Topic: Taping in a Gymnasium

[musicsherlock]

Howdy all - I'll be attending/recording a show in a College Gymnasium.  I have never been there so I do not know of the particulars.  I am picturing a High School type Gym, only bigger.  This is for a Wilco show, who are taper friendly, so it's not some garage band.

As you can see by my signature that I have a minimal rig, I am wondering if anyone else has done recordings in a gymnasium and can offerr advice.  I imagine there will be quite a bit of echo, alot of croud noise, noisy floors or bleachers, etc. etc.

1)  What should I consider using my CSB omni's?: i.e. mic placement on body/ pseudo-stand; location in a Gym, etc.

2) What if I had a better rig: standard Card's, stand, Pre, ADC, JB3...?  just in case

Cheers,
Christian

[jhirte]

CSB's = mics in hat, close to stage/stacks as possible.

big rig = same, or try DFC mics X/Y...  myself, I try aiming for stacks..

The Crystal Ballroom here in portland is basically a gym for acoustics, hardwood floors, BIG open space.. stage in a corner of the room...
here is a clip of Audio Learning Center playing there 07/09/04: AKG 461 -> V3 -> DA-P1. 21+ side of barricade, about 20ft from stage. RH mic @ Stack, LH mic across stage.

http://home.comcast.net/~jimhirte/alc-clip.flac

should be up in 15 min (10am pst)

-Jim

[hexyjones]

Too ambient of a room for Omnis...use the cards...

[greenone]

Which gym? If it's the Brandeis show, good luck...I've taped in a lot of gyms and that was the absolute worst I've ever taped in...cinderblocks and steel. Skidmore's isn't as bad, especially if the bleachers are out, since that makes it less boxy (even better if there are people sitting in them). But yeah, get as close as possible...

[musicsherlock]

Greenone - It will be the Skidmore College show.  How do they set up in that Gym?  How close can one get to the stacks, as that is probably be the route I'll take to minimize crowd noise and reverberations.

Hexyjones- I don't actually have the cards in my posession yet, they are in transit.  Plus I have yet to commit to a phantom power supply.

Thanks for the space and responses guys, keep them coming...

[Sanjay]

Hexyjones- I don't actually have the cards in my posession yet, they are in transit.  Plus I have yet to commit to a phantom power supply.

won't the ua-5 do that for you? or am I missing something, either way nice stuff you got on the way!

[musicsherlock]

Hexyjones- I don't actually have the cards in my posession yet, they are in transit.  Plus I have yet to commit to a phantom power supply.

won't the ua-5 do that for you? or am I missing something, either way nice stuff you got on the way!

Yeah, I was counting what is left of my funds (didn't take long) and was considering a PS-2>AD-20>MD/JB3.  But that was a moment of weakness. I'll keep my current rig for Stealth and continue acquiring the AKG based rig. I'll get the UA-5 during the winter.

[leegeddy]

my $.02... borrow some shotgun caps!!!   

marc

[greenone]

I only taped at Skidmore once and it was six years ago, but basically, you walk in and the stage is against the far wall, bleachers against the near wall. As long as you get there early enough, you should have no problem getting right up front to a stack - there'll probably be a barrier of some sort but I can't imagine it'll be too difficult. Just a big open floor otherwise, not too much to it. 

I've got an in on the Brandeis show so I might hit it, but we'll see...

[firmdragon]

Greenone - It will be the Skidmore College show.  How do they set up in that Gym?  How close can one get to the stacks, as that is probably be the route I'll take to minimize crowd noise and reverberations.

quite close.  csbs can handle stacks in an arena setting.  should have no problems in a gym.

[musicsherlock]

csbs can handle stacks in an arena setting.  should have no problems in a gym.

Cool!  In that case, which is better:

1) looking like an idiot with CSB's at the top of a big ass stand; or
2) mics in the hat looking like a maniac staring at a stack of speakers for an hour and a half?

[firmdragon]

csbs can handle stacks in an arena setting.  should have no problems in a gym.

Cool!  In that case, which is better:

1) looking like an idiot with CSB's at the top of a big ass stand; or
2) mics in the hat looking like a maniac staring at a stack of speakers for an hour and a half?

well if they allow taping.  might as well go for the gold and mount that stand in front of the stacks.

[musicsherlock]

^

Heading to Skidmore College this Friday, any last thoughts or recommendations?

Anyone tape the show at Brandeis Univ. and wish to give pointers?