A couple of samples for your assessment, please.

[CGBrian.M]

Hi All,

Here are two samples that I recorded at one of the schools I teach at. One is from December of 2008, the other from December of 2009.
Both takes were recorded in the same hall, which is shaped in a octagon, with completely hard surfaces all around. There is a stage in the hall, but we didn't use it. Instead, in both takes, the performers were on the floor about 10-12 feet from the stage. There is no fixed seats in the hall, but about 250 folding chairs were set up, with about the same number of audience members in each instance.
Basically, I'm looking for feedback on balance, imaging, general sound quality, etc...
I'm not a professional AE, nor will I ever be, and I only record these performances to document our students performances. With that, keep in mind that both the performers and myself are amateurs (Although please don't hold back are any harsh criticism).

Thanks for taking the time to listen!

Brian

Flute Sample.mp3

Sax Quartet Sample.mp3

[mosrite]

Hi Brian,

I would say that both suffer from excessive noise. Partly from the air conditioning I suspect? (especially noticeable in the flute sample).

There is a nasty resonance and nasal quality in the sax quartet sample too.

Both of these criticisms are mostly to do with the recording environment I would suspect.

The balance otherwise is okay (perhaps touch too far from the flute in the first sample and in need of some piano reinforcement as it lacks definition and bite).

Also, I think there is too much breath in the flute sample. Did you try positioning your mics differently?

[CGBrian.M]

Hi Mosrite,

Thanks for responding!
Yeah, there is some environmental noise is the sax example. In both, I hear a lot of "air noise" for a lack of a better way of putting it. They also had some doors open to the side of the hall, but I don't think that played to much of a role in things.
The flute noise, I believe, is from some stage lights that were hanging just above the mics.
I, unfortunately, couldn't move the mics back further from the source(s) because the audience was very close to the performers. The audience members sitting closest to the mics could have literally stood up, extended their arms, and touch the mic stand.

Considering all that, is it common to have this much, or at least some environmental noise during a live recording?

Brian

[CGBrian.M]

Wow! 98 Views and no one has anymore comments.

I guess I already mentioned that I don't do this for a living, so none of you can tell me not to quit the day job.

Brian

[talbe1019]

I listened, but prefer not to comment since I don't have any experience in that type of music.

[mosrite]

Considering all that, is it common to have this much, or at least some environmental noise during a live recording?

For commercial release, no.

[JoeDeF]

Originally Posted by CGBrian.M

Hi All,

Here are two samples that I recorded at one of the schools I teach at.
...I only record these performances to document our students performances.

Hi Brian,

The recordings are just fine for a documentation of student performances. The students will get a chance to hear themselves and learn from it, which is the purpose.

That said, if you wanted to improve the recordings (for your own learning about recording, or for your students), here's what I would suggest:

SAX ENSEMBLE:
Since the piece is in a Renaissance/Baroque polyphonic style (I didn't recognize it; is it a chorale prelude?), consider the typical performance space for which it was written: probably a cathedral. This type of music sounds great in a bigger hall, where the lines smooth out and the individual polyphonic elements "peak out" at important moments from a unified ensemble sound. Since you couldn't move the mics further away (as you said), I would experiment with adding artificial reverb. Go for a medium-long and very smooth hall sound, and only add a little bit; don't drown it! I often find a level I think best, then cut back to 1/2 or 2/3 that amount....

You might also want to experiment with a *very* slight cut to the high frequencies, which would simulate the natural absorption of high frequencies in a larger space; this would also tend to de-emphasize the woodwind breathiness that closer micing exaggerates. I'm talking about a very gradual rolloff, which might be down only one or two db by, say 12-15K. I'm not sure it would help, but you can try it.

FLUTE:
The most objectionable part is the noise. Broadband noise I can live with, and tools for broadband noise removal can be expensive (although iZotope RX is reasonable). Here, however, there is a pitched component, specifically the whooshiness centered at roughly 130Hz (I didn't check with any tools such as a swept EQ, but that's what it sounds like to me). I would experiment with a notch EQ cutting that area a bit; whatever damage it might do to the piano would probably be less bad than the drone under the flute's solo passage. The best scenario would be to only notch during the flute solo, then bypass (or crossfade to a non-EQ'd file) when the piano is present.

PERFORMANCES:
If you happen to be the teacher for the sax ensemble, work with them on emphasizing (crescendo-ing to, dwelling on, adding vibrato to) dissonances, specifically the many suspensions, where they hold a long or tied note that becomes dissonant. Have them play together very slowly, bar by bar, and help them to hear who has the suspension at any moment. It will help the performance, and will help their musicianship to grow. Help them to hear imitation as well where it occurs.

Just some ideas,

Joe

[CGBrian.M]

Joe,

I greatly appreciate your comments and advice! And from a fellow Pittsburgher no less! (I live in Phoenix now, however. )

I'm not the sax teacher, but the classical guitar teacher at the school. The sax piece was indeed a chorale by Bach arranged for sax quartet. I'll experiment with the files in my DAW to try some of the things you mentioned.

Thanks again!

Brian

[Alexey Lukin]

Here's the sample of flute after RX Denoiser. It is more effective than a notch filter in removal of this 128.5 Hz hum, because notch filter also affects music at the overlapping frequency (such as low piano notes).