Hi. i have one shot at a recording set up (and only one short non-representative rehearsal) so i would be grateful for your thoughts on the following.

Scenario: Gloucester Cathedral recording of Concert of Xmas Carols. Large main choir, small vocal ensemble (5-8), soloists-duets/readings, x2 lower school groups to left and right and only slightly in front of conductor.
Whole shabang covered by:
ORTF – AKG C414's XLS on K&M tall stand.
With addittions of:
X3 Beyerdynamic MC930 spot's in front of main choir
C414 XLS solists/duets
x2 AKG C 391B on lower school groups
Maybe x2 AKG perception 420 further into building to capture some at least of the vast acoustic??

The amount of mics used may be seen as overkill by some, but i want to get some experience of how things can sound in various positions. I do not need to put everything in the final mixdown.

Recording to multi-track recorder with ISA828 pre (24 bit /12 ch available x8 via ISA x4 direct to recorder). Delays configured as appropriate. A CD will be produced for friends and parents and all editing /mixing etc will be done on the recorder (Yamaha AW2400)

My question: i plan to use a Rode NT4 stereo in front of the 5-8 people ensemble. They will not sing with the other groups at any time and will be centrally placed in front of main choir. The mic will be close to singers on a stand, a bit lower than i would ideally like. I dont need a wide stereo separation here.

However, with coincident XY pair, i have always wondered how the notion of 'off-axis colouration' may or may not affect the fidelity if used in this way? (close to source) and am i asking for trouble by delaying the Rode to the main stereo pair?

cheers

Sounds like it's worth a try. I don't see why off-axis coloration would be a problem in an open environment, and the mike may well be handy added to the main pair; suck it and see. That's the beauty of multitrack mixing !

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PA stuff on FB

The NT4 is an XY pair of cardioids. The stereo acceptance angle is therefore about 180 degrees, so if you want a reasonable stereo width you have to place the mic very close to ensemble.

It would be best if you can get the ensemble to form an arc in front of the mic so that the central vocalists are at roughly the same distance from the mic as those on the outer edges -- otherwise the balance will tend to be very centre-heavy.

Hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

In a big yummy space like that, I would definitely prefer a Decca Tree myself. Spot mics are a good idea. Doesn't look like you have 3 omnis so the AKG perception for ambience would probably be best as an AB pair.

By "non representative" do you mean- it won't be the same group as on the night? That's actually OK your main issue will be direct vs reflected sound. Take a lot of care with that (although I get the impression you already know that).

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