So i get asked to record a big band ...

[Wolfgang]

Hi! I only have a few details as of now, but i was asked today to do a 18 piece jazz big band recording, one - 2 minute piece for advertising.

I have a decent sized live room, but im assuming this is not a viable option due to the size of the band, reflections, etc.

What i'd like to do ... is not have to tear apart my studio and transfer it to a theater.

I have a newer powerbook (1.25 ghz, 512 RAM, FW Drive), i can get a MOTU Traveler (20 in's), i have maybe 4 RE20's, 3 421's, Royer SF-12, Shure VP88, 2 U87's and 2 SM81's (what i would consider viable mics for this application). And 16 channels of outboard pre's. I no longer have an analog desktop, i record into the box via Nuendo(G5 Dual 2.0 - 4gig RAM), Mackie Control and multiple soundcards (2408, HD192).

Any and all suggestions would be great! Mic configs? Do i just find a theatre with a decent board and not obsess over the pre's? Will my powerbook be able to handle this (i also have Logic which is more effcient than Nuendo).

Thanks!!

[Jules]

What is your location?

Town?
country?

[Wolfgang]

Iowa - USA

[Wolfgang]

guess i can post link to our site so you can see through pics if the studio is an option or not

www.metrostudios.net

goto - Audio and select various things from the sidebar ... the thumbnails will expand to larger pics.

[Wolfgang]

Tough crowd today ...

[Remoteness]

Hi Wolfie,

Don't let the size of the live room stop you from doing your job. I've recorded big bands in large rooms, medium sized rooms and tiny club sized rooms or areas of a room. Throw the math book away and just do your job. Mic positioning is most of it. We just recorded a 18 piece jazz big band with 5 vocalists in Montclair, NJ this past Monday and Tuesday and I don't believe the band stand was much larger than 20' X 30'. That's Drums, Bass, Piano & synth, Electric Guitar, 4 Bones, 4 Pets, 2 Alto Saxes, 2 Tenor Saxes, a Bari Sax and a percussionist (set up in front of the PA because there was no room on the band stand) that played 4 congas, bongos, 2 timbales, a Djembe, a box and some toys. When I soloed the horn section and you could not hear enough band, percussion or vocal leakage for it to make a difference. When I soloed the band the horns, vocals and percussion where not audible. The percussion had the most leakage for the obvious reasons.

...Use good mics and pres, then position them correctly. Make sure the band monitors are not blowing into the mics or other sections of the band. Use logical thinking when positioning all (mics & speakers) transducers. Everything else is secondary.

Cool...

Now, go talk laptops.

All the best -- keep us posted.

[sonare]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Make sure the band monitors are not blowing into the mics or other sections of the band.

Surely these are not neccesary in a session?

Rich

[Remoteness]

Yeah, I forgot -- Most folks use headphones in studio sessions.

Live in concert or in a studio enviroment... I've done it both ways.

Hey, I got an idea -- screw the headphones and monitors, do it with IEMs!

[Wolfgang]

Thanks Steve !!!

My initial fear was they (the band) would not be comfortable with me rearranging their traditional positioning, due to the dimensions of the room.

So, ok .. i'll make it work - your righht, i'm over analyzing.

I have a rough idea how i'd like to mic. But as of yet, i dont know much about the arrangement, meaning solos, etc.

You see my mic choices + a few other random dynamic mics. Any broad stroke suggestions as a starting point? Is it wrong of me to break up the traditional spacing of the ensemble for the sake of a better recording?

Thanks for your time, much appreciated!!!

[Jim vanBergen]

Its not wrong, per se- Not if you can make a significant difference, but I would be loathe to change up a section from playing together, or you will have a bunch of cats complaining they can't hear each other or themselves. When they are comfy, they will play well. So pull them to your studio, set them up in their sections so they can jam and get comfy, and mic them up well.

Hope this helps-
Jim vB