ALLOY ORCHESTRA TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

Staging:

Our setup is fairly large. Typically the musicians are set up on the stage, angled from the edge of the projected film, toward the front corner of the stage (nearest the audience).  If there isn’t room on the stage, the musicians can be set up in an orchestra pit, or in the aisle at the front corner of the audience.

The musicians can set up either stage left or right.  They should be able to see the screen from their  instruments, even if at a very oblique angle.  If the Orchestra cannot see the screen from where the instruments are set up, video monitors are required to display the projected film image.

Dimensions of Percussion Rack (without synth):                     12 ft. long

                                                                                                       6.5 ft high

                                                                                                       6 ft deep

The Synth player (one person sitting at a single synthesizer) needs to be  somewhere near the percussion, either on stage or just off it.

Alloy Orchestra Sound System Specifications

Alloy Orchestra is typically done with modest size sound systems (12 channels is usually enough).    Larger setups with more microphones allow for increased flexibility and more control over individual instruments.   But, even small systems (as small as 8 channels) will work well enough. 

The sound system should be capable of moderately loud volumes with full bass, like the volume of a typical movie screening, or jazz concert.  This can usually be done with a moderate sized and powered system.  A single pair of 15 inch  main speakers is sufficient for a small room.  Several times that size is recommended for larger halls. 

Monitors are important!  Three good monitor speakers are required with 1, 2 or 3 sends.  Typical 12' floor monitors are ideal.

Volume - The volume of our concerts can easily get to be too loud.  The engineer should try to match the volume of the mains to mix with the acoustic instruments and not be painfully loud.

Mains:  Stereo if possible.

Monitors:  (3 ) floor monitors - 12 inches woofers preferred.  On 1 – 3 sends.

(2) Direct Boxes for Synth (NOT IN PICTURE)

Microphones 7 – 9   mics needed.

Stands:   Boom are best on most mics.  A medium sized stand is best for bass drum.  A few short stands are useful for musical  saw, and metal pans.

HOW TO MIC ALLOY ORCHESTRA

- (2) overheads - spread out about 5 feet - lined up with the tripod stands. About 5 ft high. (Shure SM 81 or similar cardiod condensor).

Spot mics required on

- Clarinet - cardiod or hyper cardiod mic. (Ideal mic - Neumann KSM 105 or Shure SM57)

- Tom toms - cardiod dynamic (Shure SM57)

- Accordion- (SM 57)

- Bass Drum - )AKG 414 ULS or other condensor with lots of bass, or bass drum mic like Shure SM52)

- Musical Saw (Beyer M88 or Shure SM57)

Projection

Many Alloy Orchestra performances use 35mm prints which are in the old silent film aperture (full frame, with no sound stripe).  For best projection, the proper lens and aperture plate combination should be matched to the particular film being screened.   Most films run at 24 fps, a few run at slower speeds (18 fps).  Occasional shows use 16mm or DVD projection.

35mm print film speeds, times & aspect ratio

Man with a Movie Camera - 24 fps, 1.37 aspecdt Ratio. 67 Minutes.

Last Command - 24 fps, full frame silent aspect ratio. 90 minutes

Underworld - 24 fps, full frame silent aspect ratio. 80 minutes

Lonesome – 24 fps, with occasional dialogue (projectionist must learn cues to        turn up sound).

The Eagle – 24 fps, movietone aspect (image is the same width as 1.33, but taller) 72 min

Blackmail – 24 fps, 1.33 aspect,

Phantom of the Opera – 24 fps, 1.33 aspect ratio, 78 min

The General - 24 fps, 1:33 aspect ratio, 79 min

Nosferatu 18 fps (can be projected as well at 24 fps) - silent aspect ratio, 85 min

Arbuckle Shorts - 18 fps - silent aspect ratio (each film is 20 – 25 min)

Black Pirate - 24 fps - 1:3:3 ratio, 84 min

Speedy - 24 fps - Silent aspect Ratio, 85 min

South - 21 or 24 fps - Silent aspect ratio, approx 80 min

Earth - 24 fps - Silent aspect ratio

Masters of Slapstick - 24 fps - mixed ratios (silent and 1:3:3)

Steamboat Bill Jr. - 24 fps - silent aspect ratio, 67 min

Dragonflies, the Baby Cries – 24 fps, 1.33,  Optical soundtrack, 11 min

Please do not splice films unless absolutely necessary!  If splices are necessary, never cut into the frames with an image.  Always splice in the blank frames.

LIGHTING

Each music stand will have a small light (which we will bring).  Since we don't want to spill light on the film projection, very little extra light should be added.  The stand lights are sufficient for the orchestra's needs.   When possible 2 or 3 dim spotlights illuminating the Orchestra can be used to make the Orchestra more visible to the audience.

Musical equipment rental (needed only when we arrive by airplane).

Drum set:

(1) 24 inch Bass drum with (2) complete heads (no holes - no dampeners).  This drum should sound like an orchestral bass drum - ringy.  Preferred heads are:  Pinstripe top, Emperor bottom.  Not acceptable - Remo Powerstroke heads or similar dead  heads. The drum should be ringey and sound like an Orchestral Bass drum.

(1) snare drum .  Remo Coated Ambassador top head preferred.

(2) Tom Toms - Rack Tom Toms must mount on a freestanding tripod stand.    Large drums are best (14 & 15 in).   Preferred heads:  Pin stripe top, uncoated Ambassador bottom.  

(1) Floor Tom - 18 inches.  Two heads, Pinstripe top, uncoated Ambassador bottom.

(3) straight cymbal stands.

(1) Snare drum stand

(1) Adjustable height drum stool.

Misc Equipment

(1) Synthesizer stand (adjustable height) 

(3) Music stands with clamp lights. Sturdy