Help on deciding a rig for an outdoor show

[Gutbucket]

Ambi's are a waste of time...emphasis on "timing" cause its all over the place.

Can you tell me what you mean by this?

They might not be the right tool here but they've been a gamechanger elsewhere, specifically on stage. I haven't been a fan of using one FOB but have used it as a minimalist rig elsewhere (stack tapes mostly)

Thank you everyone for your feedback. This festival will be running two stages - not sure what sort of access I'll have but maybe I'll end up running a rig at each stage and compare notes.

Oh, also wanted to comment on this.  I agree. I find an ambisonic mic is most useful up close, such as on stage, where sources might be wherever, and steering pattern and image afterward is super helpful.  Basically anywhere a coincident pair rig works well but might need tweaking by ear.  Its the ultimate coincident pair in many ways.

But a single coincident pair produces only level-difference stereo.  No time-of-arrival phase/timing information.

From further back I find I really want spaced elements in the configuration that also include phase/timing info and grow less and less happy with just a coincident pair alone.  Still, an ambisonic mic can be very useful in a situation like this where its part of an array that includes other spaced mics.

I've wondered about using a spaced pair of ambisonic mics though.. that one's up to you Roffels!

[roffels]

^That's a "mostly reasonable" setup, totaling 4 or 6 channels depending on what you choose to use in the center.

However, if you want to take it further you can, as you have the mics needed. Start with the same setup and add the shotguns spaced 2' apart, pointed at the outside edge of the stacks.  That addition is likely to dramatically increase SBD-like clarity and the "upfrontness" quality of the resulting recording, which can help from a somewhat distant recording position (although always better if you can setup closer to the sweet spot). To optimize the configuration for that addition, push the omnis out to 4' or 5' wide if possible, and maybe return the center X/Y angle back to 90° or a bit more.

That's 6-8 channels total, depending on what you choose to use in the center.  I know many will consider it overkill, but I can confirm that it works really well outdoors with supercards in the same position that your shotguns would be.

Thanks. I don't really know what I'll be able to work with but I think getting more than 3" wide will be a challenge. I'm really not sure what the layout will be like other than I was told by the organizer I could set up FOH. I imagine if I do get a board feed, the center mics may be redundant. I'm planning to gear up like I won't get a board feed, so hypers xy (or ambisonic) in the middle + spaced omnis seems like my safest bet. 

I would like to try the shotguns pointed at stacks and suppose I may be able to set that up as well if I don't get a board feed. This show will be a special one for me so I really don't want to mess it up. 

[Gutbucket]

Make sure you're comfortable running whatever you decide upon and don't let the nice-to-have complications compromise the gotta-have necessities of making a decent recording, particularly since this one is especially important to you.

Once you have your baseline of omnis + center pair comfortably set, including the shotguns is a nice-to-have. Making that effort makes the most sense if vocals are an important aspect of the performance and you are unable to get SBD (or rely on it).  When recording in good sounding outdoor situations from a decent position, using supercards in that position (which I angle 90° rather than PAS), I generally don't bother with SBD, but will take if not a hassle. 

So, if you can run the shotguns without additional burden, go ahead.  Gives you more options and will provide insight.  You can choose what to use and what to leave out afterwards.  

If you can only manage 3' wide total on the mic-bar that's ok. Orient the omnis so that they are turned and facing outward toward the either side (angled 180° apart).  That will get the omni capsules spaced as far apart as possible, as the mic-clips and mic-bodies should be able to extend them out few extra inches on either side. Using small element "pinpoint omnis" their angular orientation won't matter much, but with omnis that do have a bit of directionality at high frequencies that opposed sideways-facing orientation actually becomes advantageous in the mix with the forward-oriented center mics.  Makes for a bit more open 'air' in the ambiance.

[roffels]

Make sure you're comfortable running whatever you decide upon and don't let the nice-to-have complications compromise the gotta-have necessities of making a decent recording, particularly since this one is especially important to you.

Once you have your baseline of omnis + center pair comfortably set, including the shotguns is a nice-to-have. Making that effort makes the most sense if vocals are an important aspect of the performance and you are unable to get SBD (or rely on it).  When recording in good sounding outdoor situations from a decent position, using supercards in that position (which I angle 90° rather than PAS), I generally don't bother with SBD, but will take if not a hassle.

So, if you can run the shotguns without additional burden, go ahead.  Gives you more options and will provide insight.  You can choose what to use and what to leave out afterwards. 

If you can only manage 3' wide total on the mic-bar that's ok. Orient the omnis so that they are turned and facing outward toward the either side (angled 180° apart).  That will get the omni capsules spaced as far apart as possible, as the mic-clips and mic-bodies should be able to extend them out few extra inches on either side. Using small element "pinpoint omnis" their angular orientation won't matter much, but with omnis that do have a bit of directionality at high frequencies that opposed sideways-facing orientation actually becomes advantageous in the mix with the forward-oriented center mics.  Makes for a bit more open 'air' in the ambiance.

Your first note is really important. I've taken other people's advice or critique on the fly and my tapes were worse off for it.

Appreciate you sharing your philosophy. I think the beauty of having the shotguns in the mix is that I have a safety rig and that lets me experiment with the other mics. I have an f8n pro, f6, and f3 so running extra mics isn't an issue unless I'm in someone's way/taking up too big of a footprint.

[Craig T]

The sum can be greater than the parts. The big question becomes how much gear and effort you wish to put into it]

Yes

[roffels]

The sum can be greater than the parts. The big question becomes how much gear and effort you wish to put into it]

Yes

The gear bag gets heavier and heavier every year.