Barbershop Quartet!?!?!

[E-Rock]

Anyone here have any experience recording a barbershop quartet?
I'll be recording a quartet next month, and we will be moving fast, so I would like to have some 'go-to' starting places. Mics? Mic techniques?
I'm working with pros, so they mix themselve in the room really well.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated!!!

[JGriffin]

Spaced omnis maybe?

[A.David.MacKinnon]

I'd opt for a single point stereo set-up and have them stand around it in a semi circle.
XY or Mid/Side would work well. Maybe add a few room mics if the room is decent.

Stand in the middle of the semi circle (where the mic would go) and then have them sing in different spots in the room till you find the best sounding spot. I might also mark off each singers place on the floor so they can get back to the ideal spot each time.

[firesine]

If the room sounds good I would try a blumlein pair.

If you are worried about too much room try ORTF.

[nordberg]

+1 for blumlein

[firesine]

I think it would be good to cover your ass with a mono omni or card in the middle, so you can reinforce the center of your image if need be.

[cgarges]

This sounds like a job for M/S!

I'd think that whatever sort of stereo setup works best for the room might be the way to go if the group sounds god on their own. The more rooms I work in the, the more I realize that there are certain stereo setups that work better in some types of rooms than others.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[lionaudio]

your best condenser (or ribbon) dead center.. have them stand in a semi-circle.. just like bluegrass

[Archmart]

Hey Hey!

Here's how I did it recently. The four of them close on AEA R84s, pop filters guiding them to keep close in on the mics (a double on the lead). The trick was playing with who was where. I started with the taller two up top but found that the blend was better swapping a couple of 'em.

-Archmart

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[signorMars]

what are you using between the mics there? looks like a tube of paper or something to keep them lined up...

[Archmart]

Hey Hey!

The whole Blumlein Stereo Bar is a prototype. I'm not sure how much I should say about it...

-Archmart

[Jay Reynolds]

Who needed the double pop-filter?

[Archmart]

Hey Hey!

The lead, of course. This was a sort of Gospel, Americana, Oh Brother kind of vibe. Four part harmonies with the lead dropping into melody lines in places. When she did, she was popping just a bit.

It came out wonderously beautiful. I doubt I'll even need to touch it in the mix.

I payed special attention to the room acoustics, by the way, goboing to get some nice, tight reflections happening from all four angles.

-Archmart

[E-Rock]

Wow, thanks for all the input everyone.
The room I'll be working in is actually being built right now. Russ Berger designed.
Just walking around in there with no treatment up yet, I think it will be great.
Yeah, Blumlein or MS was kinda what I was thinking. I've recorded them in our current space (not a very good sounding room), just gathered around an 87 in omni, just for quick and dirty demo stuff. They blend really well.
So, I think in a good room, a Blumlein or MS setup, then just tweaking them to get the blend right should give me something magical!

I've been looking for an excuse to pick up a pair of R84s.

Thanks again for the input everyone.

Archmart, I'd love to hear a sample if you have one. Sounds like a fun session!

[Archmart]

Hey Hey!

Wes Dooley gave me the go ahead on the Prototype question.

(I just didn't want to give away anything that I shouldn't)

Yeh, it's just a laminated paper ring (just a prototype). It does help to keep the two heads just away from touching and lined up just so. For straight-up verticle orientation it works really well. When trying to boom them out over a piano or as overheads or whatnot, the shockmounting of the R84s ends up making them sag quite a bit in the middle, so I suggested he redesign with a shockmounted rubber bumper in the middle for the two heads to bump up against, forming a good tight fit so the 2 mics would move as one but still be isolated from the stand.

As to a snippet, PM me and I'll gladly send you a bit of rough. The record will be finished soon.

And by the way, you really should pick up a pair of R84s. I've been using them all over this record and very happy with them. They're on most of the lead female vocals (beating my U87 most of the time) drum overheads, piano, rhodes, electric, mandolin, and the blumlein pair handled accordian, glock, and I can't even remember what else. I've enjoyed them immensely.

-Archmart