Recording a live setting...Help!

[Guitfiddle]

I'm in pretty deep right now, and I need some assistance, if possible. I'm a musician, who recently purchased a 16 track DAW. I now have been asked to record a religous program and burn CD's for the church members. There will be a drummer, piano, bass, guitar, and choir singers involved. My problem is, my DAW only records 8 tracks at a time, and I don't know what type of mics I would need to accomplish this task. What should I do to get a quality recording?

 

[jgourd]

8 tracks is enough. Record most of it using a stereo micing technique. Put mics on the instruments and mics on the soloists. In your DAW, only bring up the close mics to give the performance a little more definition.

 

[Guitfiddle]

8 tracks is enough. Record most of it using a stereo micing technique. Put mics on the instruments and mics on the soloists. In your DAW, only bring up the close mics to give the performance a little more definition.

At the risk of sounding really stupid, I have to ask about stereo micing techique. What type of technique would be most suitable for my situation, and where would the proximity of the stereo mics need to be? I have a pair MXL 603 condensor mics, would they work?

 

[ssscientist]

Yes your mics will work, and you will need two boom stands to get them far enough apart to avoid phase problems. I would estimate that 12-15' would be far enough apart, then adjust the mics and the two tracks that they're coming into over headphones to get the best sound. Experiment with the stereo mics being from 5' to 25' away from the performers, but avoid the temptation to put them at the back of the room -- these mics are going to make up the majority of the sound on the final recording.

As far as spot micing goes, a single condenser mic set in cardioid pattern will cover the drums if there's room on the stage to back it off a few feet. It should be at the height of the drummers head, and if there's not room onstage you can mic him from the back so that the mic hears what he's hearing.

The bass and guitar can probably be covered by another single condenser set on cardioid provided the amps are more or less side by side. The piano can be covered by another cardioid condenser - if possible, listen when it's being played and walk around it to find the best sounding spot and put the mic there. Put up a solo mic for the choir - just a single dynamic. The band will adjust to the volume of the choir so there will probably be enough of them in the stereo mics.

 

[jgourd]

I would not recommend spaced cardiods. If Cardiods is all you have, then use a coincidental setup. Like ORTF or X-Y. Spaced cardoids provide a very poor stereo image.

 

[ssscientist]

Like ORTF or X-Y. Spaced cardoids provide a very poor stereo image.

jgourd, I know it's poor practice to jump in on a dialog in progress and I'm sure you resent my intrusion, but you have a very bad habit of throwing around recording studio terminology as if EVERYONE knows what you are talking about. I felt your original answer was woefully incomplete and badly needed to be expanded on. 'ORTF or X-Y' with no explanation (or link to an explanation) of just what they mean is not only demeaning to the poster but shows an underlying arrogance on your part that has no place on a board like this. As the more experienced users we have a responsibility to provide useful, tangible answers to real-world questions. This post was not about avoiding a 'poor stereo image' - it was about how to get a religious program recorded so that the recording won't suck.

 

[jgourd]

Forgive me for being so short. Here is a link to one of many online resources about stereo micing:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/feb97/stereomiking.html