Topic: Best place for sound

[ace_92029]

I am going to record u2 at madison square garden in November.   I have 2 of everything.  I will mix the sound post production.  Where would be the best 2 spots to record sound in this venue do you think?

I was told the center is best because the mix is geared for that area.  Although I can have a man on the right and left and mix later.   Or I may just have a center recording and a side recording and listen to it later to see how to mix it.   Everything is audience recording that I am doing (so no sound board).  Also mics are professional grade and so is recorder (recording at 24 bit).

Thx for any help-

[SparkE!]

Sorry, I can't answer the question you are asking, but I'd like to point out that by running two different units, they may not stay in synch with each other.  It's common for recording equipment to use quartz crystals that have 100 ppm accuracy and +/- 100 ppm drift over temperature.  Now they don't usually approach the worst case specs, but it's not uncommon for two rigs to develop 1/10th of a second skew between two sources over an hour's time.  So in post, you are going to have to selectively stretch one vs. the other or do some other similar operation to keep the two sources aligned.  I'm not saying that it can't be done, but it's not always trivial either.  I've done a fair number of mixes like that in post and the results are usually pretty good, but it's not as easy as align, slice and burn either.  It usually takes me at least 8 times as long to track out a show when using multiple, unsynchronized sources.

[ace_92029]

I think it would be quiet easy.  I use Final Cut Pro 5.  If I sink them in the beginning of the concert to an inaudible difference and then find out if I am off near the end I can then change the speed consistently over the whole concert (both sound and video if need be) with one function...now it's just playing with the % near 100% to see where it lines up perfect...not too difficult.

[itook2much]

I think it would be quiet easy.  I use Final Cut Pro 5.  If I sink them in the beginning of the concert to an inaudible difference and then find out if I am off near the end I can then change the speed consistently over the whole concert (both sound and video if need be) with one function...now it's just playing with the % near 100% to see where it lines up perfect...not too difficult.

You're assuming that the speed fluctuation will be continuous, last the entire show, & not fluctuate + and -.  Each of these variables will defeat your stated method.
Usually the combination is aud & sbd matrix.  And even then it can be a nightmare.  I have 1 Mick Taylor show that had to be checked & corrected at 1-3 minute intervals when it was done.

[TNJazz]

When you say two of everything, do you mean mics too?  Or are you going to be using 4 mics (a stereo pair per recorder)?  Might want to re-think that angle if you're not using stereo pairs.

Synchronization of two sources is not as easy as you think.  Take it from someone who does it a LOT (and happens to be in the middle of a DVD multitrack video project as I type this...)

Dirk

[bagtagsell]

If I was running two rigs.  Put one person near the stacks to get a stack tape, and one person in the seet spot, to get more ambiance.

[Aaron41]

get ready to lose lots of expensive gear to the band if caught.

I've heard about this incident. How can the band FORCE you to give them everything you have?

[itook2much]

get ready to lose lots of expensive gear to the band if caught.

I've heard about this incident. How can the band FORCE you to give them everything you have?

Well, I guess it really just depends on how resistant you are, & how harsh security wants to be.  In an extreme case, it's always possible they could just kick your ass & take it.  Most arena security I've seen has never been very ugly though, they're usually OK.  Clubs are often the worst.

[pfife]

get ready to lose lots of expensive gear to the band if caught.

I've heard about this incident. How can the band FORCE you to give them everything you have?

Well, I guess it really just depends on how resistant you are, & how harsh security wants to be.  In an extreme case, it's always possible they could just kick your ass & take it.  Most arena security I've seen has never been very ugly though, they're usually OK.  Clubs are often the worst.

I saw some venue security beat the shit out of a naked dude at the one and only Phish show I ever went to...


I pulled a stack tape at U2 in Detroit, and I think it rox, fwiw...

[Swanny]

I would run one rig forward and one backward about 5 ft from each other in the center. Then pull a surround out in post.

[itook2much]

I saw some venue security beat the shit out of a naked dude at the one and only Phish show I ever went to...

That's that peace vibe the scene was known for

And how much of a threat could a naked guy have been?

[johnnyb]

Msg is hit or miss with sound, but ga on the floor would be the best spot

[prof_peabody]

I am going to record u2 at madison square garden in November.   I have 2 of everything.  I will mix the sound post production.  Where would be the best 2 spots to record sound in this venue do you think?

I was told the center is best because the mix is geared for that area.  Although I can have a man on the right and left and mix later.   Or I may just have a center recording and a side recording and listen to it later to see how to mix it.   Everything is audience recording that I am doing (so no sound board).  Also mics are professional grade and so is recorder (recording at 24 bit).

Thx for any help-

You must be the Noah of taping; do you keep two of everything in a wooden ark?   

Best way to tape would be to have two mics in one location as others have suggested.

[BobW]

MSG sound may be the worst that ever was and will be short of a small round college gymn.

I think about 20 feet from stage DFC running ORTF or OSS(jecklin) would be the best possible.
Or maybe a one stack pull from a farside (it's a mono PA)  thinking the more front sound and less reflected, the better.

If you go any distance, hypers or shotguns would be a must.

Stay far away from the overhangs

GOOD LUCK !!!

[scb]

msg sound can actually be pretty good, but it can definitely suck, too

give me the tix and i'll make a tape