Italian Opera recorded with DPA4060 / Paintpot / Nagra LB

[Gaston69]

I recorded an Italian Opera with DPA4060 / Paintpot / Nagra LB using the internal converters of the Nagra LB @ 24 Bit / 44.1 kHz.

Comments please.

[huub]

It's a little silent

[mljung]

Originally Posted by Gaston69

I recorded an Italian Opera with DPA4060 / Paintpot / Nagra LB using the internal converters of the Nagra LB @ 24 Bit / 44.1 kHz.

Comments please.

couldn't find it

[Gaston69]

Originally Posted by mljung

couldn't find it

Sorry for that my sample exceeded the upload limit, give me a few minutes and I will select a smaller sample (within 6MB)

[mosrite]

Gaston,

Am I right in assuming that you have decided that the Nagra LB's own internal preamps are not good enough for this kind of work?

If so, do you think that buying one has been overkill for what is now essentially a convertor, recording and monitoring device?

Just curious as I am considering one but am still not convinced by the preamp quality and would find it hard to justify the cost of the unit otherwise,

[mosrite]

Regards the recording:

Through cans (+mp3 of course) it sounds nice and clean and open. A touch of tizziness in the higher hz perhaps and a touch close in terms of balance for me (particurly apparent with the vocals).

[mljung]

I believe it's fine, but operatic voices [unless it's one a few magical ones] simply stands in the way for musical experiences with my ears, so I can't make anything near an objective criticism.
[that said I do agree about the tizziness mosrite mentions]



Mads

[Gaston69]

Originally Posted by mosrite

Gaston,

Am I right in assuming that you have decided that the Nagra LB's own internal preamps are not good enough for this kind of work?

If so, do you think that buying one has been overkill for what is now essentially a convertor, recording and monitoring device?

Just curious as I am considering one but am still not convinced by the preamp quality and would find it hard to justify the cost of the unit otherwise,

Pre-amps are fine of the Nagra LB, please do not worry about this to much however the Paintpot sounds even more "transparent" gives a little bit more depth.

[Gaston69]

Originally Posted by mljung

I believe it's fine, but operatic voices [unless it's one a few magical ones] simply stands in the way for musical experiences with my ears, so I can't make anything near an objective criticism.
[that said I do agree about the tizziness mosrite mentions]



Mads

I am Dutch and not familiar with the word "Tizziness" can you please explain?

[jnorman]

hi gaston - can you please provide a photo, or description of how you mounted the 4060s for the recording?

tizziness is perhaps an overemphasis of high freqs, resulting in a bit of harshness or graininess in the top end. have you tried removing the front grid on the 4060s? from what i have read, it makes them a bit flatter in response...

[dtf]

Hi Gaston,

That's a really good balance for an opera recording with 2 mics.

As for quality of sound, I am afraid that the effects of the coding are already quite strong - it would be very interesting to hear a shorter example encoded in a higher resolution.

Dirk

[willi1203]

really wonderful sounding !

Bravo Monsieur G. !

[rumleymusic]

If this is a 2 mic recording of opera, that is seriously impressive!. A touch much in the highs I agree. What was the position of the mics in regards to the orchestra/stage? The orchestra was in a pit I presume?

Edit: Those crookwood preamps are fantastic, gotta get me one!

[JonesH]

This is very nice, especially considered that only two mics are used. Would you please descibe how the ensemble was laid out and how you placed your microphones?

Impressive bass on those little tickers. Did you do any EQ work on them afterwards?

Again, very good!

[boojum]

Verrry nice. Puccini is soo romantic. Just great. How about posting a FLAC at level 8 <highest compression>?

[NorseHorse]

Originally Posted by rumleymusic

If this is a 2 mic recording of opera, that is seriously impressive!

I concur.

I've never heard an opera live (or a musical) that sounded as balanced as this. Was this a session recording?

[Gaston69]

Originally Posted by boojum

Verrry nice. Puccini is soo romantic. Just great. How about posting a FLAC at level 8 <highest compression>?

What is FLAC?

[Gaston69]

Originally Posted by JonesH

This is very nice, especially considered that only two mics are used. Would you please descibe how the ensemble was laid out and how you placed your microphones?

Impressive bass on those little tickers. Did you do any EQ work on them afterwards?

Again, very good!

No EQ used, what you hear is what you get, straight out of the box.

[Gaston69]

Originally Posted by rumleymusic

If this is a 2 mic recording of opera, that is seriously impressive!. A touch much in the highs I agree. What was the position of the mics in regards to the orchestra/stage? The orchestra was in a pit I presume?

Edit: Those crookwood preamps are fantastic, gotta get me one!

All musicians where on the stage with a singer on each site of the conductor, mic approx 3m. hight and about 1 m. behind conductor.

[NorseHorse]

Niiiiice. thumbsup

[boojum]

Originally Posted by Gaston69

What is FLAC?

Gaston, Free Lossless Audio Codec.

go here: FLAC - Free Lossless Audio Codec

You can use foobar : foobar2000 as a front end. It is kind of a Swiss Army knife of player/ripper/burner/labeler suites with a tiny footprint and small load on the CPU.

FLAC is lossless, that's the beauty.

Cheers

[boojum]

Originally Posted by Gaston69

All musicians where on the stage with a singer on each site of the conductor, mic approx 3m. hight and about 1 m. behind conductor.

Gaston, a pretty standard textbook setup. There is a reason it is recommended so often. Did you have the grids on and not take out the bump in post??

[mathieujm]

So Gaston this was not an opera configuration but an oratorio configuration and it explains this great balance with only a pair of mics.

Bravo
JMM

[mljung]

Originally Posted by Gaston69

I am Dutch and not familiar with the word "Tizziness" can you please explain?

Sibilant sounds - a little dirty edge on S and T [on the male singer].
But since I know the mic I think it's the singer or/and acoustics, more than the microphone.
Was it the usual ONNO setup?

Best,
Mads

[videoteque]

The balance is really great!!!

[rumleymusic]

So Gaston this was not an opera configuration but an oratorio configuration and it explains this great balance with only a pair of mics.

Bummer...I was getting overly excited there.

[Gaston69]

Originally Posted by mljung

Sibilant sounds - a little dirty edge on S and T [on the male singer].
But since I know the mic I think it's the singer or/and acoustics, more than the microphone.
Was it the usual ONNO setup?

Best,
Mads

Grids taken off and in ONNO setup.

[leary]

it really sounds very balanced, the music is wonderful!

i noticed some artifacts like small clicks or glitches (1:42-1:43). is it a mp3-thing?