Topic: Taping an outdoor concert

[pridix]

Hi!

Tomorrow night I'm going to tape Coldplay. This is gonna be my first long and real tape. The venue is the Estadio Vicente Calderón de Madrid and I'm going to be standing, more or less 30meters away from the stage and (I hope) in the center (see the red dot in the pic for more details). I'm going to tape with my Tascam DR40 + PFA and I can use AT853 (I have cards, hypercards, omnis and UE-C) or MM-HSLO (4,7k mod). I think I should use AT cards there (AT853-H or UE-C). Am I right? Also no bass roll off, should I?

Thank you.

[bryonsos]

I'm the wrong person to ask which mics to use, I'll always say omnis    But having said that, your red dot looks like a good starting point. One rule of thumb is the triangle theory where you would stand at the third corner of an equilateral triangle with the stacks as the other 2 corners. The dot looks close to that. During the opener, I would move forward and back to listen for the sweet spot. Happy taping!

[pridix]

Thank you so much for the info! I'll try to find the sweet spot. Anyway...I don't want to tape the crowd chatting close to me...so omnis...I don't know. That's why I'm asking

[bryonsos]

Thank you so much for the info! I'll try to find the sweet spot. Anyway...I don't want to tape the crowd chatting close to me...so omnis...I don't know. That's why I'm asking

If the crowd is rowdy, cards will still hear the ones in front of you. To me, I'd rather have a little extra freedom to move (including your head), and omnis are much more forgiving in this regard. If you get the mics up on your head, hat mounted or on glasses, you should be able to make a decent tape with any of your gear from up front, well except the hypers, I'd definitely leave them at home. If you're worried about crowd noise, then maybe consider stack taping.

[Myco]

Thank you so much for the info! I'll try to find the sweet spot. Anyway...I don't want to tape the crowd chatting close to me...so omnis...I don't know. That's why I'm asking

If the crowd is rowdy, cards will still hear the ones in front of you. To me, I'd rather have a little extra freedom to move (including your head), and omnis are much more forgiving in this regard. If you get the mics up on your head, hat mounted or on glasses, you should be able to make a decent tape with any of your gear from up front, well except the hypers, I'd definitely leave them at home. If you're worried about crowd noise, then maybe consider stack taping.

I'd second this as good advice, but I wouldn't think Coldplay would have an exceptionally loud & rowdy audience.
Maybe, based on your proximity to the front of the stage, i"d go with the omni's because this band isn't really known to be too drum/bass heavy also. I can't say that I know this for fact, I'm just reasoning here. I've never seen Coldplay live, only live on tv or video.

[pridix]

Thank you so much for the info! I'll try to find the sweet spot. Anyway...I don't want to tape the crowd chatting close to me...so omnis...I don't know. That's why I'm asking

If the crowd is rowdy, cards will still hear the ones in front of you. To me, I'd rather have a little extra freedom to move (including your head), and omnis are much more forgiving in this regard. If you get the mics up on your head, hat mounted or on glasses, you should be able to make a decent tape with any of your gear from up front, well except the hypers, I'd definitely leave them at home. If you're worried about crowd noise, then maybe consider stack taping.

I'd second this as good advice, but I wouldn't think Coldplay would have an exceptionally loud & rowdy audience.
Maybe, based on your proximity to the front of the stage, i"d go with the omni's because this band isn't really known to be too drum/heavy also. I can't say that I know this for fact, I'm just reasoning here. I've never seen Coldplay live, only live on tv or video.

Ok, than you guys! I'll leave the hypers at home then. I'll go both with omnis and UE-C and I'll do some tests during the opening show. I'll have them baseball cap mounted just above my ears in the place between the ears and the face.

[Myco]

Thank you so much for the info! I'll try to find the sweet spot. Anyway...I don't want to tape the crowd chatting close to me...so omnis...I don't know. That's why I'm asking

If the crowd is rowdy, cards will still hear the ones in front of you. To me, I'd rather have a little extra freedom to move (including your head), and omnis are much more forgiving in this regard. If you get the mics up on your head, hat mounted or on glasses, you should be able to make a decent tape with any of your gear from up front, well except the hypers, I'd definitely leave them at home. If you're worried about crowd noise, then maybe consider stack taping.

I'd second this as good advice, but I wouldn't think Coldplay would have an exceptionally loud & rowdy audience.
Maybe, based on your proximity to the front of the stage, i"d go with the omni's because this band isn't really known to be too drum/heavy also. I can't say that I know this for fact, I'm just reasoning here. I've never seen Coldplay live, only live on tv or video.

Ok, than you guys! I'll leave the hypers at home then. I'll go both with omnis and UE-C and I'll do some tests during the opening show. I'll have them baseball cap mounted just above my ears in the place between the ears and the face.

No problem. We'd be interested to see how it turns out for you. 

[pridix]

No problem. We'd be interested to see how it turns out for you. 
[/quote]

I'll leave feedback as soon as I come back from the concert And I'll post a link if someone want it hehe.

[bryonsos]

You're welcome! And your plan to move around and try things during the opener is spot on. Good luck!

[OldNeumanntapr]

Just be mindful of wind. (I just taped Los Lobos out doors at a golf resort in Nipomo, CA and it was in a wind tunnel! It would have been much better of a recording except for the wind.)

I have used omnis and cardioids. It all depends on the crowd around you. The omnis pick up noise all all around, but are much more forgiving if you have to turn your head.

Good luck!

[adrianf74]

More or less what's already been said.

Omnis, windscreens if you can (just in case).   Cardioid mics are NOT forgiving when it comes to wind so if it's a windy (or even "breezy" day), I'd go with the omnis.  I also prefer the way omnis sound outdoors to cards (and this has been several times between the CA-14 omnis and DPA 4061s compared to the CA-14 cards and AKG 481/3's.

[pridix]

More or less what's already been said.

Omnis, windscreens if you can (just in case).   Cardioid mics are NOT forgiving when it comes to wind so if it's a windy (or even "breezy" day), I'd go with the omnis.  I also prefer the way omnis sound outdoors to cards (and this has been several times between the CA-14 omnis and DPA 4061s compared to the CA-14 cards and AKG 481/3's.

It's a pity I can't run them both haha. I have windscreens but it's more stealth if I don't use them. In that case I MUST use Omnis. Okay. Thank you guys! I'll let you know as soon as I do the backup of the concert to my pc!

[pridix]

Is there any trick to avoid claps in the recording? I have a few concerts taped with MM-HSLO and I love the sound even with the background chatting noise but...CLAPS are horrible.

[adrianf74]

Is there any trick to avoid claps in the recording? I have a few concerts taped with MM-HSLO and I love the sound even with the background chatting noise but...CLAPS are horrible.

I just live with it -- lets me relive what I originally heard.  However, you can go through the wave file while working on it in post and drop the levels on the claps individually.  It's a bit of work.   I know some people apply filters and what-not but I refuse to do it that way.  Call me old school...

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

My wife wants to hear your tape!

Terry