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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: shotyd on May 19, 2008, 02:09:44 PM

Title: recording a comedy show
Post by: shotyd on May 19, 2008, 02:09:44 PM
I am going to record a comedy show this weekend with a internal mic (i have not gotten my mic yet :) [i have Edirol R-09]). low cut off, mic gain high and AGC on like a meeting setting?? what would be the best way to record a comedy show? thanks for helping!
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: jkbyram on May 19, 2008, 02:19:21 PM
the crowd around you is going to be very loud compared to the comedian unless you can get as close as possible to one of the PA speakers.  maybe then the comedy may be almost as loud as the crowd. idid a comedy show but not trying to hide it and was surprised how loud the crowd was.  the clapping is horrible in a room with no music.


i taped lavell crawford about 2 months before he was on last comic standing.
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: shotyd on May 19, 2008, 02:31:14 PM
last time I went to Irvine Improv I sat right next to the PA...so I think if I get there early enough, I can sit...or possibly request a seat right infront of the PA. and I'm going to see Wanda Sykes, so I'm sure the crowd will be very loud (?).  I'll give it a shot... >:D
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: shotyd on May 19, 2008, 02:45:31 PM
the crowd around you is going to be very loud compared to the comedian unless you can get as close as possible to one of the PA speakers.  maybe then the comedy may be almost as loud as the crowd. idid a comedy show but not trying to hide it and was surprised how loud the crowd was.  the clapping is horrible in a room with no music.


i taped lavell crawford about 2 months before he was on last comic standing.
so the setting should be low cut off, mic gain high and AGC on? just want to do this right. :) i'm a newb. :):) thanks for the help!
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: rokpunk on May 19, 2008, 03:01:20 PM
and I'm going to see Wanda Sykes,

i thought you said you were taping a comedian.
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: shotyd on May 19, 2008, 06:57:44 PM
and I'm going to see Wanda Sykes,

i thought you said you were taping a comedian.
isn't she one??
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: rokpunk on May 19, 2008, 07:26:03 PM
and I'm going to see Wanda Sykes,

i thought you said you were taping a comedian.
isn't she one??


i thought being funny was part of the comedian job description.
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: danlynch on May 19, 2008, 08:04:48 PM
I checked levels with John Oliver before the Mountain Goats on Friday night.   In retrospect I should definitely have recorded him, especially since he noticed me setting up and made a funny mention of it.

But my point is that its not just the crowd that will spike levels, but the performer will too, as they mumble, then yell, then speak quietly for a while, then laugh, etc.  Its really impossible to get decent levels without clipping at some points, even if you're right up at the stacks.



Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: jkbyram on May 19, 2008, 08:10:05 PM
You are so right. I actually did a matrix of lavell crawford(my frind was sound man) and between him trying to constantly get the vocal oevel right and the crowd going from quiet to laughing, it was all over the place.
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: cyfan on May 19, 2008, 11:14:35 PM
I taped Doug Stanhope a couple times. While crowd volume is an issue, I had more concerns with the drunken morons all trying to tumble into my mic stand all night. You think wooks at a music show are trouble ...

tim
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: gtalife on May 20, 2008, 01:26:57 AM
....funny, my buddy FOH engineer taped Doug Stanhope a few weeks ago, i stopped by to retreive some gear, and there he is using it,
(like he normally does)!. Audio came out well from a "On The Fly Matrix" via SP C4's, UA-5, and the feed from the board. He's pretty funny.
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: morst on May 20, 2008, 01:35:48 AM
Unlike most music recordings, comedy shows will probably sound fine if you use a limiter. Though if you have enough headroom to record without the limiter, you can probably get better results by limiting the audio afterwards in your workstation software. I suggest using a look-ahead limiter like WAVES L1 or the freeware equivalent - Yohng's W1.
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: shotyd on May 20, 2008, 03:12:28 AM
I checked levels with John Oliver before the Mountain Goats on Friday night.   In retrospect I should definitely have recorded him, especially since he noticed me setting up and made a funny mention of it.

But my point is that its not just the crowd that will spike levels, but the performer will too, as they mumble, then yell, then speak quietly for a while, then laugh, etc.  Its really impossible to get decent levels without clipping at some points, even if you're right up at the stacks.




so since the mumbleing and yelling and all, I should turn the AGC on then? or should I put the volume to a normal level in a regular speaking voice?
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: morst on May 21, 2008, 01:56:25 AM
so since the mumbleing and yelling and all, I should turn the AGC on then? or should I put the volume to a normal level in a regular speaking voice?
AGC is not magic. It takes time to react. I suggest recording with no limiter, so that even the loudest peaks do not clip. You can use a software limiter AFTERWARDS, to process the sound and reduce the dynamic range.
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: shotyd on May 21, 2008, 02:33:35 AM
so since the mumbleing and yelling and all, I should turn the AGC on then? or should I put the volume to a normal level in a regular speaking voice?
AGC is not magic. It takes time to react. I suggest recording with no limiter, so that even the loudest peaks do not clip. You can use a software limiter AFTERWARDS, to process the sound and reduce the dynamic range.
people i asked have said to turn the agc on...so I'll give that one a shot. if that don't work...lesson learned.  :P
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: shotyd on May 21, 2008, 02:11:55 PM
so much of comedy is facial expressions and body action.
That won't transfer so well to audio tape, will it?
no, but i'll remember what the person did, so it'll be in my memory...unless if i get too high and forget.  :P
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: cyfan on May 21, 2008, 02:48:37 PM
so much of comedy is facial expressions and body action.
That won't transfer so well to audio tape, will it?

It really depends on the comedian.
The bigger problem with comedy recordings is that once you've heard the punch lines there's little reason to listen over and over again ... like you might with music.

tim
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: crackmc on May 21, 2008, 10:18:59 PM
so much of comedy is facial expressions and body action.
That won't transfer so well to audio tape, will it?

have you never listened to a live comedy album?

sure...Carrot Top on CD isn't exactly going to work, but there are many classic live comedy albums out there.
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: rastasean on May 23, 2008, 01:11:58 PM
so much of comedy is facial expressions and body action.
That won't transfer so well to audio tape, will it?

Yeah, i mean every time i hear a steven wright joke, I have to wonder what his facial expression is.  >:D
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: odartman on May 24, 2008, 12:33:30 AM
National Lampoon, Monty Python and Fireside Theater, I still listen to these and they remain funny.
Yes I do know all the lines but I still get a chuckle.
Title: Re: recording a comedy show
Post by: shotyd on May 25, 2008, 03:56:21 AM
just recorded Wanda Sykes...just wanted to let you know...it came out AMAZING!!! got the laughter in control...can hear Wanda very clearly...I even did it with the interal mic of Edirol R-09!! AGC off Mic Gain High Low Cut off. thank you all for the help...i could never do this with your help! thank you thank you thank you!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D