church choir help

  • Thread starter Thread starter tvaillan
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tvaillan

tvaillan

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Need advice.

there's this 4 member, really talented church group that want me record, mix, post process and burn to cd about 2 hours worth of choir stuff.

It being a church and all , this gig goes to the lowest bidder ... i'm doing it for free.

My motto with this project is:

"What comes out of their faces, be it vocal splendor or spittle, is what they're gonna hear on the cd ... plus a bit reverb and compression if necessary."

Now I'm pretty sure that assuming the room is OK (no reverb, noise etc) and that they are actually as good as i hear .. that it should be a peice of cake. Shouldn't it???

The vocals are gonna be completely dry when recorded.

I'm recording into a PC that's gonna be in a completely different room and inaudible to the mics. (24 bit ADC, 48KHz)

So far I've got a couple of low end Shure's but we can rent a mic or two if need be.


My questions:

Given my situation,

1 - What microphones would you recommend?

2 - What should the positioning of the microphone be? These guys are used to all signing into a single microphone.

3 - Should I have a second microphone to pick up some more frequencies? ... Where?? (They are all male, let's assume one of em has a really low voice and at least another has a high girly voice)

4 - Is this gonna be as easy as i think it will be, or will I get some suprises in terms of missing frequency ranges?
 
Here's a thought. I am assuming that the group sings accapella - so, if I am wrong disregard this.

What I would do is set up two mics in an x/y pattern. This way, the group kind of gets what they are used to (Singing to one spot for amplification) and you get the chance to capture a stereo recording that will more than likely give you a better sounding end product.

When I record quartets, I use this setup almost exclusively. Use a pair of cardioid condesers if you have them. They will love you for it.

Another alternative that I have done is with four sm-58's Put the guys in a circle facing inward. Assign each of them to a stationary mic. The pattern of the 58's will not pick up a lot of the other voices. Yet, the group can hear each other great. This usually results in a nice tight performance from the singers, and gives you total control over the mix.

Good luck,
Chris
 
You're advice seems fine but pardon my stupidity ... an x/y pattern? I'm still a newbie.

:-)
 
I am a big newbie as well. I don't even know if that is the correct term. I actually learned it from one of the quartets that I was recording one time.

Basicly, you take a matched pair of mics. You either mount them on the same stand (using a special bar that holds two mics - very inexpensive) or on two separate stands very close together. Point the mics inward so that the business ends of the mics come together to form a "V" pointing at the singers.

You may actually cross the mics slightly so that the tips of the mics slightly overlap each other.

I will search and see if I can find a picture on the internet somewhere. If I can find one, I will post it for you.

--Chris
 
Picture of the Rode NT-4

The above is a link to a picture of the Rode NT-4. It is a mic designed for XY Micing. I am not suggesting that you go and get this mic, just use the pictire to get an idea of how to set your mics to get the same positioning.

I will keep looking for a better picture.

--Chris
 
Thanks chris.

I'll try the 'v' configuration and will also try the other option you mentioned, i.e, using 4 microphones.
 
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Chris has the right of it. X-Y micing is great for a small vocal group like this. You might want to play around with the spacing between the mic setup and the vocalists to see if there is an "optimum" position, but generally setup the mics a few feet from the group, and have them standing in a slight semi-circle so a bit of each vocalist gets picked up in each mic pattern.

If you decide to use 2 individual mics, you can pick up the dual mic mounting bar at Radio Shack for $6 or so.

Darryl.....
 
The help is very appriciated guys. I'll certainly try the xy config first.

I'm looking forward to this gig. . cause if it works out, i'll be that much closer to being able to mic harmonies.

Thanks guys.
 
Where in the church will you be recording the group?

Will the music be serious religous numbers or some lighter gospel fare? Or a mixture?
 
we're going to be recording in a small room that is not conducive to reverberation. We're not in the main hall since i want to add the reverb to MY taste and not to the hall's acoustics. Also this isn't a catholic church so it tends to be smaller anyways.

My console, *cough*, i should say, my 12 chanel 'oldy' , my computer. rack and amp will be in another room.

I'm hoping the room will be quite small and i'd enjoy it if it where a bit cluttered with costumes and such to absorb reflections.

It's gonna be a translation into english of their favorite gospel stuff. I'm assuming it's gonna be really gospelly and will likely benefit from a fair amount of reverb in the post mix. You know, the angelic 'uhmmm' and 'ohhhh' thing that church choirs do.

Am I right in wanting a small room that absorbs reverb?? Should we be in a bigger room??

If you know anything, let me know man.


Tristan
 
Lemme see if I 've got this straight.

You're going to be recording a French gospel group with a translation to english?

For this kind of music I might try recording it in the main part of the church and see what happens. Seems to me this kind of music should be recorded where it is usually performed.

To better capture the room use a mic near the center of the room in addition to the vocalists' mics.

Check ot the BIG thread for other mic placement and type recommendations.

If it doesn't work you can always go back and track in a dead room and add your own reverb in the mix. See what sounds best to you and to them.
 
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