Hello!

I’m in a situation where I’m coordinating the recording of an orchestra and choir concert with a sound engineer with which we have not had the best experience in the past. So I’m trying to find the best way to record the concert so we can tell him how to place the mics (He’s open to discussion and agreeing with that).

The concert is happening in a church with a full orchestra and a choir of about 80 people.

• Of course, the goal will be to rely mainly on a main stereo pair. I was thinking about a ORTF pair a few meters about the conductor’s head. Would a Decca tree be better if we have the possibility?
• I read that the 3:1 rule to mic the choir is pretty standard but my concern is that the microphones would pick up a lot of brass which are really close to the choir. I don’t think I should get the mics too close to choir to have an homogeneous sound. What would be a good distance from the choir and will increasing the height of the microphones be enough to minimize brass in that context?
• What kind of microphones should be used for spot mics for instrument sections? (Cardioid?) And at what distance should they be placed to have some flexibility in the final mix?
• Are there any mics that I’m missing that could further improve the recording?

These concerns and knowledge have been accumulated from personal research, so feel free to correct me on anything! I just want to get the best sound possible for a choir that has been practicing really hard.

Thanks!