Kendall, I think it would be great if we could set up a high-quality audio and video recording system for the Getaway concerts.

It would be great to have zoom-in ability on the video and be able to maybe input the sound directly from the pre-amp of the sound board instead of picking up the sound via the speakers.   It would be even better to have separate tracks for the various instruments, vocal mics, and performers.

Meanwhile, as my thread title suggests, I think there's a real value in having the videos even if there are some glitches in the recording logistics.   In many ways, the Getaway concerts are 'not ready for prime time' (although some acts are); people forget lyrics, start over, etc., and some of us are rank amateurs and mediocre singers or instrumentalists; the audience singing (or, especially, whistling) along sometimes enhances the musical quality, sometimes detracts from it. But it's about sharing music together and encompassing folks at many different levels.   I don't feel bad about some performances being less than perfect and I'd rather have an imperfect recording than none at all.   (I can well understand why not everyone wants their performance or its video to be widely disseminated, though. And why some do, even if there were glitches.)

The thing is, the issues are not just with the recording setup. I've gotten some quite nice audio and video recordings at Getaway (and in other venues) using exactly the same laptop and video software in the past. (The static thing is a recent development, that started after I'd been using this MacBook and iMovie for over two years; I just haven't been able to trace the source of the problem until recently and plan to get it fixed later this month.)

Here are a few examples of what I think are very nice sound quality videos I've made with this equipment.

Sons Of Liberty - Big Mick in Peace Cabin Getaway 2008

Bobert, Lonesome EJ & Leadfingers at Getaway concert 2008   This is on stage, amplified, recorded from about the same distance as at this year's concerts.

Bobert's Blues Band 2 - Peace Cabin - Getaway 2008 no amp

Kossoy Sisters in Getaway concert 10-5-2008   recorded with the same equipment I used this year, from about the same distance

Leadfingers in Getaway concert 2008 - "The Folker"   video is thumbnail (so it's blurry) but audio unaffected; Recorded the same way I recorded the others in that concert

Zephyrs Of Heaven (jam session recording)

Wreck Of The Bay Rupert - Shanghaied On The Willamette at Singtime Frolics 2009
no mics or amps; recorded from about 8-10 feet away (The song starts about 1/3 of the way through the video)

"Mineral Wells" - Frank Jones at Common Grounds Coffee House unamplified, recorded from just a few feet away, Jan. 2009

San Antonio Rose - Genie no amp directly on guitar; my playing is sloppy but the recording picked up the guitar sound very true-to-life

Froggy Went A-Courtin' - from this year's Getaway concert Sound pretty good on instruments and voices (though there is static in places)


Lots of things affect how the audio (in particular) will come out. People differ in their mic technique, their vocal and instrumental volumes, etc., and all the sound is coming out of the same speakers (as well as being live in the room). Dennis had his hands full trying to adjust sound levels for all the different voices and instruments in real time, too. So sometimes some voices or instruments in a duo or group came out louder and clearer than others. For the most part, that wasn't because of the hardware or software on my MacBook (although I do think it may tend to pick up high notes better than really low notes, and I DK if there's an input adjustment for that.)   

But you're right about the 12-string, Kendall.   The video doesn't capture its sound nearly as well as it does Jacqui's voice.