Help on deciding a rig for an outdoor show

[roffels]

Hey folks, 

I've taped all sorts of rooms but I'm never satisfied with the handful of outdoor tapes I've done. I'll be set-up FOB (or near it) but I don't totally know the layout as of yet. 

My gear: 
Rode ambisonic mics (x2) - maybe the most versatile? 
AKG C568EB shotgun mics - I like the sound of these, and will have some dead rat windscreens. Not sure how they'll perform outdoors
AKG CK63 hypercardioid mics - I don't think these are the right choice but open to dissenting opinions
Nakamichi CM-1000 Pinpoint omnis - I love the sound of these

As of right now, I'm leaning toward some sort of 3 mic configuration with the Nakamichi omni and the shotgun mics, but if I'm off base, I want to hear it. 

I'm tempted to go dual split ambisonic mics - I've never actually tried running both into my 8-channel recorder so I'm not sure how they'd perform like that. It's a bit of an unwieldy rig, a pain to decode, but also would give me some versatility. 

It's unclear to me if I'll have a soundboard feed, and I'm operating under the assumption I won't. 

[grawk]

Spaced Omni's 

[goodcooker]

I'd run the omnis split 3ft and the Rode ambisonic in the middle. If you decide you need something in the middle you can decode it however you like. The Rode decoder has output settings for coincident stereo so you could make it a single hyper facing straight forward or a pair of crossed figure eights. You may decide you don't even need anything in the center but if you get those tracks in the bag you can make that decision later.

Doing big footprint setups like this is often only an option outside - and omnis really shine with less walls.

[Craig T]

another vote for omnis split 3ft and the Rode ambisonic in the middle.  if outdoors, I'd try with a the ambisonic mixed to blumlein to start.

[Top Hat]

Unless you want a hollow sounding recording use the AKG 63s. 
I would run 61's outdoors but the 63's will suffice.
You will get a nice direct sounding pull.
Use GOOD QUALITY windscreens.

OH p.s you are going to get a plethora of different responses here.
Ambi's are a waste of time...emphasis on "timing" cause its all over the place.
Shotties will be a bit thin unless you are at a distance and that was the only choice.
Omni's will be hollow and distant sounding especially spaced outdoors. I like these close up indoors on stage or in studio.
Just my preference...Out of your tool box I would trust the 63s hand down

[beroti_music]

Nakamichi cp3 for sure.

[roffels]

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. 

[HealthCov Chris]

I really like spaced omni's with cards or hypers in the middle at x/y config.  Here is a sample of 3' split CA14 omni's and center akg ck61's in x/y.  The ck63's actually clean it up a little more.
https://archive.org/details/DSO2017-07-01.Highberry_Matrix/DSO2017-08-01S1t02.flac

[HealthCov Chris]

Also can't go wrong with the AKG 568's pointed at stacks.  Here's a sample of how they sound outside.
https://archive.org/details/rre2022-10-02.InsideOut_AKG.eb568/03+Bird+In+a+House.flac