The Recording

When recording a live performance with an audience, extraneous noises are unavoidable. However, there are some precautions that can be taken:

• Always remind the audience to turn off mobile phones.
• Only allow late arrivals in at the end of a movement, if a long enough pause. Otherwise wait until the end of the piece.
• Check that your shoes don't squeak. Squeaky shoes can make an awful lot of noise.
• Similarly, make sure your clothing doesn’t rustle.
• Try to keep chair scraping down to a minimum.
• Where possible try to avoid unnecessary noises such as:
  • air conditioning units
  • tea urns

Microphone Placement

It is important to note that if you wish your performance to be recorded effectively the positioning of microphones is crucial to the success of the end product. This, therefore, may involve the placement of microphone stands in front of, to the sides or even in the midsts of the musicians. I will, however, attempt to be as discrete as possible. Alternitive methods of placing microphones can be employed, for example, suspension from a sling, where this is possible.