Tips for recording Soprano Opera singer and Grand Piano.

JimiTime · 28-07-2009 04:26PM #1

Hi Guys,
I've agreed to record a friend of mine in a Church. She is a Soprano (excellent btw), and I will also be recording a grand piano. Neither have I recorded before. It must be done live also, and the aim is to present her voice as best I can. Obviously being a church, its going to be a very active room etc. Just wondering what you would recommend? Tips for recording Grand piano etc?

Equipment will be:

SE 5600a Tube mic.
2 Rode NT5's
AKG D115
A few SM 58's and an SM 57
SE pencil condensor (Forget the model number:o )

Pro Tools 7LE
Digi002 Rack
Focusrite Octopre
Power Mac G5

Any help appreciated.

J.

shayleon · 29-07-2009 12:05PM

A couple of omnis for the piano (like NT55) would have been useful, but in your situation, first thing that comes to mind is using the tube for vocals, and the NT5 stereo pair in 90 deg, aiming at the low and high ends of the piano.

Might have to play a bit with location of singer to avoid bad reflections coming to the mic.

HTH

Shay

madtheory · 30-07-2009 03:21PM

****Close miking will not work for this sort of music.****

Put the singer where she can have good eye contact with the pianist. Performance is everything. Don't go blundering in with your equipment telling them what to do. They are the talent, not you.

Position a stereo pair at a distance where the blend between soprano, piano and room ambience is just right. Monitor with good closed headphones like Beyerdynamic DT150, as you move and they rehearse. Stay in record all the time. This will save you a load of hassle later, because the mix is done. You will probably spend a lot of time editing though.

I would use an XY or DIN stereo setup, but it's up to you. Take a look at this:
http://www.dpamicrophones.com/en/Microphone%20University/StereoTechniques.aspx

Bass your levels on the dynamics in the score. Their fff should peak around -12dBFS. Follow the score and mark issues on it as you record.

Watch out for external noise and rumble. Try to pick a time when the building and/ or the road outside is at its least busy. Failing that, use good shockmounts and a HPF on the pre amp if possible, failing that do it digitally in post. Don't use the one on the mic, it has the wrong slope, it's for proximity effect not rumble. You'll get too thin a tone when you're distant miking.

So it looks like the Rodes and the Focusrite will be your tools, along with a good pair of headphones. If you've the digital out on the Focusrite, use it. The Digi is an OK converter too. But don't use the onboard mic pre.

JimiTime · 30-07-2009 07:01PM

Thanks guys.

MadTheory: Are you saying just use my ears to locate a point in the room where there is acoustically a good balance between the vocal and the Piano, and place the mics there? Obviously adjusting as necessary, i.e. fine tune the mic placement. I am very much a non intrusive producer as much as I can help it, so this would be fab if it worked. Obviously the room etc must be assessed, but I like the sound of that method.

madtheory · 30-07-2009 08:47PM

JimiTime wrote: »

Thanks guys.
madtheory: Are you saying just use my ears

Yes, that is what I'm saying. In an ideal situation, you'll have your monitor speakers set up remotely with some bass traps in the room, and your assistant does the moving. But a good pair of headphones does the trick- just double check it by playing back as soon as you can.

And you're welcome

I like the sound of your production style. Please post a link to the recording when it's done.

Tips for recording Soprano Opera singer and Grand Piano.

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