I need your help, QUICK!

[AlexHerd]

Ok so, I just got offered the job to record my highschool's Jazz ensamble tomorow night, and I need micing advice.

The stage is probably about 25 or 30 feet long and around 15 feet deep. The auditorium holds around 200 people.

First the Ensamble: The rhythm section (contains: grand piano, drum set, percussion, guitar and bass) is to the left side of the stage and the middle and right is the horn section (20 or so people.)

After the jazz ensamble plays, there will be a jazz quartet is playing (guitar, drums, bass, and sax) They will be using the rhythem section from the jazz ensamble's equipment, so they will be on the left side of the stage.

SO, HOW DO I MIC THIS?????

I am recording with a Delta 44 to Sonar, so I have 4 inputs. Here are my mics: 2 Behringer ECM 8000s, 1 SM 57, 1 SM 58, and the school has 2 Rode NT1s. So, how should I go about micing this? THANKS!!!

 

[Beezoboy]

Just set up the 2 Nt1's as a stereo pair and pray! You don't have enough inputs to do anything other than that. You'll have to figure out how to get phantom power to those mics though. Got a borad or some phantom power boxes? Get pretty close if you can, unless the jazz band is playing in a nice auditorium. Then you can set up near the rear and get some of the room in the mix. Good luck!

Beez

 

[bleyrad]

I would probably setup those NT1's in the very middle of the house, on stands in XY at 90-110 degrees.


Better mics would be a blessing in this situation though. I do house sound for my old highschool's theatre, and I've worked with a guy who recorded a jazz band there using this setup but with MC012's. Sounded great. 414's would probably be ideal, though you might want to move in a bit closer with them.

If there's a conductor, you could also mic from just behind their position. Then you get the exact balance that they originally intended. But that's really no matter.

 

[Sklathill]

Since you got the two Delta 44s, I would record four tracks, two stereo pairs. One would be NT1s X-Y stereo and the other would be ECM8000s spaced stereo. You really don't have the mics or inputs to do anything more than that. Good luck...

 

[bleyrad]

a single delta-44 can handle 4 tracks input.



i'm not sure about using the ECM8000's. i suppose you could set them up and then decide later whether or not to use them in conjunction with the NT1's, but my guess is that they'll be too noisey to use as a general stereo pair for this type of music.

 

[AlexHerd]

I am using pres w/ phantom power, I forgot to mention that, so that wont be a problem. Thanks for the replys!

 

[shackrock]

you could always use your leftover 2 inputs to mic something that you would really want to stand out, aka - kick drum or something like that in the percussion section? snare drum? maybe a mic over the lead horn, or something like that if they have a solo?

i dont know, solo's is really what comes to mind for jazz though.

peace.

 

[pundit]

a single delta-44 can handle 4 tracks input.

i'm not sure about using the ECM8000's. i suppose you could set them up and then decide later whether or not to use them in conjunction with the NT1's, but my guess is that they'll be too noisey to use as a general stereo pair for this type of music.

I'm looking to modify my ECM8000's with some Panasonic WF-61 capsules. I think these may be a couple of db better in the signal to noise ratio department.

It maybe possible to replace some of the headamp components with something slightly lower noise but most of the noise issues with any small capsule electret mics is the small area of the diaphragm and the consequent lower output level requiring greater amplification. The internal FET contained within the capsule itself is the other main source of noise but replacing these without destroying the capsule is like performing brain surgey!

 

[littledog]

I like Shackrock's general idea, but with different implementation.

I would use the small omnis as a stereo pair, and use the two Rodes as spot mics. One of them would be set up near the horn section as a "soloist's mic". Whoever is soloing would step over to the spot mic for the time they are soloing. The other one I would put on the acoustic bass - which is often the instrument that gets the most lost in distant mic'ing situations.