Today I had my first chat with my project supervisor, John. He basically agreed and confirmed that my proposal is OK. He advised me to get in touch with British Library in London and search for logbooks of some good sound engineers that worked on live performances. Great idea for an initial research.
Apart of that, as a part of initial research, I should start looking for a concert to record. Hopefully, there is something interesting going on this autumn / winter in Cambridge.
Fitz instrumental pics
OK, next part, this time from Sunday:
C414s with some instruments on the stage
...and even some players!
Another view.
C414s with some instruments on the stage
...and even some players!
Another view.
Fitz Choir recordings pics
Here we go. Pictures are made with my phone, so sorry for the quality...
C414s looking at the stage
About 90 degrees...
Side view of mics and stage
... and a top view. Mics are just a shadow next to the director.
This is how this looked like from the stage.
C414s looking at the stageAbout 90 degrees...
Side view of mics and stage... and a top view. Mics are just a shadow next to the director.
This is how this looked like from the stage.
Fitz Instrumental
I'm writing that on Tuesday after the recording
The choral concert described below took place last Friday. On Sunday, there was another concert, this time instrumental, which I recorded as well.
The recording went quite well, for what I heard when I had a quick listen to the material while still on site.
Band
There were a couple of pieces played by different instrument sets: A string quartet, solo piano, harpsichord + violin + cello etc. They never played all instruments together.
They chosen the program quite bravely (to come soon), considering their skills and I must say that a few glitches were possible to hear. This is none of my concern anyway :)
Mic set-up
Again, I used the same equipment as on Friday night. This time, 2 additional rows were put on the bottom of the audience (actually, I was helping to put them up), which allowed me to come closer to the stage - I settled in the 2nd row again. I carefully adjusted the microphones, so that the angle between them would be a bit more than 90 deg. - I didn't want the cardioids to cover too much of the audience.
The recording
I didn't have time (remember, I was at work) to sit by the recorder all time, so I only slightly adjusted the levels during the first piece, leaving the head at about -3dB on loudest moments, and then just switched the limiter on and went back to work. While doing that, I noticed that the weird noise I noticed on Friday is only present in the mic looking to the left - the right one was apparently OK.
This is it so far. To avoid projects and works piling up, I spent today entirely on processing speeches and now they are almost ready and I can think of other things to do.
The choral concert described below took place last Friday. On Sunday, there was another concert, this time instrumental, which I recorded as well.
The recording went quite well, for what I heard when I had a quick listen to the material while still on site.
Band
There were a couple of pieces played by different instrument sets: A string quartet, solo piano, harpsichord + violin + cello etc. They never played all instruments together.
They chosen the program quite bravely (to come soon), considering their skills and I must say that a few glitches were possible to hear. This is none of my concern anyway :)
Mic set-up
Again, I used the same equipment as on Friday night. This time, 2 additional rows were put on the bottom of the audience (actually, I was helping to put them up), which allowed me to come closer to the stage - I settled in the 2nd row again. I carefully adjusted the microphones, so that the angle between them would be a bit more than 90 deg. - I didn't want the cardioids to cover too much of the audience.
The recording
I didn't have time (remember, I was at work) to sit by the recorder all time, so I only slightly adjusted the levels during the first piece, leaving the head at about -3dB on loudest moments, and then just switched the limiter on and went back to work. While doing that, I noticed that the weird noise I noticed on Friday is only present in the mic looking to the left - the right one was apparently OK.
This is it so far. To avoid projects and works piling up, I spent today entirely on processing speeches and now they are almost ready and I can think of other things to do.
Week-end at Fitzwilliam
Not only I recorded the concert of the Fitz Chapel Choir, but also I was asked to record speeches and song done during the meeting and dinner afterwards. For this purpose, I use site microphones (some thin AKGs mounted on the lectern at the moment) and a Marantz hooked to the mixing table.
The problems I encountered were: Marantz decided to switch itself off with no reason while College Master had a speech during the dinner. I switched it back on, and when it did the same thing a couple of moments later, I just gave up. Apart of that, the recording during the dinner went well.
While recording speeches in the Auditorium, I discovered (too late, unfortunately, to invent some workaround) that the mixing desk (make & model to come) is extremely noisy - I picked up a lot of ground hum, which might be a problem when it comes to mixing.
