On Location Recording Techniques

Preface

Sweat drips off the guitarist’s face as he plunges into a solo. The audience yells and whistles their approval. In the back of his mind, the guitarist thinks, “I hope they’re getting this on tape.”

Perhaps the most exciting type of recording is to tape musicians playing “live” in a club or concert hall. Many bands want to be recorded in concert because they feel that is when they play best. Your job is to capture that performance on tape and bring it back alive.

Without a doubt, remote recording is exhilarating. The musicians— excited by the audience—often put on a stellar performance. You have only one chance to get it on tape, and it must be done right. You work on the edge. But by the end of the night, when everything has gone as planned, ...