Klarinet Archive - Posting 000176.txt from 2012/02
From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Been awhile since I've posted...
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:28:59 -0500
The theatrics were also somewhat because of the way that Camerata Pacifica
does their concerts. What you don=92t see here is the short discussion bef=
ore
the piece talking about the theme and variations. The theme was a pretty
popular tune from an opera that had some pretty mundane text to it. People
listening to the piece back then almost certainly would have known the
context. Serious music, it really isn=92t.
=
OK. The tech info:
=
Yes, 4 cameras, but not where you think. One center capturing the front
ensemble shot at the back of the hall. 3 upstairs (2 on one side, 1 on the
other). This is not the best camera work I=92ve ever done, but it is what =
it
is. I decided to share, not because of my technical prowess, but because
the performance was just darned good. 2 cameras are owned by the ensemble,
and the other ones are owned by me. The center camera is a little high-end
sony camcorder. For consumer gear, it is quite good, but it still isn=92t a
pro camera. The left side of the house is the ensemble=92s Canon XH-A1 HDV
camera. The Right side is my Sony NX-5U and my Canon 7D DSLR. Wasn=92t
planning on using the DSLR for the edit, but the footage was useful in a
couple places. The ensemble shot from the right is the DSLR. Close ups are
from the =93real=94 cameras as they have the bigger zoom lenses. =
=
The reason why the center camera=92s image was slightly fuzzy is because th=
ere
was some digital zooming going on. I didn=92t have any help for this and
running 4 cameras by ones self is tough (to put it mildy). Hence a couple
short-cuts to compensate for a shot that may or may not have been there. I
will sometimes do two camera work with both cameras sitting in the back
center of the house so that I can look at both cameras at the same time.
Makes a big difference, but in the case of Hahn Hall up in Santa Barbara,
the camera positions are difficult. When budget allows, however, I do work
with some other folks to get the kind of coverage that is needed.
=
Recording was made using a pair of Neumann KM140 microphones that are
hanging in the hall going through a set of Lavry Microphone preamps and
converters. The placement isn=92t perfect, but in this hall, moving mics is
nearly impossible. You don=92t see the mics in the frame because I was able
to keep them out of the shot. They are quite definitely there. There are
also a pair of Schoeps omnis hanging in there as outriggers, but they
weren=92t used for this recording. Barbara Hirsch did the recording, but I
mastered it and did a couple tweaks to it so that it would work better for
video that is streaming on a computer.
=
As for costs, I=92ll contact you off list.
=
--Ben =
=
Benjamin Maas
Fifth Circle Audio
Long Beach, CA
=
From: Oliver Seely [mailto:oseely@-----.com] =
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 1:36 PM
To: klarinet list; info@-----.com
Subject: RE: [kl] Been awhile since I've posted...
=
I loved every minute of it. Thanks, Dave. The theatrics are hard to avoid
because the piece is so much fun to play. I loved his timing of the grace
notes (or turn, can't remember) in the second section of the first movement.
I just slur them all together. Horrid really, but it is wonderful, isn't it
that with music synthesis none of us needs to be a stranger to lovely pieces
like this one.
Now for Ben at Fifth Circle Audio:
Some technical questions: I counted four cameras, two in the balcony and
two on ground level. One on the ground level needed to have its lens
cleaned, or so it seemed when that one was brought in. How many were there?
I didn't see any mikes above the players. Where were they? Wherever they
were, the only disappointment I found was the almost inaudible pizzicato
toward the end of the third movement. Wouldn't it have been great to hear
that solo up close, like having a mike right next to a harp? I assume that
all editing was done post-production, right?
Okay, now my bottom line question because I have an upcoming concert (which
I may still chicken out on). How much would you charge for a recording
session like that (from the beginning to the creation of the master DVD)?
Thanks for the link, Dave. It was most enjoyable.
Oliver
> From: dgilbert@-----.com
> To: klarinet@-----.com
> Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:56:46 -0500
> Subject: Re: [kl] Been awhile since I've posted...
> =
> Ben,
> =
> Just a thank you for all the spot on informative posts you contributed =
> "way back when". I certainly looked forward to your clear, =
> professional, recording advice.
> =
> Regards,
> =
> Dave G.
> =
> On Feb 24, 2012, at 12:33 AM, Benjamin Maas wrote:
> =
> > Hello all
> >
> > I spend most of my time lurking on the list here because I'm =
> > honestly not
> > doing that much with the clarinet anymore. Those that have been on =
> > the list
> > for a long time will probably remember me from way back. These =
> > days, I'm
> > working full time doing audio and video recording for a lot of the =
> > better
> > ensembles around the LA area.
> >
> > This is the reason why I'm posting- one of the groups I work with =
> > regularly
> > is a chamber presenter out of Santa Barbara called Camerata Pacifica.
> > They've got some great musicians that play for them and IMO, they =
> > are one of
> > the better chamber presenters in southern California.
> >
> > Anyways, they presented the Beethoven Op. 11 trio on their last =
> > concert. It
> > was very well played by Jos=E9 Franch-Ballester on clarinet, Ani =
> > Aznavoorian
> > on cello and Warren Jones on piano. We recorded and shot one of the
> > concerts and it is now (as of today) up on youtube.
> >
> > Here's the link: http://youtu.be/l1QU3rOR4ek The performance is =
> > first-rate.
> > Please enjoy. There are a number of other really first-rate =
> > performances on
> > their youtube page as well.
> >
> > --Ben
> >
> > Benjamin Maas
> > Fifth Circle Audio
> > Long Beach, CA
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Klarinet@-----.com
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> =
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