Re: [ARSCLIST] Not using headphones

[Michael Shoshani <mshoshani@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Saturday 26 August 2006 23.00, steven c wrote:
> Far as I'm concerned (and I'm a musician as well) the only way to
> record is "live off the floor" (separate tracks allowed, but NO isolation
> of players!) which allows interaction between/among the players (a
> vital part of the band's "sound!").
>
> Using separate and isolated tracks for each musician not only
> disallows any interaction...it also drags out recording sessions,
> as the players inevitably react with "Wait a minute! Let me cut
> another attempt...I think I can play it better!).
>
> Keep in mind that most of the classic 78-era recordings were
> made using a single mike, with no isolation of players...

Take a good look at pictures of EMI studio recordings of, say, the Joe Loss 
orchestra in the 1970s. Trombones are situated back of the trumpets on a 
riser; trombones have one mic, the trumpets have another mic. The reeds are 
separated by some distance and have their own section mic. The drum set is 
between them and looks to have a single Coles 4038 above it. Very minimal 
microphones, and they are set at a proper distance from each section, so as 
to get the ensemble sound.

Thing is this: as always, the more open mics you have the more 'noise' gets 
recorded. If you have a 20 piece band and every instrument has its own mic 
plus a few more for the drums...room noise, etc, will be magnified 
exponentially.

Were I to record a similar ensemble, I might (MIGHT) seriously consider stereo 
mic'ing the brass, reeds, and drums with M-S arrangements (so that should the 
stereo be a failure, I would still have a workable mono recording!), plus an 
M-S overhead for the drums and a separate mic for the bass drum, as well as 
one each for bass, guitar, and piano.

I still cringe at the memory of an LP I once had in the 70s, of the Glenn 
Miller Orch directed by Buddy deFranco. Everything was close-miked and 
absolutely flat and dead; worse, the brass instruments seemed to be played at 
mezzo-piano...if that is a term. No "muscle" to it at all, as though someone 
feared that playing at a proper loudness would blow their microphones.

Michael Shoshani
Chicago