for the back up.

For us, back ups are paramount.

i though backups were for sissies

[hbphotoav]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Logic

i though backups were for sissies

Nope. Professionals.

[wyndrock]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Logic

i though backups were for sissies

His dad must have an excellent set of tools.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by hbphotoav

Nope. Professionals.

Backups are indeed for professionals!

[JohannesW]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Backups are indeed for professionals!

yes, here is very good video of pro backup ( go to 2:30, if you dont have a time to look whole video )

YouTube - Chase Jarvis TECH: Complete Workflow for Photo and Video!

[wyndrock]

Originally Posted by JohannesW

yes, here is very good video of pro backup ( go to 2:30, if you dont have a time to look whole video )

YouTube - Chase Jarvis TECH: Complete Workflow for Photo and Video!

Probably a better work flow than I will ever touch. ..a superbly excellent demo of some radically secure backup. Wowza!

[Remoteness]

Fabulous clip on workflow, backups and such.
Thanks for sharing this awesome link.

Originally Posted by JohannesW

yes, here is very good video of pro backup ( go to 2:30, if you dont have a time to look whole video )

YouTube - Chase Jarvis TECH: Complete Workflow for Photo and Video!