I will not continue this subject as I do not intend to use these recording for my assignments. I just thought that it might be interesting for you to read :)
The problems I encountered were: Marantz decided to switch itself off with no reason while College Master had a speech during the dinner. I switched it back on, and when it did the same thing a couple of moments later, I just gave up. Apart of that, the recording during the dinner went well.
While recording speeches in the Auditorium, I discovered (too late, unfortunately, to invent some workaround) that the mixing desk (make & model to come) is extremely noisy - I picked up a lot of ground hum, which might be a problem when it comes to mixing.
I will not continue this subject as I do not intend to use these recording for my assignments. I just thought that it might be interesting for you to read :)
Notes taken during Fitz Choir recording
OK, I am now in the Auditorium in Fitzwilliam College. As an AV technician in here, I know the place and I have access to all the rooms, so I chosen to sit in the Control Room for the duration of the concert.
The Choir I am recording has 9 members, but as I noticed during their rehearsal, only 8 sings at a time.
Down on the audience, in the second row on the middle, I've got 2 C414s set up as coincident pair of cardioids hooked up to the Marantz. I'm recording in 48kHz sample rate, but for some reason I couldn't change the bit resolution. As far as I know, it should be either 16 bit (good) or 24 bit (very good).
As the audience is rather high class, I covered all the cables and a big reel of extension cable with a cloth, so the only thing sticking out is a piece of stand with 2 mics on it. I also put ropes around the 1 seat I used for equipment, so no-one hopefully will ruin my recording.
I am however afraid that it will be ruined anyway, as the mics pick up some very weird noise down around 100-150 Hz. I hope that it hasn't any higher frequency content. If not, it will be easy to eliminate. I'll try to switch the house fans off - up here I can hear them very well, they might cause the problem. But anyway, signal-to-noise ratio was OK as I was listening on the headphones. Well, I'll see on Monday.
I have done some pictures (and I plan to make some more) to be posted tomorrow.
For now I just sit and pray that they won't take longer than until 22:50, when the recorder will run out of space.
Fitz Choir - Recording confirmed
I've just got an e-mail confirming the recording of Fitzwilliam Choir.
I will record their rehearsal in Fitzwilliam Chapel this Saturday. Hopefully, one of their pieces will be suitable for my portfolio. As far as I know the acoustics of the place, the array of 2 coincident cardioids angled 180 degrees should do the work.
I already booked Marantz digital recorder and a pair of AMG C414s to borrow for a week-end, so everything seems to be ready to go.
I will record their rehearsal in Fitzwilliam Chapel this Saturday. Hopefully, one of their pieces will be suitable for my portfolio. As far as I know the acoustics of the place, the array of 2 coincident cardioids angled 180 degrees should do the work.
I already booked Marantz digital recorder and a pair of AMG C414s to borrow for a week-end, so everything seems to be ready to go.
Final Project - beginning
The draft idea for my Final Project is to record the whole live concert somewhere. I wish it to be a bit bigger than a Lunchtime Concert in Mumford and after my first meeting with my Project Supervisor (John W. kindy agreed to supervise my project), I will start looking for an appropriate event.
Fitzwilliam Choir - arrangements
I'm in the middle of arranging the first event to record for my portfolio. Apparently, there is a choir singing in the Fitzwilliam College, my place of work, and most propably they will allow me to record their performance in College Chapel - looks like a good opportunity to use some nice stereo array. I am thinking of using a Marantz portable digital recorder and a pair of C414s.
Before the event, I'll have to check the notes on stereo arrays from previous year. For now, I am still waiting for confirmations.
Before the event, I'll have to check the notes on stereo arrays from previous year. For now, I am still waiting for confirmations.
Introduction
This blog is a log of my activity during the final year of Audio and Music Technology. At least 2 modules, both lasting for 2 semesters, require me to have a sort of log - hence this blog.
The logs of different modules will be labelled accordingly.
Although the main purpose of this blog is to keep the record for my tutors and myself, everyone is more than welcome to have a look :)
The logs of different modules will be labelled accordingly.
Although the main purpose of this blog is to keep the record for my tutors and myself, everyone is more than welcome to have a look :)
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