Wirelessly Mixing a Soloist With Orchestra

Incorporate one of two wireless systems into your Superscope CD recording package and discover the freedom of wireless recording. Oswego High School Application Story Incorporating a wireless package into your director’s system opens up new and interesting opportunities for student evaluation and recording.

To demonstrate the possibilities, Superscope traveled to neighboring Oswego High School to record the concert band’s rehearsal of a work for solo trombone. Take a look/listen…

1.       The Oswego band room is already equipped with a Superscope PSD340 recorder, so it wasn’t long before we were all set up and ready to roll. The first step was to place microphones evenly over the ensemble and connect them to the front panel of the PSD340.

The school's Wind Symphony prepared to play Arthur Pryor's arrangement of "Bluebells of Scotland," which features an extended trombone solo with orchestral accompaniment.

1.       To give prominence to our trombone soloist, we clipped an Audix ADX20-I condenser mic to the bell of his horn. The mic was connected to an RAD360-BP bodypack transmitter, which our soloist chose to rest on his music stand. Using the wireless clip-on mic frees us from constricting mic cables and assures us that our soloist will be properly amplified and recorded regardless of his position in the auditorium.

2.       Controlling the Mix Levels. Back at the director’s table, the audio output of our wireless receiver is connected to the AUX inputs on the back of the PSD340 with the help of a ¼” to RCA patch cable (included).

The PSD340 mixes its inputs internally, so we are able to control the level of the ensemble by adjusting the input level controls L/R and the level of the soloist by adjusting the AUX In level control on the PSD340 or the gain control on the RAD 360-R.

3.       General Mic Placement Can Miss the Action: A standard stereo recording of the entire ensemble with the soloist won’t catch the soloist “on top” of the mix.

4.       Soloist with Wireless Clip-on Mic: When we used the wireless mic, the trombone is heard prominently above the accompaniment and positioned in the center of the stereo recording as well.

5.       To Isolate the Soloist, simply turn down the PSD340’s input level controls. The resulting recording is great for analyzing the soloist’s performance.

These are just some of the benefits of incorporating a wireless kit into your band’s sound system. Wireless can be great for marching band as well. Add a kit today and discover the freedom of wireless recording!

About Oswego High School

• Oswego, Illinois
• Enrollment 1,684
• Band Courses Offered:
  Concert Band | Chamber Winds | Symphonic Band | Wind Ensemble | Wind Symphony
• Mascot: Panthers

 

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Resources

• Superscope CD Recorders
• The Director System Package
• The Soloist Wireless Mic Kit
• The Vocalist Wireless Mic Kit