Topic: Need Help!! Zoom H2!!! Recording Paul McCartney at Citi Field!!

[skeetskeetle]

Hello! I will be recording the Paul McCartney concert at Citi Field. I have purchased a Zoom H2 to record the concert. I will be sitting in either section 501 or section 527. What settings/precations should I take to record in the best quality possible. Please help me!! Please go here to see the seating chart (because I posted my seating sections for the best advice) Here: http://www.507tixx.com/seating-paulMcCartney.pdf
Thank you and I am a first time recorder!!!

[Belexes]

It appears you are up in the nosebleeds and not directly inline with the line array of speakers.  It'd be difficult to get a good capture from where you are situated using the internal mics of the recorder.  My advice: leave it at home and go enjoy the show. This will likely get taped by others and shared.

[skeetskeetle]

It appears you are up in the nosebleeds and not directly inline with the line array of speakers.  It'd be difficult to get a good capture from where you are situated using the internal mics of the recorder.  My advice: leave it at home and go enjoy the show. This will likely get taped by others and shared.

I already get that, but I'd still like to make a good effort to make a good recording, I still would just like to know the best settings/options would still get me the best recording.

[su6oxone]

I already get that, but I'd still like to make a good effort to make a good recording, I still would just like to know the best settings/options would still get me the best recording.

The problem is that it appears you are planning to use the internal mics of the Zoom H2 to tape this concert from a very far distance.  This is not the recipe for making a great tape, unfortunately.  Depending on how high your standards are, though, you might get a recording you would be satisfied with if you try to avoid crowd noise (don't chat/clap/scream) while taping, try to avoid having people directly in from of your H2 (e.g. try to keep it high as possible and move it away from people walking right past you), and, well that's all I can think of at the moment.  For the settings, use 24 bit if you can (probably the H2 is a 16 bit recorder I guess) and try to set your 'levels' during the opening act so that the peaks are around -6dB or so.  Hopefully someone else will stealth tape it too. 

[gewwang]

Be extremely careful getting your Zoom H2 recorder into the stadium. They will have intense security measures in place for this historical event.

http://www.507tixx.com/securityMeasures.html

This inspection may include the use of hand-held metal detectors and hand searches of individuals and carried items.

Prohibited Items: Items larger than 16"x16"x8", coolers (hard-sided), cans, glass bottles, beverage containers, open containers, commercial audio/video equipment, alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, laser pointers, noisemaking devices, fireworks, animals (except for assistive purposes), weapons, food items and the like.

[su6oxone]

They will have intense security measures in place for this historical event.

What's the historical significance of this concert again?  Beatles show anniversary or... ?

[gewwang]

I'm just being sarcastic

[su6oxone]

I'm just being sarcastic

lol, oh okay...

[dallman]

I'm just being sarcastic

lol, oh okay...

Pauls Birthday is tomorrow...so is mine, but I don't need to have any security measures.

[wklitz]

I'm just being sarcastic

yeah I was gonna say nothing about the security wands & patdowns is anything I'm not already used to.

[cybergaloot]

It wont come out great but if you want to give it a shot try setting it to 44.1kHz/24bit, 48/24 would be ok too, leave the limiter and compression off, leave the record level at 100 (default, and its on the digital side anyway), use the three position mic sensitivity switch to get your level (start at low), and choose which pair of internal mics you want, probably the narrower angle would be best. Be sure to have fresh batteries or fully charged rechargables. I have recorded some arena shows with the H2 in my shirt pocket but you have to be careful about moving too much, etc. And make sure you have the display light set to turn off after a few seconds. A piece of tape over the mic indicator light is a good idea.

Its mostly plastic so may get past security wanding but I don't know for sure. That metal grill over the mics may be a problem. Heck, if you can stick it in a holder on your belt and attach some ear buds you might get away with calling it an MP3 player.