Warning to the rich

[Mats H]

Heya!

I've had a couple of nice concert weekends with my choirs lately and thought I'd share some with you. Here's a live recording of Jennefelt's Warning to the rich with one of the choirs.

http://www.livingsound.se/warning.mp3

Geeky recording details: Microtech Gefell M296 in AB -> KORG MR-1000 @ 5.6 MHz DSD. Editing in 32 bit 96 KHz in Sonar, highpass EQ'd and slight compression with bundled linear phase plugins. HVAC Noise reduced in Izotope RX (Algorithm C). Resampled to 44.1 KHz and dithered to 16 bits in Sound Forge 10 with Izotope plugins.

[NorseHorse]

First time I've heard this piece. Neat!

I'm on someone else's computer at the moment. I'm hearing clipping/limiting starting about 2:45 on the shout-singing, but I can't tell if it's the computer. iTunes maybe?

UPDATE: Looks like they had "sound enhancer" on... tutt

[Mats H]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

First time I've heard this piece. Neat!

I'm on someone else's computer at the moment. I'm hearing clipping/limiting starting about 2:45 on the shout-singing, but I can't tell if it's the computer. iTunes maybe?

Thanks!

Strange, I don't get these artifacts. The MP3 file peaks at -2,5 dBFS at 04:50 and the RMS level of the FF is about -13 dBFS. Maybe ITunes is boosting the file by 6 dB, that would explain the peaking.

[LX3]

You definitely have to watch out for iTunes - make sure the EQ is off, and also any "sound enhancer" things.

I tend to use Quicktime Player instead, where practical.

[Don S]

Originally Posted by LX3

You definitely have to watch out for iTunes - make sure the EQ is off, and also any "sound enhancer" things.

Unless you're Rye Cooder!
Ry Cooder uses iTunes to master his album

[JonesH]

Very nice, Mats! Tack ska du ha.

Nice soundstage, good perspective. Very very good overall.

[Ozpeter]

"Warning to the Rich" - don't get a job in audio.

Downloading the sample tonight... thanks!

[Mats H]

Originally Posted by Ozpeter

"Warning to the Rich" - don't get a job in audio.

You said it... EXPENSIVE hobby/occupation.

[mathieujm]

Nice sound and music

JMM

[JonesH]

Pray tell us, where is this recorded? It does sound very lush and well-balanced.

[Audiop]

Very nice Mats! thumbsup


/Peter

[AlexK]

Sounds sweet. Fantastic soundstage, very lively mids!

Great piece too...

[Mats H]

Hey guys, thanks for the nice feedback!

I'm a part of S:t Jacob's youth choir. This is from our concert the 17th of October in Immanuelskyrkan, Stockholm. It was fun singing there, but not much time for setup. I chose a safe card, an A-B setup with the M296 from Microtech Gefell, lent to me by a good friend of mine. I wish I had better preamps for this session. But then again, all the equipment fit inside a small bag except the tall K&M 12 feet choir stand mic stand.

Side note: I politely asked for the staff to turn off the HVAC but it was on all the time, hence the noise reduction. Heavy traffic outside as well.

[JEGG]

This is music making of the highest order. This choir has technique!

Engaging recording, too.

Please continue to post samples of your and your choir's work. In this case I don't think the recording is suffering from a less than adequate preamp.

I am a little curious about the fullness in lower tenor and upper baritone octave. Was this a room resonance? It does not sound unpleasant at all.

[Mats H]

Originally Posted by JEGG

This is music making of the highest order. This choir has technique!

Engaging recording, too.

Please continue to post samples of your and your choir's work. In this case I don't think the recording is suffering from a less than adequate preamp.

I am a little curious about the fullness in lower tenor and upper baritone octave. Was this a room resonance? It does not sound unpleasant at all.

Hi, thanks! I'll relay your comments to the choir.

I believe the fullness in the bottom is a combination of the large diaphragm omni mics - being more directional in the highs than the lows, leading to a bigger bottom in that particular room, which was quite live - and the MR-1000, which I find adds a certain something to the low mids and high bass. I don't know if it's the preamp that does it or the converter section, I haven't used the recorder much with an external preamp so lack a point of reference. It does sound good with cardioids.

I did add 2,5 dB with linear phase EQ at around the low C# (about 69 Hz) to help the basses...

[JonesH]

So, with very little post production, I present another swedish choir doing the same piece by Jennefeldt. This was recorded in the Luleå cathedral (where Basso does his organ recordings) today at our concert. Very limited in placement options since the conductor wanted to be far back from the choir; two 4006-TL with 50mm APE and two 90° angled, figure-of-eight Thuresson CM402 at the same 100cm stereo bar. Recorded on an edirol R-44 this time. The CM402's are a desperate try for ambience mics in this instance and they did contribute something to the mix, I think.

Let me know what you think. As far as speedy rigs and no soundchecks go...

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/544277/04%20...the%20Rich.mp3

[Mark A. Jay]

Originally Posted by Mats H

Heya!

I've had a couple of nice concert weekends with my choirs lately and thought I'd share some with you. Here's a live recording of Jennefelt's Warning to the rich with one of the choirs.

http://www.livingsound.se/warning.mp3


Mats Helgesson
LIVING SOUND

I LOVE the vocal technique and arrangement in this - how the various bits 'slide' along; great dynamic range and harmony as well.

Brilliant job on the recording too.

I would love to record an ensemble as well-disciplined as this one is using one of my Nuemann binaural mannequin microphones.

Maybe some day...

[musicfromtheroad]

Both are great recordings, and both have a very different character that probably comes mostly from the acoustics of the the venue - I found the first very 'direct' (dryer) in a way that brought an immediate energy - but I also enjoyed the smoother more diffuse (wetter) 2nd recording, man that's a long decay.

Not that it matters, but I would choose the more immediate sound of the first version for it's and shorter reverb suits such an 'in your face' performance and lyrics.

Thanks to you both, it's very revealing to hear the same piece done with two different techniques.