Tech: How to do a live recording session?

Subject: Tech: How to do a live recording session?
From: Menno
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 11:26 AM

So... This August, there will be a certain Convention in Birmingham, 'cause there is no town like it. I have got it into my head to do a folk music item there. Either a singaround or a floor-spot oriented thing. I mean, I've seen people do it lots of times, how difficult can it be? (Oi you lot! Stop laughing back there!)

So I have slowly started to acquire Kit. I have a reasonably decent mixer (Behringer MX 2802), three microphones (One Sennheiser, one Monacor and one wireless cheap-ass karaoke type jobbie that I'll probably use only for announcements, and thus Sanity is preserved). I also have an iKey Plus MP3 recorder that luckily also records WAVs straight to a USB stick (or iPod, hence the nAme). I will need a pair of speakers as well, so tiny feeble voices can be made to be heard over a murmuring crowd. And an amp. Maybe I'll beg, borrow or steal speakers and amp. So, he says innocently, with all that, I should have enough kit.

I'm under no illusion as to the quality of the end product: It'll be the audio equivalent of holiday snaps. But still, I wouldn't want to end up with useless stuff. So my questions to you seasoned experts out there are:

• Is there anything I need that I haven't thought of here? (That wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg).
  
• Have you people any tips on how actually to run this event?
  

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Subject: RE: Tech: How to do a live recording session?
From: Peace
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 11:28 AM

You want to message Ron Bankley (mudcat name is Bankley). That man is a genius when it comes to recording and the stuff you'd need.

Subject: RE: Tech: How to do a live recording session?
From: Darowyn
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 01:43 PM

There are lots of things you have not thought of.
Most of them are horribly expensive.
When you say loudspeakers, do you mean you are going to need a PA?
If you are just going to make a sketch recording as a memento, you are probably too elaborate already.
I'd just use a portable recorder and a shotgun mic.
If you are going to try to produce a broadcast standard, or CD standard recording, the kit is hopeless.
Why not try to get a local college involved? Music Tech students will be pleased to have an offbeat recording project, and they should be able to borrow pro level equipment.
Some of mine are Birmingham based, but Sandwell, Wolverhampton and New College are nearer.
The repertoire might be a bit limited, The Hedgehog song and a four hour version of Gold,Gold Gold and that's about it!
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Tech: How to do a live recording session?
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 03:04 PM

Plus scurrilous references to Wizards' staffs and their ornaments, no doubt.

Subject: RE: Tech: How to do a live recording session?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 03:53 PM

Menno - PM sent

Subject: RE: Tech: How to do a live recording session?
From: Menno
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 06:04 PM

Darowyn: Broadcast quality, goodness gracious me! No, my ambitions are not that lofty. Like I said: Holiday snaps for the participants, so they can listen to what they did on the Con. I just want the recording to have the performers on and not too much of the audience.

Apart from anything else, If I make any recording of someone singing "let it be", I may attract the attention of the menacing-briefcase-and-thin-watches crowd. So it'll be a very low-key project anyway, with only those who need to know knowing where to find the result.

As for the repertoire, there is always the famous "Farewell" aria. Questa maledetta porta si bloccaaaaa!

Subject: RE: Tech: How to do a live recording session?
From: treewind
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 07:55 PM

A portable recorder with built in mics like the Zoom H2 is just the job for "holidays snaps" recordings. Given that you already have a portable flash recorder, if it has no built in mics but has a mic input get a cheap stereo electret mic like the Audio Technica ATR25 and wander around pointing it at whoever's currently singing to make sure they come out over the background noise and that's all you need.

You need to think carefully about whether you really intend also to provide a PA for your performers, which is what you seem to be suggesting. That's a very different question from recording. Of course if you do that you can record straight off the mixer, but it does seem overkill for an informal singaround.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: How to do a live recording session?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 12:10 PM

The most important requirement is that the performers rehearse. Only then will the equipment and engineering expertise be of importance.

Sorry, I couldn't resist saying that.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tech: How to do a live recording session?
From: Menno
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 02:36 AM

*REHEARSE?!*

And all the world over, each nation's the same
They've simply no notion of playing the game
They argue with umpires, they cheer when they've won
And they practice beforehand which ruins the fun!
(Flanders & Swann)

Honestly!

Yours,
Menno