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R/E/P => R/E/P Archives => Budget? Budget? We Don't Got No Steekin' Budjet => Topic started by: sonixx on July 17, 2004, 10:06:44 AM

Title: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: sonixx on July 17, 2004, 10:06:44 AM
I have a seven piece Jazz band coming in next month which consist of:



I have never tracked a Horn Section before as my experience is mainly with strings and percussion.  The tracking will take place in my home studio.

My question is capturing the horn section.  Here's my mic locker:



Right now my thinking is to set the band up with the Horns up front, followed by the Bass, Piano and Kit in a triangular config, with the kit slightly behind the Bass and Piano.  They play in this config often.  The Bass and Kit will be mic'd, one on Bass (D112) and four on the kit (2-ovh (mk012), 1 snare (SM57) and 1 kick (D112)).  I will mic the Piano amp (U195 or 4033) and take a direct feed.

Here's my question, I'm think of using the e22S mics as a spaced pair out front, versus two LDCs (NTK) and the 4050 in omni mode as a room mic.  Also, I'm not adverse to purchasing two ribbons, maybe two R84's if this would up the quality for recording the horns.  Where I live, renting mics is not an option.

Thanks for your input and suggestions...

Thanks,
-kp-
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: hargerst on July 18, 2004, 12:44:51 PM
Sounds like a good starting point, but be prepared to experiment and move mics around.  I can't offer much help because I'm not familiar with a number of the mics you plan to use. It sounds like a fun session.
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: Han S. on July 18, 2004, 04:06:25 PM
A while back
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: sonixx on July 18, 2004, 06:56:42 PM
thanks Harvey and Han (for the Link)...

How about Ribbons versus the SDC for horns.  I have no experience with Ribbons and where I live mic renting is not an option. I've wanted to expand my experience with Ribbons and thought that maybe the Ribbons would help with this project.  I definetly don't want to go in to unprepared  I've considered Ribbons for some time now, but now may the opportunity.
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: tptman on July 23, 2004, 01:49:57 PM
If there were ever a time to buy some ribbons, now would be the time.

How does your room sound? If it sounds good, having a spaced pair should be ok. If not, you'll want to add spot mics on the horns, and AEA R84s on tpt and bone would be a great place to start. LDCs should work fine on saxes.
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: sonixx on July 23, 2004, 09:01:26 PM
tptman, I just bought two R84s... I should have them next week.

I have a pretty good room... about 10000 cuft...

this is going to be fun... I'm really looking forward to it.

thanks...
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: saxplayerz on July 25, 2004, 01:26:23 AM
NTK stereo pair for room. Close mic the saxes with the 57's.
Mix to taste.
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: sonixx on July 25, 2004, 05:06:46 PM
saxplayerz, thanks for the input...

I've been thinking about Recorderman's method pointed to by Han S. above.  Micing the Standup Bass has me thinking.  I think I have a way to basically Isolate the SU Bass in the room, and now I'm debating which mic to start with, either the 4050 or U195.  Any thoughts on using dynamics (421, Sm57, EV757, Beyer MKII) or SDC on SU bass?
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: Han S. on July 25, 2004, 07:00:56 PM
Like was discussed in that thread, the upright bass can be a PITA. Lately I've had good results with a LDC, but even when you use a couple of gobo's there can be quite some bleed, so if you use a cardioid, it may better have a nice off axis response.

Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: hargerst on July 25, 2004, 07:04:09 PM
If you can isolate the bass, try a Behringer ECM8000 (about $40),12" out from where the fingerboard joins the body, and just point the mic down at the floor.
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: sonixx on July 26, 2004, 07:14:48 PM
Okay... Thanks Harvey.
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: sonixx on August 15, 2004, 08:51:53 AM
I want to say thanks for all the help... the session Saturday went great.

Here's what I ended up using...

R84(2) - Blumlein
mk012(2) - Kit Overheads
4033 -  Electric Piano Amp
Piano Direct
EMC8000 - Standup Bass

The R84 Ribbon mics are excellent.  They captured the room...

Here's a snippet...

Go Daddy-O Snippet

http://www.nowhereradio.com/sonixx/singles

-keith-
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: hargerst on August 15, 2004, 05:25:24 PM
Well, I knew the R84's would do the trick, but how did you (and the bass player) like the ECM8000 on the upright bass?
Title: Re: Help Tracking 7 Piece Jazz band...
Post by: sonixx on August 15, 2004, 06:20:23 PM
In the scheme of things, the ECM8000 was put it up and forgot about it.  So it worked out just fine... thanks for the suggestion.  I wish I had an iso booth for the standup bass.

The R84's absolutely did the trick.  The day would have been a lot more work without them.  After the first take, I thought, Holy Shit... this sounds just like what I'm hearing in the room.  The client has very pleased.

-keith-