Recording Male Voice Choir - Setup help please

[Lo-Fi]

Hi fellow slutz

I've searched the forum long and hard and found some useful advice but nothing specific.

I'm recording a male voice choir (about 20 people + piano) in an OK acoustic space and have to cobble together some sort of setup from my haphazard mic selection:

AKG c414-EB
Sennheiser MKH40
Rode NT4
2x Little Blondies
CAD M177
Calrec CB2050c
2x Apex 205
as well a selection of other oddities and the usual dynamics SM7, SM57 etc etc

I'm currently torn between using the C414 and MKH40 as a middle and side pair due to the quality of the mics or the Rode NT4 as the stereo mic and spotting with the C414/MKH40. Also thinking of using the Little Blondies as outriggers.

Any advice welcome

Thanks in advance

[JonesH]

Originally Posted by Lo-Fi

Hi fellow slutz
I'm recording a male voice choir (about 20 people + piano) in an OK acoustic space and have to cobble together some sort of setup from my haphazard mic selection.
AKG c414-EB
Sennheiser MKH40
Rode NT4
2x Little Blondies
CAD M177
Calrec CB2050c
2x Apex 205
as well a selection of other oddities and the usual dynamics SM7, SM57 etc etc

What sort of music is it? Are they good, well-balanced etc?
If it's more of a classical repertoire I'd probably go for the 414 in omni, 50 cm and angled outwards a bit. Or cardioid and go ORTF-ish. Spot mic the piano with a pair, maybe the NT4 (?) or the MKH40 if mono is better. Use the Apexs as close mics to the choir so you can bring in some definition as needed.
Blondies are omni right? Room or outriggers maybe.

This is what I'd probably try first, but I have no idea about the choir or the room what so ever =

[Lo-Fi]

What sort of music is it? Are they good, well-balanced etc?
If it's more of a classical repertoire I'd probably go for the 414 in omni, 50 cm and angled outwards a bit. Or cardioid and go ORTF-ish. Spot mic the piano with a pair, maybe the NT4 (?) or the MKH40 if mono is better. Use the Apexs as close mics to the choir so you can bring in some definition as needed.
Blondies are omni right? Room or outriggers maybe.

This is what I'd probably try first, but I have no idea about the choir or the room what so ever =

Hi thanks for the reply. The music is traditional Celtic music (folk not classical) and the room is mainly wood, very rough guess 12m by 8m.

[JonesH]

Originally Posted by Lo-Fi

Hi thanks for the reply. The music is traditional Celtic music (folk not classical) and the room is mainly wood, very rough guess 12m by 8m.

If the room's good, I'd go with 414 in omni. Experiment with placement of the different voices in the choir and try to get the director to listen to some takes to determine balancing if you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself.

[John Willett]

With that choice of mics and what you say, I would go with your first thought - MKH 40 & C414 in an MS set-up.


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