Digital recording techniques involving vocal and percussion ensembles: The Gyuto Tantric Monks

The Gyuto Tantric Monks use handbells, cymbals, damaru (skull drums), rejong (double‐membrane wood drums), horns, and long trumpets to summon their deities. Their chants consist of slowly recited Sanskrit texts. They are able to produce and sustain harmonic chords over long periods of time [Smith et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 41, 5 (1967)]. They produce a music of unparalleled dynamic range. The disparity between the voices and the drums offers a unique challenge to the recording engineer. The Monks were recorded on several occasions in May of 1985. We developed techniques for both live stereo and studio multitrack digital recording. Individual and ambience miking techniques will be discussed. Shared, dynamic, fastomiking techniques for live recordings will be explored. Methods for balancing recording requirements with PA demands will also be discussed. The results of spectral analysis of the recordings confirm the level of fidelity obtained.