Topic: Recording surround with 2 mics?

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

So I just got word that Super Furry Animals are playing in Denver in Feb. (at the Bluebird Theater). I will be taping openly.

They set up  4 channel surround sound for all of their shows. I was wondering what would be the best way to somewhat pick up all four speakers. Is it worth it? Can I really pick up all four speakers or will it just sound like 2 since I will only have 2 mics.

How about if I had a way of recording 4 tracks? Is there a way to record 4 tracks at once to my laptop? If so what would I have to buy? (this is just for fun since I imagine I would have to win the lottery for this. Or get a really good job).

I usually set up in the balcony at the Bluebird for 2 reasons. 1. there is electricity so I can run a laptop without worrying about running out of juice. and 2. there is less of a chance of getting my mics knocked over since I clamp them to the railing. If I do that there is NO CHANCE of picking up the rear speakers because they would be in front of me.

Anyway, what do you guys think? Should I try something new or just stick with what has worked for me there? (recording from the balcony).

Thanks,
MIKE B

[Sean Gallemore]

What mics/patterns do you have access to?

How are the 4 speaker stacks set up?

if they are equidistance in 4 corners of a room you can maybe try blumlein

[Lee]

What mics/patterns do you have access to?

How are the 4 speaker stacks set up?

if they are equidistance in 4 corners of a room you can maybe try blumlein

or omnis maybe...

ORTF cards would give you the best image of what you heard at the show, I imagine.

[1st set only]

go for bluemin!

[Simp-Dawg]

no blumlein possible with oktavas....no figure 8 caps

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

Right now I only have the cards. Hopefully I will have hypers at that time too.

I'm leaning to sticking with what's worked for me in the past. I like taping from the balcony. The only problem I have there is there is a vent above the center of the balcony, where I clamp my mics and the bar is right under that so I get some chatter sometimes. Hopefully the hypers and some windscreens fix those problems.

I might run my CSB's up FOB. I'd have to get someone to help me with that since I can't be in 2 places at once.

What about running 4 mics (just a dream it won't happen) into a laptop. Is it possible to record 4 channels to a laptop at once?

Thanks again,
MIKE B

[sexymexi]

yea i would say j-disc.  easiest waysounds to me with only 2 mics... good luck

[BC]

borrow 2 more mics and a recorder...
Otherwise I would say ORTF is probably the easiest way to get most of what is going on around you...

Peace,
Ben

[Kwonfidelity]

I think the most important question asked here (schwilly) has not been answered in order to determine the best set-up:

"How are the 4 speaker stacks set up?"

Or if it is obvious, I'm clueless b/c I don't know this gig.  but if they are pointing PAs at you from front and back, and using reverb and delay for the rears you're gonna end up with a tape that sounds like you're in a huge arena.  If they are amplifying discrete sounds (not just delays and reverb from the original two track) from the rears than you're gonna get pretty much a stereo sound (obviously with the stereo mics).  Have they been taped before?  What have others done?

Even if you had the hardware to record 4 tracks for the 4 channels surround there would be two much bleed from one channel to the other to be worth the trouble.  you would find too much of the same soundstage at each discrete mic and you would ultimately end up with a overglorified stereo recording.

[jpschust]

i dont know that id nevvesarily agree with the notion of an overglorified stereo recording.  in a post mix phase of working on this you really could do some good stuff heighteining some of the low end or high end you might not get if you were just using one set of mics.  i mean we do it in the studio all the time, run two different mics as a stereo pair to mix down to one channel so that between the two mics we get the full range of sound we want.  same concept just double the mics

[Kwonfidelity]

Agreed.  I tape like this almost exclusively, with four mics for the exact reasons you mention.  Just capturing and shaping on the fly with baffled, noise defeating headphones.

I guess I was inferring to his specific application.  It may not be worth the trouble and cost of hardware for Mike to try to get 4 channels into his laptop for this specific PA (surround) system.

[jpschust]

i agree, you are going to have a hard time representing the true surround with 4 mics in a club, but you can get a really nice tape using 4 mics :-)

[Kwonfidelity]

Keep an eye out for one of those four mic concoctions this weekend in Asheville