??? about Live Concert Shoot

[D.Films]

I posted a lenghty write up in the Doc/Live Event forum about my situation but I wanted to post specific audio questions here cause I desperately need help/advice.

I will be filming a live rock concert with my DVX100A...

1. If I run an XLR straight from the venue's sound board to my camera, will this be good enough sound when I make this a concert DVD?

2. Any suggestions to capture ambient room sound? I have no other existiing audio equipment other than a shotgun mic?

3. Should i connect my mic to my other XLR input? Can i fix this in FCP?

I'm sorry for these ?, I m sure I should know this stuff by now.

this show coming up is very important and I appreciate any help.

 

[John Willett]

OK - I read your other post as well to get the full picture.

This is a concert, so the sound is really a lot more important than the pictures, so you really need to get it right.

First - find out who will be doing the live sound; talk to them and find out what they are going to do in detail. Find out how they are going to mic. it all up and if it will be possible to take a stereo feed from the board.

Actually, the best bet is for you to have an experienced sound mixer yourself - have mic. splitters on every mic., the main feed going to the main board and the split going to yours so you do your own mix - or - feed every split to a multitrack and mix in post.

Or - hire a JoeCo Black Box and plug it into the direct outs of the main mixer. Again, mix in post.

You may find that the sound guy has mics that you can borrow for ambience mics., if not you will have to hire a decent stereo pair - I would suggest an ORTF rig, but I don't know the venu.

The ambience mics need to go to the same recorder as the stage mics.

You also need to check with the sound guy if he is mic'ing everything - if he is relying on some instruments not being mic'ed you may need extra mics.

It's a big and important job - I hope this helps.

 

[Noiz2]

Pretty much what John said except I would forget the stereo feed from the board. The mix from the board is going to compliment the on stage sound AND the room acoustics. So it almost always sounds bad on it's own. You want either direct out's off the board or splitters on the line going into the board. You NEED a pro sound person for two reasons. First this is not an easy gig and you want someone who knows what (s)he is doing. Second if the live mixer is not going to let someone touch his feeds who he doesn't think knows what they are doing and is SURE understands that the live performance takes precedence. You could completely screw him up messing with his feeds and he's not stupid. If it sounds bad in the room it's his butt in the sling, if your sound sucks it's your butt, and I can tell you right now which he is more concerned about. So your sound person needs to make him feel that his butt is in safe hands (so to speak). And that is not going to happen if they don't come off as very experienced and professional.