Topic: On-Stage Recording Question

[skotdee]

Please pardon the ignorance here, but I've never run mics on-stage and have always been curious on the logistics of setting up the rig. Meaning, where do you set up the recorder? On stage as well? Im picturing a crowded stage, people all up front, how in the heck to you do this? Extremely long cables? Even then, wouldn't people step on them? Totally confused on how this works...

[leehookem]

It really depends on you.  do you want to hang out with your mics all night or do you want to be able to relax and hang back.

Most of the venues I record at, if I get there early enough I can run into the snake and set up by the soundboard.  If a snake is unavailable I bring the long cables and run to the side.

[JasonSobel]

I record on-stage a lot, usually in small bars.  for me, a set of 15 foot cables is plenty to leave my gear bag on the side of the stage and out of the way.  If the band is alright with you setting up your mics on-stage, its likely that they won't care about having your gear bag on-stage as well (off to the side and out of the way).

[im hungover]

im planing on doing this in a couple days as well, this time i wanted to run the mics further apart... im running c4s and last time i used the omni caps i wasnt happy with them, so would split cars sound good onstage?

sorry for the thread hijack

[mikesalvo]

ive only ran onstage a few times, but I ran cards/XY/120 deg. with great results.

[F.O.Bean]

im planing on doing this in a couple days as well, this time i wanted to run the mics further apart... im running c4s and last time i used the omni caps i wasnt happy with them, so would split cars sound good onstage?

sorry for the thread hijack

I ran cards/NOS recently and it c ame out AMAZING IMO Here it is:

http://www.archive.org/details/jazzam2009-01-10.ka200.603a.722.flac16

[im hungover]

i dont really like the X/Y config with the c4s that much, just sounds flat, wondering if split cars would make more a a difference than on stage lip on one stand, i have 16ft cable so i should be okay for that..

[heyitsmejess]

i run onstage quite a bit.  i usually run omnis, 17cm apart, the caps 180* from each other (healey method, i believe).  if im pulling a sbd as well, i will set the mics up behind the band about 8' high.  synch the 2 up, and you have a pretty realistic image of what the room sounded like.

example a : http://www.archive.org/details/rumpkemb2008-11-14

example b (on stage w/no sbd feed) : http://www.archive.org/details/rumpkemb2008-05-27

i place the recorder at the base of the mic stand, or if i have a handy crown royal bag, ill place it in there.

ive also had GREAT success placing a single figure 8 mic dead center in front of the stage, and mixing that with a (usually mono) sbd feed. 

example : http://www.archive.org/details/rumpkemb2008-09-27.matrix

[Dede2002]

i run onstage quite a bit.  i usually run omnis, 17cm apart, the caps 180* from each other (healey method, i believe).  if im pulling a sbd as well, i will set the mics up behind the band about 8' high.  synch the 2 up, and you have a pretty realistic image of what the room sounded like.

example a : http://www.archive.org/details/rumpkemb2008-11-14

example b (on stage w/no sbd feed) : http://www.archive.org/details/rumpkemb2008-05-27

i place the recorder at the base of the mic stand, or if i have a handy crown royal bag, ill place it in there.

ive also had GREAT success placing a single figure 8 mic dead center in front of the stage, and mixing that with a (usually mono) sbd feed. 

example : http://www.archive.org/details/rumpkemb2008-09-27.matrix

Great samples. Really, really good.

[heyitsmejess]

thanks!  ive got bottom feeder equipment, but i try and make the best recordings i can with what i have.

[Dede2002]

thanks!  ive got bottom feeder equipment, but i try and make the best recordings i can with what i have.

Yeah, that's right, that's the point.
If you manage to get the best sound possible with the gear you have, there's no way you'll end up with terrible recordings.
Thanks again for the great samples