Equalizing Live Recording in FCP

Question

Hello,
I am seeking any advice about equalizing sound using the graphic equalizer in FCP 5.1, after recording a friends Jug band (acoustic & homemade instruments) at a bandshell outdoor live recording with a single wireless Sennheizer cardiod microphone gaffer taped to the center floor on small stand pointing up. I videotaped it with my Panasonic DVX 100A on both channels and had to fairly boost the gain but got an o.k. level most of the time.
As you can tell this is not intended to be a professional piece for my friends, but the vocals and the instruments are pretty much competing as you might guess. They use guitars, acoustic kettle bass, drums; cymbals, jugs, harmonicas, ukuleles and they harmonize (vocals) often. Kind of R. Crumb material. I have tried this so far:
Rolled back 60-100Hz (2-3db)
Boosted a little 125-250 (2-3db)
315Hz (+1db)
Roll back in a curve 600-1000 (1-3db)
Keeping curve
Boosting at 2K to 4K (2-3db)
5K (+2db)
6K (+1db)
Flattening out at 8K
If anyone else has any comments about what you might have found helpful please let me know. I have worked with sound for a while but any helpful experience and advice would be great thanks. I just want it to sound good for my friends... thanks
peace

Answer 1

hey there alchemy,
there's not much you can do, as it seems you started w/ poor mic placement. is this the same curve on both audio channels? if so, try a different curve on one that accentuates the vocal range between 2K-5K, depends on voices-some may be lower, some may be higher- you'll have to play w/ it, that's just a general range for voice & reduce it on the other, then pan one channel more to the right, the other more to the left, also raise the overall level of the audo channel w/ the vocals accentuated/reduce the instrument track. don't have much else in the way of suggestions.
i've done live sound & recording for about 28 years & for the next time get your mic closer to their mouths, if they're all singing into one mic-like what is done w/ traditional bluegrass music, attach/tape yours to that stand if possible, put yours on a floor stand near that one if possible, off the stage in front of them(if the stage isn't too high) or put it on a stand closer to the SR(sound re-inforcement) speaker, but not so close as to blow it's capsule/diaphragm or even ask the audio person if you can get a feed from the board. i've made some quality recordings w/ a stereo pair-for that i like Audio Technica AT-822 or 825 stereo mic, if you have more $$ the Shure VP88. like lighting you may need a variety of tools to get the job done-i have a mic locker that includes a $30.00 Radio Shack stereo mic(no longer made) that does a decent job for the occasional theater shows i shoot for myself/friends w/ my consumer miniDV, but i also have some more expensive $500.00 LDC mics, a range of dynamic/vocal mics & SDC mics as well as a variety of recorders & mixers. check out Shure, AKG & AT websites as they offer info about mics & placement, w/ a slant toward their own gear of course.
good luck, hope this helps.