Topic: How Many Sources?

[Space Cowboy]

I imagine a lot of tapers do this, just curious as to how many sources you have per show? I usually end up with 3. Of course I'll have my mics mounted on/under my collar, my wife (or if she doesn't go, my son usually does) has another set of mics and for some reason I always use the iPhone with one of those lightning adapter mics. This has been a blessing as if I need to eliminate a loud whistler, screamer or talker, I can borrow a few seconds from one of the other sources to splice in. Sometime, rarely, I will do a three source matrix mix but I'm usually not a fan of those.

Do you do this as well?

[Space Cowboy]

I failed to mention this in the original post, but the most I have had for one show is 8. It was complete overkill, but we had fun with it as we felt like a walking Radio Shack going into the venue. Lol.

[rocksuitcase]

for larger, open taping shows, kindms and I have had 2 "decks" with at most 4 pairs of mics. My fave multi source set up was 4 channels of AUD with 2 channels of SBD for the "Lunch at the Egg" series in 2018.

[Space Cowboy]

for larger, open taping shows, kindms and I have had 2 "decks" with at most 4 pairs of mics. My fave multi source set up was 4 channels of AUD with 2 channels of SBD for the "Lunch at the Egg" series in 2018.

Very nice. I treasure those SBD patches. Drivin' & Cryin' usually give me one and I love mixing it with an audience recording. They are one of the few "open tape" bands that I get to see.

[EmRR]

I think the most I've done was 7 mics and mono SBD, I'd call 5 of the mics a virtual coincident stereo array, and the other 2 spaced omni's.  I experiment a lot and don't have a regular thing I do.   The coincident is usually mid side, or dual mid side, or horizontal B array.  MS additional channels may be options to compare later, like cardioid or shotgun mid, and/or mid omni that might be low passed for bass only.  If I'm doing more than mono, but not more than 2 mics, it's usually MS.   If I'm stealthing, it's usually mono with a 4060 omni, have never been happy with the motion effects of stereo in a stealth situation, though I may do it so as to pick the best of the two at various points.  I haven't gone PAS all that many times though I recognize the value in many situations. 

[Space Cowboy]

I think the most I've done was 7 mics and mono SBD, I'd call 5 of the mics a virtual coincident stereo array, and the other 2 spaced omni's.  I experiment a lot and don't have a regular thing I do.   The coincident is usually mid side, or dual mid side, or horizontal B array.  MS additional channels may be options to compare later, like cardioid or shotgun mid, and/or mid omni that might be low passed for bass only.  If I'm doing more than mono, but not more than 2 mics, it's usually MS.   If I'm stealthing, it's usually mono with a 4060 omni, have never been happy with the motion effects of stereo in a stealth situation, though I may do it so as to pick the best of the two at various points.  I haven't gone PAS all that many times though I recognize the value in many situations.

You made some VERY interesting points there. I have never thought about using Omni's low passed for bass only. I usually lean towards Cardioids to cut down on nearby chatter but at the sacrifice of low end. Your method is very intriguing! Thank you.

[opsopcopolis]

If we're just talking about mics (not sbd) almost always 1. Only time I'll ever run more than one pair of mics is if I'm on stage lip. I like the combination of cards and spaced omnis up there. Never understood tapers that run >4 ch outside of the context of just doing mic shootouts/comparisons

[Space Cowboy]

If we're just talking about mics (not sbd) almost always 1. Only time I'll ever run more than one pair of mics is if I'm on stage lip. I like the combination of cards and spaced omnis up there. Never understood tapers that run >4 ch outside of the context of just doing mic shootouts/comparisons

I understand.
The way I usually run the three is one set is omni, one is cardioid and then the iPhone which I listen to the least, but I have the phone on me, so sticking a mic in the lightning port takes 5 seconds and it's a good "if all else fails" backup.

[vanark]

One good one. Rarely disappointed.

Occasionally get a SBD as well and that is nice to mix in and support the vocals and instruments.

I was just talking about this last night - I have a second set of mics I could run, but to be honest, I don't want to carry that much gear. I may cut down to actives > baby nbox > sony A10 and that's it, open or low profile. Only pull out other gear when I'm getting a board and want to run 4 channels.

[nulldogmas]

One good one. Rarely disappointed.

Occasionally get a SBD as well and that is nice to mix in and support the vocals and instruments.

I was just talking about this last night - I have a second set of mics I could run, but to be honest, I don't want to carry that much gear. I may cut down to actives > baby nbox > sony A10 and that's it, open or low profile. Only pull out other gear when I'm getting a board and want to run 4 channels.

This, pretty much. I'm recording something in a couple of hours and am bringing two sets of gear, but that's mostly because it's a venue that I've never been to, so I have no idea if cards or omnis will come out best.

I topped out once and only once at three recorders, and that was only because I had new mics I wanted to run a comparison on.

[fireonshakedwnstreet]

8 channels for open taping, plus 6 channels of backups using the outs on DR-680.

[Twenty8]

Nearly always 4 channels.  I don't always use them both in the final mix unless I am hell bent on visually aligning phase.  When I do, its not much of an issue.  One pair is always sub- or open card in NOS.  The other set varies from DIN to DINa, card to supercard.  I figure, if I am headed in I'll take 4 channels.  Spread omnis is one thing I have never explored.  Only have Line OM1 and not sure if they would be good for that.

What the OP mentions is great and sorta inspiring.  I have 4 sets of AT853, sets of various caps and 4  decks.  Wonder if I can get my gf to wear a pair (lol) for Neko Case in Feb... hmm....

edit: I have AT853 omnis and a bar, just never used them.  I just ordered a 4 chan AT853 bar (DIN and NOS) from Scott.  Planning on running AT853 locally through the winter while I sell a lot of what I don't use to help fund an active Gefell M21 setup.

[roffels]

If it's open taping and I'm learning new gear, I'll bring a 2nd set of mics for the fun of it. In those instances, 4 mics and stereo sbd feed. Sometimes I'll be surprised and what I expected to be my throw-away recording ends up being my preferred mic capture for my matrix.

At a recent gig for some musicians I adore, they let me set-up on stage and I had two cards ortf style facing the musicians, and some haphazardly oriented mics pointed toward the crowd, with a mono board feed. The previous night, there was a crowd sing-along moment and I thought it would be nice to capture that and mix it in. Still haven't settled on that mix and whether or not I want to mix the audience-facing mics in more songs than just that one. It adds some fullness to the sound.

[Space Cowboy]

If it's open taping and I'm learning new gear, I'll bring a 2nd set of mics for the fun of it. In those instances, 4 mics and stereo sbd feed. Sometimes I'll be surprised and what I expected to be my throw-away recording ends up being my preferred mic capture for my matrix.

At a recent gig for some musicians I adore, they let me set-up on stage and I had two cards ortf style facing the musicians, and some haphazardly oriented mics pointed toward the crowd, with a mono board feed. The previous night, there was a crowd sing-along moment and I thought it would be nice to capture that and mix it in. Still haven't settled on that mix and whether or not I want to mix the audience-facing mics in more songs than just that one. It adds some fullness to the sound.

It's true about being surprised by a different setup's recording. I used a set of Sony mics as a secondary set to the AT's and absolutely fell in love with them. Now I prefer the Sony's over the AT's.

[daspyknows]

Only one.  Have run a second rig  a few times but it's a geadache.