Sound Advice: Recording Performances

When I bought my first pickup truck, I discovered an interesting phenomenon. The guy with the truck is everyone's friend - not because he's handsome or funny, but because he can haul stuff. If you've shot much video you know what I'm talking about. Once people know you make video, you'll have a lot of new friends who want you to tape their kids' recitals, concerts and plays.

Whether you're recording performances for fun, as a favor or for real money, taping performances requires a unique set of audio skills, since you'll find yourself in a wide variety of locations and circumstances. In this article, we'll identify a number of typical performances, the challenges they present and how to make the most of each situation.

The Recital
Since you only have to deal with one or perhaps two performers, recitals may be the simplest performances to record, but they still offer some challenges. First, you'll need an external microphone - the one built into your camera will produce a distant, hollow sound complete with the lady sitting next to you who won't stop talking on her cell phone. If you're reasonably close to the performance, a shotgun microphone can work well. Its highly directional nature will help to minimize other noises and focus on the recitalist. If you have the luxury of access to the platform or stage area, a boundary microphone is another excellent choice. Laying this type of microphone in front of the performers will pick up a spacious, natural sound and any accompanying instrumentation or background music. In addition, the boundary microphone produces an extremely low visual impact due to its low profile. Translation: no one will be offended when you place it on the stage. In fact, they probably won't even see it. Just be careful to tape your cables down; we don't want anyone tripping over them in …