Sexual Healing Live Stereo Recording

The first assignment in the Recording and Production Techniques module was to capture an acoustic performance of a small ensemble in our groups to produce a stereo recording. After much deliberation, the group decided on the song ‘Sexual Healing’ originally by Marvin Gaye. For this performance Laura was our vocalist and Adam our guitarist. Once we had gained the required level of understanding on how to set up the studio for such a performance we were able to research various methods of how to approach this task and test them.  

After song choice, the biggest decision we had to make was what type of microphone and what positioning we would use to capture the performance. I researched this and came across a particular article named ‘In the studio: Microphone techniques to produce warm, spacious stereo’ written by Bruce Bartlett. This article was useful as he talks about the main techniques talked about from the lecture sessions and gave an overview of how they work and what can be achieved with each. From this I was able to create a list of Pros and Cons on each that helped the decision making process on which technique to use: 

Spaced Pair: 
•	Pros: The greater the spacing between microphones the greater the stereo spread, give a warm sense of ambience, works well with omnidirectional microphones and so gives deeper bass
•	Cons: to small a separation and it gives a very limited stereo space, off-center sounds can become less focused in the stereo image
Coincident Pair:
•	Pros: Stereo space can be controlled more in mix, is mono-compatible
•	Cons: Tend to produce a narrower stereo spread 
Mid-Side (Specific type of Coincident Pair):
•	Pros: Good control of stereo field and can be controlled remotely so no need to adjust microphones 
•	Cons: Less appropriate for a small live room recording 
Near-Coincident Pair:
•	Pros: Combines both capturing technologies of Spaced and Coincident pair to give a much more accurate stereo spacing 
•	Cons: Slightly more complicated to set up as measurements of angles and distances between microphones need to be more accurate, also less appropriate for the setting

The live room we recorded in was room 525 – a medium length and width room but with a very low ceiling and soundproofing on various parts of the walls to reduce natural reverb. We therefore decided to use the spaced pair microphone technique as this would give us the ability to create a greater sense of space to create a more ‘live’ feel. 

We set up a Shure SM57 and Rhode NT5 parallel and approximately a just under a foot apart. These microphones were chosen as their polar patterns we felt would pick up a wide field from where the performance was happening, while not picking up unwanted sound from behind the microphones. The width of spacing was chosen as it was thought to be most appropriate when doing test recordings and gave a realistic sense of space. We had the performers stood about 2 meters from the microphones with Adam on the left and Laura on the right. This can be heard in the mix that the guitar is marginally louder on the left while vocals are louder in the right however due to the close proximity of the performance this is not hugely noticeable.

To improve next time I think that recording in a room with a different acoustic to it would allow for a less dry recording – the room we recorded in didn’t allow much in the way of natural reverb or room to adjust to try find the best place for a less boxed in sound. I think more microphones set up as well could help to improve the overall sound – if we had some omnidirectional microphones set up at various points around the room, the slight delay in signals may have helped improve the spread of the sound. 
  
Bibliography:

Bartlett, B. (2012) In The Studio: Microphone Techniques to Produce Warm, Spacious Stereo. ProSoundWeb [Online] p.1-5. Available from: http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/print/better_recording_microphone_techniques_to_produce_warm_spacious_stereo [accessed: 10th Novemeber 2014]  


Sexual Healing, Recording and Production Techniques Assignment 1

Rock Around The Clock cover by Otto And The Witch Club. Mixed in a 50's/60's style. 

Rock Around The Clock (COVER) - Otto And The Witch Club

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Cheap Beer (COVER) - Otto And The Witch Club

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My attempt at a remix of Lukas Graham's '7 Years old', never tried to remix something before so had a go. 

Link to original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jErJimwom94 

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Musician from the New Forest on the south coast of England. 
Check out: @li.lacmusic on instagram and Facebook

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