Recording a Rock Set Live...

[Vintageblue02]

Hello all. My band is playing at a famous local club for a CD release show. I'd like to record the set & audience reaction(s). The room holds 100-180 people. Here's what I'm working with, if it's not listed, I don't have it so don't tell me about it or suggest it!

TASCAM 2488 24track recorder (8 inputs to be recorded at once)
AUDIX ADX-51 Condenser Mic x2 (for stereo audience recording)


My guitar player suggested asking the sound guy(s) for direct outs/buses from the different groups on the board ie: guitar 1, guitar 2, drums, bass, keys, and vocals. The two condensers would then be placed on the stage at either end facing the crowd. I've worked at Alpine Valley Music Theatre for a few years now and this is a similiar sort of set up to what the big boys (Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Coldplay) have used.

Any inputs, comments, things to look out for? The only live recordings I've done up to this point have all involved two spaced condensers or one omni mic in the room above or behind the crowd. Looking to step it up!

[philper]

Originally Posted by Vintageblue02

Hello all. My band is playing at a famous local club for a CD release show. I'd like to record the set & audience reaction(s). The room holds 100-180 people. Here's what I'm working with, if it's not listed, I don't have it so don't tell me about it or suggest it!

TASCAM 2488 24track recorder (8 inputs to be recorded at once)
AUDIX ADX-51 Condenser Mic x2 (for stereo audience recording)


My guitar player suggested asking the sound guy(s) for direct outs/buses from the different groups on the board ie: guitar 1, guitar 2, drums, bass, keys, and vocals. The two condensers would then be placed on the stage at either end facing the crowd. I've worked at Alpine Valley Music Theatre for a few years now and this is a similiar sort of set up to what the big boys (Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Coldplay) have used.

Any inputs, comments, things to look out for? The only live recordings I've done up to this point have all involved two spaced condensers or one omni mic in the room above or behind the crowd. Looking to step it up!

I used to work this way when all I had was an 8 chn recorder--taking subgroups from the FOH board, and it worked ok. It demands a fairly high degree of involvement and cooperation from the FOH people, so lots of advance contact and a scout to the venue for a meet and greet is highly recommended. I would also strongly recommend that you get someone to be in charge of the recording for you, so you can concentrate on playing a great set. Whoever is recording you needs to get to the venue when the sound crew gets there, and be avail to trouble shoot the setup throughout the time it is there, as well as watch levels etc to make sure you get the best recording you can....

Philip Perkins

[Vintageblue02]

Originally Posted by philper

I used to work this way when all I had was an 8 chn recorder--taking subgroups from the FOH board, and it worked ok. It demands a fairly high degree of involvement and cooperation from the FOH people, so lots of advance contact and a scout to the venue for a meet and greet is highly recommended. I would also strongly recommend that you get someone to be in charge of the recording for you, so you can concentrate on playing a great set. Whoever is recording you needs to get to the venue when the sound crew gets there, and be avail to trouble shoot the setup throughout the time it is there, as well as watch levels etc to make sure you get the best recording you can....

Philip Perkins

Philip,

Well that all just makes sense. Thanks. I'll be sure to have someone watching the levels during our set. I was going to test levels out on a few bands before us just to get ballpark settings, then have everything fine tuned during our first song/soundcheck.
Hopefully all goes well! I'll post a clip of one of the songs when it's over. Thanks for the input!

[RecordingInNYC]

Your two audience mics might better serve as a main stereo pair located in the audience facing the stage. An X/Y pattern would work and take up the least amount of space. A good place to do this is near the sound booth from the FOH engineer's perspective.

Audience mics would be great to have too... but if I had to choose b/w the two... i'd go main stereo pair.

Anyone disagree?

[RecordingInNYC]

Your two audience mics might better serve as a main stereo pair located in the audience facing the stage. An X/Y pattern would work and take up the least amount of space. A good place to do this is near the sound booth from the FOH engineer's perspective.

Audience mics would be great to have too... but if I had to choose b/w the two... i'd go main stereo pair.

Anyone disagree?

[molownia]

Originally Posted by RecordingInNYC

Your two audience mics might better serve as a main stereo pair located in the audience facing the stage. An X/Y pattern would work and take up the least amount of space. A good place to do this is near the sound booth from the FOH engineer's perspective.

Audience mics would be great to have too... but if I had to choose b/w the two... i'd go main stereo pair.

Anyone disagree?

Audience mics facing the crowd always work for me. I don't think that there's really a need for room sound on a rock recording. As Vintageblue02 stated he needs audience reaction. But that's just my humble opinion.

[obutcher]

If you have the available time/equipment, I'd suggest re-amping the guitars/bass. Record DI's of them and re-amp it later on with good mics and no spill. It works wonders and can make your recording sound huge!

[Vintageblue02]

Originally Posted by RecordingInNYC

Your two audience mics might better serve as a main stereo pair located in the audience facing the stage. An X/Y pattern would work and take up the least amount of space. A good place to do this is near the sound booth from the FOH engineer's perspective.

Audience mics would be great to have too... but if I had to choose b/w the two... i'd go main stereo pair.

Anyone disagree?

Due to cable problems, this is what I ended up going with. Worked out fairly well. Two condensers in front of FOH, facing the stage, and behind the crowd. Great live/room sound! It's huge! Drums were grouped in stereo, vocals, bass, and guitars all went direct.

Originally Posted by molownia

Audience mics facing the crowd always work for me. I don't think that there's really a need for room sound on a rock recording. As Vintageblue02 stated he needs audience reaction. But that's just my humble opinion.

I wanted to have them facing the crowd, but just didn't work out as planned. Still, I have to say the room sound is what makes or breaks live recordings for me anyway.

Originally Posted by obutcher

If you have the available time/equipment, I'd suggest re-amping the guitars/bass. Record DI's of them and re-amp it later on with good mics and no spill. It works wonders and can make your recording sound huge!

Tricky! Some of my favourite live albums/recordings are the ones where the artists haven't manipulated the live recording in post. Otherwise it's just a lower quality studio recording, and who gets excited over that?

Thanks everyone, for all the input! It means a lot to get support/advice from my peers/mentors. Give me about a week or so to get something suitable to post! thumbsup

[badmark]

Originally Posted by Vintageblue02

Some of my favourite live albums/recordings are the ones where the artists haven't manipulated the live recording in post. Otherwise it's just a lower quality studio recording, and who gets excited over that?

+1

Sounds like you had a blast anyway!

[Vintageblue02]

Originally Posted by badmark

+1

Sounds like you had a blast anyway!

thumbsup

The show was great! My band had a pretty good turnout and we caught up with good friends in other bands. Great music, good times, & good recordings...nice night in my book.

[obutcher]

Originally Posted by Vintageblue02

Tricky! Some of my favourite live albums/recordings are the ones where the artists haven't manipulated the live recording in post. Otherwise it's just a lower quality studio recording, and who gets excited over that?

It all comes down to taste really! Good thing is you've still got the live performance recorded, it just makes it easier to mix later on.

Glad to hear you had a great night!

[PaPi61]