Quality of pre-screen recordings

jb1966
Fri, 22 May 2015 01:00:17 +0000

I’ve posted on this subject before, but I do have a unique perspective on the topic. I’ve spent my entire life working as a musician and as a recording engineer and when it came time to record my daughter’s pre-screen I had every possible angle covered. I had the keys to very good recording studio and if I wanted location the keys to a church I do sound for that has great acoustics. I also could borrow, at no cost, any mic and any mic pre-amp I wanted - some very high quality vintage stuff. So what did I go with? After a lot of experimenting I went with the built in mic on a Sony digital camcorder!

Not borrowing stuff, not going into a studio, not going to location and instead setting up the camera ( with some borrowed lights ) in the back room of our house worked out the best. I was able to leave the stuff set up and my daughter could come down anytime she wanted and record whatever. Having a more relaxed vibe was so much more important than having super quality.

But that said, the quality of the mic , with the built in compressor on the camera sounded exciting and live. There is a big problem with going too professional and that’s that your ear starts expecting perfection because of the setting. If it looks like and has the sound quality of Yo Yo Ma and then doesn’t sound like him ( which of course is impossible ) there is a let down by the listener.

When it came to accompanied things like concerto excerpts we hired the best pianist and paid for a couple of rehearsals. Rehearsal money is money well spent. We went to the hall where my daughter’s private orchestra rehearses at and I set up the same camera and , after making sure the viola was louder than the piano , just went for it. Wonderful recording!

From talking to teachers and the grads they often have screening ,all anyone wants is clear audio and a good picture with absolutely NO editing in the takes. Editing between takes okay, but don’t even think about touching the performances. Another advantage of using the mics in the camera is that the sync is perfect and anyone who can figure out iMove , etc. can piece one together. If you can’t do it ,I’m sure your kid knows someone at school that can. I found that it’s all about the excitement of recording and never ( except muddy , dark , hard to hear stuff ) about whether you went into a studio or not.