Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: sweatboard on May 12, 2005, 01:10:49 PM

Title: proximity to the stage
Post by: sweatboard on May 12, 2005, 01:10:49 PM

I'm wondering about how close to the stage I can get and still make a good recording.  I'll be running, AT8533Rx's>ua-5>NJB3.  I know that most people like to stand near the soundboard but I really like getting up close, in what ways will the recording suffer?  What things would I need to tweek in order to get closer?  Thank You,

Brian

Title: Re: proximity to the stage
Post by: Tim on May 12, 2005, 01:16:42 PM

if you get too far forward you may be "in front of" the pa speakers and not picking up the vocals or other instruments not coming through stage amps (synths and other effects)

the sweet spot is generally a bit in front of the board. the general rule of thumb is to draw an equilateral triangle with you being the point and the distance between the speakers being the same as your distance from the speakers.... I like to get to that spot preshow and walk around that area until I find the sweet spot.

Title: Re: proximity to the stage
Post by: Tim on May 12, 2005, 01:54:34 PM

that's a good idea, I hadn't thought of that

good call moke

now I just need to run the damn thing :P

Title: Re: proximity to the stage
Post by: sweatboard on May 12, 2005, 02:00:08 PM

Thanks Tim, that makes perfect sense, I didn't realize that the pa had extra sounds that don't come from the stage.  My next question is, when you patch into a soundboard you only get what comes through the pa, so why do I hear audience noise on some soundboard recordings.

Title: Re: proximity to the stage
Post by: Brian on May 12, 2005, 02:01:44 PM

because the vocal microphones at the front of the stage are picking up the crowd as well.

Title: Re: proximity to the stage
Post by: Tim on May 12, 2005, 02:02:37 PM

because the audience is "bleeding through" the stage mics and/or the soundman has added an extra mic(s) on the stage or out at the soundboard setup specifically to capture the crowd reaction.

Title: Re: proximity to the stage
Post by: sweatboard on May 12, 2005, 02:03:18 PM

ah-ha, Thanks.

Title: Re: proximity to the stage
Post by: heath on May 12, 2005, 02:22:38 PM

tim is a jedi...   :P

(http://lvb.net/media/1/20030509-starwars-kid.jpg)

Title: Re: proximity to the stage
Post by: John R on May 12, 2005, 02:31:52 PM

Quote from: Tim on May 12, 2005, 01:54:34 PM

now I just need to run the damn thing :P

also, depending on the show, and depending on how stealthy you need to be(or not) you could get the front fills as your source(not ideal)

Title: Re: proximity to the stage
Post by: Bdifr78 on May 13, 2005, 12:10:33 AM

Quote from: Tim on May 12, 2005, 01:16:42 PM

if you get too far forward you may be "in front of" the pa speakers and not picking up the vocals or other instruments not coming through stage amps (synths and other effects)

the sweet spot is generally a bit in front of the board. the general rule of thumb is to draw an equilateral triangle with you being the point and the distance between the speakers being the same as your distance from the speakers.... I like to get to that spot preshow and walk around that area until I find the sweet spot.

Yeah I have always noticed this.  For Phish 7/29/03 in Burgetstwon PA, we got amazing 5th row dead center tickets through the lottery.  One of the sickest shows they played after the hiatus(some people think a top 20 show of all time), and I could hear almost no vocals whatsoever!  It was still a freaking amazing experience, but it sounded like crap at the time.