Choir help

[AAsa]

Hello

In a couple months I'll be recording a 40 voice choir along with some
horns, string quartet, flutes, a piano, a drum set, some soloists.

The recording will be of a live performance with audience, so no re-dos.

My concern is with the choir.

This is a volunteer group, not professionals. My experience with this is that they
won't be projecting very well. There will be mush mouth phrasing and missed entrances.

There will also be some strong singers trying to hold the pack together.

My question is how best to approach micing.

I plan on a a pair of Scheops out front, but what about dropping pairs over the sections?

Is that the way to go?

I know if I get too close I'll just get a few voices, too far and the 'blend" may be unintelligible.

We're going to multitrack and mix later.

Love to hear some wisdom from you all.

Thanks
A

[tenor39]

Some distance can be your friend if you have space between the choir and instruments. A stereo pair might be enough on the choir, but if you're multi-tracking why not go with 4 on them, 2 on the instruments and mix it later? BTW, amateur or not, the director should be cracking the whip on missed entrances, poor phrasing, bad diction, etc. No excuse for being unprepared. If not, they get what they get.

[Roland]

I would go with 4 spaced on the choir, distance would slightly depend on the number of singers, but not closer than 6ft (2m) would be my suggestion, further if you have more singers. Even if you don't pick up all the voices, totally equally, you will still have the blend from your front mic's and these are just to reinforce the balance.

Good luck!

Regards


Roland

[phil.]

Originally Posted by Roland

I would go with 4 spaced on the choir, distance would slightly depend on the number of singers, but not closer than 6ft (2m)

+1

If you can set-up four cardioids (or even figure of eights facing down) across the choir, go for it. Still make sure that you pick up a great balance in our mains, so you only need to slightly reinforce where necessary with your choir spots! Playing with the main pairs height can make a great difference!!

Best,

phil.

[dirkjan]

Originally Posted by Roland

I would go with 4 spaced on the choir

+1 also

Done a lot of choir-recordings with 4 spaced mics. If possible use one microphone per voice-type/group (soprano, alto, tenor and bass). I often use our four Audix CX-112's, but other condenser cardioid mics will also do.

Keep the drum kit away from the choir to prevent crosstalk/bleed.

Almost all volunteer choirs have a weak bass section (lowest level).

Keep the singers standing a bit close to each other on stage. This way they support each other more and ... will sing a bit louder.