Topic: Advice for taping a classical concert/orchestra?

[John Kary]

A potential client contacted us wanting a live video/audio recording of a classical concert/orchestra.  Problem being, we haven't done classical before, so I'm a bit unsure on how to go about recording the audio.  I assume it will be done in an amplified environment with ceiling mics.

What type of mic setup should I go for?  I normally do rock shows where I can pull a sbd feed and an audience source and mix them in post.  Is this what I should go for?

What mics should I try to use?  What type/brand?  I would be up for renting someone's gear, too, since this is a paid gig.  Just PM me with prices and such.

Thanks everyone!

[TNJazz]

I assume it will be done in an amplified environment with ceiling mics.

I would assume just the opposite.  Classical/orchestral is rarely amplified in my experience.

Gear needs depend entirely on the performance, but I would use a minimum of a pair of neutral high end condensers (Schoeps, DPA, etc) and a relatively high end preamp (Millenia, Grace, etc.).  Depending on the client's needs you may be required to do multiple mics as well.

Good luck!

[BC]

Leave plenty of headroom when starting your recording, there can be huge differences in dynamics in a given piece. I would estimate hitting -15-12 dB for the moderate level passages,  does that sound right to you guys?

[BC]

I assume it will be done in an amplified environment with ceiling mics.

I would assume just the opposite.  Classical/orchestral is rarely amplified in my experience.

Gear needs depend entirely on the performance, but I would use a minimum of a pair of neutral high end condensers (Schoeps, DPA, etc) and a relatively high end preamp (Millenia, Grace, etc.).  Depending on the client's needs you may be required to do multiple mics as well.

Good luck!

Agree 100%. You could run either a stereo pair of directional microphones in the center, or spaced omnis for a minimalist approach, or combine the two for the next step up. I would think as the next level after that one would move to adding spot mics for the orchestra.

[boojum]

I have only four mics so I would be obliged to look at a pair of omnis or cards in the sweet spot with the angles and distances as outlined by Williams in Stereo Zoom.  Or, a pair of cards in the sweet spot, or as close as I can get, angle and spacing as described by Williams, and a pair of flanking omnis.  John Eargle likes this setup.  Multi-mic'ing can introduce as many problems as it solves, though.  Less is more.