Topic: This show could have needed bass roll off?

[shadow-world]

Hey team.

I recently recorded an outdoors show that was quite loud and bassy. For this show i used an  Sony PCM-M10 with low cut off and manual rec level aswell as mic sens was set to low, Soundprofessionals Batterybox (SP-SPSB-10) to the line in with SP-CMC-8 omnis low sens modded.
Mics were headmounted and i was positioned center approx 15-20 metres from stage. I have never needed bass roll off before with this setup, using both omnis and cards SP-CMC-8.
My question: Would this recording have benefitted from using the M-10's low cut filter as it sounds cracked of some sort, or were the stacks pumping music at a capacity they couldnt quite handle?

Submitting a sample: http://soundcloud.com/knotto-knakbrak/fredtest

[adrianf74]

I used to have the older AT-933/c's (CMC-8s) from the early 2000's and they didn't have the 4.7k mod on them and I would get this if I was "too close" to a loud source.  It sounds like it's either overloaded at the source (the stacks) or the mics were overloading.   

I would also suggest you *never* stand dead centre within 15-20 meters from the stage as you end up getting a "bass-doubling effect and miss a lot of the sound around you because the stacks are too far to the sides.   I'd suggest being in line with one of the stacks for better results (or since you're running cards), stand back about 30-40 meters from the stage.

[shadow-world]

Ok, thanks for info.

Could i have kept my position if i had been using the m-10 low cut filter i wonder, its worth a test.

[George]

General rule of thumb is to never use any kind of low cut filters from a device (whether its the recorder or preamp), you can always fix up over-exaggerated bass in post.

[shadow-world]

Thanks for additional input. But are you sure on this recording (judging by the sample provided in thread) it can be salvaged?

[mpmks]

if you are running line in on the m10 are not all the settings for mic's on the the m10 having no impact
(low cut/mic sensitivity/manual record level)
i see no reason to think they would impact anything other than the onboard mics or just maybe the mic in

[shadow-world]

I read somewhere the m-10's low cut filter affects both mic in and line in.

Oh yeah, it was here i read it:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=148448.0

[mpmks]

I read somewhere the m-10's low cut filter affects both mic in and line in.

Oh yeah, it was here i read it:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=148448.0

i would never have thought that

[earmonger]

From the sample it sounds to me like the bass drum was overloading the mic itself.

The reason I say this is that the vocal and other instruments are not distorted.

 Low-cut filter would not have helped because the signal was already messed up before it got any further into the player.

[shadow-world]

Ok thanks for that info.

Odd tho since they are low sens modded. Thought they could hack it, even tho a lot bassy. Not overload the mic itself.

[adrianf74]

Two types over overload are possible; with the PA through the speakers (at which point it will sound like crap on a recording) and via the mic capsule itself (because the SPL exceeded the dB level).  I'm willing to bet it was the former (the stacks themselves) but as I wasn't there I can't say for certain.   If it was just too loud for the mics, then that answers that.

[shadow-world]

Ok, that sounds reasonable, thanks for all interest shown