Guides › Orchestral input list

Orchestral input list template, with an example

The input list is the spreadsheet twin of the mic plot. It tells the crew what to plug where, and it tells you what's on every fader. Here are the columns that matter, a channel order that holds up session after session, and an example for a full orchestra.

By Brian Losch, orchestral recording engineer · 6 October 2026

The columns

Channel: the console or recorder channel. It must match the number on the mic plot.
Source: what the mic is on, such as "Tree L", "Hn 1–2" or "Vc 1st desk".
Mic: the model, plus the pattern if the mic can switch.
Stand or rigging: tall boom, short stand, flown, clamp, or tree bar.
Height: in one unit system for the whole list.
Stage box or input: where the cable lands.
Preamp, phantom and pad: so the desk can be set before line check.
Notes: anything the crew needs, such as "stand behind riser" or "shared stand with ch 12".

A channel order that works

Keep the same order on every session so your hands know the desk. A common layout runs from the overall picture inward, then back out to the room:

Main array (tree left, centre, right)
Outriggers
Woodwinds
Horns, then trumpets, trombones and tuba
Timpani and percussion
Harp, celesta, piano and keyboards
String spots: first violins, second violins, violas, cellos, basses
Soloists and choir
Ambience and hall pairs, then audience mics
Talkback and utility lines

Example: symphony orchestra

An illustrative starting point; swap in what's in your kit. Heights are from the stage floor, not from risers.

Ch	Source	Mic	Stand / rigging	Height	Input	48V	Notes
1	Tree L	Schoeps MK2H	Tree bar	11 ft	SB1-1	Yes	Over podium
2	Tree C	Schoeps MK2H	Tree bar	11 ft	SB1-2	Yes	Forward of L/R
3	Tree R	Schoeps MK2H	Tree bar	11 ft	SB1-3	Yes
4	Outrigger L	DPA 4006A	Tall stand	10 ft	SB1-4	Yes	Over 1st violins, outside desk
5	Outrigger R	DPA 4006A	Tall stand	10 ft	SB1-5	Yes	Over cellos and basses
6	Flutes	Neumann KM184	Tall boom	7 ft	SB1-6	Yes	Behind the violas
7	Oboes	Neumann KM184	Tall boom	7 ft	SB1-7	Yes
8	Clarinets	Neumann KM184	Tall boom	7 ft	SB1-8	Yes
9	Bassoons	Neumann KM184	Tall boom	7 ft	SB2-1	Yes
10	Horns	Schoeps MK4	Tall stand	8 ft	SB2-2	Yes	Behind the section; bells face back
11	Trumpets	Royer R-121	Tall stand	8 ft	SB2-3	No	Ribbon: no phantom
12	Trombones and tuba	Royer R-121	Tall stand	8 ft	SB2-4	No	Ribbon: no phantom
13	Timpani	Schoeps MK4	Tall stand	7 ft	SB2-5	Yes
14–15	Percussion L/R	Neumann KM184 pair	Tall stand	8 ft	SB2-6/7	Yes
16	Harp	Schoeps MK4	Short boom	3 ft	SB2-8	Yes	Aimed at the soundboard
17	Celesta / piano	Schoeps MK4	Short boom	3 ft	SB3-1	Yes
18	Violins I	Schoeps MK4	Tall stand	7 ft	SB3-2	Yes	Between 2nd and 3rd desks
19	Violins II	Schoeps MK4	Tall stand	7 ft	SB3-3	Yes
20	Violas	Schoeps MK4	Tall stand	7 ft	SB3-4	Yes
21	Cellos	Schoeps MK4	Short stand	4 ft	SB3-5	Yes
22	Basses	Schoeps MK4	Tall stand	6 ft	SB3-6	Yes
23–24	Hall L/R	DPA 4006A pair	Flown or tall stand	12 ft	SB3-7/8	Yes	In the house, a third to halfway back, or at the balcony front

The quickest way to get an input list wrong is to type it separately from the mic plot. In MicPlot, the input list, channel list and stage plot all print from the same 3D setup, so a mic you move or renumber changes everywhere. MicPlot's AI import can also read an existing input list PDF and place the mics for you.

Print your input list from MicPlot, free

Choose a seating template, place your mics, and print the input list and mic plot together, already in sync. No signup, and it works offline.

Open MicPlot

More guides: How to make an orchestral mic plot · Decca tree placement