Tony Gatliff "Vengo", "Latcho Drom" field recordings

[The Listener]

I am again wondering how did they record all those live performances in "Vengo" and "Latcho Drom", that show no microphones but are perfectly synced, so I hardly believe they filmed on playback - just look at the guitar and violin in the first clip and singer hitting the glass in group scenes - I doubt he could so perfectly mimick his original, partly (or mostly) improvised performance... the same for most other scenes which show larger group with no mics and you can always find some perfectly synced reference - in close-ups there could be mics outside the camera angle - but mostly it is one continuous audio take...

Does anyone have any first hand information or at least ideas how it was done? Which mics, where did they hide them? The mics had to be quite far away in some cases or really well hidden (or performed twice - with some spot mics and without for the camera with listening to playback - which I doubt for most of the scenes)... and it sounds great...

YouTube - Vengo Flamenco soufi

YouTube - Latcho Drom - Balada Conducatorolui

YouTube - Latcho Drom, Rajasthani gypsies, Talab Khan Barna, "Kaman Garo Kanhaji"

YouTube - Latcho Drom España Flamenco 1

YouTube - Ya Dorah Shami (Latcho Drom)

[boojum]

Interesting question. I am a fan of Gatlif's work but never thought about the recording side. Anyone know?? I am going to guess it is overheads as in most film shoots.

[videoteque]

Very good question!

The musicians and music is top notch, which always help, but to have it done hiding the mics is a full step harder!!!

Let's hope someone can throw some light!

[mixedupsteve]

The first clip does have a natural live sound to it except for the guitar. That could be a DI or overdub. The second sounds like ADR completely to me. The footsteps in the beginning sound fake and the xylophone isn't in sync at all. I don't think it takes anything away from the film though. I love the film.
I'd bet it's a combination of sounds like most films.

[studer58]

Maybe the answer lies in one of Tony Gatlif's other movies, tucked in between "Latcho Drom" and "Vengo" ? Did you ever get to see "Gadjo Dilo" from 1997...at the end of the movie he sees the futility of gathering field recordings with his Teac/Tascam DAP-1 that he's been toting all over the countryside in search of an elusive, perhaps non-existent, gypsy diva. He takes his collection of DAT tapes and ceremonially stomps/dances over them, smashing them into a million pieces. One of the most horrifying and gratuitous examples of recording gear abuse you're ever likely to see !! Maybe he bought a Zoom H4 after that ....?

[NorseHorse]

I just watched the first video. Sound is definitely from a studio.

[studer58]

Originally Posted by studer58

Maybe the answer lies in one of Tony Gatlif's other movies, tucked in between "Latcho Drom" and "Vengo" ? Did you ever get to see "Gadjo Dilo" from 1997...at the end of the movie he sees the futility of gathering field recordings with his Teac/Tascam DAP-1 that he's been toting all over the countryside in search of an elusive, perhaps non-existent, gypsy diva. He takes his collection of DAT tapes and ceremonially stomps/dances over them, smashing them into a million pieces. One of the most horrifying and gratuitous examples of recording gear abuse you're ever likely to see !! Maybe he bought a Zoom H4 after that ....?

I think he buries the recorder in a hole in the ground also...can't recall it so clearly though, so I might be wrong ?

[boojum]

Originally Posted by studer58

I think he buries the recorder in a hole in the ground also...can't recall it so clearly though, so I might be wrong ?

Yes, as I remember and without digging out the DVD, he does bury the recorder. But, how does he record the groups??

[The Listener]

Originally Posted by studer58

Maybe the answer lies in one of Tony Gatlif's other movies, tucked in between "Latcho Drom" and "Vengo" ? Did you ever get to see "Gadjo Dilo" from 1997...at the end of the movie he sees the futility of gathering field recordings with his Teac/Tascam DAP-1 that he's been toting all over the countryside in search of an elusive, perhaps non-existent, gypsy diva. He takes his collection of DAT tapes and ceremonially stomps/dances over them, smashing them into a million pieces. One of the most horrifying and gratuitous examples of recording gear abuse you're ever likely to see !! Maybe he bought a Zoom H4 after that ....?

Yes, I've seen that film. It was also great.
If he didn't buy Zoom H4, I surely did.

Well, hope someone has some insider information, would be good to know.

Of course - the sound is like in all the movies - some foley, some adr, some field, etc. But those recordings - most of them - especially when you can observe them in high quality are really surprising and do rise some questions how did they record that - I find it hard to believe that guitar in the first clip I posted was overdubbed... or vice versa - mimed on playback...