Doing an a capella concert

[Michael Hopcroft]

I am a singer, primarily performing at science fiction conventions and online meetings in the subgenre known as "filk." I have never learned to play an instrument, though—most "filkers" who get concert spaces at least play guitar. I don't.

Anyway, I have a concert scheduled at Orycon on the 17th. It will be a half-hour a cappella set, and I'm wondering how I can record it. This is the final Orycon, so it's quite an occasion, and I want to document this for posterity and share the tracks from it in case anyone ever develops an interest in them. I have yet to decide my set list, of course. I suspect it will be from a variety of sources. Since "filkers" borrow tunes and sources liberally, and I tend to cover different artists anyway, it could prove to be a pretty varied set. So it's making me wonder how to record this set, what I can do in post-production given the limited tech I have access to, and whether I am a good enough singer that anyone would care.

[Amberwolf]

If it's useful (probably not):

When I used to record stuff into my EPS16+ or  ASR88 at events at Leprecons, Coppercons, and GallifreyOne's a couple decades ago, I'd use an old Oktava mic (don't remember which model) generally pointed in the direction of whoever I was capturing, for those that allowed / wanted to be recorded.    All I could really do given the spaces it's usually in (sometimes outdoors on a lawn, sometimes in a hallway, sometimes in a small hotel room, etc) was to verify I was getting recordable levels that didn't clip, with no compression hardware, etc.   I also didn't really know too much about live recording (as on my own it's all keyboards and virtual synths or a guitar plugged directly into the audio interface (or the ASR88's input, back then). 

 

Nowadays if I were to do the same thing, I would use a hardware compressor between the mic and the recording input, to prevent clipping while also getting as much input level as I could for whatever nuance and quieter performance could be captured, without having to sit there and ride the input gain all the time manually.  (which i tried doing in some cases, usually to the detriment of the recording). 

 

I don't know what mic would be best--if you don't want to move it for each performer, something omni; maybe cardioid if you are moving it for each performer or just doing yourself.  

 

Post-production will depend on what you want the result to be.  Probably different processes depending on that, such as if you intend to add enhancement tracks (reinforcements of parts, effected portions of some of the main along with dry (or in place of), etc. , or if you want to make them into "complete" songs, with various other instruments doing whatever it is you want them to do, etc.

 

(if you ever heard Leslie Fish's "Robofilker's Ensoniq" filk, that's about me.... 😊   )

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 09:00 AM by Amberwolf

[Michael Hopcroft]

21 hours ago, Amberwolf said:

If it's useful (probably not):

When I used to record stuff into my EPS16+ or  ASR88 at events at Leprecons, Coppercons, and GallifreyOne's a couple decades ago, I'd use an old Oktava mic (don't remember which model) generally pointed in the direction of whoever I was capturing, for those that allowed / wanted to be recorded.    All I could really do given the spaces it's usually in (sometimes outdoors on a lawn, sometimes in a hallway, sometimes in a small hotel room, etc) was to verify I was getting recordable levels that didn't clip, with no compression hardware, etc.   I also didn't really know too much about live recording (as on my own it's all keyboards and virtual synths or a guitar plugged directly into the audio interface (or the ASR88's input, back then). 

 

Nowadays if I were to do the same thing, I would use a hardware compressor between the mic and the recording input, to prevent clipping while also getting as much input level as I could for whatever nuance and quieter performance could be captured, without having to sit there and ride the input gain all the time manually.  (which i tried doing in some cases, usually to the detriment of the recording). 

 

I don't know what mic would be best--if you don't want to move it for each performer, something omni; maybe cardioid if you are moving it for each performer or just doing yourself.  

 

Post-production will depend on what you want the result to be.  Probably different processes depending on that, such as if you intend to add enhancement tracks (reinforcements of parts, effected portions of some of the main along with dry (or in place of), etc. , or if you want to make them into "complete" songs, with various other instruments doing whatever it is you want them to do, etc.

 

(if you ever heard Leslie Fish's "Robofilker's Ensoniq" filk, that's about me.... 😊   )

 

 

Oh, the Fish stories I could (but won't) tell. How old must she be by now? Is she even still alive?

My equipment at the moment is very limited, as you would expect. I should have invested a little bit more in a microphone setup. 

[Amberwolf]

11 hours ago, Michael Hopcroft said:

Oh, the Fish stories I could (but won't) tell. How old must she be by now? Is she even still alive?

Unfortunately I think she passed away a few years ago. 

Everytime I was around her it seemed like an adventure.  😆  The local filksings she came to would usually be more entertaining; the cons moreso.   Sometimes legendary.... 

 

11 hours ago, Michael Hopcroft said:

My equipment at the moment is very limited, as you would expect. I should have invested a little bit more in a microphone setup. 

What recording / mic / amp equipment do you have?   

What do you need to record?  (a whole stage, just you, a room, several individuals one at a time in different spots, etc?)   Will there be a sound system?  (if there is, you could just tap off their mixer, if you can talk to the soundperson in advance to be sure you have the right wires/gear; I've never had one refuse, most have been eager to work with someone else). 

 

Knowing what youv'e got, and what you want / need to do with it, we might be able to suggest the best use for it.

[Amberwolf]

BTW, you can usually rent mics and amps and stuff reasonably cheaply, some music-gear stores do this.  If you don't know one that does, ask the con itself if they have a place they rent gear from.  If all else fails, check with the hotel itself, as they may have sound gear for rent, though it will probably cost more because it's usually last-minute-needs that it fills.