Topic: If you have to pick, mics or board?

[atxwolfattack]

Say i go to a show, and am allowed to patch through the board, if i have to pick between only recording through mic's or only recording through the soundboard, what would you pick?

I guess it would be smart to ask if all of the instruments are mic'ed, because it seems like if they are not, then it would be best to just record through my own mics instead of the board.

I don't know if i am ready or at the skill level yet to buy a mixer and mix a board recording and mic recording on the spot, but i thought that i might as well get the cables and adapters so if i have the chance to get a board patch, then i can.


Also, if i get a patch recording, and there is someone else who is getting a recording through mics, is it possible to sync them up later in post, or is it really hard to get them to line up? I know these questions have probably been answered, but i searched and couldnt really find exactly what i was asking.

-Josh

[Church-Audio]

Say i go to a show, and am allowed to patch through the board, if i have to pick between only recording through mic's or only recording through the soundboard, what would you pick?

I guess it would be smart to ask if all of the instruments are mic'ed, because it seems like if they are not, then it would be best to just record through my own mics instead of the board.

I don't know if i am ready or at the skill level yet to buy a mixer and mix a board recording and mic recording on the spot, but i thought that i might as well get the cables and adapters so if i have the chance to get a board patch, then i can.


Also, if i get a patch recording, and there is someone else who is getting a recording through mics, is it possible to sync them up later in post, or is it really hard to get them to line up? I know these questions have probably been answered, but i searched and couldnt really find exactly what i was asking.

-Josh

Mics..

[stevetoney]

When I had less invested in my rig, I'd pick the SBD every time.  Now that I'm higher end, I'd go mics pretty much every time.  The exception is when it's a really crappy room...like I'd probably pick a SBD over mics at The State Theater in Falls Church, VA which I thought was the worst place I've ever tried to record in.  Generally board is nice, but too stale/boring...as Moke points out.

[pmonk66]

Give me a good audience recording any day of the week!

[bconnolly]

Depends on the show.  I was at a bar show last year where I probably should have taken the board feed instead of running my mics because the crowd was so goddamn loud my tape sounded like shit.

But, in almost all cases, microphones are first.

[atxwolfattack]

okay, thats what it has always seemed like to me, mics first.

But say there is someone already getting a mic recording, and i will be able to get it from them, so i get the soundboard recording, is it really hard lining up a soundboard and audience recording from 2 sources that are not mixed on the spot?

-Josh

[bconnolly]

okay, thats what it has always seemed like to me, mics first.

But say there is someone already getting a mic recording, and i will be able to get it from them, so i get the soundboard recording, is it really hard lining up a soundboard and audience recording from 2 sources that are not mixed on the spot?

-Josh

I'd say it's easier to do it in post than on the fly.

[OFOTD]

is it really hard lining up a soundboard and audience recording from 2 sources that are not mixed on the spot?

-Josh

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,44072.0.html

If you have some patience then no its not that hard.  If both sources are not on the same word clock then it takes some more time.   Read the tutorial (link in thread), its a good one and really helped me.

[china_rider]

With good mics I personally like an AUD over SBD 99% of the time.

[R-4 Fluff]
That being said.... Pick up an R-4 record AUD and SBD separately.  In post mix and see which of the 3 you like best. :-}
[/R-4 Fluff]

[Patrick]

I avoid SBD patches these day unless it is going into channels 3+4 on the r4

Can't listen to them on their own most of the time. 

[bconnolly]

I avoid SBD patches these day unless it is going into channels 3+4 on the r4

Can't listen to them on their own most of the time. 

Sometimes when I'm offered a patch and I have all the gear to accommodate it, I'm still hesitant to take it.  Just because I'm lazy and doing matrix work in post is not something I relish.  At the time I know it's going to make my tape sound so much better but I just don't want to do that editing later.  That's the kind of guy I am.

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

Give me a good audience recording any day of the week!

What he said...

Terry

[Krispy D]

MICS!!!!!!!!

[gratefulphish]

Even in most smaller settings when all of the instuments are mic'ed, the amount of guitar and bass coming through the board mix is either substantially reduced, or non-existant, to make up for the sound coming from the stage amps.  Yes, crowd noise can suck, but try moving closer, or getting your mics higher.  I do run four channels, and sometimes I mix, and sometimes I just use my mic pair.  The only major advantage of the board feed most times, is the clarity of the vocals.

[JD]

Mics all the way!

[powermonkey]

Before I knew what I was talking about I would have said board alllllllll the way. But nowadays I'd say audience - soundboards often feel a bit flat... A good audience sh*ts all over a sbd, it woud appear.

[saxophoner]

a kid i know does the recording stuff in teh studio and sbd for concerts.  told me that what i run, along with all the other aud recordigns suck compared to the quality he is capturing.  are they recording at 24bit like the auds as well?  i mean they get the sbd and then put it on an audio disc, so isn't my wav better than their mp3 in the long run?

[Steve J]

I prefer audience recordings in most situations. The only exceptions I've found are outdoor shows with a low db level restriction. In those situations, I've found the SBD feeds to be very good, mainly because they're forced to feed everything through the board and balance the sound from there. Otherwise, the SBD feed can be very dry and colorless.

[NJFunk]

It's impossible to give a blanket answer, but mics more often than board.

[CQBert]

I was at a show the other night and was getting set up and the House Sound Guy who knows me came by and asked if I wanted a patch from the board....   Since I was only running 2ch and I know the band does a good bit of audience participation and some off mic singing I opted for my gear.  He looked at me like I was crazy but my recording came out great.

Same place - a month ago at a private event I was labeled "ambient mic guy" by Gusters' Sound Man...  He told me that my recording would not sound good as he was mixing for radio broadcast.... In the end his mix blew chunks, I was close enough to the stage to get solid sound and when they finished with a totally off mic song I was the only one who had it recorded...

One more - same venue, a show last Dec where the band was recording and selling...  I ran my gear and got a nice recording.   Same band, same venue 6 months later I ran into a guy who told me that the recording that the band sold had all kinds of static and pops throughout the first disc...  I gave him a copy of mine - clear...

Board recording can be a little fickle, static from output, unmiced instruments, or even having your feed be turned off by the engineer by accident... all those things turn a good night bad in an instant...

For my money when in 2ch mode I will generally go with my gear...  if more ch then I will grab a board patch when available.

CQBert