Topic: stack recording or on stage question

[jebi]

where is the best place to put your mic's if you recording on stage or the stacks with 1 pair of mics?

[beefstew]

where is the best place to put your mic's if you recording on stage or the stacks with 1 pair of mics?

use your ears
walk around the place and find where it sounds best

[anodyne33]

depends on what you are taping and in what kind of venue. in a small to mid sized bar there's not likely to be a proportionate amount of all the sources through the pa. if it's a quiet group, or one w/o vocals stage can work really well.

[Charlie Miller]

where is the best place to put your mic's if you recording on stage or the stacks with 1 pair of mics?

use your ears
walk around the place and find where it sounds best

That is correct. There is no set rule as to where to put your mics. Every venue/stage/PA is different. That is why I don't agree with using the same mic pattern for every show you tape. I see folks who use XY or ORTF for everything they tape. You really need to look at where you are before picking your mic pattern (have an open mind).

I should also add that folks shouldn't put their mics right up against a PA. Think about a PA is set up and how many speakers/horns are in each cabinet.

cm

[grider]

on stage you want to be away from the band and out of their way, certainly, close to the stage lip where the crowd will be, about three feet high and centered in the stage, the real problem if there is one is not placing the mics too close to any particular amp or the percussions, and place it so you will get an even mix of all of the instruments, and run cards not hypers since cards have a wide sound stage and have no rear lobe so you will not pick up much of the chatter behind the mics; for stack taping, run hypers and run from as close to the center of the room as you can, I often run near a table for protection or even better lash your stand to a pole or support beam with twist ties or velcro and then no one will bump into your stand, and run just a couple of feet above head height to avoid taping background noise and conversations, good luck

[aberg]

on stage you want to be away from the band and out of their way, certainly, close to the stage lip where the crowd will be, about three feet high and centered in the stage, the real problem if there is one is not placing the mics too close to any particular amp or the percussions, and place it so you will get an even mix of all of the instruments, and run cards not hypers since cards have a wide sound stage and have no rear lobe so you will not pick up much of the chatter behind the mics; for stack taping, run hypers and run from as close to the center of the room as you can, I often run near a table for protection or even better lash your stand to a pole or support beam with twist ties or velcro and then no one will bump into your stand, and run just a couple of feet above head height to avoid taping background noise and conversations, good luck

If you're in the center of the room, isn't that no longer stack taping? I was under the impression that stack taping involved choosing one side of the PA and micing that one side?

[grider]

on stage you want to be away from the band and out of their way, certainly, close to the stage lip where the crowd will be, about three feet high and centered in the stage, the real problem if there is one is not placing the mics too close to any particular amp or the percussions, and place it so you will get an even mix of all of the instruments, and run cards not hypers since cards have a wide sound stage and have no rear lobe so you will not pick up much of the chatter behind the mics; for stack taping, run hypers and run from as close to the center of the room as you can, I often run near a table for protection or even better lash your stand to a pole or support beam with twist ties or velcro and then no one will bump into your stand, and run just a couple of feet above head height to avoid taping background noise and conversations, good luck

If you're in the center of the room, isn't that no longer stack taping? I was under the impression that stack taping involved choosing one side of the PA and micing that one side?

yes, its true, in a small room no one would ever stack tape though would they? I assume he meant taping the sound produced by the house monitors, that would make his original inquiry more logical, that's what I think he meant, but yes you are right, people stack tape Dave Matthews Band for example, capturing the sound produced by just the left or just the right mono channel

[run_run_run]

on stage you want to be away from the band and out of their way, certainly, close to the stage lip where the crowd will be, about three feet high and centered in the stage, the real problem if there is one is not placing the mics too close to any particular amp or the percussions, and place it so you will get an even mix of all of the instruments, and run cards not hypers since cards have a wide sound stage and have no rear lobe so you will not pick up much of the chatter behind the mics; for stack taping, run hypers and run from as close to the center of the room as you can, I often run near a table for protection or even better lash your stand to a pole or support beam with twist ties or velcro and then no one will bump into your stand, and run just a couple of feet above head height to avoid taping background noise and conversations, good luck

If you're in the center of the room, isn't that no longer stack taping? I was under the impression that stack taping involved choosing one side of the PA and micing that one side?

yes, its true, in a small room no one would ever stack tape though would they? I assume he meant taping the sound produced by the house monitors, that would make his original inquiry more logical, that's what I think he meant, but yes you are right, people stack tape Dave Matthews Band for example, capturing the sound produced by just the left or just the right mono channel

Okay, so being centered and pointing one mic at the left stack and one at the right is not stack taping.

[aberg]

on stage you want to be away from the band and out of their way, certainly, close to the stage lip where the crowd will be, about three feet high and centered in the stage, the real problem if there is one is not placing the mics too close to any particular amp or the percussions, and place it so you will get an even mix of all of the instruments, and run cards not hypers since cards have a wide sound stage and have no rear lobe so you will not pick up much of the chatter behind the mics; for stack taping, run hypers and run from as close to the center of the room as you can, I often run near a table for protection or even better lash your stand to a pole or support beam with twist ties or velcro and then no one will bump into your stand, and run just a couple of feet above head height to avoid taping background noise and conversations, good luck

If you're in the center of the room, isn't that no longer stack taping? I was under the impression that stack taping involved choosing one side of the PA and micing that one side?

yes, its true, in a small room no one would ever stack tape though would they? I assume he meant taping the sound produced by the house monitors, that would make his original inquiry more logical, that's what I think he meant, but yes you are right, people stack tape Dave Matthews Band for example, capturing the sound produced by just the left or just the right mono channel

Alright, gotcha. I had it right in my mind I think all along, just got a little confused there.

[itook2much]

Okay, so being centered and pointing one mic at the left stack and one at the right is not stack taping.

I've always heard (& thought) stack taping is taping in very close proximity of a stack.  This results in a recording with much less "room" sound, almost soundboard-like.

Centering with mics aimed at the stacks still picks up the sound of the venu, more crowd noise, etc. resulting in a more "ambient" recording.

Both can be excellent, it's more or less a matter of taste.