Would love to mix a real orchestra...

[Uros]

No, in a nutshell it's AB setup with an added mic in the center (usually 3 omnis hanging above the orchestra in the form of triangle). A hall where I have worked a couple of times has a fixed setup where mics hang on a rope (sp?), and they move them according to their needs with a mechanism.

 

[vespiz]

No grid, the producer follows the score and makes decisions based on that. It's (almost?) a requirement for the engineer to also be able to read scores.

 

[RemoWilliams]

No grid, the producer follows the score and makes decisions based on that. It's (almost?) a requirement for the engineer to also be able to read scores.

+1 to this, too. In a lot of photos you see the engineer and the composer at the mixing desk with the score open making notes.

 

[Uros]

In a lot of photos you see the engineer and the composer at the mixing desk with the score open making notes.

They are probably tweaking eq in regard to what notes are being played

 

[RemoWilliams]

They are probably tweaking eq in regards to what notes are being played

I had to re-read what I typed. But ya get what I'm saying.

 

[Lasse Lammert]

Never got to record a full orchestra either..
But did record full brass sections or strings etc quite often... Pure bliss

 

[AudioGeekZine]

I've got something I could possibly send you. Small orchestra, neumann mics, Nagra 6 recorder. I think its only 4-6 mics.

 

[vespiz]

I would love to record more orchestral instruments, be it singles, in groups or whatever.
The 3D soundscape and dynamics are addictive!

 

[Ermz]

No, in a nutshell it's AB setup with an added mic in the center (usually 3 omnis hanging above the orchestra in the form of triangle). A hall where I have worked a couple of times has a fixed setup where mics hang on a rope (sp?), and they move them according to their needs with a mechanism.

Yeah, that's called a Decca Tree.

Always been keen to hear how they capture sound.

I always imagined much like a spaced pair, but with a more defined center.

 

[Chaos_Moon]

I've recorded orchestra's at my school a couple times. Not like studio sessions, but live recordings. In classical recordings, it's not uncommon to mic the ensemble with only a stereo pair. That's generally how I record classical ensembles. I only use spot mics to augment the main pair, not overrule it.

In fact, my teacher at school (who just won a grammy this past year) only lets us record with two mics for the first half of the semester. No EQ, not post production. Just a stereo pair. I have to say, it's a lot of fun, and it really trains your ears and hones your skills.

 

[Uros]

Yeah, that's called a Decca Tree.

Always been keen to hear how they capture sound.

I always imagined much like a spaced pair, but with a more defined center.

I am not sure if you meant to correct me, because I was not clear enough with my response to LaSedna's post, where he said that it's an M/S technique, which it is not.

Anyway, yeah, it was actually intended from the start to give sound like AB setup with more info in the center of the stereo image when compared to plain AB.

 

[LeSedna]

No grid, the producer follows the score and makes decisions based on that. It's (almost?) a requirement for the engineer to also be able to read scores.

What I don't get is, let's say your record the Dvořák "New World Symphony", the largo is quite slow, and there is no way two ensembles could play together tightly without the visual guidance of the conductor who basically "plays" the orchestra following his own intuition, so how do they manage to record section by section such a thing as a part where tempo is not fixed, or almost have no existence anymore ? Or maybe this kind of parts never get recorded section by section ?

I mean, like this [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3o5RzHGsp4&feature=related[/ame]

Btw, this video makes me remember conductor must be one of the best jobs ever in Life. Gave me goosebumps, this part is just... breathtaking.