Mic(s) to capture audience at a live gig

[Guitarer]

Hey, I know this is a home recording forum, but I've been curious about this...When doing a live recording, what are the standard microphones to capture the audience, and where are they usually placed?

-Holden

 

[EddieRay]

I don't know that there's a "standard" but I would think an omni pattern would be a good choice. I use a CAD M179 as a room mic when I record a band at a live venue. It has several patterns to choose from and I've tried figure 8 and omni with good results. I haven't experimented much with placement but so far anywhere seems to work. I put it up about 6 or 7 feet high and off to the side. I'm mostly concerned with some drunk knocking it over.

What started out as an audience mic has become a key track for me. I close mic the instrument amps, take a feed from the PA for vocals, and throw a few mics on the drums. The room mic not only picks up the audience but lets me listen back and hear everything so I can choose the best performances. In my last project I gave the band a dump of the room mic track so they could choose the stuff they wanted me to work on.

 

[Guitarer]

Yeah, an omnidirectional is what I had in mind. Reason I ask is because I'd like to get some SBD recordings of my band, and I wanted to see if I could get a couple mics, aim em at the audience at either side of the stage in stereo, and throw em into the mix.

My biggest concerns are if that would be good placement to get the full effect of applause/audience singing and what would be the best mics to use...

I'm looking at these sound grabber II's that look like they'd be good for just that, can anyone comment on those?

 

[cusebassman]

Hell, I've used two MXL 990's pointed toward the audience, with the gain cranked prettty high, and it gave a nice effect - even though they were pointing toward the two separate sides, there wasn't much of a stereo image, but it rounded out the sound of the live music itself (which otherwise sounded very studio-ish since everything was close mic'd and the vocals were done on hypercard condensers). I'd say not to bother in that case with stereo, and just try an omni out - if not for anything other than simplicity of setting up one mic.

 

[omtayslick]

A couple of MSH omnis, or Behringer ecm8000's might be good for that. Small, unobtrusive, and easy to place.

 

[Innovations]

My choice would be based on the geometry of the room.

what you want of course it an impression of the entire audience and not just the loudmouth bozo who happened to be at the table under the mic.

So if the ceiling is tall and you have access up there (say a lighting catwalk) then a suspended omni is definitly the way to go.

If the ceiling is low then one or two cardiods pointing outward from the stage would be the choice. If your goal was just to record the audience applause then a spaced pair. If you also wanted to pick up the reverberations of the space itself (lets say you were recording in a fantastic sounding cathedral) then I would use an XY pair.

 

[dgatwood]

Only tip: high. You probably don't want it down at audience level or you'll end up hearing a handful of people clapping a lot louder than the background noise and it will sound a little weird. You'll also have the problem of accentuated coughs, sniffles, rustling of clothes, etc. from people who are near the mic.

 

[Guitarer]

I appreciate the responses guys...I think the best option for me would be to rent out a theater (I'm sure I could use my school's for like 50$) and invite people, letting them know beforehand that the show would be recorded (to have people shut off their phones and such)

That way we've got a good amount of time to make sure everything's mixed well, and I've got audience mics placed right. We don't have a catwalk, but we've got a balcony above the sound room for the spotlights...I'm thinking maybe put a couple pencil condensers up there on stands aimed out/down towards the audience, think that'd work?

 

[notCardio]

I would suggest, if you can

to do it several different ways simultaneously.

Then you can pick and choose between what you've got, possibly blending one or more sets.

Always have a backup plan. You may get up in the balcony and the sound will suck up there.

Just my opinion.

 

[Audio Wizard]

Currently I use a couple of CAD ICM 417 Electret Condenser mics (cardiod) which work very effectively. I usually attach these to the lighting truss across the front of the stage using a K&M Mic G-Clamp, on either side of the stage. I produces a great stereo image of the room and audience and doesn't pick up too much of the sound on stage, creating a much tighter mix.

I've previously put large-diaphragm condensers mounted in shockmount clips on short stands strapped to the top of the stacks - drop in HP filters and you're away. Very easy to direct at the audience and out of the way.

Haven't experimented with XY setup - think that could be good tho - might try that myself at the next one - same system mounted on the lighting truss but using a stereo bar on 1 G-Clamp.

 

[Guitarer]

I'm a n00b, what's an XY setup?