Recording live music

P

percoplus

Active member
I recently shot a band in an outdoor concert. Took an XLR feed from the main soundboard directly into the XHA1s. It sounded pretty crappy - low volume and kind of a hum and distorted. I used the XLR Line setting. Should I have used something else to record onto, or hooked up something between the sound board and the camera? The onboard attenuators and manual controls did not do the trick.

At another event, I tried to record to an M Audio Microtrack II the other day. XLR Line direct from soundboard - would not even receive sound. It's like it was overloaded. I ended up recording ambient with onboard mic and a shotgun.

I got hold of a Samson wireless setup. Messing around at home, I plugged a line from a mixer to the body pack transmitter and from the receiver into the camera input. It sounded okay except for a slight hum. I also tried connecting the receiver to the Microtrack and it sounded okay. I think the difference was that the Samson has an attenuator (-20, -30, -40).

I am wondering if I should always use the wireless (if only for the attenuator) or if there is some other way to get audio from a soundboard.

I wish I knew more about sound. I am pretty clueless when I talk to a soundman about getting a line feed. I never know what to expect or what to ask.
 
Hi percoplus, yep it can be a pain and sound is 70% of what you see!

I've just got an A1s and am sussing out its audio as we speak.
The A1s XLR line input sounds correct and you should have enough level control with it. But it does sound like you need a line pad (drops level) of some value and maybe an earth lift. IMO your wireless rig won't cut it.

Soundboard wallahs all seem to have their own agenda and you've gotta smile and stay with 'em.

Your questions here really belong on the Audio board, try there. HTH
Cheers.
 
I can't believe how many DJ's/sound technicians don't have a clue how to give a proper line out! These days I make sure I never have to rely on the sound guys and can get my own audio - though this is alot harder for a full on live band than for the live theatre/dance shows I record.

Here's the sort of conversation I've had a few times lately after being told in advance the sound guys will set up an XLR line feed for me:

Me: "Hi, how about that line out?"
Him: "Yeah sure... here you go."
Me: "Thanks, but I though you said it was going to be XLR"
Him: "Oh... um... er..."
Me: "It's ok I brought my own cable in case this happened"
Him: "Cool, hold on a sec... ok here you go, it should be all set!"
Me: "Nope... sorry, can't hear anything..."
Him: "Er... um..."
Me: "Is it a line level feed?"
Him: "Yep... its a feed, going through a line... a line level feed."
Me: "But is it set to line level?"
Him: "Is the line level with what? I can't raise the desk any higher or lower... it's built into the wall."
Me: "No, I'm wondering if it's at mic level or line level?"
Him: "Mic level is about 5 feet abouve the stage... but it depends how tall the person is."
Me: "No, no, the signal, what type of signal?"
Him: "Well, when the band walks on stage, thats the signal to turn the mic on."
Me: "No... that's not what I'm asking..."
Him: "WHAT? Sorry, you'll have to speak up. I'm going deaf because In the past three years I haven't figured out how to turn the volume on my headphones down to a medically recommended level."
Me: "I just need an XLR line feed!"
Him: "Ok, well, come back after you've had your feed and we'll sort it out. And can you bring me back some fries?"
Me: "No, I'm just saying, it should be set to line level, not mic level."
Him: "I don't have any mic's up on this level, they're all on the stage. But there's lines and cables going everywhere up here."
Me: "Well, where do you have MY cable going?"
Him: "It's plugged into your camera, you idiot. Are you blind or just stupid?"
Me: "Can I come into your booth and do it myself?"
Him: "No, sorry, I can't figure out to unlock the door."
 
I recorded a live gig on the weekend. The supplied XLR feed into my A1 worked a treat, and the resultant footage sounds great. I find though, I have to watch the audio level so that it doesn't spill much above -12db on the audio readout. Also make sure that phantom power is switched off!
 
I got an xlr line into my #2 camera a couple of shoots ago. It sounded terrible - distorted and low volume.

I can't always get a line into my camera, especially if I'm walking around the club. So I got the MicroTrack to record the soundboard. The problem is I can't monitor it because I am not near it.

The point is that I never know what to expect soundwise when I get to a music gig. How can I best equip myself to be ready for anything? What are the best recorders? What if the soundboard line is so hot I can't attenuate it? What should I tell the sound man about my needs? Should I get a portable mixer (another piece of equipment)?
 
Live gigs are really a two camera job. One camera on a tripod situated to the rear to get wide shots. This is the XLR line-in audio camera. The other camera is roaming and for close ups.

On the A1 you can set the XLR audio gain in the AUDIO SETUP menu. Also on the A1 (not sure about the A1s) the XLR mic attenuator switch (ATT) is only effective when the LINE/MIC switch is set to MIC.
 
The reality is that I have to do as much as I can with the one line I am likely to be fed at a gig from a sound guy who couldn't care less. Then, since I never know what the house is going to feed me, I need to have all the connectors, adapters, attenuators, etc. so that i don't damage my equipment. My knowledge in this area is minimal.

I think first and foremost I need to monitor my sound. I cannot do this with the camcorder or the Microtrack because neither has a powerful enough headphone preamp to cut through in a loud venue.


So, I guess I am on the market for a good 4-track mixer at a good price.
 
That's Funny!!!

That's Funny!!!

deltoidjohn said:
I can't believe how many DJ's/sound technicians don't have a clue how to give a proper line out! These days I make sure I never have to rely on the sound guys and can get my own audio - though this is alot harder for a full on live band than for the live theatre/dance shows I record.

Here's the sort of conversation I've had a few times lately after being told in advance the sound guys will set up an XLR line feed for me:

Me: "Hi, how about that line out?"
Him: "Yeah sure... here you go."
Me: "Thanks, but I though you said it was going to be XLR"
Him: "Oh... um... er..."
Me: "It's ok I brought my own cable in case this happened"
Him: "Cool, hold on a sec... ok here you go, it should be all set!"
Me: "Nope... sorry, can't hear anything..."
Him: "Er... um..."
Me: "Is it a line level feed?"
Him: "Yep... its a feed, going through a line... a line level feed."
Me: "But is it set to line level?"
Him: "Is the line level with what? I can't raise the desk any higher or lower... it's built into the wall."
Me: "No, I'm wondering if it's at mic level or line level?"
Him: "Mic level is about 5 feet abouve the stage... but it depends how tall the person is."
Me: "No, no, the signal, what type of signal?"
Him: "Well, when the band walks on stage, thats the signal to turn the mic on."
Me: "No... that's not what I'm asking..."
Him: "WHAT? Sorry, you'll have to speak up. I'm going deaf because In the past three years I haven't figured out how to turn the volume on my headphones down to a medically recommended level."
Me: "I just need an XLR line feed!"
Him: "Ok, well, come back after you've had your feed and we'll sort it out. And can you bring me back some fries?"
Me: "No, I'm just saying, it should be set to line level, not mic level."
Him: "I don't have any mic's up on this level, they're all on the stage. But there's lines and cables going everywhere up here."
Me: "Well, where do you have MY cable going?"
Him: "It's plugged into your camera, you idiot. Are you blind or just stupid?"
Me: "Can I come into your booth and do it myself?"
Him: "No, sorry, I can't figure out to unlock the door."
Click to expand...

I haven't had a conversation quite like that, but you can understand what I go through.
 
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