Dynamics as Main Pair

[WVUtubadude]

I have been called up to do a CCTV broadcast of a school's indoor drumline competition. This is a very loud source of sound in a very bad room (a gymnasium). Would a pair of handheld dynamics get useable audio? I'm doing this gig as a favor and I don't want to bring the more expensive mics unless I absolutely must.

[mixedupsteve]

For drums they might be OK. SM or Beta 57s maybe.
Didn't we just do this??

[WVUtubadude]

Originally Posted by mixedupsteve

For drums they might be OK. SM or Beta 57s maybe.
Didn't we just do this??

Kind of....but not really.


Thanks

[audibell]

I understand why you're trying to do it this way. The trouble with 57's and 58's is they're manufactured to have a mid-range bump which makes them sucky for far-field use. There are a couple of mods available to flatten their response a bit, but they'll still be kind of like ribbons gain-wise, they need plenty of clean gain, and they'll hiss a bit.

I'd ask to see if the staff could place some curtains/material/tarpaulin against one of the hard walls. I'd put the hand-held dynamics on short stands in the line, about 10 feet up and five feet back, pointed down. There's probably a double-door entry somewhere, where I'd put either a Zoom H4 pointed into the room, or an expendable LDC, to pick up some of that thunderous sound you get which seems to concentrate around entrance ways, just before you enter the room. Blended together, I have had +ve results. You'll probably have to station a parent near the door mic to keep local noise down. Get them to yellow tape the doorway "off limits" to chatterboxes, there's usually more than one fire exit. If it's manned continuously, even better.

There might be a sticky somewhere about schools gym recording tips - I'll bet more music is recorded in gymnasiums and churches each week than in theatres and stages.
Good luck,
WalterT

[chris319]

Provided you don't use omnis I suspect you'll be fine. It is what it is: a drum corps in an untreated gym, and I suspect your client isn't going to be that critical. Unless you can get them to acoustically treat the gym you'll be playing the hand you're dealt.

[Corran]

I recorded a school concert in a gym last year, which was my first time doing something in a gym. I actually got quite good results with a NOS cardioid pair and a pair of omni outriggers (all Schoeps). Of course it wasn't super-loud drum stuff but my point is the acoustics weren't as bad as I expected.

Personally, I would probably put a NOS pair close to the front lines, pretty high up (maybe start at 12ft and adjust to taste) and call it a day. As mentioned, it's a gym, it's not going to sound super-clean and I'm sure they know it. Just make sure the mics are not wimps in the SPL department and pull out your pads if you need.

I would never bother with dynamics, for all the reasons already mentioned but mostly because they are designed for close-range pickup (unless I'm missing something).

[Larry Mal]

Once people fill the bleachers then you'll have a lot of deadening from that. And the high ceilings will be a benefit. If there is any padding that can be put on the floor, like for wresting events, then ask if you can use that. I don't see any reason why a drum corps couldn't play on athletic mats, which are themselves somewhat reflective but worlds better than a varnished floor.

So, I'd think about that rather than the dynamic microphones. And if this person wanted a really great recording, then they should have made some effort to place it in a room designed for that. Since they didn't, they probably know what they're going to get, and even if they don't there's only so much you can do about it.

So yeah, a couple of condensers that can handle high SPL levels would be what I would reach for, and a couple more for the ambience.

Good luck!

[chris319]

I predict he'll have more ambience than he knows what to do with, and SPL, too. There is not a great deal of sonic subtlety in a drum corps

And yes, dynamics do work at a distance.

[mixedupsteve]

What will the distance actually be??

[WVUtubadude]

This isn't for a recording, so quality isn't an issue. It is for a building-wide TV broadcast of the competition. Mostly to give people a reason to stay in the concessions area and spend money.

[Enginearing]

Also see if you can get budget's PTB to come to the party with some pipe and drape...

This wil help with A: giving the room a classier/ show look thanlets just use the gymnasium
B: help reduce the reverberations thus cleaning up the sound for those listening... - directly and via your microphones.

[7rojo7]

57s are hypercardioid, 58s would be better, for tv the midrange bump won't matter