?: putting crowd noise into a live set (tastefully)

The Phat Conductor · Post by **The Phat Conductor** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:06 pm

i'm just putting the finishing touches on this live album i recorded in august and the last thing is putting the crowd noise into the mix. i can't help but feel like a bit of a wanker cutting all these samples of people screaming my name into the set.

is there a consensus on how to do this without being a total douche?

should i avoid putting people screaming specific things into the mix? should i just put it in the intro and a few key breakdowns or should i include the screaming as it actually occurred 'live'?

this feels a lot like those moments when you have to write about yourself in the third person... i'm almost tempted to leave it out.

rbmonosylabik · Post by **rbmonosylabik** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:18 pm

I think I'd do it something like this

Crowd between tracks
If the track gets loud, leave the crowd out unless the crowd does something specific like going nuts or starts singing along

Think that you're placing the listener at the 6th row, center seat (or seatless, you get the idea).

sqook · Post by **sqook** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:22 pm

FREEEEEBIIIIRD!!!

The Phat Conductor · Post by **The Phat Conductor** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:23 pm

sqook wrote:FREEEEEBIIIIRD!!!

hee hee... if ONLY! that would totally have made the cut...

incidentally, if any of you have a good sample of someone yelling freebird i wuld totally include it for shits and giggles...

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:30 pm

to listen to some modern and professional crowd placement, try and download some Eric Prydz live mixes which he has post produced in the studio.

Also may find some live recordings on his myspace page from time to time. myspace.com/ericprydz

Dr Dub · Post by **Dr Dub** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:32 pm

if it ads vibe - go for it and don t think about being too much in love with yourself - no one will think you are arrogant... if i listen to music, i want the performer to appear ultra confident in what he does - it s just music.

my english sucks, but i hope you can understand

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:43 pm

sweetjesus wrote:to listen to some modern and professional crowd placement, try and download some Eric Prydz live mixes which he has post produced in the studio.

I would personally rather eat a toaster oven... sry

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:48 pm

originally Benny and the Jets by Elton John was just a raw, boring song, then the producer took live recordings from an early show of EJ's, made the song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7ak_VWp ... ed&search=

then there's the beastie boys version

The Phat Conductor · Post by **The Phat Conductor** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:05 pm

couldn't get anything but horrid tech/prog/house/tech/tech/house/prog out of my prydz site + myspace. got any names for good live mixes i could check?

also: i'm debating just having little tiny pieces of crowd and then putting a bit of delay fadeout to ease the transitions. are people going to be like 'wtf' if they hear that? to me it sounds a lot smoother and more professional than just fading it in and out. i dont' think anyone is going to be like 'hey, he mixed the crowd in in the studio... that's cheating!' are they?

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:21 pm

http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=applause

adventurepants_ · Post by **adventurepants_** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:59 pm

if its a dj set type thing, sometimes some crowd noise is entirely appropriate, as they verbally react to the ebb and flow of the set. like the Jeff Mills in tokyo set, the crowd noise really gets me going as they are so into it. its almost another texture to the tracks.

if its just a bunch of frat boys going 'woo' constantly. you can probably do without.

does the crowd noise get YOU going? when you listen back does it remind you of the energy and the good vibes in the room? if so then i reckon leave some in.

substance_g · Post by **substance_g** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:03 pm

Another good example is Underworld's live CD & DVD "Everything Everything" - crowd noise is minimal, but audible just at the right places when the tracks climax. Worth a listen anyway...

dango · Post by **dango** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:28 pm

if you mic'd the whole thing let the crowd be heard throughout the whole set.

go to http://www.liveatfocus.com and listen to the mixes they have archived from their events. there is a description for each one, but one says the first time they mic'd the DJ, then you can listen to how their technique progresses after that. it sounds really good. puts a better vibe to the listening experience.

KU · Post by KU » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:44 pm

I dig how they did it on the live Carl Cox @ crobar (chicago) mix CD

the crowd volume was continuous but the volume of the crowd mixed louder in the breakdowns and mixes.

they also used multiple mics around the club

The Phat Conductor · Post by **The Phat Conductor** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:30 am

dango wrote:
go to http://www.liveatfocus.com and listen to the mixes they have archived from their events.

nice link man. that's exactly how it should be done. i wish i had the whole night, but the music coming in from the stage wrecked the take in some spots. i'm going to have to figure out a way to make what i have sound like this though.

good advice guys. i feel a lot better about doing this now.