First live bluegrass location recording gig - questions about mics

[badhorsie777]

I'm going to do my first live bluegrass gig coming up, and I haven't miked and recorded a 5 person group before, so I'm shamelessly hunting for validation and tips if I'm way off

There is:
1 Singer
2 Mandolins
1 Ac. Guitar
1 El. Bass Upright

I have a MOTU ultralite mk3 and 2 BLA Auteur stereo preamps (total of 6 mic preamps)

My plan is (with my limited, but quality gear, imho)

1. Lead Vox (AT4050 -> Auteur)
2. BGV 1 (Shure SM58 -> MOTU pre)
3. BGV 2 (EV 967 -> MOTU pre)* nervous about a supercardioid for 2 bgv singers...
4. Acoustic Guitar (Shure KSM32 -> Auteur)
5. Mando 1 (Rode NT5 -> Auteur)
6. Mando 2 (Rode NT5 -> Auteur)
7. Bass DI - Bass pre (DemeterVTB-201)


Other mic's available (not mine):

Dad's - studio 7/s7 s71, s72 (quite cheap)
ribbon - CAD trion7000

Jim's - AKG Perception 220


Any tips based on experience? They want to play live, as tracking individually has never worked for them. I suggested throwing up a few nice mics in a nice room and having them move in and out, which is how they usually perform live, but they want a more modern bluegrass sound. Based on my research, that means individual miking as much as possible.

Any suggestions on the mics above? Mic placement tips for the sound they're going for (modern bluegrass, ala Union Station)? Any set up ideas? My idea is to have an almost-circle, with the bass and ac. guitar standing near one bgv mic and the two mandolins standing near another bgv mic. Lead vocalist would be facing them, maybe off a bit to one side...


I'd love to hear your ideas, and thanks in advance. This is a big learning-experience gig. I've produced and recorded a few albums, with good results, but live tracking a bluegrass group hasn't been done yet

-Matt

[boojum]

I am looking at a similar situation in the near future. Initially I am running a Blumlein ribbon, an AB pair and a spaced array of cards. From that I will pick the best sounding pair. The next go round will be with the winning array and a card (Schoeps CMC64) on Dobro, DPA 4061 on mando, guitar, and fiddle with a close omni on the upright bass (DPA 4006TL).

I will be in the sanctuary of a large church with high ceilings. The acoustics are good there for vocals. There will be rehearsal/record sessions and then a performance for a live set, too.

The mix will then be the nosebleed. It should be fun. I have not done BG before other than on-the-fly bar room gigs.

Hopefully soon.


Cheers

[Harvey Gerst]

Why not go hear the group first and see how well they balance acoustically? You might want to use a far simpler setup to record them.

[mixedupsteve]

I would use the KSM 32 on the 2 BGVs and try one of those inexpensive condensers on the guitar. You could even try the EV on the guitar.
If you end up with the EV not used you could try it on BGV1 and put the SM58 in a towell and in the tailpiece of the bass.
Try stuff out many different ways if you have the time.

[badhorsie777]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

Why not go hear the group first and see how well they balance acoustically? You might want to use a far simpler setup to record them.

I have actually heard them - when they go live, they do two mics and that's it. One of em's the old "elvis" silver mic, even From talking with them, they are much more interested in the "modern" sound. I've found several articles by the guys who nail this style (Union Station being this group's biggest "i wanna sound like them" name they keep dropping) - individual miking seems to be the way to get that sound. Performing and recording all at once is also a requirement, as (apparently) they've tried tracking piecemeal and one or two of em can't follow a click, and it always loses their vibe.

r.... my gut says to record them with a few well-placed mics and treat it like I know they do live, but I'm keenly aware of the difference that brings to the sound (and I don't want them to think it's too "old" if they're so hip on sounding modern bluegrass, ya know?)

-Matt