New at Lav mics...

Not at all. It's cardioid. Fine if your subject is in a neck brace, but if s/he likes to turn his/her head back and forth, a cardioid lav will not be so forgiving. You're going to want an omni. Be sure to get a couple extra XLR cables, since it looks like you're going hard-wired.

Aside from that, I'm definitely not a fan of these Shure lavs. They're terrible. Shure used to (might still) send these out as the free stock lavs with their UT wireless systems. The capsules unscrew themselves with repeated use, and they sound awful when they do work.

Try this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68267-REG/Audio_Technica_MT830R_MT830R_Miniature_Clip_On.html

A little more expensive, but I do like the MT830 lavs.
 
No, not as adapters. As extensions. If you're buying a lav that's wired for XLR, then you want to have extra lengths of XLR cable so that you can get some distance between the camera and the lav. Even a 15' cable can give you valuable reach for a seated interview.

As for the PSC mic, I don't have personal experience with that one. But you're starting to get into a budget range that opens up much better possibilities. Tram TR-50, Sanken COS-11, Countryman B6 or B3 or even EMW.
 
C2V said:
Not at all. It's cardioid. Fine if your subject is in a neck brace, but if s/he likes to turn his/her head back and forth, a cardioid lav will not be so forgiving. You're going to want an omni. Be sure to get a couple extra XLR cables, since it looks like you're going hard-wired.

Aside from that, I'm definitely not a fan of these Shure lavs. They're terrible. Shure used to (might still) send these out as the free stock lavs with their UT wireless systems. The capsules unscrew themselves with repeated use, and they sound awful when they do work.
Click to expand...

As a live sound guy rather than a film-maker, I've always been happy with the sound of the Shure lavs (which they do still send out as the stock lavs with pretty much all their wireless systems), but I totally agree with you about how much of a PITA it is when those damn capsules unscrew themselves. :) (And about the head-turning thing as well, but omni lavs and live sound don't mix well, so some things you have to live with.)
 
Captain Pierce said:
but omni lavs and live sound don't mix well
Click to expand...

I've never had an issue with omnis in live sound, which I've done for over 15 years. For all the theaters, churches, and musicians that swear by the Countryman E6 headset - an omni - omnis seem to hold their own. In fact, I've never been in a live venue that used cardioid lavs. (Conference halls with automatic, in-ceiling PA systems notwithstanding... )

Now, granted, it's always a bad idea to walk in front of a loudspeaker while wearing a lav at all. And yes, you do have to be a bit more careful with EQ and gain staging with an omni. But unless it's clipped to a tie or lapel, and pointed straight up at the chin, a cardioid will reject way too much.
 
It depends on where the PA speakers are (relative to the mic) and how loud they are. Also how many mics there are and how far the lavs are mounted from each mouth.

When the PA is loud, the mics are too close to it, there are a lot of mics and they are mounted at mid chest, you have a recipe for disaster.

You can improve things by changing any or all of the above.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
tyreeford said:
It depends on where the PA speakers are (relative to the mic) and how loud they are. Also how many mics there are and how far the lavs are mounted from each mouth.

When the PA is loud, the mics are too close to it, there are a lot of mics and they are mounted at mid chest, you have a recipe for disaster.

You can improve things by changing any or all of the above.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Click to expand...

I am doing a live event too (seminar on health just talking and playing a few songs from an ipod), and I am a bit concerned with how the Lav / mic setup will behave together.

The client owns this (Sennheiser headworn mic setup) -
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/324295-REG/Sennheiser_EW152G2_A_Evolution_G2_100_Series.html

He also owns the EW100 setup too.

I would like to mic him with a regular EW100 mic system so
that we can have a 3 backup going to one of my cameras.

The 1st backup being a Compact flash recorder (fostex)
and the 2nd being the HVX XLR from the fostex. MY question
will that head worn band be too Gordy in my close up shots?

Also what should my settings be on this Mackie Onyx Mixer -
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/533572-REG/Mackie__Onyx_1220_Mixer_with.html

along with wireless transmitters / receivers?

He is also using 3 speakers (2 sides and a sub)
It would seem my sound guy wants to go into the sub
and out to the other 2 side speakers does that also make sense?

