choir and band CD sessions

[maestro]

How would you track a Male Voice Choir accompanied by Drums, Timpani, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, 4 Violins, 'Cello, Upright Piano, Flute, Brass (Trumpet, Trombone and Alto Sax) 2 solo vocalists (1 male, 1 female) in a nice sounding room that measures 40 x 24 feet. The ceiling height looks to be about 17 feet.

[bishopthomas]

It depends... What gear do you have to work with? There is no audience, right, more of a typical tracking session where multiple takes are available? I would start with the instruments, rhythm section first, then keep going, giving headphones to the players. Do the solos last, choir gets a pair of mics out front and maybe some section mics to blend if needed later. The headphone situation may be tough for the choir if you don't have the right equipment and I've gone with several wedge mixes at low volumes before. Let us know some more information and I'm sure you'll get lots of advice.

[maestro]

Originally Posted by bishopthomas

It depends... What gear do you have to work with? There is no audience, right, more of a typical tracking session where multiple takes are available? I would start with the instruments, rhythm section first, then keep going, giving headphones to the players. Do the solos last, choir gets a pair of mics out front and maybe some section mics to blend if needed later. The headphone situation may be tough for the choir if you don't have the right equipment and I've gone with several wedge mixes at low volumes before. Let us know some more information and I'm sure you'll get lots of advice.

No Audience. I would prefer to track everything together if possible. I don't like choir singing to backing tracks (Perhaps choir with Drums, Bass, Piano and overdub the rest?).

I use Digi 002/PTLE (16 simultaneous channels?) with Cranesong Spider as converter/pre. Also have Millennia HV3 and Manley VoxBox.

Mics are DPA 4006 x2, Neumann KM140 x2, AEA R88 stereo mic, Rode NT5 x2, AKG414 x1, AKG Solidtube x1, Shure SM81 x 1, Beta 58 x2, SM57 and hopefully a Bock 251 soon.