Classical guys, your help would be much appreciated - how do record brass band?

[Jevil]

When it happens we want clips!!

I would quadtrack brass and parallel compression on the flutes. Don't forget to trigger the tambourine and replace it with Slate's 'Military Drums Extension' Samples. I would also recommend Trumpet's From Hell by Toontrack it's awesome! James Murphy sent me a pirate copy of the program. He downloaded it from Emule.

 

[Seizure.]

Good material realy matters when recording this sorta stuff.. since your running longer cables and crap you need cleaner preamps with more headroom and a good/superior S/N ratio. (millenia/grace design stuff is used alot..)

You don't want a huge hiss in your material if there is a soft part caused by midlevel condensers and "ok" preamps.

 

[LydonB]

Good material realy matters when recording this sorta stuff.. since your running longer cables and crap you need cleaner preamps with more headroom and a good/superior S/N ratio. (millenia/grace design stuff is used alot..)

You don't want a huge hiss in your material if there is a soft part caused by midlevel condensers and "ok" preamps.

+1

A clean pre will defintely be advantageous to have for a recording like this.

As far as the AKG's vs the KSM44's, I am not honestly sure. I have not seen many good positive reviews of the 414 XLS. Everyone always compares them to the ULS (and for good reason) and says that the new ones are not as good. But I have gotten fantastic results using the KSM44's in a variety of ways on live recordings. If you are renting equipment I would rent both and do a shootout of sorts to see what you like best.

 

[Metaltastic]

Sweet, thanks again! Jevil, you better believe it dude, I don't fuck around! :Spin:

 

[Metaltastic]

Here you go:
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/748885/HBF Photos 08.zip

Wow, these are fantastic man - that's a crapload of mics, but hey, the more the better I guess, it's not like your forced to use them! Thanks so much!

 

[Ermz]

You could always just cut down and use mono mics for the sections! Since they're already positioned in the stereo field by the main pair, it won't matter. Definitely look into hiring the Millennia pre I linked up above. As Seizure said, Millennia and Grace stuff is quite huge in this area.

 

[Metaltastic]

Oh yeah dude, I'm quite acquainted with Millennia, my college Studio has the 4 channel HV-3 and it's clean as shit to be sure! (and thus I often skipped right past it and went for the A2D they also had )

 

[LydonB]

If you can get your hands on any metric halo stuff, that would be good as well. The ULN 8 is apparently mind blowingly good. But I doubt any places have those available for rent yet.

 

[Metaltastic]

Cool dude, I'll keep my eyes peeled! A couple of other questions: anyone know of any good places to rent gear around either New York or Baltimore? (BlackestEyes, it's being recorded at the main auditorium at UMBC, I don't suppose that's where you go?) Also, what're you guys' thoughts on Decca Tree?

 

[Ermz]

Decca Tree is tried and true. If you go for that use the Neumann M150s. What were the distances again? Front mic 2 meters out, side mics about 1.5? I suppose it all varies from venue to venue, but I think that was the way I hypothesized it for a classical recording.

 

[LydonB]

Cool dude, I'll keep my eyes peeled! A couple of other questions: anyone know of any good places to rent gear around either New York or Baltimore? (BlackestEyes, it's being recorded at the main auditorium at UMBC, I don't suppose that's where you go?) Also, what're you guys' thoughts on Decca Tree?

No, I don't go to UMBC (it is about an hour away though). I went to Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia. I am trying to think of places around here that do gear rental, but I am not sure of any off the top of my head.

A decca tree would be neat to try out, but I don't know if I would use it on the actual performance. Plus, finding one would be a pain in the ass.

Do you have any information on how they will be seated?

 

[Metaltastic]

Update - found a gear rental place that has a ridiculous selection, though no KSM44's unfortunately - they do have Royers and C414's, but there are so many fucking varieties of C414 it's ridiculous; anyone know which would be best for this? Here's the list, and if anyone sees anything else that would work well, feel free to point it out!

As for preamps, they've got that 8-channel Milennia, so I'm set in that department!

EDIT: Damn, they don't let you link to the list - so go to the "Rental Ratecard" link on the left, then select "Microphones" from the drop-down menu!

 

[LydonB]

As for the preamp, I would consider the Millenia, John Hardy and the Prism. As for microphones, Royers all the way imo. The Schoeps CMC6's could be good as a main pair as well.

But before you rent equipment you really have to consider what kind of arrangement the group will be seated in.

Not sure how the hall sounds but if it ends up that it sounds good, throw a pair of mics about 20-30 feet back and add it in to the mix to get a nice room sound. Just make sure to delay the main pair to the room so you don't get weird phase issues between the two sets of microphones.

 

[lolzgreg]

http://www.cascademicrophones.com/cascade_FAT_HEAD_II_Stereo_PK.html

There's your mics. Buy, don't rent. You'll probably fall in love with 'em on your guitar cab as well.

 

[Metaltastic]

Update: Just got confirmed for the gig, and have a Mackie Onyx 400F on the way, courtesy of my dear parents! Can anyone tell me what the exactly the "plaster line" is in stage terminology though?

 

[spioraid]

A plaster line is an imaginary line that goes from the Proscenium, which is basically a boarder/fake wall opening for the stage, to the back wall. In a typical rectangle stage, the plaster line draws the edges of where you can perform while being the most visible.

 

[Metaltastic]

Haha, yeah, I figured you would know Andrew - unfortunately, I'm still not entirely clear; do you think you could do a quick MS paint sketchup? Pwetty Peez?