Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: buying mics for community theater

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Jen Peralta
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Topic: buying mics for community theater
Posted: 12/21/04 at 12:51am

Hi there! Our group have just put up an NGO theater group that usually performs in rural areas in Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. We found sponsors for the purchase of a sound system but we don't have an idea what type of microphone should we order. We need a microphone that is discreet in looks but high-powered since our performances are done usually in open spaces. We would be greatful of your response.

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tblan
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Posted: 1/12/05 at 8:59pm

I would reccomend Sennheiser wireless mics, like the evolution wireless 300 G2 system. It can be found at http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/21501

At the last show did outdoors I was using some shure and some sennheisers, and the sennheisers proved to be the better mics. I usually just remove the clip that comes with the mic, leaving you with a tiny mic that is easy to hide. The only downside to these mics is that they tend to be pricey. I hope this helps.

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Doug Klein
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Posted: 3/28/05 at 11:14am

We just purchased some Audio Technica wireless mics along with CAD floor mics for our new theater. AT just came out with some receivers that will scan for unused frequencies. They work great!

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Dustmac
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Posted: 7/18/05 at 10:45pm

I agree with Doug and definitely get some floor mics.

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Kathy S
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Posted: 7/19/05 at 8:29pm

We have a pair of expensive floor mics (I think that is what you are talking about here -- the type that is about the size of a checkbook and sits on the edge of the stage?) -- I can't say I am as enthusiastic about them as the others here are. Ours seem to pick up an inordinate amount of footsteps across the stage when someone comes near them. Is there a solution to that problem?

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Traitor800
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Posted: 7/21/05 at 5:47pm

yep those would be floor mics. to get rid of the foot step sound all u have to do is trace the bottom of the floor mic onto a thin sheet of dense foam (i think thats its called polyeurathene(sp) foam but i can't swear to that) and then cut out the shap and use double sided tape to stick it to the bottom of the mic.
Floor mics are great for sound reinforcement and that foot step sound can be real usefull for musicals and any kind of dancing cause they alow the aduience to hear the feet over the music and singing. theyre also good cause theyre low profile and can be placed on table tops and on set pieces to help pick up the speach or vocals of actors at a much closer distance than hanging mics or floor mics.
shure makes good floor mics cause they have interchangable heads that allow u to select from omni directional, cardiod and super cardiod making them very versitle.

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Kathy S
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Posted: 7/21/05 at 6:43pm

We'll give that foam trick a try. Never thought bout placing them on desk tops, etc! Might have to try that, too.

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tblan
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Posted: 8/10/05 at 2:19am

I also have had a lot of success with foam under my floor mics. However be sure the foam isn't too thick, and that you compress it when you put it down under the mics. Otherwise you are preventing the mic from picking up reflected sound entirely and are losing a LOT of possible sound.

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Unclepeter
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Posted: 8/10/05 at 12:37pm

We also used floor mics (Shure) for a children's camp production of "Flapper". After reading here, I used the foam under the mics and received many comments from the patrons about the enhanced sound. We are planning to buy some Crown PCC-160's for our new system. Any experience?

"Good judgement comes from experience - and a lot of that comes from bad judgement." (Will Rogers)

Uncle Peter

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Traitor800
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Posted: 8/10/05 at 6:41pm

both mics are just as good but i personally perfer the shure mx 390 series cause they have a slightly lower profile and they have interchangable mic heads which can make the mics more versitle. ex/the cardiod head is great for boundry pick up and the the supercardiod and omni heads are good for when u place the mic on a set piece.

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Author	Message
Jen Peralta Guest	Topic: buying mics for community theater Posted: 12/21/04 at 12:51am
	Hi there! Our group have just put up an NGO theater group that usually performs in rural areas in Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. We found sponsors for the purchase of a sound system but we don't have an idea what type of microphone should we order. We need a microphone that is discreet in looks but high-powered since our performances are done usually in open spaces. We would be greatful of your response.

	IP Logged

tblan Guest	Posted: 1/12/05 at 8:59pm
	I would reccomend Sennheiser wireless mics, like the evolution wireless 300 G2 system. It can be found at http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/21501 At the last show did outdoors I was using some shure and some sennheisers, and the sennheisers proved to be the better mics. I usually just remove the clip that comes with the mic, leaving you with a tiny mic that is easy to hide. The only downside to these mics is that they tend to be pricey. I hope this helps.
	IP Logged

Doug Klein Walk-On Joined: 3/28/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/28/05 at 11:14am
	We just purchased some Audio Technica wireless mics along with CAD floor mics for our new theater. AT just came out with some receivers that will scan for unused frequencies. They work great!
	IP Logged

Dustmac Lead Joined: 5/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Posted: 7/18/05 at 10:45pm
	I agree with Doug and definitely get some floor mics.
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 7/19/05 at 8:29pm
	We have a pair of expensive floor mics (I think that is what you are talking about here -- the type that is about the size of a checkbook and sits on the edge of the stage?) -- I can't say I am as enthusiastic about them as the others here are. Ours seem to pick up an inordinate amount of footsteps across the stage when someone comes near them. Is there a solution to that problem?
	IP Logged

Traitor800 Walk-On Joined: 7/21/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/21/05 at 5:47pm
	yep those would be floor mics. to get rid of the foot step sound all u have to do is trace the bottom of the floor mic onto a thin sheet of dense foam (i think thats its called polyeurathene(sp) foam but i can't swear to that) and then cut out the shap and use double sided tape to stick it to the bottom of the mic. Floor mics are great for sound reinforcement and that foot step sound can be real usefull for musicals and any kind of dancing cause they alow the aduience to hear the feet over the music and singing. theyre also good cause theyre low profile and can be placed on table tops and on set pieces to help pick up the speach or vocals of actors at a much closer distance than hanging mics or floor mics. shure makes good floor mics cause they have interchangable heads that allow u to select from omni directional, cardiod and super cardiod making them very versitle.
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 7/21/05 at 6:43pm
	We'll give that foam trick a try. Never thought bout placing them on desk tops, etc! Might have to try that, too.
	IP Logged

tblan Lead Joined: 8/10/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 36	Posted: 8/10/05 at 2:19am
	I also have had a lot of success with foam under my floor mics. However be sure the foam isn't too thick, and that you compress it when you put it down under the mics. Otherwise you are preventing the mic from picking up reflected sound entirely and are losing a LOT of possible sound.
	IP Logged

Unclepeter Lead Joined: 7/26/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 8/10/05 at 12:37pm
	We also used floor mics (Shure) for a children's camp production of "Flapper". After reading here, I used the foam under the mics and received many comments from the patrons about the enhanced sound. We are planning to buy some Crown PCC-160's for our new system. Any experience?
	"Good judgement comes from experience - and a lot of that comes from bad judgement." (Will Rogers) Uncle Peter
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Traitor800 Walk-On Joined: 7/21/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/10/05 at 6:41pm
	both mics are just as good but i personally perfer the shure mx 390 series cause they have a slightly lower profile and they have interchangable mic heads which can make the mics more versitle. ex/the cardiod head is great for boundry pick up and the the supercardiod and omni heads are good for when u place the mic on a set piece.
	IP Logged