How Do I Record A Choir?

[yackeydo]

I am very new to all this recording stuff. I want to record a choir and have no idea where to put the mics to get the best sound out of the choir. Ya know over head or right out in the front. I have kids as well as adults. Where should I put the kids? In their own section or should I mix them with the adults. Please help me!!!!

P.S. We have and alto section, melody section, and soprano section

Yackeydo

[Stealthtech]

Never miced a choir but I would think one in front and one overhead would be sufficiant.

[MISTERQCUE]

I've done it a few times and while challenging and difficult, I've learned a few things.

But first, a few questions:

How big is the choir? Where will they be perf'ing? Church,Auditorium, Hall , Room, etc.? What kind of mics are U using?


Basically, the kids/soprano's should be up front followed by alto's,tenors and bari's. Since your average child does not have full vocal control and tend to either sing to loud in order to be heard over the adults, have your dynamic processor ready........

More to follow upon your response to my query!

[yackeydo]

The mics I have are nady condensers. Not sure if there good. also have a couple audio technica and one sure. I don't know the models. It's a 25 piece choir and they will be performing in church and nursing homes and in the local park. Also they want to be recorded. Thats a little tough though. They will be in my living room for that. Please don't laught about that one. I don't know where else to put them. the children are pretty good about not singing over the adults. Its been drilled into their heads. Please help me!!!

Yackeydo

[Jblount]

Hey, how many tracks do you have, and how many members are in the choir? I just recorded a 15 piece choir tonight. We set up two condensor mics and recorded 5 at a time. The tennors first, then altos, and soprannos. I had a headphone amp with 5 outputs, and 5 heaphones, you do the math. I recorded 6 tracks total, panning each left and right of the 3 groups, mixed it together, it sounded wonderful. Just some input, dont know if it will help ya.

[yackeydo]

Jblount,

I have 8 tracks. I do not understand about the panning that your talking about. What does that mean? Who do I pan where?

[Richard Monroe]

Yo Yackey! Welcome to the board. "Panning" is the act of placing any given track onto the left or right speaker or some combination of the two. If all of the track is on the left speaker, it is said to be panned "hard" left. If there's just a little more on the left side than the right, it is panned "soft" left.
At your level in the recording biz, you need to KISS (keep it simple, stupid). First, you need 2 mics that are more or less the same. Small diaphragm condensers are a good choice, but you can use a lot of different mics. First, find out *exactly* what mics you have, make and model. Then tell us what you are using for a recorder, and whether you have a separate preamp.
Then, I will explain basic coincedent mic'ing to you.-Richie