Microphone Setup

[Azure]

Anyone with experience in the audio/sound industry? I'm looking to invest in a couple higher end microphones designed for choirs or large groups of people. And I'm wondering if such microphones would work well for picking up audio on a stage type setting where 2-3 people are acting out a play, or if I would be better on getting wireless microphones for that.

The building itself isn't very sound friendly so there is an obvious feedback issue. I'm just trying to get the best sound possible with what I have to work with.

[You Need a Thneed]

Get a good cardioid or supercardioid condenser microphone. It should be able to pick up actors on a stage quite well, as long as the stage is small. Larger stages might need more than one.

If the microphones you currently use are omnidirectional, there's the reason you can't pick up people without causing feedback.

Wireless systems shouldn't be necessary for the setup I'm imagining you have. Decent ones cost a significant amount of money more than a couple of good wired microphones cost, and then you have the pain of changing batteries etc, or else having microphones that cut out.

Long & McQuade or Axe Music (or another similar place) should be able to help you out. Just tell them what you want to use the microphone for.

I'd budget $150 to $300 per microphone. (I'm assuming your budget isn't large)

[Delthefunky]

I'd bypass Axe and just go straight to L & M too

But yeah, ask them, they'll help out.

[You Need a Thneed]

After getting a good microphone, still try to locate it as close to the actors (or whatever else you want to amplify) as you can. If you need to hide the microphone in a stage prop, do so.

[Flabbibulin]

What you need to pick up large groups of people, or a choir, are condenser mics. A popular pick in this area is known as a pencil condenser, which can be placed from a hanging position or standing on a boom stand.

While dynamic mics are great for picking up unidirectional sounds, their goal is to eliminate ambient noise and are useless unless immediately next to the sound source.

Condenser mics are considerably more expensive and require phantom power to operate. Make sure your board has this.

Condenser mics also require a decent amount of sound equalizing in order to minimize feedback and maximize output- using them is tricky if you do not an EQ strip, drive rack, and someone that can actually EQ.

[You Need a Thneed]

Condenser microphones require phantom power from a mixer, dynamic microphones do not. Those are the only types of microphones I'd look into if you are only going to be getting a couple.

[You Need a Thneed]

the microphones you're looking for should be this shape:



Useful for quite a few applications, should be fairly durable.

[Azure]

The stage is about 20 feet across, 10 feet wide, with 3 levels. 8 speakers hooked up, 50watts each IIRC, into a Inter-M receiver. Speakers work perfectly, so I just gotta figure out the microphones.

Right now because they don't have anything else for the play that is happening tonight, we're using a omnidirectional microphone. It does have feedback if you go to loud, but we can make it work for the time being.

The room itself is about 200'x200'. So I'd imagine the sound reflects all over the place.

Also, I don't live in Calgary. Any online dealers based in Canada that sell this stuff?

[Huntingwhale]

[Traditional_Ale]

With all due respect to the previous posters, if the stage and room are that small and acoustically terrible then there is no way in hell I would personally ever use anything but wireless lapelle mics. They're tiny, can be hidden in a costume, and will allow for an equal level balance between the actors and thus a higher production value for the audience.

[Azure]

What about something like this for the choir?

http://www.alectrosystems.com/alectr...products_id=87

The Electro-Voice RE90H is a very small black hanging choir microphone. It hangs by its wire and has an integral angling system. The unit has a low proximity effect and good pick-up range. It is available in black or white. The RE90H is a condenser microphone which requires phantom power.

The 'play' stuff isn't that serious. Its just a bunch of kids doing Christmas stuff, and it would be nice if we could hear them half decently. My problem is there are 20-30 kids involved, and I don't feel like buying that many wireless microphones for them to use.

I would rather use something that I can bring down from the ceiling which would pick up the stage stuff half decently and also work for small vocal groups or large choirs.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

With all due respect to the previous posters, if the stage and room are that small and acoustically terrible then there is no way in hell I would personally ever use anything but wireless lapelle mics. They're tiny, can be hidden in a costume, and will allow for an equal level balance between the actors and thus a higher production value for the audience.

