Recording a chorus

[Progger]

My high school chorus is touring in London and Paris next year, we're going to sing in a lot of interesting places, but the highlight is going to be Notre Dame cathedral. I offered to record the performance there to release an album. Since I can't bring my PC along to Europe, I'm going to do it using a matched pair of Rode NT5 mics and a Fostex VF80. I have a couple of questions:

1. How should the mics be placed? At the lines between soprano/alto and tenor/bass? Also, with such grand acoustics, how far away should the mics be? What angles should the mics be at?

2. Should this be done in stereo or mono?

3. Anyone have any tips on traveling by airplane with recording gear? Like how to convince security that the mic case doesn't have a compartment for a gun?

Thanks a lot, I'll probably come across more questions later.

[bennychico11]

Man, recording in a choir in a cathedral in Europe is what I would love to do. how big of a choir are you talking about? Over 40 people? I know high school choirs can get pretty big. I'd also recommend you getting some more mics. Especially if you want to utilize the acoustics in those halls. I mean, the great cathedrals of europe is where stereo techniques were first used. So definitely record in stereo. If I had to do it I'd either use an XY pattern up near the choir with the NT5s or get a bipolar mic and another cardiod one and try the MS technique. I think in a place like that it would sound awesome. Then to capture some more reverb place one or two mics out away from the choir. Not sure how far...you'd have to see how much reverb a large cathedral like that naturally creates. You don't want to be too far away otherwise the sound gets rather muddled by all the reflections. I sang in a choir on a trip to Italy one Spring a few years ago. Best time I've ever had.
Also realize you'll need to bring some mic stands. Those can be annoying to travel with I imagine. You'll also have to keep in mind that when the choir is singing, chances are they won't be on risers. When we sang, we pretty much just walked into a cathedral and sang for anyone that was there. So I'm sure a lot of the lower voices were masked by the heads of the altos and sopranos in front of us. Good luck with it all...it'll be quite an experience for you I'm sure. Let us know how it turns out and post some samples of it if you get a chance too.

[Progger]

Hey, thanks for the reply. I'm limited to only 2 mics if I don't want to bring a mixer, and that may get a little unwieldy. As for mic placement, I forgot to mention that usually, whenever my chorus is on a flat floor without risers or steps, we spread way out to form a large semicircle 2 people deep. And we're 40-50 people, maybe up to 60 with the incoming freshmen (and this is a school of only 400 people). So it gets a little big. There probably are steps somewhere in Notre Dame, so hopefully I can get the chorus to condense a little bit.

[AGCurry]

Your best bet with a pair of SDCs is an X-Y configuration, I think. Get one of those two-mics-on-one-stand adaptor thingies and you're ready to go.

For my choir, I'm partial to a Blumlein setup, which is X-Y using figure-of-eight-pattern mics.

Bennychico is right about distance: It is critical. Too close and individual voices will pop out; too far and you'll get too much room in the recording.

Have fun, and good luck!

[StevenLindsey]

I'd rent or borrow a nice 2 channel preamp or two for the job. You don't want to use those onboard pres for a gig like that...once in a lifetime.

[bennychico11]

Yeah, I understand the limitations. It'll be hard enough traveling across to Europe with that little of stuff anyway. I'd say you'd be best off just using the NT5s in an XY pattern. Make it as wide as you can as well because it sounds like the choir will be spread out pretty wide. Just make sure you don't make it so wide that you create a null in the center of the mics and you lose those voices. Also, I'd say put the mics above the choirs' heads and aimed down at them. Good luck.

[Progger]

Thanks much!

[Progger]

Just thought of another question: Am I going to need power adapters for both countries? And will differences in power affect the use of phantom power?

[bennychico11]

Look in your manual or on the back of the power supply. It will tell you if it can transform 230V or thereabouts. I looked on the Fostex website and it looks like it will be able to, you'll just need a little adapter to plug it into the wall...you can find that at any travel store or online. You just have to find the right one for the countries you are going to. As far as phantom power, you should still be fine since the Fostex will regulate how much power will be sent to your condensers and if the power supply is stepping down the 230V then the Fostex won't have to do any extra work. Best thing to do is probably take your power supply into a hardware store and ask one of the electrical "experts" there. If anyone else here thinks I'm telling him the wrong stuff, please correct me. I don't want to be the cause of his equipment being ruined. Also keep in mind, in an old european cathedral I highly doubt you will find wall sockets in conveinent places. Good luck.

[bennychico11]

PS. you might be able to call up Fostex and ask them for a European power supply. I know they sell internationally so they might have the right plug type for you. Then you won't have to buy an adapter just to plug it into the wall.

[bobusn]

If you can check with the person in charge of the Cathedral before you travel, it may save heartache later. Better to grease the skids now than be surprised by those in charge not allowing you to record when you arrive.

This individual may be able to give you some hints on mic placement, too. You're likely not the first person to record here. Also, you may be able to learn how far to the nearest power & how far away from the performance you may have to stow your gear.

Maybe you can find some other recordings made in Notre Dame & ask how the engineers set up? Try asking here:

http://www.musicplayer.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

The list goes on...

Have fun, stay healthy, and sing well!

Best regards,

Bob Keiser