Closed Topics: buying mics for community theater

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buying mics for community theater

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Topic: buying mics for community theater

Posted By: Guests
Subject: buying mics for community theater
Date 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.

Replies:

Posted By: Guests
Date 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 - 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.

Posted By: Doug Klein
Date 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!

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

I agree with Doug and definitely get some floor mics.

Posted By: Kathy S
Date 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?

Posted By: Traitor800
Date 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.

Posted By: Kathy S
Date 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.

Posted By: tblan
Date 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.

Posted By: Unclepeter
Date 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?

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

Uncle Peter

Posted By: Traitor800
Date 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.

Posted By: tblan
Date Posted: 8/10/05 at 9:19pm

In all of my experience I have found the PCC 160's to be the best choice for most (but not all) applications. I find they generally get better gain before feedback than the shures. Whatever mics you decide to buy be sure to use them in odd numbers (assuming you are intending to use them along the edge of the apron). This way you have a mic center stage where most of the action takes place.

Posted By: Unclepeter
Date Posted: 8/10/05 at 9:33pm

Exactly how we plan to use them...on the apron, 3 evenly spaced. Together with the overheads, we feel it will significantly help. We do not want patrons to hear the sound from speakers, but to only enhance the acoustics. We have been fortunate to have a professional sound tech (worked in the White House...if he can make presidents sound good, he must really know what he is doing) move into town and he really wants to help us with our sound system design, installation and operation.

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

Uncle Peter