Take a look at the images below and help me place my speakers and
person who will be doing the lecture.



Figure one speaker will go by the table here and the other by the window.
IMG_9806_radison.jpg


And the cameras will be towards the rear here behind the rows of chairs that will be setup (with one being toward the front)
IMG_9804_radisson.jpg
 
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dantewaters said:
I am doing a live event too, and I am a bit concerned with how the Lav / mic setup will behave together.

The client owns this (Sennheiser headworn mic setup) -
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/324295-REG/Sennheiser_EW152G2_A_Evolution_G2_100_Series.html

I would like to mic him with a regular EW100 mic system so
that we can have a 3 backup going to one of my cameras.

The 1st backup being a Compact flash recorder (fostex)
and the 2nd being the HVX XLR from the fostex. MY question
will that head worn band be too Gordy in my close up shots?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you wanting to run two wireless mics on one person? If so, a mic that's going straight to the recording and not to the house mix won't be at risk of feedback from the PA.

As for the headset mic in the shot, the look is up to you (or, rather, your client). It's a live stage production, and headset mics are pretty common nowadays. Granted, mics like the Countryman E6 are a bit more discrete, but even major artists use the larger ones.

Also what should my settings be on this Mackie Onyx Mixer -
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/533572-REG/Mackie__Onyx_1220_Mixer_with.html

along with wireless transmitters / receivers?
Click to expand...

Is this mixer feeding the PA system, the camera, or both? 0dB on the meters there should be set to -12dB on your camera. But without knowing what the mixer is feeding, it's hard to say. Are you running this mixer, or is some one else?

He is also using 3 speakers (2 sides and a sub)
It would seem my sound guy wants to go into the sub
and out to the other 2 side speakers does that also make sense?
Click to expand...

Well, depends on the make and model of speakers he's using. Some subs have the crossover built-in that can feed the mains. So yeah, that can make sense. You should trust your sound guy. If can't do that, find a new sound guy.
 
Dante,

His wireless headworn mic looks OK, but if you haven't used it in that room, there's no way of telling if it'll work. If he's comfortable with the mic, let him use it. I wouldn't double mic him, but I would have several oprions in case you run into trouble with his mic. Included in that would be a hardwired lav and long cable.

Speaker placement: Hard to say even with pictures. In front of him, for sure, and to each side.

I'm not sure why you want to double or triple record the audio. I'm not sure why you need a sub woofer at all. KISS (Keep It Stupidly Simple) works best.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
If you are looking for cheap good sounding wired lav - Shure SM93, retails for $150.

Countryman and Tram are much better.

Jason
 
C2V said:
I've never had an issue with omnis in live sound, which I've done for over 15 years. For all the theaters, churches, and musicians that swear by the Countryman E6 headset - an omni - omnis seem to hold their own. In fact, I've never been in a live venue that used cardioid lavs. (Conference halls with automatic, in-ceiling PA systems notwithstanding... )

Now, granted, it's always a bad idea to walk in front of a loudspeaker while wearing a lav at all. And yes, you do have to be a bit more careful with EQ and gain staging with an omni. But unless it's clipped to a tie or lapel, and pointed straight up at the chin, a cardioid will reject way too much.
Click to expand...

OK, poor choice of words on my part--where I said "live sound," what I should have said was "PA rental sound." :) Lots of work in hotel ballrooms with in-ceiling systems or a couple of powered speakers on stands. We just got a pair of E6 omni's, and so far they're proving to work pretty well even in those situations, but back in the day, the omni lavs were just a feedback nightmare...

The scary thing is, we went from omni to hypercardioid lavs. (Not my decision; we eventually got it figured out and went to cardioids.) Talk about overreaction... :D
 
I wanted to use the EW100 mic wireless setup to feed that directly to the camera, and use the headworn mic for the PA system (connected to the mixer).

The Mixer is feeding both the PA and the camera, I figure I'd come out of the fostex though
in order to get control of my audio going to the camera.

TYFord you're right KISS, but he's playing music and I guess he wants the added bass, then again we are in a hotel (I'm not sure what kinda bass he wants).

Also I am to ask the people at the hotel if we can setup the night before this way I will have a good idea of what I'll be getting the following day.
 
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