Topic: newbie: is this a reasonable stealth/portable recording rig for small venues?

[JLSteffen]

I want to get a stealth/portable recording rig for clubs and small venues, so I'd like to know if you think the following rig will work well based on your experience.

I don't think I can keep my head or shoulders still during a show, so I'm thinking of putting cardioid microphones in slits through a small camera case with some kind of rigid mount that allows adjusting the ORTF angle. I hope to set the camera case on a table, ledge, or in my lap. I'll be by myself, so even when I'm doing open recording, I want to be able to pick everything up between sets and take it with me to the restroom. I'm thinking of getting:
1.   Sound Professionals SP-CMC-8 cardioid microphones with the lightweight cable and Audio Technica mini rotating clips
2.   M-AUDIO MicroTrack II Digital Recorder, which looks enough like a music player that I hope to pretend to be listening to it while I'm adjusting the recording levels.

I will be recording bands that use acoustic instruments and don't have drums, so I don't expect to need a preamp or a battery box with bass roll off.

[run_run_run]

M-AUDIO MicroTrack II Digital Recorder, which looks enough like a music player that I hope to pretend to be listening to it while I'm adjusting the recording levels.

Microtrack AD is not the greatest, a better option would be a r-09 or a iriver unit with the rockbox firmware. When it comes to how it looks, keep stealth stealth. 

I will be recording bands that use acoustic instruments and don't have drums, so I don't expect to need a preamp or a battery box with bass roll off.

if its acoustic, you will want to think about a pre amp. The church audio 9100 is great

Sound Professionals SP-CMC-8 cardioid microphones with the lightweight cable and Audio Technica mini rotating clips

lot of option here, the AT 943s are great IMO.

[Belexes]

I have the SP-CMC-8 with the rotating clips. You'll like them.

[Church-Audio]

I want to get a stealth/portable recording rig for clubs and small venues, so I'd like to know if you think the following rig will work well based on your experience.

I don't think I can keep my head or shoulders still during a show, so I'm thinking of putting cardioid microphones in slits through a small camera case with some kind of rigid mount that allows adjusting the ORTF angle. I hope to set the camera case on a table, ledge, or in my lap. I'll be by myself, so even when I'm doing open recording, I want to be able to pick everything up between sets and take it with me to the restroom. I'm thinking of getting:
1.   Sound Professionals SP-CMC-8 cardioid microphones with the lightweight cable and Audio Technica mini rotating clips
2.   M-AUDIO MicroTrack II Digital Recorder, which looks enough like a music player that I hope to pretend to be listening to it while I'm adjusting the recording levels.

I will be recording bands that use acoustic instruments and don't have drums, so I don't expect to need a preamp or a battery box with bass roll off.

No mater what mic you get when your not mounting the mics up high and you have a lot of people in front of you. The results will never be very good. You really should find a way to use head mount or shoulder mount for recording shows. Unless there is no one seated in front of your mics then it should not mater that much.
The less things in front of your mics the better your fidelity will be.

Chris

[itook2much]

M-AUDIO MicroTrack II Digital Recorder, which looks enough like a music player that I hope to pretend to be listening to it while I'm adjusting the recording levels.

Regardless of what it looks like, why would you be listening to a music player during a concert?

[JLSteffen]

M-AUDIO MicroTrack II Digital Recorder, which looks enough like a music player that I hope to pretend to be listening to it while I'm adjusting the recording levels.

Regardless of what it looks like, why would you be listening to a music player during a concert?

Good point. I was thinking that if I missed the sound check, as the first set begins I could have headphones plugged into the recorder with the recorder in my hand, then quickly adjust the levels, and put the recorder back in the bag.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions on microphones and recorders!

[sunjan]

I don't think I can keep my head or shoulders still during a show, so I'm thinking of putting cardioid microphones in slits through a small camera case with some kind of rigid mount that allows adjusting the ORTF angle. I hope to set the camera case on a table, ledge, or in my lap.

No mater what mic you get when your not mounting the mics up high and you have a lot of people in front of you. The results will never be very good. You really should find a way to use head mount or shoulder mount for recording shows. Unless there is no one seated in front of your mics then it should not mater that much.
The less things in front of your mics the better your fidelity will be.

Echo that. Even if you move around, hat/shoulder mount would be better that having the mics in your lap. Unless your on the first row in a seated venue that is. Anyone else between you and the PA will muffle the sound, you'll be painfully aware of it after your first attempt...

/J