recording live ensembles

[thexflamesxburn]

I am going to start recording live ensembles regularly, mostly high school bands, theater performances, etc. I have searched the forums, learned a lot, but haven't found exactly what I've been looking for. To get things started, here is my current mic list:

(1) Audio Technica AT-4040
(1) AKG D112
(1) Sennheiser MD 421 II
(2) Rode NT5
(2) Audix D2
(3) Shure SM-57
(2) Sennheiser e609
(1) MXL 2001


I was thinking of using the nt-5's as a spaced pair or x-y (suggestions?). they have yielded impressive results as overheads for drums. or maybe i should just use the 4040? or both?

the recording will be done in band rooms as well as auditoriums. i will be doing this regularly so i would like to invest in a better microphone(s) that will serve this purpose better. i dont have a large budget, would like to stay under $400 at this point. i have heard good things about the akg c1000s...

also, i would be bringing a laptop/pc and recording into pro-tools le (digi002r) for the moment. would it be good to invest in a field recorder and small mixer instead?

[notsocoolguy]

Depending on the groups and the nature of the performance, just two mics XY'd out the front could do you real well!

I'm actually recording a show in a couple of days which is a wind orchestra and thats what I plan on doing... But this is in a nice theater, acoustically speaking. I'll be using just your standard rode M3 mics, nothing too fancy, into a zoom z4 portable recorder...

[thexflamesxburn]

i would love to hear the results, wind orchestras are basically what i will be doing over and over again.

[notsocoolguy]

Yeah sure thing! I'll see if I can get a few clips up without violating any copywrite laws etc...

[ace516]

stick with pro tools LE. I'd suggest investing in some nice pre's... maybe API, Focusrite, Grace Design..

check out these stereo techniques too..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ORTF_stereo_technique
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOS_stereo_technique

[thexflamesxburn]

thank you ace, that was extremely helpful. i think ortf will be what i go with, glad to see it produces consistent results.

if i can get steady enough clients, then i will definitely be looking for some better pres (right now all i have are the 4 on the digi002r and the 8-ch presonus digimax lt). hopefully the pres i have now will suffice for the time being.

EDIT: most of those pre-amps are out of my price range. but any thoughts on the focusrite twintrak?

[ace516]

just stick with the preamps on the digi 002. they're not THAT bad
... and yeah, the ORTF technnique is what i mostly use at work