shooting a band rehearsal: audio question

StayNuts said:
which one you would advice to buy.... for the range of $400-$600
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Buy used. I payed around $600 US for my M4 (the original owner had upgraded to a SD442).

If you search around enough, you'll probably be able to get a good price on a Shure FP-33 (not an FP-32, big difference there). They're pretty heavy, but they're also a good ol' 3-channel workhorse.

If you're mixing sound-cart style (ie. not over-the-shoulder), you should look into a small Mackie board. Again, keep an eye out for used.

Just be sure to buy used gear from reputable dealers, or you risk inheritting someone else's problems.
 
Easiest and most fail-safe is one mic in cardiod pattern- mono. I'd use either a basic dynamic mic (sure sm57 is bullet proof) or a large diaphram condensor. If it's a small, loud room put the pad in. No phase worries with mono and makes for quick set up.
It's a rehearsal, viewers will expect it to sound like on mic in a room sounds...

DDP
 
When using the HVX 200, record the line out of the main mixer on ch 1+2, and use the built-in mic on ch 3+4 for ambiance and crowd. I tried this in a small studio performance, but not a big concert.
 
I've had good experience use an XLR "Y" adapters on each mic and recording onto a Firepod as discreet tracks, getting a good level, then doing a mix later. I also take the guitar amps direct if they have a direct out.

I use my G4 laptop with an external FW drive and it records and sounds flawless. MUCH better control of the mix as well.
 
Thanks again for all the replies.

I'm now investigating mixers and I was wondering what's the difference between a field mixer and small studio mixers other than portability and the number of inputs.

Also, what's the typical line output on the bands' sound systems? Jacks or XLRs? If both, I have the feeling I'd be better off with a small studio mixer that can take jacks and XLRs and output a line XLR to my HVX, rather than with a field mixer that will only take XLRs. Is that correct?

If the drawback is that I won't be able to use it outdoors, I can live with that.

Thanks,
Laurent
 
Ldom said:
I'm now investigating mixers and I was wondering what's the difference between a field mixer and small studio mixers other than portability and the number of inputs.
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Output limiters are an important feature rarely found on studio mixers. Tone generators are also a bit rare on low-cost mixers; Mackies in particular never seem to have tone generators, so you'll want to bring along a battery-powered tone generator. Toneplugs are a good choice, although I have a soft spot for my old Rolls test tone generator (the sweepable frequency means that I can use it as a poor man's theremin during foley sessions). Production mixers also tend to have switcheable high-pass filters at 80 Hz or 120 Hz, where you really need them for production sound. Mixers designed for music production tend to use high-pass filters that are either sweepable, or are set to a frequency too low to be really effective for production sound. The preamps are another issue, in that the inexpensive mixers tend to have understandably low-quality microphone preamps.

Production mixers often also have headphone returns built into an ENG snake, but that's really more of a convenience issue. Whatever you do, always plug your headphones into the device that's actually recording the sound, rather than just into the mixer. If you're recording single-system, plug your cans into the camera.


Ldom said:
Also, what's the typical line output on the bands' sound systems? Jacks or XLRs? If both, I have the feeling I'd be better off with a small studio mixer that can take jacks and XLRs and output a line XLR to my HVX, rather than with a field mixer that will only take XLRs. Is that correct?
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Most mixers will be able to provide you either XLR or jack outputs. To be on the safe side, bring along a wide selection of plug adapters barrels and adapter cables (at least two of each):
  • XLR (male) to XLR (male)
  • XLR (female) to XLR (female)
  • 1/4" TRS jack (male) to 1/4" TRS jack (male)
  • 1/4" TRS jack (female) to 1/4" TRS jack (female)
  • 1/4" TRS jack (male) to XLR (male)
  • 1/4" TRS jack (male) to XLR (female)
  • 1/4" TRS jack (female) to XLR (male)
  • 1/4" TRS jack (male) to 2x TRS (male) insert cable
  • 1/4" jack (male) to RCA (male)
  • XLR (male) to RCA (male)
  • XLR (female) to RCA (male)
  • BNC (female) to RCA (male)
  • BNC (male) to RCA (female)
  • 1/4" TRS jack (male) 2x RCA (male)
  • RCA (male) to RCA (male)
  • RCA (female) to RCA (female)
  • BNC (male) to BNC (male)
  • 1/8" TRS jack (female) to 1/8" TRS jack (female) (bring plenty of extras, since you may need them for headphones)
  • 1/8" TRS jack (female) to 1/4" TRS jack (male)
  • 1/8" TRS jack (male) to 1/4" TRS jack (female)
  • XLR (male) to XLR (female) with phase reversed (keep this one clearly labelled)
It can be a nuisance to gather together all those cables and adapters, but they'll cover you for almost any connection situation you're likely to run across.
 
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