Ok so my gear isn't that great, and I haven't taped too much before (stealth wise). I taped a 15 minute set of my friends band @ a Battle Of the Bands at our high school which was pretty easy. Anyway I just got back from the Civic Tour last night in Pittsburg, PA (Cheverelot Ampitheater, open air ampitheater). The show wasn't that great at all (in my opinion), but I did manage to get all of Dashboard on tape. My gear is a simple CA Stereo T Mic which was clipped to the front of my shirt, and a Sharp MD-MT99. So, I listened to the recording all the way back in the car, and wanted to ask for your advice on the boards..
First off my location was about 20-30 feet from the stage, right in the middle. This was probably my biggest mistake, it is true that sound is the best right where the soundtech sets up in the venue right? If that is the case I figure I was way too close...I had to set my Mic Levels (it goes from 01 - 30 on My Sharp) to something like 03 for most of the show, and it showed the level to be in the middle mostly. Was that the right move to make? Even listening to the show afterwards I can tell it's a little faint, but still that can be adjusted with Soundforge. My second mistake was I was very very very close to screaming annoying 12 year old puffy paint t-shirt dashboard girls. And I think they sang more of the words than Chris. I guess it is just the nature of a Dashboard show to hear more of the audience, because on my recording you can hear ALOT (in fact too much) of the audience. What do you reccomend about this? Should I have tried to move closer to the sound guy to begin with, and away from the girls?
For instance, I went to Damien Rice earlier this year @ a nice club in Cleveland, and the sound was a 1000 times better and the audience was quiet the entire show, so I guess it is just the nature of this being a Dashboard show and being an open air ampitheater.....
Last question I had was, at times it seems the tape is really really bassy, like I said I kept the levels constantly low to prevent clipping, and I still even hear some bassy when Chris played more of the electric songs? Do you think this is my mic, or the nature of the venue/crowd/location?
Any suggestions or whatever please write them, or PM them to me.
Once I get this transfered to my computer, I could put up a sample for everyone to judge. (I'm sure it is pretty shitty though). Thanks for listening.