68% of music fans attend concerts. That’s because there’s no better experience in the world than a concert. Hearing your favorite songs performed live, the adrenaline a show brings, and connecting with other music fans is an addictive feeling.
Since so many people love concerts, they will want to experience the live show setting in the comfort of their own homes. This is where concert recording and live albums come in.
Live albums offer a sense of authenticity that you can’t get in a recording studio. You hear the cheering crowd and the band connecting with their fans while listening to your favorite songs.
Are you a band recording your first live album? If so, you’ll want to know these 7 concert recording tricks to get the best sound ever.
1. Live Audio Gain Staging is Very Different From Studio Gain Staging
First things first, many aspects of the live sound recording process are different from the studio.
Gain staging is a perfect example. In case you don’t know, gain staging is the act of setting the gain for each amplification stage to achieve a target system volume. The goal of proper gain staging is to achieve the best sound without distortion and noise.
The benefit of recording in the studio is the engineer can adjust the levels later. While this is possible with live albums, you won’t get that authentic listening experience. That’s why you need to get your gain staging perfect when recording live music.
First, understand the preamp you’re using. The preamp sends signals to just about every device used in a live setting. During recording, the signal is sent from the preamp to either the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) or any other recording method you’re using.
Some preamps have gain control features, while others have a fixed gain level.
Your output master settings are also important. It’s advised to set your master outputs at 0 dB and scale back when necessary. Some engineers prefer to set their master outputs to -10 dB. If you choose this option, you may need to make up the lost gain with crossovers and equalizers.
2. Use a Vocal Rider
A common issue with live recording is inconsistent vocal volume. One of the reasons is because the vocals can bleed during a live recording.
In case you didn’t know, in audio terminology, bleed happens when a sound leaks from one audio source to another. For example, if the guitar mic picks the sound of the snare drum, the sound from the snare drum is bleeding or leaking into the guitar mic.
Using audio compressors don’t help much in achieving consistent vocal volume and controlling this issue manually using faders is tedious and inaccurate.
However, there’s a solution. Use a vocal rider with your DAW recording software. This is a plugin that automates your vocal mix. All you have to do is set your vocal volume threshold and the rider does the rest of the work for you.
It raises or lowers the volume of the vocal mix in real time without adding any sound coloring to the track.
Unlike a vocal rider, an audio compressor could change the dynamics of the sound so much that the accuracy of the performance can be compromised.
The most popular and the best is the Waves Vocal Rider and it’s compatible with most DAW software, including Pro Tools, Cubase, Ableton, FL Studio, Cakewalk, etc. For a full list of supported hosts check this link.
Another key factor to get a consistent vocal tone is by choosing the best microphone for live vocals. Whether you are using dynamic or condenser mics, make sure you use a quality mic to ensure the vocal’s sound quality.
Waves Vocal Rider Demo
3. Use Multiband Compression Sparingly
When it comes to audio compression, multiband (MB) compression is favored by many musicians and front of house (FOH) engineers because you can reduce the dynamic range on a set of frequencies.
In other words, if you want to accentuate details from a specific instrument (such as a drum cymbal) it won’t overpower the snare or other sound because a multiband compressor very accurate.
However, using compression may also accentuate bleed. But a few simple live sound recording techniques will ensure you can still use MB compression without your tone bleeding.
Let’s use the drums as another example. Place your mics in a particular way to pick up less cymbal bleed. Your mic placement depends on your kit setup; for blanket advice, place the mics in front of your toms and place your cymbals behind the toms. That way, you get the accents of the cymbals without them taking over your drum tone.
4. Utilize Subtractive EQ
Subtractive EQ is ideal for a live setting because it removes frequencies and accentuates the tone of the instruments. This is different than additive EQ, which boosts the frequency of a specific channel.
Too much additive EQ in a live setting can make certain channels sound too brittle and can cause bleeding.
If you need to boost anything, focus more on proper mic setups, ensure your amps and heads are functioning properly, or adjust your master outputs.
5. Ensure the Drums Are Cohesive
Drums are captured through multiple mics. If not miked properly, some drum parts can have odd tones or may even sound weak or too overpowering. For best practices, use a combination of open, closed, and overhead mics.
The way you mic a kit depends on the drummer and style of music. But you’ll typically want to keep the mics close to the toms, a mic inside or directly outside the kick drum (depending on if the kick drum has a hole), and overhead mics above the cymbals,
Placement is also important; for example, place the mic a good distance from the snare to avoid the snare taking over the recording.
Keep in mind, drum tone also has a lot to do with the final product. Ensure the drums are properly tuned and sound good during soundcheck.
6. You May Need Overdubs
Ideally, you want your live performance to sound exactly the way the crowd at the show heard it. But not every band or FOH engineer is perfect, even if they know how to record live sound. You may need to overdub the recording.
Overdubbing is essentially re-recording over some parts of the performance.
For example, let’s say the guitars are a little quieter than what you would like. Don’t be afraid to redo the guitar solos so they’re more noticeable on the album.
7. Don’t Always Be Afraid of the Bleed
There will inevitably be some bleed on a live album; therefore, a little bit of bleed in a live album isn’t always bad. If subtractive EQ can’t fix it, then leave it be. Live albums aren’t supposed to be polished, and that’s what makes them special.
When it comes to live recording, the tone is the most important quality. Conducting a proper soundcheck for all band members is key to achieving the best live tone.
However, when recording a live concert it needs to sound good in the end. If the product comes out with too much bleed, you may need to apply subtractive EQ.
Use These Concert Recording Tips to Create the Best Live Album
While these concert recording tips are useful, there’s always more information to learn in the realm of live recording. For example, the proper gear and set-up will also impact the way your live album sounds. Here’s how to select the right gear for your band.