Group Vocals

[itsme1234]

Can anyone offer any advice on recording group vocals?

I would be trying to accomplish is sort of supporting FX type vocals.

A few examples of the sound I am trying to create is a stadium crowd chanting words, a cheerleading group of girls doing a cheer, and a few more closer proximity sounding effects such as a group of people saying HEY, etc.

I was wondering if anyone has done this, how many mics I should use, what types of mics, placement, how many people I would require,....ext.

I dont want to have TOO many people and get a bad recording because of it, or have too few people and get a bad recording because of it...so any tips before I get started would help.

any other tips would help as well! Thanks!

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Three people tracked three or four times makes a pretty good crowd. Spread out in front of an X/Y pair and switch around for each take, about 6' off the mics and spread 6-8' wide.

 

[phriq]

Three people tracked three or four times makes a pretty good crowd. Spread out in front of an X/Y pair and switch around for each take, about 6' off the mics and spread 6-8' wide.

That is a great suggestion. One thing I would add to that is to move your people around between each take, this will help eliminate people with stronger or more prominant voices from becoming to strong in the mix.

 

[tmix]

also you need to kill off some of the low end, because it needs to sound like the crowd is at a distance.

 

[grimtraveller]

Three people tracked three or four times makes a pretty good crowd. Spread out in front of an X/Y pair and switch around for each take, about 6' off the mics and spread 6-8' wide.

That is a great suggestion. One thing I would add to that is to move your people around between each take, this will help eliminate people with stronger or more prominant voices from becoming to strong in the mix.

And one further thing I would add, if your recorder/DAW has varispeed, that is, the ability to speed up and slow down recordings, thereby changing the pitch, {as opposed to time stretching}, record each take at a different speed and have each crowd member put on a different voice each time. It can be really good fun, exaggerated voices, swapping places, different pitches etc. When you put all 4 takes back to normal speed for playback, prepare to be surprized.

 

[itsme1234]

wow wow wow!! great tips everyone!! All of you! Thanks so much and I think all tip combine will make a great effect. Thanks again!

Ill let you all know how it turns out and if I try any other avenues.

 

[phriq]

Glad to hear the advice from everyone helped. Let us know how it turns out and good luck!

 

[stevieb]

The word "hubbub" came from the early days of radio: when a producer needed a "crowd" sound, he would have three or four actors gather 'round a mic and say, over and over again, "hubbubhubbub..."

I'd research other voice sounds from the "golden age of wireless." (I mean, the time period, not Thomas Dolby's LP from the 80's- great release, but not where you should go for this.)