Recording in a Music Venue (but not the band)

[scorsesefan]

I will be recording audio in a club/performance space on the 30th. It is a pretty small venue (<200 people)

The band is being recording by a "taper", who we will be recording setting up his rig (stand, mics, cables etc.) and then running the rig during the show. We will have his recording of the band but my question is how to best capture his dialogue (especially during the show). I know it will be loud and chaotic but any suggestions are appreciated. My gear: Zoom F8, Rode NTG-3, pistol grip, boom pole, Sennheiser G2 wireless kit

Thanks.

 

[Bruce Watson]

The band is being recording by a "taper", who we will be recording setting up his rig (stand, mics, cables etc.) and then running the rig during the show. We will have his recording of the band but my question is how to best capture his dialogue (especially during the show).

It's all about signal to noise ratio. In this case, the "noise" of the show is going to likely be overpowering. Which in turn means that you need to put a mic as close to the speaker's mouth as you can get. Which means either a headset with a cardioid boom at the corner of his mouth (what broadcasters use on the sidelines of a Final Four basketball game), or an earset mic like a Countryman E6i. A cardioid is fairly safe to use with either the headset boom or the earset because it will stay in a fixed position relative to the corner of the mouth, so it can't get out-of-pattern or give you variable proximity effect. This will give you about as good a sound quality as you can get.

The bad news is, the mic will be visible. But so will the taper's mics that are used to record the show. So it shouldn't actually be a problem. If it must be invisible, you can give up some sound quality and signal to noise ratio by using a tiny mic like a Countryman B6 omni, and taping it to the underside of the bill of a hat, to the temple of the taper's glasses (if you're that lucky), etc. All the normal ways that Broadway shows hide mics. But if the soundfield is loud, your taper might have to shout to be heard above the background, which is why I think the headset boom or the earset is your best choice.

 

[Rick R]

I would agree with Bruce about the headset mics.
The performance space looks like a nightmare as well.. especially for dialog; hard walls, floors, can't see the ceiling but I would assume it's a similar hard surface. The audience would help somewhat.

 

[Noiz2]

I would also question how much if any sound he is going to make during the show. I've run a lot of shows and with the exception of clearcom (intercom headsets) nobody talks while the show is going on. Especially if you are in the space as opposed to in a booth.

So I suspect the noise level while he is talking is going to be a lot less than the show.

 

[scorsesefan]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I think if anything I will put a lav mic as close to his mouth as possible but I think Scott may be right in that there probably will be little to no talking during the show. I think for the most part we will be getting his set up and breakdown and maybe just some visuals during the show...

 

[Bruce Watson]

I think if anything I will put a lav mic as close to his mouth as possible...

You can try it. But set your expectations fairly low. There's really no place you can mount a lav that will give it a direct path to the mouth, which is what an earset gets. Which means your signal to noise ratio will be considerably worse than an earset. But this may be OK depending on the band, the room, etc... What have you really got to loose?