Topic: New to taping shows

[mattinbeloit]

Hey everyone, i came over here at the suggestion of a few ppl. on another web site. I'm not new to recording but have never tried to record a huge live  show, so i plan on taping the Dave Matthews show at the Kohl center in madison on the 29th of november. Anyway i just have a quick question. I am planning on putting up a stereo pair of mics on a T on the end of a mic stand. How high should the mic stand be? Also i'm worried about possibly obscuring the view of the ppl. sitting behind me(with the mic stand), has anyone ever had this problem before, and if so what do you suggest? Thanks.

[heath]

most people at a dave show are used to stands.  height of stand depends on where you are, but you might want to go higher than usual considering the normally chatty dmb teenyboppers.  Last time i taped them, i ran at about 7 feet, and i got way too much teenage girl banter on my tape for my liking...

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[mattinbeloit]

ya i have been asking some other ppl. and they usually run around 20ft. they said. I don't have a stand that high but I have one that is about 12 ft. so i hope that's enough. Thanks for the help.

[Diggin]

it really depends on where you are in the Kohl Center.  If you were on the floor I would suggest 12ft, but if you on the sides in the stands probably around 9-10 feet as you will be above most people and higher/closer to the stacks.
I have never heard of a stand that goes 20, I know 17 has been used, and maxed out.

[heath]

20 seems a bit excessive to me...12 should be high enough to get you above the chatter without building a skyscraper

[Youneverno41]

im going 16' to 18' for dmb this winter

[mattinbeloit]

i don't have a 20 foot mic stand nor do i plan on paying $200 for one... 12 should be enough im thinking but then again the higher the better really. thanks guys.

[Chomps]

when I tape DMB i run anywhere from 10-12 feet depending on how close I am to the stack.

[thoman8r]

you shouldn't ever have to tape from 20', no matter who you're seeing.

12-13' is sufficient.  The show is mixed to sound the best at ground level, not 20' in the air.

[nickgregory]

I actually think 12-13' is excessive, I run much lower than most DMB tapers at DMB shows and I think the tapes are better for it...highest I have run lately is ~9-10 ft.  Of course this depends greatly on the crowd around you, so it will be up to you if the crowd is chatty as hell to run higher.  But dont freak out too much, I am always surprised how little of the chatting shows up at times...

[willndmb]

i go 13 ft
some times its to much crowd other times its good
i would not worry about getting a new stand, your 12 will be good

[bagtagsell]

when i first started taping.  I bought this 17 foot stand, and I would max that thing out every time  small clubs, big clubs, sheds, pavillions, outdoors, indoors..  I just thought that was the best way. 
Now I just look at the direction, placement, of the stacks.