Ever recorded outside? I'm thinking about doing this in the warmer weather. Where we rehearse is on a mountain with no noise issues. No need to keep sound in or out. At worst we might get a bird chirping which would be cool. The space we've been rehearsing and recording in is doody for decent sound, so I figured the great outdoors would be better.

So, any tips?

I hear that sycamore trees make great bass traps.

Use windscreens and sunscreen. Look out for snakes.

Windscreens, good point. No snakes to worry about, but the occasional brown bear. Grrrr!!!

You might try a figure 8 mike and play arround it. I like to use omni Dynamic mikes as well to gain the ambience (I like the impression of space).

Sometimes I put a mike some distance away I was playing behind a house that had a stone fence and I put a mike pointed towards the corner of the fence had a interesting sound and since it was near a thicket of bushes and trees picked up some nice bird song.

I don't know what kind of "ambience" you're really going to get. It really depends on the area, but if it's that open, I'm assuming you wont get much. I'm pretty sure that on the last Kings X album they recorded drums outside. Look for some clips and pics. They used to have pics on their website.

-Clyde-

Nature: the ultimate anechoic chamber....the ground not withstanding.

If you're really out in the open you can get this real dry, anechoic sound.
Few reflections really help you get the sense of what your mics sound like both on and off axis.

Sounds like fun.

goosman wrote:Nature: the ultimate anechoic chamber....the ground not withstanding.

If you're really out in the open you can get this real dry, anechoic sound.
Few reflections really help you get the sense of what your mics sound like both on and off axis.

Sounds like fun.

Would it make any sense to put up gobos (I think that's what they're called) next to the amps to create some reflection? I guess we could experiment.

Sometimes you can use the enviroment I have used detached garage or barn (realy fun cause it is reverberant) put the drummer in there (as it takes a long time to set up drums and you can just leave em up and close the door if you are done or it rains) and he can just leave them set up on flat dirt or on a piece of plywood and a carpet.

Sheep or very fluffy dogs can be used as gobos in natural situations by placeing food in dishes next to amps. Do not use goats as they are known lovers of tortalex amp coverings.

Amps always sound better if they are near frozen margarita machines. It has something to do with the transformer of the slushie machine.

Big John wrote:Amps always sound better if they are near frozen margarita machines. It has something to do with the transformer of the slushie machine.

How about if I just put Jimmy Buffet in a meat grinder?