All,
I'm recording my father's
amateur a capella group's annual Christmas performance in what I've heard is a gorgeous sounding venue: Chicago's
St. Mary of Perpetual Help. A pic of the venue from the website:
Unfortunately, won't be hearing the organ, but the a capella vocal performance in a gorgeous sounding environment promises loads of fun. Today, in a different venue - though still a gorgeous sounding church - the resident audio geek in the vocal group set up around 6 rows back, DFC, about 7' up: Audio Technica AT4051 (XY-90º) > Mackie MicroSeries MS1202 (I think) > Sony PCM-R300. I imagine I'll run on his stand (or him on mine) to minimize sight-line issues and visual clutter.
Split / Jecklin disc omnis probably aren't in the cards at the moment due to sight-line issues and lack of Jecklin disc. So, assuming same running conditions as above - ~6 rows back, DFC, 7' up - I'm leaning towards:
Schoeps MK21 (NOS) > KC5 > CMC6 > V3
The open, natural sound of the subcards really appeals to me given the quality performance space.
or
AKG C 414 B-ULS (M-S) > V3
The ability to mix down the M-S
after-the-fact appeals to me so I can control the stereo image given I'm recording in an unfamiliar space and a new music style.
Which would you choose? Or would you set up completely differently given the gear available?
MK21 / MK4 / MK41 > KC5/CMC6
AKG C 414 B-ULS
V3
I expect a similar crowd to this afternoon: quiet, attentive, polite. FWIW, I'll have around 30 minutes of sound-check / rehearsal time in the venue to adjust positioning, mic config, etc. So I
may schlep all my gear down, but I'd like to have an idea of what I want to run before getting there.
FYI, I'm trying to
track down a loaner V3 , but am not counting on it.