Ambience recording done simple

[petsematary]

I sometimes record the ambience in restaurants, cafés etc. when I have a meal. I just bring my portable recorder with me and start taping...sort of stealth mode. Sometimes I just put a stereo microphone on the table facing away from myself but this means I can't speak myself while I'm recording.

How can I record ambience in a simple way with a stereo mic or maybe two small monos and a portable recorder and get the best results? I know there's a million things to consider but if you try and keep it simple - what are the best and most simple improvements I can make? Mic placement, mic type etc.

I'm thinking of using these recordings as ambience backgrounds for radio skits etc.

[jenkel16]

have you tried asking a restaurant that you like the ambience of if you could install your microphone some place and record for as long as your battery would allow, or a day. That would give you the ability to position the mic for the best sound. You could arrange to come in for a meal as usual and pick up the mic and recorder on the way out. After leaving a generous and thankful tip of course.

[Remoteness]

I agree with jenkel16, asking the restaurateur to place a couple of mics, et cetera, etc. is an excellent idea.

If pre-production is an issue with the owner or manager ask them if you can place a tail light weight mic stand on or near the table you’re eating at.

Get those mics high enough and away from you. Place directional mics accordingly – do a few dry runs. See how it sounds to your ear.

Enjoy the meal… Tell us how it turned out.

[petsematary]

I'll try that. I don't think it'll be a problem as long as the it's not a big, global corporation like McD, those are usually more tricky to convince. I guess I'll bring two small mics instead then, and position them rather high up, shouldn't be to hard to make it look good and virtually invisible.

This method I talked about earlier - just putting a mic on the table - is actually really good so if I can make it even better - awesome. I've made tons of recordings in restaurants and such and I always think it sounds better to have ambience recorded TODAY in a sketch made TODAY. Many of the sound effects collection-type backgrounds sound old somehow. Or just bad.