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GMC Forum _ CHILL OUT _ New Audio Project

Posted by: tonymiro Jan 26 2012, 10:25 AM

My wife is a radio and music producer and also trains people in radio and music production. She's part of a small team that has just won a small European grant (it's about 12000 Euros) that will fund an audio project. The project is to record, produce and archive an audio map of the music in our town over a period of a year. The map will include:

Traditional songs that are passed down from person to person but have never been recorded.
All the live music events.
All the final performance and test/exam pieces from students at the music school and High school.
The Chiri performances (kind of like a carnival but focused on groups of singers who perform comical songs about topical events and 'important' people like politicians).
Flamenco
Local bands/singers.

The project also has to include training at least one local person so that they get to a level where they are able to record and mix at a semi-professional level. (She wanted the person to be at a professional level but finally accepted that 2 year, part time training isn't long enough.) That person and the studio will form a legacy for the town so that in future people can get their stuff properly recorded and mixed.

Project had it's inaugral meeting last night and the first recording is supposed to be for the Chiri in late Feb.

So between now and the end of Feb we need to put together a mobile recording, a fixed recording sound stage and mixing studio from scratch. I do mean from scratch as at present the project has yet to even buy a computer let alone a console, sequencer etc and hasn't even identified the person/s to train to semi- pro level. My wife has however decided whom she wants to do the recording/mixing training, spec the hardware and software and set up the studio - me. As there is no chance that the trainee will be ready to do the first recordings in late Feb I'll have to do those until s/he is up to speed.

She also told me that the project can't afford to pay me, which came as no surprise .

Should be a fun and interesting challenge.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 26 2012, 11:24 AM

Definitely an interesting project Tony... I hope it goes well. Taking on a project that big must come with a lot of stress and resonsibility so all my best wishes of luck to you and your wife for making it happen

Posted by: Sensible Jones Jan 26 2012, 01:12 PM

Many congrats to the Missus Tony!!
Sounds like an interesting Project to be involved in, good luck on the whole thing. I'm sure you'll do a sterling job for that kind of recompense!!!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 26 2012, 02:47 PM

Well, every experience can be wonderful, right? Congrats on the project Tony

Posted by: SirJamsalot Jan 26 2012, 10:50 PM

I am both happy and sad for you My wife is a photographer with no computer skills, so when I'm not at work, I'm at home/work - I have one of those honey-do lists and as you noted - those aren't paid positions

I'd ask you to keep a photo journal of the set-up process, but sounds like you'll have your hands full as it is! And if I were a rich man, I'd fly out there and be your apprentice free of charge just for the learning experience!

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jan 26 2012, 11:08 PM

Sounds like fun! The good news is the recordings should come out great!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jan 27 2012, 03:25 PM

That's a great project. Lucky you man! Would love to work on such a project, and for free!

Posted by: tonymiro Jan 29 2012, 12:52 PM

Thanks everyone

QUOTE (SirJamsalot @ Jan 26 2012, 09:50 PM)

...

I'd ask you to keep a photo journal of the set-up process, but sounds like you'll have your hands full as it is! And if I were a rich man, I'd fly out there and be your apprentice free of charge just for the learning experience!

There will be some photos taken but mainly of the musicians.

Nice idea though it would also help if you could speak Spanish

Posted by: tonymiro Feb 11 2012, 12:13 PM

Well my wife has been in the UK since late Jan and gets back this Monday. So we'll be nearly half way through Feb when she returns. Recording of the first lot of Chiris is supposed to start next Friday...

Posted by: tonymiro Feb 24 2012, 11:13 AM

Those first recordings were delayed and we're now looking at March/April for the first recordings. That is supposed to be a live recording of the small orchestra and chorus so here's a quick question for those of you interested in recording and mic'ing techniques:

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Q/ How will you mic the following for stereo?

The recording will take place in a large room aprox 30' x 100', which has concrete walls and floors. The orchestra are positioned on a raised stage approx 20' wide, 8' deep and about 4' above the floor. The chorus is positioned on the ground about 2' in front of the stage. In the set there are several orchestral instrument solos and no solo vocals. The orchestra consists of piano, percussion, woodwind, brass and strings sections - most instruments are acoustic but a small number (mainly in the strings) are amplified. The chorus consists of two choirs, a children's choir (approx 15 children) and an adult choir (approx 20 adults). The adult choir has messo sopranos, sopranos, baritones, and tenors.

The recording needs to be in stereo and to sound as natural as possible with a live ambience - there will be an audience present. The orchestra needs to have appropriate stereo width and depth along with good instrument positioning/localisation.

You have a maximum of 5 microphones feeding a small mixer and multitrack recorder/daw.

--------------------------------
So how would you record this gig? I'll tell you what we intend to do in a few days time.

Posted by: tonymiro Mar 10 2012, 10:18 AM

I'll keep this brief as no one seems interested:

A/ either a double ORTF and 1 floor.

or

Single ORTF plus three spot.