Table Of ContentRecording Music on Location
Recording Music on Location, Second Edition, provides an exceptional col-
lection of information regarding all aspects of recording outside of the
studio. Featuring clear explanations on how to achieve professional
results, this book is divided into two distinct sections: popular music
and classical music. Whether you record in the local rock club, jazz café,
or in an orchestra hall, Bruce and Jenny Bartlett offer sage advice on each
stage of the process of location recording. Packed with hints and tips, this
book is a great reference for anyone planning to venture outside of the
studio. Audio examples, tracking sheets, weblinks, and downloadable
checklists are available on the companion website at www.focalpress.
com/cw/bartlett.
This edition has been thoroughly updated and includes new sections
on iOS devices, USB thumb drive recorders, and digital consoles with
built-in recorders, along with updated specs on recording equipment,
software, and hardware. This edition also shows you how to prepare
recordings for the web and live audio streaming, and covers spectral anal-
ysis, noise reduction, and parallel compression. A new case study goes in
depth on classical music recording.
Bruce Bartlett has been a recording engineer, audio journalist, and micro-
phone engineer for over 30 years. A member of the Audio Engineering
Society and SynAudCon, Bruce has presented several papers on micro-
phone design. He has written about 1000 articles and eight books on
audio topics. Bruce is a composer as well. He currently runs his own
microphone company (www.bartlettaudio.com) and recording studio,
including live, on-location recordings.
Jenny Bartlett is a technical writer.
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Recording
Music on
Location
Capturing the Live Performance
Second Edition
Bruce Bartlett
Jenny Bartlett
First published 2007 by Focal Press.
This edition published 2014 by Focal Press
70 Blanchard Road, Suite 402, Burlington, MA 01803
and by Focal Press
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Focal Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2014 Taylor & Francis
The right of Bruce Bartlett and Jenny Bartlett to be identifi ed as the authors of this work has
been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Notices
Knowledge and best practice in this fi eld are constantly changing. As new research and
experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or
medical treatment may become necessary.
Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in
evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein.
In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the
safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.
Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only
for identifi cation and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bartlett, Bruce.
Recording music on location: capturing the live performance / Bruce Bartlett and Jenny
Bartlett. — Second edition.
pages cm
1. Magnetic recorders and recording—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Sound—Recording and
reproducing—Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title.
TK7881.6.B38 2014
781.49—dc23
2014003699
ISBN: 978-1-138-02237-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-02236-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-77707-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Palatino
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CONTENTS
Preface xv ii
Part 1: Popular Music Recording
(Rock, country, jazz, folk,
R&B, gospel, Christian,
and so on) 1
1
Gear for Live Recording 3
Stereo Systems versus Multitrack Systems 3
Stereo Recording Systems 4
Equipment for Stereo Recording 5
Microphones 5
Condenser, Dynamic, and Ribbon Types 5
Sound Pickup Patterns (Polar Patterns) 6
Mic Connectors, Powering, and Cables 6
Special-Purpose Mics 8
Microphone Mounting Styles 8
Mic Specs 9
Stereo Recording Devices 9
Flash-Memory Handheld Recorder 10
iPad with a Recording App and a Plug-In Stereo Mic 12
Laptop, Recording Software, and Audio Interface 12
Headphones or Earphones 14
Multitrack Recording Systems 14
vii
Contents
Equipment for Multitrack Recording 15
Microphones and Mic Accessories 15
Stage Box and Snake 16
Mixer 17
Multitrack Recorder 18
Recorder-Mixer Option 19
Sidebar: Digital Audio Basics 21
Bit Depth 23
Sampling Rate 24
Computer DAW Recording Systems 25
DAW Option 1: Mixer, Interface, and Laptop 26
DAW Option 2: USB or FireWire Mixer and a Laptop 26
DAW Option 3: Interface with Mic Inputs and a Laptop 27
DAW Option 4: iOS Recording System 27
Mic Splitter 29
Headphones, Earphones, or Speakers 31
Purchasing Equipment 31
2
Recording Techniques from Simple
to Complex 33
Record Off the Board 34
Record with a Handheld Recorder 35
Record with a Four-Tracker 40
Connect the PA Mixer Insert Sends to a Multitrack Recorder 41
Connections 42
Monitoring 44
Setting Levels 45
Digital Console Recording Facilities 45
Splitting the Mic Signals 46
Using Splitters 49
Multitrack Recording in a Truck 49
3
Before the Session: Planning 51
Selecting a Venue 51
Musical Preparation 51
viii
Contents
Preproduction Meeting 52
Site Survey 53
Mic List 54
Track Sheet 55
Block Diagram 56
Equipment List 56
Preparing for Easier Setup 58
Put It on Wheels 59
Mic Mounts 59
Snakes and Cables 59
Multitrack Wiring 60
Other Tips 61
4
At the Session: Setup and Recording 63
Power and Grounding Practice 63
Power Distribution System 63
Power Source 64
Interconnecting Multiple Sound Systems 66
Mic Connections 67
Running Cables 67
Setting Up the Recording Mixer 68
Mic Techniques 68
Discreet Miking for Video Shoots 77
Electric-Guitar Grounding 78
Audience Microphones 78
Setting Levels and Submixes 80
Recording 81
Teardown 82
5
After the Session: Mixing and Editing 83
Editing a Two-Track Recording 83
Preparing to Mix a Multitrack Recording on a Computer 86
Split the Gig Recording into Song Projects 86
Delete Unwanted Material 88
Preparing to Mix a Multitrack Recording with a Mixer 88
ix
