Topic: New Taper - Basic Questions

[Liriodendron]

I'm a long time collector of live music, but just started attempting to tape some shows. I'm not working with a true recording rig, but trying to get the best out of what I currently have......I may upgrade to a true rig later.

I have recorded 2 shows on an Apple Iphone 3GS with a Blue Mikey version 2 mic attached. I'm pretty happy with the results considering, but being new to taping I just want to ask what may be some basic questions to make sure that I am getting the best out of this particular setup.

What's the best mic placement? The 2 shows I taped, I simply held the phone/mic in my hand the entire time, with the exception of a few songs at one of the shows, where I Placed the mic in my seat in front of me. When I did place the mic in my seat, still facing the stage, it seemed like I didn't capture the mid-high frequency's as well......is that normal?......but more to the point, what's gonna typically be the best placement for the mic? high, low where?

With this set up, I use a recording app called Fire which allows me to adjust my gain. I also have a digital readout of what my Wave file looks like and bars to show how close to normalized to -.1db or clipping I am. The first show I recorded without any gain at all, and had to boost the audio after the fact, as it was pretty low. The second show I added some gain, but still had to come in and boost the audio after the fact. Where do I typically want to be during recording? right at the peak? What is the advantage of adding gain during recording as opposed to adding gain post recording? Will it affect hiss levels?

I have a show that I really want to record in July, and I want to do all that i can to make the best out of the set up I have, as I think security will be really tight, and getting this setup in, is pretty easy, that's one thing I like about it.

Samples from first show.....recorded about 30' from stage:
40 days - Raw: http://www.mediafire.com/?2uptgdgo53azfcm
40 days - Mastered: http://www.mediafire.com/?xn0p6il2ci9i3u1

Any help would be much appreciated!!!

Thanks
Lirio

[rastasean]

Welcome, take a look at this: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=33610.0

[Liriodendron]

Wow, so helpful. Thanks.

[Brian Skalinder]

The best mic placement is generally the best sounding spot in the room -- could be high, low, left, right, etc.  Typically we can't run our mics absolutely everywhere, though, so...find the best sounding spot you can.  Then it's generally best to get the mics above the crowd, if possible.  The two most common ways:  setting up a stand in open-taping environments, or mics worn on your person in more stealthy situations.  For stealthy situations:  be creative, you'll figure something out to get the mics as high as possible.

Yes, it's normal for sound quality to suffer -- especially mid and high frequencies -- if you're recording from seat level.  Next concert, stick your head down at the base of the seat (or at a standing show sit on the floor so your head is at everyone's hips or lower) and see how it sounds.  It won't sound good.

Whether or not it's better to add gain during recording or in post depends in part on your recording gear.  Adding gain may cause hiss whether added during recording or in post.  It depends on your iPhone's capabilities and limitations.  I'm not familiar with the iPhone's capabilities and limitations, and I'm guessing most here aren't, either.  But you might get lucky and have someone chime in with first-hand experience.

Generally speaking, it's best to record with levels reasonably close to 0 dBFS.  I'll often shoot for anywhere from -12 dBFS to -6 dBFS, depending on the source I'm recording, in order to ensure I won't clip (hit 0 dBFS) due to an unexpected peak.  But that assumes that one has quality, clean gain for achieving proper recording levels.  I have no idea if -- or under what conditions -- the iPhone provides quality, clean gain, or if it stinks, or somewhere in between.

It might be best to set the levels as close to peaking as possible while recording.  Or leave the recording levels quite low and raise in post.  Or perhaps somewhere in the middle.  It all depends on how and how well your iPhone provides gain under various conditions (e.g. generally speaking, low, medium, or high gain).  It may sound fine at low and medium gain, but terrible at high gain.  Or it may sound terrible at low gain, but okay at medium and high gain.  Your best bet:  run a test or two.  Record something LOUD and try a variety of gain levels on the iPhone.  Then normalize each, and compare to determine which sounds best.

[Liriodendron]

Thanks Brian, very helpful an informative info......nice feedback, and genuinely appreciated!

[MSTaper]

Welcome! You should find a lot of helpful advice, especially when/if you get equipment most tapers are familiar with.
But as long as you're happy with the results you're getting, go for it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. I'm about four years in and still asking! 

MSTaper