How do you mic a DJ performance?

[tragichero]

Hey there,

I have been asked to record a festival featuring DJ and remix artists. I've done a lot of concert recording in the past but normally there is a band on stage, with amps, drums, etc. But this is a different beast because the outputs from the remixing/spinning is going straight to the PA, so all of the music is not happening on stage (except out of the monitors), but rather out of the house speakers.

The festival is being filmed and eventually everything will be mixed in stereo and surround for release on a DVD.

Obviously i will be getting direct feeds from what is coming from the board, but i need to capture how everything sounds in the space. Would you guys place mics directly in front of the PA speakers? More in middle of the room? Set up an array?

I will be using my HR24 with True Precision pres, and my mic selection of 414s, a pair of Schoeps, and octavas.

thanks everyone.

[BLP]

Well, you tragic, tragic hero, I'd go with the tried and true: I'd mic the speaker cables. Hopefully you can use some crappy, poorly shielded mics and then hope that the inductance from them pics up in the mics' circuitry. Voila!

But seriously, you could always pull a Doczi and set up a main pair a bit out from the stage (to capture the live vibe/sound) then mix with the direct feeds.

Me, personally, I'd rock a main pair (A/B probably), plus some audience mics (cards facing away from the PA) plus the directs, but you know me, I over-mic everything...

[Remoteness]

You kind of answered your own question within your post.

You must grab a microphone splitter and split all the inputs to that go straight to the PA.

Make sure you place a few audience/room mics to capture the surround elements to your direct feeds from the board.

[gsilbers]

yep like above.

id go for middl eof the room fir the audience. the issue is that if its close to THAT drunk guy or girl that whistles or screams the same thing all the time kinda ruins everything.

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[BLP]

PS Is this part of the 8-bit thing we talked about way back when or is this different? You're getting some interesting gigs these days...

[tragichero]

hey brett! you found me!

yep, this question was in direct reference to the up and coming Blip Festival. A lot of the artists will be playing music straight out of their Gameboys, Nintendos, Famicoms into the PA. Some artists have live drums, guitar, and bass, but for the most part it is very similar to a DJ set. The production company that i'm working with has more gigs down the line that are in this vein, so i decided to pick the brain of the slutz. And wouldn't you know it, one of my favorite members replied!

I'm getting in touch with the live sound guys at the venue this week to coordinate hanging mics from the rafters. Its happening at The Bell House. From the pictures on the site, the speaker placement looks kinda funky so i'll definitely have to get creative.

Thanks for the guidance gents!

[Sevitzky]

Depending on how big the room is, and the distance bet. the PA speakers and your ambi mics, you may want to add some delay to your direct feed to keep things synced up.