Recording Traditional Musical Performances

[Adam C Lubkin]

I'll be in several documentary situations where I'll be recording live music and dance performances - primarily traditional acoustic music. I won't have control over venues. Could be in someone's living room, or around a bonfire, or during a festival in a town square. Assuming that I have one person running sound (sometimes with an additional, untrained assistant) what would be a good general-purpose kit to cover these situation? I can get the funds for more expensive gear if the results justify it. Smaller, lighter gear is better as we'll be traveling to remote locations. If some of it can do double-duty as standard doco sound kit, so much the better.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Multichannel recorder with timecode seems essential. It sounds like the 788T will be essential gear.

You need a mic selection like for bands as opposed to our normal work which records primarily speech. Normally in this situation I take a feed from the board- which of course is not an option for you.

Guitar Center is your friend.

Given the dynamic situations it sounds like you will be in, I recommend wireless for all your mics.

 

[Dave Blackham]

I've recorded a lot of celtic traditional music for some years now. If you can mention what instruments then may be able to add a few more, then Here's some initial suggestions.

Id try this for starters assuming mics are out of shot, Schoeps CCM41 and CCM8 M/S stereo pair which is as small as you will get or Sennheiser MKH 30/40 pair slightly bigger. The Schoeps is a little more euphonic in sound but the Sennheiser just a good depending on your taste. You can supplement more Schoeps CCM's 4 or 41's around if needed. The trick is to get the MS pair in the right place to suit the musicians and accoustic, a Drum stand is good for this as they are tall and heavy with long reach, thats assuming the musicians are in one spot and wont move around much. If your outside and there instruments that phase if the player moves, Bagpipes are prime examples of this, if you do get in to this situation then select mics that have very well controled polar patterns such as figure 8 mics pairs, though you could get away with a cardioid and figure 8 avoid a short gun mic. Its a case of using really good mics in the right placement, less (in number of microphones) is generally better for this type of shoot.

Id also us a recorder such as a Sound Devices 788 or similar so the mix can be handled later.

It seem to be that the audio has to lead here so has to be right, I realise this is a Red forum but the camera position may have to allow more than usual lea way here for good mic placement.

Id be interested to know how you get on. Good luck.

 

[Adam C Lubkin]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'm leaning toward the 788 as a foundation. I'll need that or similar for other projects anyways. Are there any competitors to the 788, or is that the best for mobile applications?

I should mention that I already have a Schoeps MK41/Cut 1/CMC 5. Other than that I'll be starting from scratch.

Instruments will usually include percussion of some sort, vocals, plucked stringed instruments, and sometimes bowed instruments and flutes/pipes - but it really could be anything as there's a lot of unpredictability. Some times I'll be able to set up carefully but other times it will be what I happen on and have to do the best I can on the fly.

First stop will be Peru, probably in early spring.

 

[David Rasberry]

Might want to give one of the Pearl MS stereo mikes a try. I have not used one but have heard some stellar recordings made with them.

http://www.pearl.se/kondens_stereo/ms_2_8/ems8.htm

 

[chuck colburn]

Are the players being amplified? If so you could just pick a stereo out from the mixer.

 

[Adam C Lubkin]

Are the players being amplified? If so you could just pick a stereo out from the mixer.

Most of the time they won't be amplified.

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Alternatives to the 788T

Alternatives to the 788T

There are alternatives of course.

Before I go on, I'll say that to me the most important features of the 788T are:

recording every input source (up to 8 channels)
TC in and out.

One alternative with these features is Zaxcomm. They make great mixer/recorders... but they are pricey.

Another option is the TASCAM HS-P82. About $5000

On the low end is a combination of two devices. As is typical of low end, the solution is complicated and, even after all the blood sweat and tears, doesn't deliver the full functionality of its more expensive brethren.

Tascam has a low end multichannel recorder the DR-680. This records up to six input channels and two mix outputs. It lacks TC. It's about $800

Tascam also makes a HD-P2, it records just two analog sources. It does have TC. It's about $800

Pipe your mics into the DR-680. Record all of them that way. Then pipe the 680's mix outputs into the HD-P2, and use TC there.

In post if it turns out you need the discreet channels, then ou line the 680's recodings up with the P2 recording (with TC) by lning up the mixed 680 version with the P2 version using the waveform. (or PluralEyes, which works very fast on nearly identical audio)

Its bulky and has other drawbacks, but for $1600 you can get a lot of the functionality of the 788T.

Of course on simpler productions, you can just use the P2 alone.

 

[chuck colburn]

A mic. that i use a lot is the AKG-C1000. A pair of them in an xy configuration makes for a nice stereo image. They convert form cardioid to hypercardioid and are a very versital unit for all kinds instruments or overhead recording. I've seen them on sale in twin packs for around three bills. Oh, they can either be phantom powered or with a 9volt battery.

 

[mike filippov]

Hi there, An M/S setup as previously mentioned is key... a good wireless system strategically placed can get a great balance of a singer and their instrument when you want to zone in on a key musician. I've also used a small recorder that can self power a mic (sony,olympus etc) with a couple of senheiser lavs attached with great results. The recorder can go in a pouch or pocket of the musician and can be handy when the wireless pacs are otherwise occupied... will need to be synced up later of course.

With wireless, make sure the level is set so as to not engage the limiters as that can kill the natural feel of music... I could go on as I've been in this situation many times but if you'd like more details, let me know.

mike