similar to GB, i've had occasions where the conductor didn't want my mics in the way, so i had to bring them lower and angle them almost flat. interestingly, the end result was quite decent - not the ideal balance, but the band sounded like it would have from the stall seats. the band members liked the recordings, commenting that it sounded natural to them. however, i had other friends who heard it and said the band just sounded flat to them.
the height of the mic stand really makes a big difference when capturing these instruments... i was reading this book recently,
Tonmeister Technology and it outlined the different frequencies and sounds captured from instruments at different placements. after reading it, i better understand how to place my mics to get the desired sound, though in a stereo pair i suppose there has to be a compromise in sound especially when recording an orchestra - ie. how to balance the cellos and the violins if they are radiating so differently?
some time back i did a recording of an orchestra with only half the strings, but still the full complement of brasses and woodwinds. to get a better balance, i had to move my mics much closer and lower. the recording definitely didn't sound like it did from the audience, but i felt it was more balanced as it almost sounded like a brass band from the audience!
Not sure exactly how he was using it, but I can't let this one pass without commenting since it's one of my pet peeves that I see repeated all over the web incorrectly applied to stereo mic'ing. The 3:1 rule applies only to multiple mics that are summed to a single channel, not to to stereo mic'ing or discrete multichannel recording. If you think about it, nearly all popular stereo mic'ing techniques would break it.
oops! i was sure i had read it somewhere, but now that i've tried looking for it i can't find it. i always assumed that it applied to placing split omnis. sorry about that!
btw GB, have you had any experience with a jecklin disk? i'm in the process of making one following these specs:
http://www.studiy.tv/?p=22. i realise its the old specs, but i thought i'd give it a shot. i've just made the wooden disk and base, and will be going to source for some foam. i'm thinking of some soundproofing foam that would absorb the high frequencies. just hoping it'd work out right!
also, do you have any tips on placement? i've read the josephson article
http://www.josephson.com/tn5.html but i was wondering if there was anything i'd have to watch out for? i'll be testing it out on a choir i'm recording on sunday, i know i should be going by ear to test it, but i don't think they have much time for a soundcheck so i'll have to be fast
though if i can't get it done by this sunday (still have to stick the foam on and bolt the flanges) i'll probably run the DPA 5.1 and hopefully get the samples that i've been promising for a while now
cheers,
guo