Recording a Choir

johnnylakes

Hi Folks,
I have been asked to record a choir, 50 Male voices, a piano and a string quartet. I will be recording them hopefully in our local theatre which has great acoustics luckily. I am wondering if anyone here has experience in this area?
From my research there seems to be different schools of thought as to how to approach this. Either recording 'live' (like a show situation) or tracking instruments/sections (Alto/Tenor etc) separately.
I am wondering whether it is better to use mics (e.g. Stereo pair) for each section or to use fewer mics to capture the whole choir, if you know what I mean ???

Your thoughts please...........

* I have a 24 Channel desk so have 24 tracks simultaneously to play with

Thanks !

madtheory

Definitely live, not overdubs! They play together all the time, don't break that bond. Hugh Robjohns on Sound On Sound has an article on choir and another on light music recording. Essential reading. The usual approach is a stereo rig plus spot mics. I usually go with a spaced pair or a Decca Tree. This is a large group so the tree is your best bet I think. Make sure you charge them enough! These gigs take a lot of concentrated attention. Ability to follow a score is vital...

studiorat

Overdubbing will use lots of sets of headphones and take ages. Do it in parts, couple of pages at a time, then edit the best takes together later.

I would use one array of microphones and attempt to capture the whole ensemble, either a Decca Tree or a Stereo pair. Probably a pair in your situation, I find more spaced arrays too diffuse in general. I'd try either XY or ORTF for the pair. I wouldn't use them spaced, but I would probably give it a try if I had spares. Each to his own I suppose...

I'd also put spot mics the Piano and Quartet and use a Mic each on the choir sections (SATB) and one final microphone for any soloists. One more mic and a loudspeaker for talkback to the conductor and off you go.

madtheory

studiorat is probably right, he gets to do this sort of thing rather often I think, the lucky sod!

The talkback setup is a great point- but there's so many things you need to do on a gig like this, it would take too long to get them all into a thread. Which is why you should look of the Robjohns articles.

Stereo array is a matter of preference I think, each has its advantages- as long as you've good mics with good off axis response for the arrays requiring cardioid. Like KM184 for example. Personally I prefer the sense of space with AB/ Decca, when it's a big group like this.

johnnylakes

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the replies! It's not actually a gig I am recording, it's just recording if you know what I mean. I think I will try the Decca Tree out 'front', and mic each section (SATB) and the Piano etc. I guess I don't have to actually use em all in the end do I ! Better lookin at em than lookin for em innit !!! Will go for it live rather than over-dubbing. Keep it live as suggested.
I will check out those articles also.
Thanks again, tis much appreciated.

TroutMask

I use a M-S pair, an omni, an ORTF + another pair all on a Grace bar flown on a very tall stand. Then I add some section mics, but not too close. If there are important solos, I spot those for flying in later. Accompanists get spot mics as well. All tracks are striped twice to two DAWs using a splitter.