Recording Live

[cmantelope]

Hello All -

I have only been recording for two weeks - here is the set up


Live four piece band (at church) with two vocals (synth, acoustic guitar w/ pickup and wireless pack, electronic drums, and bass) - we are in a very large Gym (sports center)

Vocals are wireless (AKG, I think)

Running into PA/mixer - using the "send" signal straight out the mixer (this is pre signal processing) for each channel, into a ZOOM HD16 multitrac recorder

So far, everything records fine, in that signal levels are strong, no interference

However, vocals sound....very plain - the Zoom has a number of effect modules/algorithums - that I have been experimenting with..and I have a feeling this will be a life long quest...but....

I wonder if the next piece of gear I get, should be a mic preamp, with a compresser...I can color the sound endlessly on the ZOOM, but I'm thinking that the 16 preamps in the ZOOM may not be of the same quality as some of the stand alone preamps I have seen for 700.00 a pop, or so

I guess my real questions is this:

Using wireless mics is not something I can change, it is what it is - so - would a mic preamp "save my bacon" on the vocal sound? or is using wireless mics a compromise that cannot be compensated for...or.....are wireless mics in any way a good thing when recording live?

I am so new at this, that I may just be thinking out loud here....but I do appreciate everyone's insight, and continually read the forum in all my free time

Thanks for any help

CM

 

[Todzilla]

I would also recommend recording a stereo pair of room mics. That may help liven up the sterile sound of direct recording.

The Zoom recorder may not warrant high end preamps.

Personally, I would keep pushing the setup you have, with the aforementioned room mics, before I would start throwing more money at the shortcomings.

Then, the first thing I'd look into would be some gentle compression to the sounds coming in.

 

[cmantelope]

Hi, and thanks,

But what exactly do you mean? Should I get two more mics, and run two more channels?

CM

 

[Todzilla]

Hi, and thanks,

But what exactly do you mean? Should I get two more mics, and run two more channels?

CM

Yes. Most live recordings that are strictly off the board sound sterile and lifeless until you blend in some ambient sound.

 

[leddy]

What kind of mixer in the PA? Before you buy a preamp, you could try splitting the vocal off before the PA. If you spend about $50, you can get a modest mic splitter that sends one signal to the board and the other to the recorder. (This assumes you are not sending a board mix to the recorder that will still have the vocal track). The preamps in the recorder may or may not be a better match for the vocal mic - won't know unless you try. Besides, the more direct the signal path, the better.

You could then add a better preamp between the splitter and the recorder, if you're still not happy.

You mentioned the effects & stuff - The goal is to avoid using effects and EQ as much as possible and just get the original signal as close as you can. Sure, you'll need some - but everything you do to the signal after it gets recorded has the potential to do more harm than good, especially with budget digital gear. Mic selection and placement, clean signal path, etc. - That's where good recordings begin.

 

[prestomation]

Yes. Most live recordings that are strictly off the board sound sterile and lifeless until you blend in some ambient sound.

I've done very minimal live recording, but it has all sounded very bland. I have yet to use ambient mics in a live setting like that, but i would definitly recommend trying it.

 

[leddy]

I've done very minimal live recording, but it has all sounded very bland. I have yet to use ambient mics in a live setting like that, but i would definitly recommend trying it.

Yes, a main stereo pair is usually very important - especially if you are taking a lot of the instruments direct.

Make sure you do some reading about different stereo mic techniques.

 

[cmantelope]

Thanks Everyone,

The PA mixer is a Carvin........

So, please forgive obvious questions.......

If I understand correctly....to get a more "live" feel ...I need to put up a couple of mics..I guess by the main speakers, and run them to my Zoom?


Thanks again,

I am trying to absorb
CM