Topic: Running on stage for an unamplified "string band"

[setboy]

so i'm going to go and try to tape a string/old time band that will have no PA.

it has 4 members: guitar, vacals, upright bass, vacals, banjo, vacals, and a fiddler that does vacals.
Last time i saw them I think they were spaced out about five-six feet from one end of the small stage to the other.

The stage is really just about one foot off the ground.



EDIT: i can run almost anything. I have cards, subcards, omnis, hypers and shotguns.
Any ideas?


Raphael

[Roving Sign]

Im imagining small-split omnis, or cards XY, maybe ortf, depending on your "look" at the stage...no exp with sub cards - Im sure others can chime in...

Keep in mind that banjo will likely be the loudest instrument....the fiddle will be the hardest to capture.

[bgalizio]

What's the band/stage?

I've heard some nice results with omnis or subcards in the healy method. For this, subcards XY @ 120° might sound good too.

[Roving Sign]

Check out this track from last weekend - this is the Hillbilly Gypsies from West VA...(nearly the same instrumentation you mention)

http://www.mercersburg.com/hillbillygypsies2008-02-09t17.mp3

The booking was screwed up - and there was no PA...someone showed up with these little studio monitors on stands - like 3-ways with 6 inch woofers - not much for chatty barroom...no monitors...so ALMOST no PA.

The band uses the old fashioned single-mic style sound re-enforcement - when you solo or sing - step closer to get louder...

I was able to set up my stereo mic directly under their stage mic...so they are performing to my mic at the same time!

This is one of the nicer LSD2-sized Sony MS mics...

Not perfect - as you can hear the banjo really rips...

[Teen Wolf Blitzer]

My favorite way to record!

quiet crowd?  Blum.  Ummmmm nice.

http://www.thetradersden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53052


Otherwise cards ortf 4 foot high 2 feet in front of band.  Can you tell I've done this before?   

EDIT:  Plus teee for taping oldtime.   

[goodcooker]

cards ortf if you have mics where the off axis response is not colored,
or
subcards X/Y between 90~120 degrees depending on how wide the band is spread
or
omnis 10" spread 180 degrees if the crowd is respectful. I made one or two of these that sounded excellent over cans and still good over loudspeakers, YMMV. Setup on a boom off of the stage angled towards them to avoid boomy boot stomping if the band does that kind of thing.

I love bands that use the old time radio "step up to the can" approach. If you can setup right behind their mic, as mentioned above, you can get an incredibly real recording.

[Outrageous]

This is one of the nicer LSD2-sized Sony MS mics...

That's a nice recording.  Which model Sony mic did you use?  Could you post any more samples?  Thanks.

[setboy]

What's the band/stage?

I've heard some nice results with omnis or subcards in the healy method. For this, subcards XY @ 120° might sound good too.

it is a friends band http://brickroadramblers.org/ but they have asked me not to tape tonight since the fiddler has hurt his hand and will not be playing.

It was at the Mustard Seed Cafe. Not the best place to tape at, but it has damn good food.


Thanks for all the help guys. T+ I may not need it now but I will need it some day i'm sure.


Raphael