Certainly that's best. However, I'm pretty sure that Azure doesn't have the budget for that, and if all they currently have is an omnidirectional microphone that's being used for a live setup, they likely don't have anyone to run sound that complicated. It would just frustrate them.

However, simply putting that omnidirectional microphone into the trash, and getting a decent cardioid condensor mic will make it MUCH easier to avoid feedback.

I'm also guessing that the dramas Azure is talking about aren't highly produced long dramas, but for the most part, short skits. Having wireless lapels for short skits increases the effort to a point where they wouldn't get used.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Azure

What about something like this for the choir?

http://www.alectrosystems.com/alectr...products_id=87



The 'play' stuff isn't that serious. Its just a bunch of kids doing Christmas stuff, and it would be nice if we could hear them half decently. My problem is there are 20-30 kids involved, and I don't feel like buying that many wireless microphones for them to use.

I would rather use something that I can bring down from the ceiling which would pick up the stage stuff half decently and also work for small vocal groups or large choirs.

If you are going to do a little bit more permanent installation, something like that should work pretty well. If you don't want a permanent installation, and want something a little more versatile, get something like what I posted above. It sounds to me like you would want at least 2 of those hanging microphones if you were going to do a permanent installation.

[Flabbibulin]

Ya, there is no doubt the lapelles or headsets are the best option for a drama group, but they also come at the highest cost. The best condenser will always have a tough time picking up spoken word from a distance, especially when the room sucks.... Much better suited for choirs

Headsets and lav mics are also a bit easier to deal with imo than pencil condensers. All that said, you gotta work with your budget.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

If you are going to do a little bit more permanent installation, something like that should work pretty well. If you don't want a permanent installation, and want something a little more versatile, get something like what I posted above. It sounds to me like you would want at least 2 of those hanging microphones if you were going to do a permanent installation.

I do want something permanent. The speakers are already in place and won't be moved, and I want the microphones to be the same way.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Certainly that's best. However, I'm pretty sure that Azure doesn't have the budget for that, and if all they currently have is an omnidirectional microphone that's being used for a live setup, they likely don't have anyone to run sound that complicated. It would just frustrate them.

However, simply putting that omnidirectional microphone into the trash, and getting a decent cardioid condensor mic will make it MUCH easier to avoid feedback.

I'm also guessing that the dramas Azure is talking about aren't highly produced long dramas, but for the most part, short skits. Having wireless lapels for short skits increases the effort to a point where they wouldn't get used.

Yep. Absolutely don't have the budget to wire every single kid up. They just do short skits, etc, etc. Then one long play that involves 30 kids. And since I wouldn't have time to switch the wireless mics, I would have to get 30 individual ones, and that is way out of my budget range.

I'll look some more into the condenser microphones. Is there a specific brand that stands out above all the others?

[Azure]

So picked up a couple of these just to try.

http://www.apexelectronics.com/categ...oduct/Apex591/

Not sure if I like them. They don't do much to pick up spoken word anywhere over 24'' from the actually microphone, so I would still be better off going with a omnidirectional microphone. Surely there has to be something out there that out picks up in one direction much better.

I haven't tried it with a choir though. Going to try to get that done before I take them back.

I like something like this better because I can hang it from the ceiling.

http://www.apexelectronics.com/categ...oduct/Apex150/

[Aegypticus]

The knowledgeable responses in this thread inspired me to ask a mic question that has frustrated me for some time. I do a lot of gaming on my computer and I'm in voice chat a lot along with that (Vent, Skype, Mumble). I need a good mic, but I just can't stand using headphones. For a few years I've used and addon mic for a headset with it just draped around my neck, which has been serviceable, but not ideal. I was wondering if anyone might have a solution for me that would give me excellent quality sound through my motherboard's onboard sound card without picking up enormous amounts of background noise or feedback from my speakers and without forcing me to use a headset. I've been stymied in my search so far, but it never occurred to me to try a music store instead of a computer store.

[Aegypticus]

Anyone think this (http://www.long-mcquade.com/products...Microphone.htm) would work for me? I'm unsure what type of connector it uses, and if it says on that page then it's in some format I don't understand.

[You Need a Thneed]

I doubt that that mic has a stereo mini connector. Likely XLR or mini XLR.