Topic: Jazz Nonet Setup Specifically for AUD Recording Session?

[Gutbucket]

Yeah, I thought about that option as well, but it's worth noting that omnis do have some directionality to them. So, anyone "behind" the direction of the omnis might have their spectrum tampered with a bit. One thought I had to handle that was to raise my stand a bit higher, then use my superclamp on the stand such that I could get the mics on the j-disc pointing down instead of forward.

If you do want to try this, I wouldn't worry too much about the roll-off at the back of the omnis, especially if only the close miced vocals are back there.  You'll get plenty of vocal sparkle from the LD's.  The vibes probably wouldn't suffer much either if you needed to [slide them around to that side to] make room.  I'd be hesitant to raise the J-disk too high or you'll get less separation from leakage underneath if everyone is in pretty close, and a little less close-in Jazz immediacy.  Try the disk vs. the ORTF pair if you can and pick whatever works better if you can get a quick listen.

[dean]

I have no suggestions, I just wanted to comment that thread is fascinating.  T's around.

Backatcha!  This is the stuff that makes TS.com a GREAT site!

[ScottT]

I have no suggestions, I just wanted to comment that thread is fascinating.  T's around.

No doubt!

So how did it go?

[BayTaynt3d]

Well, here's a short version, maybe I'll write more later...

There was a lot of people crammed into a semi-small space, and I ended up not really being able to direct the setup very much -- just didn't seem entirely appropriate (or totally feasible either, but there's a longer version of that story). However, that wasn't too much of a big deal, and at first listen the recording came out pretty damn good -- although the room was small, the acoustics were excellent with treatments on the walls and a carpeted floor, nice and dead/dry for recording.

So, I ran J-Disc omnis as my main stereo pair, and that was just awesomely transparent with a very good image. I then mic'ed the vocalists (who were to the left) with a single LD. The vocalists also sang into 2 SM58s that were feeding a monitor, which was a good and bad thing (the monitor helped me pick up the vocals a bit more, but it didn't sound as pure and the monitor had a slight hiss which was audible at quiet moments). I then had room for one more channel, so I put a card near the bass/vibes thinking they'd be the quietest on the stereo pair mix. After critically listening during the first 15 minutes of rehearsing the first track, I made three crucial changes. I had the guitarist turn up his amp a tiny bit, the violinist turn up his amp a tiny bit, and then I moved that extra card to be directly under the vibes only and away from the bass because I could hear the bass no problem on the omni pair but I couldn't hear the vibes at all despite his playing "louder than normal." Those minor tweaks, made a huge difference for the rest of the day, and I think the recording will serve its "demo" purpose quite nicely...

So, major thanks for all of the ideas guys, the brainstorming helped me be able to deal with the situation as it unfolded and it looks like it made for a successful recording (maybe even one of my personal best)!

[dean]

   Fantastic!  Nice work, Bay!  Big +T for ya! 

[Gutbucket]

Way to go!  Strong work adjusting to the situation, certainly sounded like a good time for you.  Thanks for sharing how it turned out.

[mmmatt]

Well, here's a short version, maybe I'll write more later...

There was a lot of people crammed into a semi-small space, and I ended up not really being able to direct the setup very much -- just didn't seem entirely appropriate (or totally feasible either, but there's a longer version of that story). However, that wasn't too much of a big deal, and at first listen the recording came out pretty damn good -- although the room was small, the acoustics were excellent with treatments on the walls and a carpeted floor, nice and dead/dry for recording.

So, I ran J-Disc omnis as my main stereo pair, and that was just awesomely transparent with a very good image. I then mic'ed the vocalists (who were to the left) with a single LD. The vocalists also sang into 2 SM58s that were feeding a monitor, which was a good and bad thing (the monitor helped me pick up the vocals a bit more, but it didn't sound as pure and the monitor had a slight hiss which was audible at quiet moments). I then had room for one more channel, so I put a card near the bass/vibes thinking they'd be the quietest on the stereo pair mix. After critically listening during the first 15 minutes of rehearsing the first track, I made three crucial changes. I had the guitarist turn up his amp a tiny bit, the violinist turn up his amp a tiny bit, and then I moved that extra card to be directly under the vibes only and away from the bass because I could hear the bass no problem on the omni pair but I couldn't hear the vibes at all despite his playing "louder than normal." Those minor tweaks, made a huge difference for the rest of the day, and I think the recording will serve its "demo" purpose quite nicely...

So, major thanks for all of the ideas guys, the brainstorming helped me be able to deal with the situation as it unfolded and it looks like it made for a successful recording (maybe even one of my personal best)!

good job

+T

Matt