What's the best audio set up when video taping a live performance of a band?

Question

I've run an sm57 that is pointed at one of the main speakers, and I've pointed a condesor mic at the stage, and I've run a line output from the main mixer, all to a little mixer and then out to my camera.

The mic on the camera almost sounded as good. Are there other mics and mic formats that would work better?

Answer 1

Green Lib Party made some great points.

After I get permission from the band, I have two ways and it depends on the preparedness of the Audio Engineer (if we have been able to talk a couple of days before the gig).

Typically, I try to get the best audio seats and as close to the center of the venue as possble and get good stereo separation. For a mic, I use an Audio-Technica AT-825 condenser stereo mic connected to a BeachTek DXA-6 or juicedLink CX231 connected to either a Sony HDR-HC1 or HDR-FX1. My camcorders also have manual audio control. For loud bands, the BeachTek - for acoustic or not so loud bands, the juicedLink (it has a better "sound floor" because of the active preamps - though there are newer BeachTeks that now have active preamps). If your camcorder have manual audio control, the built-in mics may be all you really need - or if your camcorder has a 1/8" mic-in, then an AT-822 works, too.

You might consider reading about mic placement, specifically, X-Y set up...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone_...

I would not point the mics at the mains... and the pickup characterstics of a condenser mic will be better than an SM57 (don't get me wrog - they are killer mics - I have some... and a bunch of SM58s, too), but a couple of decent condensors or a stereo mic would help. In the X-Y config, the mic on the left is pointed at the right side of the stage and plugged into the right channel; the mic on the right is pointed at the left side of the stage and plugged into the left channel.

If I am fortunate enough to be able to work with the sound board person - and they know what they are doing - they can give me a couple of discreet AUX sends that are a great mix for the camera - but would make a terrible house mix. In this scenario, EVERYTHING needs to be mic'd. Keep in mind, especially for smaller venues, the vocals need to be amped, but the instruments and drums nmay be loud enough, so they don't need so much in the PA... so if you pull a board mix and it is not a discreet aux send, the levels of the various instruments, vocals, percussion, etc will just be odd... Hence my preference for "middle of the room" mic'ing. The last time I did a "board mix" it was actually a feed off a DigiDesign ProTools rig - the performance was being recorded for a CD and the engineer was nice enough to give me a killer feed during the shoot, but AFTER the show, a coupld a days later, they sent me a remixed set of audio that was even better... so during the video edit, I muted the video audio and imported the awesome remix.

Answer 2

Well, first of all, do you have their PERMISSION to record their performance?  Many bands do not allow for fans to record their music at live performances, others do allow it.

Secondly, where do you plan on putting yourself?  Most live performance bands use such huge speakers that you have more of a problem of over modulation than of quality, and of course, there really is a difference here in that aspect!  I went to one concert where the speakers were so huge and over-modulated that there was sound-warp as well as ear-shock!  To get a good recording would have required the fan to be in the back of the open area stage!!!  It was on a lawn quad area between university halls, and the speakers must have been seven feet tall without exaggerating!

Personally, and you can "choose your own poison", I would always use an accessory microphone plugged into the video camera that is adjustable with dials on the mic itself; you can make a set-up where your mic goes into a plug for your earphones which also plugs into your camera so you hear what your camera is recording.  Of course, then you need a tripod for your camera, so you can adjust settings on your mic and on your camera!  This set-up is commercially available but I do know you aren't going to find them at a Radio Toy Shack, you have to find a serious electronics audio-visual supply dealer or someone who can make it for you.

Good luck.