Archival Concert Recording
Most live recording is done on an archival basis – that is to say that the recording is being made
on behalf of and with the explicit consent of both the performers on stage and the concert
venue. Such recordings are not for commercial release but are intended for the sole use of the
performers and the concert promoters. The microphones we use will not be invisible but we aim
to be discreet and their presence should in no way spoil the audience’s enjoyment of the
event. We always use the rehearsal on the day as a balance test and to finalise microphone
positions and stage layout, though as part of an archive recording the rehearsal is never
recorded. As part of our fixed price archival recording packages we also edit the concert to
remove excessive pauses etc to produce a finished stereo recording on CD-R within a few of
days of the concert. This includes 5 copies on CD-R for Artistic Staff.
Session Recording
Music recording sessions are the starting place for almost all commercial and privately released
CDs. In their simplest form they are a collaboration between the performers and the recording
crew to produce recorded material that with varying degrees of post-production will form an audio
CD. Traditionally sessions are run in 3 hour blocks with a short break in the middle, with two
such sessions per day – this is the standard format laid down by the Musicians Union in the UK
but does not have to be followed rigidly and we will always aim to be as flexible as
possible. However as a rough guide you should allow a minimum of 3 hours session time for each
20 minutes of finished music. This assumes that the repertoire is well rehearsed and should be
reduced to 12 to 15 minutes finished music per session if you expect to rehearse-record or
anticipate tuning difficulties as might be found in baroque or difficult contemporary music. This
means that usually a full 70 minute CD will require a minimum of two days recording, but more
often three days. These are usually consecutive days but this is not essential and we have
systems for re-creating microphone placements and mixes so that a project can be continued
after a break of many months if necessary.