Recording 98 year old grandpa

[crossthreaded]

I will be recording my grandpa telling his life story in a couple weeks.  He doesn't have any debilitating illnesses, isn't deaf, nothing like that. still plays 9 holes of golf every day actually.  so he won't be yelling or speaking very softly.  just normal conversation.

I'm just still not very confident in my taping abilities, and still wouldn't really say that I know what I'm doing.  I just don't want to screw this up as he will probably not want to sit down and tell the entire story again.

My gear is a marantz 670, c4's (card and omni caps), with a standard c4 tbar.

what setup should I use for this?

I'm sure we will be sitting in chairs about 5 feet apart.

[setboy]

I would leave some head room. From helping with interviews i know some people can jump all over the place and you will start to clipp.

good luck!

[rhinowing]

if your purposes are just for family archives, I wouldn't worry that much about getting a perfect recording...maybe you could clip a mic to his collar or something like that.

[funk_pie]

What a great opportunity! 

I've done a some C4>recorder speak recording, but never an interview situation.  With the C4s, one pointed to you and the other pointed toward grandpa will be fine, but I'd try to set up some kind of isolation area considering the situation.  I think a lapel mic would be ideal though.

[setboy]

I have done good things with the mics on the same t-bar at chest level with the mic pointing up. have to to seat close together. i think i was about 12-16 In. from the peolpe talking.

Edit: maybe get someone to try different setups with so you will have a idea of what sounds good and what you want to do with it.

[crossthreaded]

now that's thinkin right there....

I guess I could sit here in my living room and try different setups to see what will work best.


I'm guessing omni caps will be the right choice for the situation?

[mmedley.]

Do a quick test run. Shouldn't be all that hard to get it set. Run a limiter too if the 670 has one?

[setboy]

I'm guessing omni caps will be the right choice for the situation?

I would run the cards.

[jsfrank]

Great idea. My Grandfather died in 1999 before I got around to doing this.

[dean]

I'm guessing omni caps will be the right choice for the situation?

I would run the cards.

Yep.  Directional is much better for voice recording.

I used the MBHOs to record my elderly uncle.  Set 'em up probably 2' away from him at face level, pointing straight at him.  I didn't direct a mic at myself, allowing my questions to be in the background and him to be full on in the pickup.

Also, we just started chatting about this and that before I formally asked any questions.  Got him relaxed in the presence of the mics.  He'd asked for some time before I turned the mics on, so I switched them on anyway and told him, "oh, we haven't started yet," which was technically true because I hadn't started "interviewing" him yet.  Kind of took the pressure off him and after a few minutes he basically forgot the mics were there and just started yammering away.  I got some amazing stuff...

You're going to be really, really happy you did this.

[kskreider]

Props for doing the family thing.  I have done this with both sets of grandparents in the past few years.  I just set up my pair X/Y in front of the couple and since I was behind the mics I just spoke loudly.  Loudly, not yelling.

One HUGE tip.  HUGE.  If there is a way to get one of their siblings or child in the room it really helps the dynamic.  I found that old people forget a lot and sometimes some memory stimulation is needed, or helps.

The next time we have a 'extended family event" I am doing it again.  Only this time it wont just be grandparents but it will be their children and a few bottles on wine tossed in to lower inhibitions. 

[rastasean]

This seems to be something we're all interested in doing just for archival purposes and I should do it with my mom and family. I never got to do it with my grandparents and now they are all gone.

I carry my iriver with me almost everywhere with a pair of binaural mics ready to record. and before that, I would carry a pair of card mics and when I was my my girl friend, clip one to her seat belt and one to mine. its fun. taping doesn't always have to be about music.

good luck on your recording!

[boojum]

My advice? Don't put it off too long.  Get on it now.

[illconditioned]

This seems to be something we're all interested in doing just for archival purposes and I should do it with my mom and family. I never got to do it with my grandparents and now they are all gone.

I carry my iriver with me almost everywhere with a pair of binaural mics ready to record. and before that, I would carry a pair of card mics and when I was my my girl friend, clip one to her seat belt and one to mine. its fun. taping doesn't always have to be about music.

good luck on your recording!

Always bring mics.  I've had great luck just wearing my hat and capturing family events.  If I'm going to be talking too, somtimes I just take off the hat and put it on the table or hang it up somewhere.   I've never done the "interview" thing, but just captured ambient stuff, like holiday gatherings, impromptu visits, etc.

A good way to record ambient is also so-called "boundary mics".  Flat mics you put on the floor, table, or wall.  These are unobtrusive, and yet still capture a very natural sound.

Yes, recording is more than music.  It is an obsession that should be with us all the time!!!

  Richard

[scb]

he's 98 and still plays 9 holes every day?  That is just awesome