Classical live recordings

[VicDiesel]

Where do you position microphones for a classical recording? I placed mine too close to the audience, standing right in front of the front row, and in places the rustling of programs is irritatingly audible through the music. Do I just need to get the mic up higher, or is there a way to shield it from the audience behind it?

Victor.

[Ebenezer Squeezer]

Do you mean classical music like Sibelius?

[mandolarian]

What type of mics are you using? Omni or Cardiod? If that latter in an XY or OTRF layout then you need to do some social engineering. Less complicated music that doesn't need a paper program guide. And hand out cough drops at the door. And liner notes that state: "Recorded in front of a live, unruly audience".

[deaf dunderkwac]

depends on how much 'house' or room reverb you want. The closer to the procenium the less house you get. I found that when you are trying to capture the orchestra from the conducters' viewpoint you need to position the mics about 2 meters above the conducter's head. There is no way to 'shield' a mic from the audience except by moving them closer to the orchestra. Higher is better... to a point,

My preference has always been spaced omni's (2 meters to 4 meters) as they have the charming effect of stearing the reverb information to the rear speakers when those listening forget to turn off their Dolby surround decoders (as if anyone really remembers)

But if the recordings for another purpose x-y is my preferred method, as it's most compatible with mono

Do NOT use cardiod mics unless you have a very good mics with a 'low' cardiod setting and you will get very good accurate results. (imho)

Usually you only have one shot at a performance so spaced omnis are the easiest to use.

Good sounding rooms are not always available so I try to move the mics about 2-4 meters behind the conductor.

If set-up is an issue another method is to use 3 cardiod mics spaced at the lip of the stage.

(so many methods. all dependent on where you are and what you have to work with)

[VicDiesel]

Type of music: chamber music, just a few instruments, often only one or two, and not very loud. Look in the public folder. (I'm playing on tracks 7 and 16, also occasionally on 5,10,13,14. I'm the one with the quasi sine wave generator.)

I recorded a concert in a small theatre: they could barely have squeezed a row of chairs in between the front row and the stage, and I didn't want to put the microphone on stage since that would put it too close to certain instruments. That's most likely the situation I'll find myself in again: small hall, small stage, little space between audience and musicians.

Microphone: stereo electret that came with the M-Audio Microtrack (sexy little bugger!).

Thanks for the responses.

Victor.

[deaf dunderkwac]

"Recorded in front of a live, unruly audience".

without more info (and I listened to a couple of cuts)

I couldn't reference the mic(s)that you got with the unit (their page didn't list any at all) so I'll assume it's a dual element stereo mic in a single case. Put it as close to the conductor behind and above (you *can* cheat to either side of the players)
Get a tall stand and sandbags to weight it down.
The beauty to this type of recorder is you can keep it so darned close to the mics, and can even 'fly' the whole setup (hang it from the ceiling, which actually sounds like it's your only choice in many of the situations you've described)

Good luck!

[VicDiesel]

(and I listened to a couple of cuts)

Those were actually made at the dress rehearsal, so no unruly audience.

Thanks for your tips.

Victor.