Topic: Stack tape vs. DFC

[Chanher]

I'm taping some local band. they put out a mono mix.  In this case wouldn't it make better sense to stack tape?  The sound will be better and i'll probably run x-y with the c4's.

[nickgregory]

your call... a stack tape will have less of the crowd...but even though it is not a stereo mix, by running center you will get a stereo effect of the crowd, and even the music can achieve a slight image

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

I think it would be a compromise, either way.  To stack tape, you get a "better" sound, but it may lack some of the ambience of the venue, audience noise, any kind of space.  But a center AUD tape may contain too much of these things.

I tend to like center AUD tapes, even if they are too chatty, or whatever.  To me it is a better representation of what the concert sounded like.  But then again, I do appreciate stack tapes, as the music is generally better in quality.

There is also an arguement that the sound won't fully develop until it is a good distance away from the stacks, and that by getting in too close, you can move inside the sweet spot, making your recording less than what it could have been.  Sort of like standing too close to your stereo, it sounds like the speakers are way off to the left and right, rather than sounding like you are bathed in stereo...

I think you'll have to experiment, and make some educated guesses.  All of the AUD tapes from a recent Tony Rice and Peter Rowan shows I saw sucked ass as the music was real quiet and the corwd was real talkative...  The one stack taper apparently came away with a good pull, but I have yet to hear it...

Good luck, let us know how it works out!

Terry

[Chanher]

good points, I forgot about room ambience as well as amplifier location on stage.  last time I saw taped this band the mix didn't sound good anywhere including dfc, no matter how close or far from the band, so i bet I still go with the stack.  the tape came out pretty accurate to how it sounded from that location.  btw, this place is a poorly designed bar.  +t's

[extraordinary machine]

I really think it depends on the circumstances of the crowd/venue, etc. If the crowd seemed terribly noisy, I would autmatically go for a stack pull or set up in front of the board ( well, if the venue allows it lol ) Last night though, since I didn't really feel like dealing with a stand or anything and I plan on upgrading soon anyway, I simply "hatted" my mics ( or if I had full-bodied ones, I would have set up on the table ) and ran from one of the front tables/"row" slightly off-center, about 3-4 ft from the stage. Probably sounds better if not totally similar to a stack pull - though, has some crowd here and there ( though, all my stack tapes from this place have that too ). Almost was going to go for a board patch, but since it was an accoustic show ( accoustic and electric guitar, and piano ), but I don't really like accoustic boards...

[Tony B]

Pretty much agree with what everyone here has said...

Mono PA in a smaller bar, I'd go "stack" all the way, and XY at that. Then again, I generally prefer less crowd in most of my recordings. Heck, one of the best recordings I've done in a while was a straight XY about 8' from the speaker....

[jhirte]

I've had good luck running one AT the stack, then the other accross the stage. gets good PA mix/stage sound and even some audience ramblings...
might be worth a shot.

-Jim

[Josh]

i'm going to face the same dilemma tonight...

poorly designed bar will make me either go xy stack, or the 1 at the stack/other one across the stage configuration...that one needs a name.

of course i'll opt of the sbd feed if i can get it...

[eric.B]

I've had good luck running one AT the stack, then the other accross the stage. gets good PA mix/stage sound and even some audience ramblings...
might be worth a shot.

-Jim

^^^  I like the approach above if the room doesnt sound so good(ie chatter, crappy acoustics etc)

[Tony B]

Hm. I'll have to give that config a try...lots of crappy sounding little bars here in Minneapolis....

[scb]

i say at small clubs always go center.  stack taping (to me) is just an option at a huge venue when center doesn't really work

[jhirte]

I've had good luck running one AT the stack, then the other accross the stage. gets good PA mix/stage sound and even some audience ramblings...
might be worth a shot.

-Jim

^^^  I like the approach above if the room doesnt sound so good(ie chatter, crappy acoustics etc)

Damn straight!! +T brother!

[Chanher]

damn, didn't get to record that night, but next time that band plays at that bar I will stack tape and compare it to the dfc recording. +ts