Live Show Recording

[The Professor]

Hey guys I need a little help here.

I've been recording our shows with two Shure BG series electet condensors and the signal chain goes like this:

-2 Shures in a X Y set-up
-Art dual MP (mic pre)
-BBE Sonic Maximizer (really just for EQ, but it does help)
- finally to a MiniDisc recorder

My problem is that we play in bars and the mics are picking up a lot of crowd noise. I've tried many mic positions to no avail. I was wondering if anyone could suggest the BEST mic (I know the irony there) for this application. Or any tricks to eliminate the crowd noise.

Other than the crowd noise the recordings have beed okay.

Any other suggestions on recording live shows (other than tracking from the sound board, can't afford a HD recorder) would fall on receptive ears.

The reason we can't record off the sound board via "tape out" is that the lead guitar does not run through the board at all. We play bars and the rooms are small. His stage level is so loud that we can't run him through the board.

So really, I need mic suggestions for a two mic, room set-up.

Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[DrummChris]

Can't you mic the guitar cab and just not have the signal go out through the PA? Most good boards have seperate tape level volumes on each channel, don't they?

 

[sloop]

Check out my post

I put up a post in the recording section.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=100458

I recorded a band live at our last jam. I mounted the mics on the ceiling about 5 feet from the main speaker stacks, one each side. They were aimed directly at the speaker stacks. This way they pickup a little crowd, some stage and everything coming out of the speakers. It works pretty well.

The mics are small condenser cardiods(AT835A).

For yours, lose the BBE, run the mics into the pre-then to mini-disk. You can EQ later if needed.

 

[Herm]

It sounds like your main problem is the guitar player (like most) thinks he is the star and is too stupid to turn down to a reasonable level.
Fire him and find a new guitar player, They are a dime a dozon.

 

[Fishmed]

If you are going straight to 2-track, I would use one channel as a mono dump from the board, and the other side would be a mic from the room. You would need to fing the best postion for its placement. You can mix the two channels to get the better shot at having a workable mix. Do not use the BBE during the recording. If you feel like you need to use it, you can always add it later.

 

[mixsit]

What is in the board? I was thinking maybe a combination of board outs (voc, bass, some drums?), and the stereo pair over or in front of the band -trying not to pick up the pa mains.
Wayne

 

[ZOWIE!]

I don't think some of those posts addressed your question.

I'm not familiar with Shure BG, but if you're getting too much crowd noise, you probably would do well to switch to mics with tighter polar patterns. Look for hypercardioids or supercardioids, or even short shotguns (that are appropriate for music, not limited frequency video mics).

Place the mics as close to the band as you can without screwing up the instrument blend.

Put the mics on a tall stand pointing down at the band so more of the crowd hits the sides of the mic where the rejection is the strongest.

Something I haven't tried but intend to experiment the next time there's an opportunity is mounting a soundproofing foam panel behind the mic somehow. Perhaps I'll make a hole in the middle, stick the mic through, so its around the base of the mic like a collar.

Play louder.

 

[DJL]

Hey guys I need a little help here.

I've been recording our shows with two Shure BG series electet condensors and the signal chain goes like this:

-2 Shures in a X Y set-up
-Art dual MP (mic pre)
-BBE Sonic Maximizer (really just for EQ, but it does help)
- finally to a MiniDisc recorder

My problem is that we play in bars and the mics are picking up a lot of crowd noise. I've tried many mic positions to no avail. I was wondering if anyone could suggest the BEST mic (I know the irony there) for this application. Or any tricks to eliminate the crowd noise.

Other than the crowd noise the recordings have beed okay.

Any other suggestions on recording live shows (other than tracking from the sound board, can't afford a HD recorder) would fall on receptive ears.

The reason we can't record off the sound board via "tape out" is that the lead guitar does not run through the board at all. We play bars and the rooms are small. His stage level is so loud that we can't run him through the board.

So really, I need mic suggestions for a two mic, room set-up.

Thanks in advance!!!!

I use two Shure SM81's for that... but, no matter what two mic's you use... your still going to get some crowd noise (unless you close mic everything)... I'd place my X/Y SM81's however far out in front of the band so the mics were pointed at the far left and right sides of the band... and I'd point the PA speakers at the mic's.

 

[The Professor]

Thank you guys for all the input. There were many great suggestions!

I'm at work right now and running short on time, but, when I get back here Monday I'll give a better run down as to what exactly is going on. And please feel free to keep commenting over the weekend.

Thanks again!!!

 

[The Professor]

Thank you guys for all the input. There were many great suggestions!

I'm at work right now and running short on time, but, when I get back here Monday I'll give a better run down as to what exactly is going on. And please feel free to keep commenting over the weekend.

Thanks again!!!

 

[Walter Tore]

Professor: I also record live direct to mini disc. I use the core sounds mic at the link below. It works great. I put it about 3-4 feet from the PA cabinet on the guitar side of the stage. You can hear songs recorded with this set up at the second site. If the core sounds mic is to expensive, you might try the 3rd link. It is a copy of the core sounds and only around $60.00. It is the stereo spider mic. Good luck! Walter

http://www.core-sound.com/mics.html


http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/discography.php?aid=3118


http://www.reactivesounds.com/

 

[The Professor]

Okay, I finally got some time here to reply to you guys; and before I start thanks again.

Just a little bit about our stage set-up. We are a four piece jazz-rock band with two guitars, bass & drums. We have a keyboard about 50% of the time and nearly everyone sings(lead guitar doesn’t). I use a Mackie 1402-vlz. Not many mic inputs (6 to be exact). I use the Aux 1 & 2 for our monitor mix and a different mix for the drummer.

Most of the rooms we are in are small bars where we use my PA and I am the sound man. When we play small places like this I don’t run my guitar or the lead guitar through the board b/c we have good volume for the room at where we would normally keep our stage volume in bigger rooms with an installed PA.

So this leaves me here; 1)no Aux. Out to dump a mono track to one side of the Mini

2) I could use one side of the tape out, but it would have to be what ever the FOH mix is

So I could do the one room mic & one side of the tape output or a stereo pair.

And to address some of the questions in the post:
The mics are Shure BG 4.1 & are cardiod.

I looked at those Core Sound mics & they look awsome. Do they have any that aren’t made to be stealthy, but just great mics.

Alright guys have at it!!!