Topic: Balcony taping help needed...

[Swampy]

Got my Ratdog ticket today through GDTSTOO (VERY EASY! ) The tic is 4th row dfc of the balcony in the Byham Theatre (Mezzanie row DD, seat 109 http://images.tickets.com/images/privatelabel/pct_byham_center.gif)

Ive never taped from a balcony before so Im gonna need some help... There are two stacks on either side of the stage on the floor, and a stack DFC hanging from the roof (pretty high). Does anyone have any experence or tips they can give me? Im thinking maybe xy to try and get the hanging stack??? Not sure how high to run? THANKS!

[Jason R]

First.  at the Byham there is no railing.  If your going to tape from your seat I've had good results just pointing the cards on the outside of the stacks.  Or that 70 to 80 degrees thing that most folks running cards at the Mule show used.  We tape at the Beacon  every year and up to now my favorite is the Hypers DIN.  

[Swampy]

If your going to tape from your seat I've had good results just pointing the cards on the outside of the stacks.  

Even from the balcony?

[Jason R]

Sure.  If your trying to get the mid stack, you might run xy, but not  @ 90.  I've seen just about everthing used on a balcony so you can't go wrong.  Over time try them all.  I avoid xy these days b/c I used an AT 822 a bunch and that is all it did.  I like the time delay by using spaced mics.  

[Swampy]

Anyone else have any experence taping from balconies???

[Swampy]

Im still not decided wether I should run em low in din and go for the floor stacks, or throw them higher in xy and go for the hanging stack... I wonder which would be boomier...

[radioboy1977]

don't worry about it.  we'll figure it out when we get there  i'm almost positive there will be something to clamp on to.

[Swampy]

hopefully...

[Nick's Picks]

Balcony taping...
in my experience, XY captures the best "non room" recordings.  Balconies can go either way...some sound shitty, distant and boomy.  Still, others can have SWEET acoustics.  Depends on the venue, PA, engineer..etc.

From the descriptions read above, id' run XY hypers at 90deg and aim for dead center between the stacks.  Dont worry about that center speaker on the ceiling, you'll get penty of that no matter what.

DIN would be my 2nd choice (hypers or cards).
Try it both ways, one for each set.  Then you'll really know for sure next time.
that's what i'd do.

In a balcony situation, you are all ready high up so you needn't worry about height of the mics.  I'd just hold them above the head of the guy in front of  you and you'll be fine.  maybe someone will swap seats w/you from the first row mezz.  That will make life easy.  

[Swampy]

Thanks for the help! Ya, I think Im gonna try xy and see if I can clamp closer to the first row.