Recording a wind band in a theatre when you can't choose the best mic placement.

[rvla]

Hi there,

We are going to record a live concert of our wind band (Wood, Brass and Percusion) next Sunday. We have 4 cardioids (We can borrow two or three omnis too) for a 4 channel recording.
The problem is that. due to restrictions of the theater, we aren't allowed to place a stereo pair on an overhead stand behind the conductor, and there is no possibility of hanging the mics on a wire . We are allowed to place rear mics behind the audience, or flank mics, but the problem is where to place a main stereo pair. I was thinking about a high stand with a XY pair in the middle of the band, with two flank omnis, or maybe hanging a third omni behind the courtain. Any suggestion will be appreciated!
Thanks!

[boojum]

Eargle's classic setup is ORTF in the center with omni flankers. It would work on high stands aimed into the band.

[rvla]

Ok, thanks, we'll try to put a high stand in the center of the stage, between brass and wood, with the main pair in ORTF configuration.

[pkautzsch]

You could try spreading 4 mics left to right. Their stands can be in the band.
Do they allow three stands around the conductor (and does the conductor allow a stand right in front of his desk)? That would be a nice decca-ish setup with omnis on them, and the fourth channel could be a drum spot. You need to LISTEN even more than with typical stereo techniques when doing a three-mic setup, though. Don't even think about controlling stereo width or "center hole" with the center mic level in post.

[rvla]

Originally Posted by pkautzsch

You could try spreading 4 mics left to right. Their stands can be in the band.
Do they allow three stands around the conductor (and does the conductor allow a stand right in front of his desk)? That would be a nice decca-ish setup with omnis on them, and the fourth channel could be a drum spot. You need to LISTEN even more than with typical stereo techniques when doing a three-mic setup, though. Don't even think about controlling stereo width or "center hole" with the center mic level in post.

Having mic stands around him is no problem for our conductor, but I don't know if the people in the theater will allow any mic at all above the stage. Tomorrow we'll see... We'll have to improvise a working mic setup with the restrictions of the theater. Or just leave two omnis at the back, as they want, and make a crappy recording... The "homebrew" Decca tree could work (If they allow us to), but we haven't too much time for mounting and rehearsaling, and maybe we can't place the mics, monitoring, adjust the placement, etc...

I'll post tomorrow how could we finally record the concert...

[Jim vanBergen]

Excellent replies from Boojum and Pkautzsch.
Are you trying to get the real classical hall feel or is close-miked a possibility?
If you want a classical feel, I'd go Decca with outriggers,
if you want conductor's POV I'd go ORTF high stand in front of the maestro.

For jazz ensembles I tend to put LDC's over their stands into their laps, close mic the kit and area mic the brass.

For a four channel recording, it's easy to pan key mics to L, C, R with classical style but a lot harder if you have to add spots or closemiking and want flexibility to remix later.

Good luck, tell us what you decide to do!

[rvla]

Finally no mics at all were allowed on the stage, the only possibility given to us was placing a pair of mics behind the audience, and we refused to record the concert in these conditions. It was a good concert, but there is no recording...

[David.H]

Originally Posted by rvla

Finally no mics at all were allowed on the stage, the only possibility given to us was placing a pair of mics behind the audience, and we refused to record the concert in these conditions. It was a good concert, but there is no recording...

Best thing you did, you had an impossible situation. I frequently recorded a wind band on a regular basis. Currently I hang the main pair in ORTF from a suspended ceiling also all the other mikes that I use, just lower them down on their cables though holes in the ceiling. Usually with a pair of Omni outriggers.