Correcting audio balance in orchestral music with soloist

[Bruce Watson]

[Peter Robertson] “The cellist had a spot mic and the orchestra was recorded with a main stereo pair (actually 2 pairs – 2x omni 2 x cardioid) about 3 feet behind the conductor and about 12 feet up.
The problem is that the cellist dominated too much on the main stereo pair.”

What’s your balance between the omnis and the cards in your mix? IOW, can you back off of the omnis, pull them down relative to the cards? If you can, how does that effect the “cello domination” problem? And just for our information, cards in ORTF? NOS? And how wide an AB for the omnis?

[Ty Ford]

Hello Peter and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

I’ve been working with a software that makes the adjustment of levels of within a mix.

Xrtrax Stems: https://audionamix.com/products/xtrax-stems/

Looks like they have a sale of $20 off til Oct. 28. Oh, crap, that’s today!

It may or may not work. Could you send me a section?

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog

[Peter Robertson]

Hi Ty
Many thanks for this find. Yes this looks like the type of software I was looking for. I have written to their support team to ask if it will help with my problem. In the meantime I will prepare 2 files to send you.
Many thanks
Peter

[Peter Robertson]

Hi Bruce
Thanks for your response. I am using the “Faulkner” phased array setup – Omnis separated 67 cm and wide cards in ORTF (17 cm separation).

There wasn’t much I could achieve by changing the mix from just AB to just ORTF,
Many thanks
Peter

[Bruce Watson]

[Peter Robertson] “There wasn’t much I could achieve by changing the mix from just AB to just ORTF,”

Not what I suggested. I’m suggesting that you try dropping the levels of the AB pair anywhere from -6 to -12 dB relative to the ORTF pair. If you read what Tony Faulkner said about his four mic array, his mixes never end up with both arrays equally loud. One is always louder than the other. Which one is loudest depends on the needs of that session. That said, you should also try with the ORTF pair down -6 to -12 dB or so relative to the AB pair. You might be surprised what happens to the overall balance, which is why you try the variations.