Recording Tips

Links

Products

Links

ON SITE RECORDING WITH VOCHOR : A FEW TIPS

In order to make the best out of your recording experience with VoChor, we have compiled the following list of recording tips. These tips cover a wide variety of topics and apply to a number of performance situations that arise. The microphones and electronics used for making studio-quality recordings are extremely sensitive. Even noises that are barely audible can result in a poor quality final product. Please note that some of these tips are best addressed BEFORE the recording session by making a scouting trip to the recording location to determine if there are any conditions that need to be corrected before the session begins.

1. Provide the recording engineer with copies of the music that is to be recorded in advance of the recording session.

2. Turn off heating/cooling equipment. There is no such thing as a quiet air-handling system! Make sure that the equipment is really off and that it will not turn on when a particular thermostat setting is reached.

3. Some lighting systems and lighting controllers make substantial noise. If you can hear humming or buzzing noises when stage lighting is turned on, then an alternate lighting source must be provided.

4. Turn off any electrical appliances such as refrigerators, vending machines, etc. Also, don't forget to turn off or unplug telephones.

5. Post signs outside doors to prevent the entry of unauthorized personnel during the recording session. Lock all doors where possible. Tape over door knockers or door handles that might make noise when an unsuspecting person tries to enter the recording space.

6. Do not use "noisy" conductor podiums. If risers are used for choruses, ensure that all squeaking and rattling parts have been taped down with duct tape. Sometimes towels or blankets can be taped over noisy equipment. Pay particular attention to chairs and piano benches. These can be a major source of annoying noises. Piano pedal squeaks can also completely ruin a recording. Contact your piano tuner and have the pedals silenced.

7. It is best to record during times of low automobile traffic, such as late at night. Once a particular recording space is internally silenced, it is amazing how much sound from nearby traffic and car radios can be heard.

8. Pipe organ blower noise can sometimes be a problem. In some cases heavy blankets can be placed strategically around the blower cabinet and ducting.

9. Pipe organ stop changes should be performed as quietly as possible. Avoid the temptation to reset stops at the end of a musical selection before the sound has completely died out.

10. Turn off all watch alarms, pagers, and cellular telephones. These really shouldn't even be allowed in the recording session.

11. Turning music pages can be quite noisy, especially if a number of musicians turn the pages at the same time. It is best to use sheet music that is taped together to avoid page turns. Three-ring binders are particularly noisy. Sometimes soft plastic page covers can be used in three-ring binders to minimize the noise (do not use the hard, shiny plastic covers as they make more noise).

12. Performers must be absolutely quiet at the beginning and the end of musical pieces (do not move, breathe, or turn pages on the music until the recording engineer indicates that it is safe). It is quite a temptation to turn pages to the next piece ahead of time. Remember that reverberation times in large halls and churches can approach 20 seconds after the last note is played on some musical instruments.

13. Choral groups should check risers and conductors platforms for squeaks. Some squeaks can be eliminated by taping loose parts, stuffing materials between adjacent parts or by lubrication. On squeak-prone risers, performers should find a spot that causes no squeaks and try to minimize body motion during recording.

14. If possible, allow musical instruments' sound to die out naturally. If the sound must be damped, do it carefully and artistically, especially on piano and acoustic guitar.

15. Ensure that all musical instruments are in tune.

16. Performers must avoid "noisy" clothing. Nylon warm-up suits, etc. make significant noise when the material rubs against itself. Performers should wear comfortable, quiet shoes.

17. Solo and small vocal ensemble singers should find a comfortable spot to stand. It is best if performers can refrain from significant movements in position relative to the microphones during the performance. When "close miking" techniques are used, it is best if the performer directs his/her voice or instrument toward the same direction at all times. Significant head movements or instrument movements should be avoided (such as "theatrical" style body movements that would be encountered during live performances). These movements can cause the left to right channel balances to change dramatically.

18. If significant editing is to be performed with "cut and paste" techniques, repeated sections must be performed at the same tempo, with the same dynamics, and with a similar blend in order to make the editing seamless.

19. For large musical groups it is sometimes advantageous to have a person who is intimately familiar with the musical selections, serve as a listener to help point out musical errors and to help judge the musicality of various takes.

Special Tips for Live Recordings with an Audience:

1. Minimize paper handouts given to the audience. With multiple sheet or multiple page handouts, plan the page turns to be between musical pieces. Allow enough time between pieces to allow the noise from the page turns to die down before starting the next selection. Indicate where applause is acceptable. Remember that someone in the audience will invariably begin to clap before the sound from the musicians and any reverberation has died down, therefore it is nearly impossible to remove applause in this situation.

2. Other sources of noise in live performances include audience members with colds, noisy candy or lozenge wrappers, small children and babies.

3. Place signs in strategic places announcing the fact that the performance is being recorded. This can include instructions on turning off pagers, watch alarms, and cellular telephones. Place ushers during the entire performance at all entrances and allow the audience to enter only during specified breaks in the music. Be prepared to allow the noise of newly seated audience members to die down before starting the next musical selection. It is better to allow "too much" time than not enough.

4. It is preferable to avoid the use of PA systems or other means of artificial amplification because the recording microphones will pick up the loudspeaker sound as well the direct sound. This is undesirable because the fidelity of the amplified sound received at our microphones will be significantly less than the direct instrument or vocal sound. If amplified sound must be used, it should be used sparingly in keeping with the philosophy of enhancing the natural sound rather than overwhelming it.

Above all, however, RELAX AND ENJOY YOURSELF! A recording session is a lot of work but can be infinitely rewarding. Please contact VoChor if you have any questions regarding any aspect of digitally recorded music, digital editing, CD mastering, and CD production.