Dear Pat and Vocalisters:
>Lloyd, et al: >This thread has gotten my attention because the choir that I sing with on >Sunday mornings will be doing its 2nd professional recording in a few >weeks. The recording is being made in the space that we perform in vs. a >studio. > >I did not sing on the 1st recording but have purchased it &, in spite of >criticisms of the singers on their own performance, mistakes, etc., the >recording has a nice, fairly authentic sound to it (in regards to the >acoustics of the space). Do you think singers making recordings for >auditions would be better served by making them in a space they typically >sing in, if possible?
COMMENT: Choral recording and solo voice recording are very different processes and the demands made on recording equipment in each situation is very different as well. Choral groups generally benefit greatly from recording in a hall or church which gives the group the necessary ambiance to enhance the choral tone.
Solo recording also benefits from the ambience of a good performance hall but the acoustic qualities must be carefully selected specifically for recording purposes. Some halls which are excellent acoustically are not excellent as recording venues.
All of the above is little more than an a concern that recordings be as accurate as possible yet show the choral group or solo voice to best advantage.
The primary reason to record in a hall is the opportunity it gives to the singer to hear himself/herself in a live performance venue and the positive effect this has on vocal production. It encourages a flow of tone and an a less inhibited response to the recording process.
How such "live" recordings are perceived in today's audition and listening world is less predictable. We, as a listening public, have become enamored of the close mike technique which makes every utterance seem more personal and "for us alone" Or, it makes every utterance unrealistically loud. At these volume levels it becomes less an exercise in listening and more a "happening" that dominates us.
Recently it has come to my attention that many singers would prefer to create their auditions tapes in performance halls because they have been told these tapes will obtain a more positive response from those who hear the tapes.
-- Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA Professor of Voice, Pedagogy School of Performing Arts Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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