Live recording suggestions

[bfeddish]

I have an excellent opportunity coming up to record a big local act. I will be using a Yamaha MD8 with 8 tracks available simultaneously. OK, they have a singer/guitarist that is the main attraction, a bass player, drummer, lead guitar, keyboard and harp player. I have plenty of microphones and an available external 4-track mixer. What mic / direct input placement would best allow me to get a great recording of this show? Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,
Bryan

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Dish of FEBBEDS:

Put your vocalist on two tracks {one mic, a good one].

Guitar is usually no problem because it has plenty of punch.
Mic position and input are tough because of ups and downs of volume by talent playing guitar; so, you can't be too close with a mic.

Drums, no problem; they always come through.

You have a large job here; but, the only way to learn is to jump in and do it. Suggest you add FX when you mix down.

Good luck and check some of the other forums here for some help.

Green Hornet

 

[Sabith]

Are those geetars electric or acoustic????? I'm taken a guess that they are acoutic because they also have a harp player...... also metal + harp = something interestin.... but back to the subject, if the git's have there own built in pickups U should check them out and look how they sound.

Plus........ U are recording these guys, but you post says "Live recording suggestions", does that mean U are PA and the recording guy??? or is there another guy doing the PA work??? because if there is U might wanna figure out how he is micin things, and maybe he will give U a direct out from his channel inserts.

and if they are using electic git's see if any of them have a DI box, some people use there DI box before going into there amp, because if beefs up the sound a lot. and if they do use DI boxes, just get a feed from that box or U will have to mic the amps.

Sabith

 

[bfeddish]

The main attraction is the frontman who will be using an acoustic. The lead guitar will be using an electric. No, I won't be doing sound for them but I'm sure the soundman wil let me plug into the board.

 

[kristian]

ok here you go. you have 8 channels simultanous. this is pretty straight forward for track allotment.

1-vocalist
2-acoustic guitar
3-lead guitar
4-bass
5-harp
6-keyboard
7-left drum channel
8-right drum channel.

you should be able to get each of the individual instruments and voices through direct outs, and the drums through stereo buss. during mixdown i think the MD8 has a stereo aux return, so you can do stereo processing on an instrument if you want, or just add little effects to 2 seperate channels. this is a lot less complicated then it sounds.

 

[gidman]

ok here you go. you have 8 channels simultanous. this is pretty straight forward for track allotment.

1-vocalist
2-acoustic guitar
3-lead guitar
4-bass
5-harp
6-keyboard
7-left drum channel
8-right drum channel.

If they have 8 extra aux's this would be nice,doubtful but nice...you will be lucky to get 2. You will be at the mercy of the sound man. Its tough not knowing what kind of board that they have...Rent a good foh board with plenty of aux's and get the best recording possible.
Hopefully this helps.

Gidman

 

[DALtune]

I actually did this a while back with an MD8. As I look back on my notes, I see the following...

1= lead vocal
2= Git 1
3= Git 2
4= Bass
5= Keys
6= Drums L
7= Drums R
8= Room Mic

The drums were submixed on a four channel piece of crap, but ended up sounding good (took a while to get levels right and I was able to tweak the sound later with EQ).

The singer ended up with two mics in his face because the band was using a little powered 4 channel PA with no extra outs on it. Nothing was miced for the house because it was a pretty small place. Guitars were recorded with 57s, vocal with a 58, bass direct in from line on bass amp through a direct box, drums had sennheissers and a 112 in the kick.