please comment on my brass recording

[bigcitysound]

This is a sample from a brass quintet I recorded recently at a concert. I used an ORTF pair of Schoeps MK4 and a pair of MK2S AB omnis both on the same bar on a 12ft stand about 12ft to 14ft out. These 2 pairs have been mixed here and I'd love to hear comments from all you seasoned remote engineers. The ORTF pair is higher in the mix but the omnis really helped to add some low end for the tuba and to smooth out the image I think.

JC

[rumleymusic]

For a live concert, in a dead room, I think that is as good as you can get. I didn't hear any distortion or harshness from the players, something you can really only achieve with good mics like Schoeps, DPA, or Royer ribbons, etc. Brass quintet recordings in my book are always more effective in a reverberant space with a longer tail like a cathetral or at least a good concert hall.

Of course, there is always artificial reverb.

[ohmoka]

It is nice but very dry for my taste. I believe is an issue of the room rather than height and distance of the mics.
Was the stereo arrangement exactly in the middle of the ensemble? Are both channels at the same level? the stereo image seems a little bit unbalanced... (but im not 100% sure just had a quick listen )

[bigcitysound]

Yes, the hall was pretty dead sounding unfortunately (Symphony Space in NYC)
I will check again but the image sounded centred to me and the L + R channels were definitely at equal gain. Although the Schoeps MK4 caps are not a matched pair.

JC