My daughter is taking part in a cheerleading competition, and I would appreciate any suggestions on how best to handle the audio part. Up to now, I have used an AT 897 mounted on my DVX, but I have found that the audio for this type of event has had a "distant" feel in the past. I just purchased a Sennheiser G2 wireless setup, and am wondering how best to use for better audio for this type of event. Should I use a different mic (not the AT 897 shotgun) with a G2 plug-on transmitter setup closer to the action? She also does choir recitals, which I am guessing would call for a similar audion setup?
Audio Setup for Cheerleading Competition
- Thread starter kmcgrath
- Start date
alwayslearning
Well-known member
In the mid 90's, my daughter was doing the same thing. I video taped several events. I am picky about audio.
First time, I used a shotgun. Two things: 1.) Cheerleading happens in acoustically unfriendly environs. Nothing but hard surfaces and 2.) Often, the cheerleading is spread out over several yards. The shotgun would pick up who it was aimed at fairly well along with some can't-do-much-about-it sound reflections but the girls in front of and beyond the prime pick-up area were lost in the echoes. Perhaps two shotguns aimed to cover more area would help, but I didn't go that route. I ended up placing 2-3 PZM's close to the action as possible (I'd hate for one to get kicked when I have my headphones on
) and that worked fairly decent. I ran them into my Mackie 1402VLZ mixer and then into my record deck. (I was doing a live switch.)
The PZM's were in a line along the front of where the girls were doing their cheering. A compressor is (in my opinion) essential in such an environment because the dynamic range is so great.
Hope this helps ...
Larry
First time, I used a shotgun. Two things: 1.) Cheerleading happens in acoustically unfriendly environs. Nothing but hard surfaces and 2.) Often, the cheerleading is spread out over several yards. The shotgun would pick up who it was aimed at fairly well along with some can't-do-much-about-it sound reflections but the girls in front of and beyond the prime pick-up area were lost in the echoes. Perhaps two shotguns aimed to cover more area would help, but I didn't go that route. I ended up placing 2-3 PZM's close to the action as possible (I'd hate for one to get kicked when I have my headphones on
) and that worked fairly decent. I ran them into my Mackie 1402VLZ mixer and then into my record deck. (I was doing a live switch.)The PZM's were in a line along the front of where the girls were doing their cheering. A compressor is (in my opinion) essential in such an environment because the dynamic range is so great.
Hope this helps ...
Larry
Larry,
Thanks for the help. I am new to this, so are the PZM's a model number for a mic? I assume they are not as directional as the shotguns? Since I only can accommodate one wireless mic with my Senn equipment, could I connect the PZM to my Senn G2 transmitter?
Thanks, Ken McGrath
Thanks for the help. I am new to this, so are the PZM's a model number for a mic? I assume they are not as directional as the shotguns? Since I only can accommodate one wireless mic with my Senn equipment, could I connect the PZM to my Senn G2 transmitter?
Thanks, Ken McGrath
alwayslearning
Well-known member
PZM is Pressure Zone Microphone.
They are good for picking up audio over a large area. I used them this past weekend for a stage production.
Crown makes good ones and are decently priced. Info on what they are about is here:
http://www.crownaudio.com/mic_web/pzm.htm
Larry
They are good for picking up audio over a large area. I used them this past weekend for a stage production.
Crown makes good ones and are decently priced. Info on what they are about is here:
http://www.crownaudio.com/mic_web/pzm.htm
Larry
Derrick_SA
Veteran
Yeah, a PZM is probably best.
I have to agree about the compressor, will give nice even audio signal. But wouldn't a noise gate be of great help aswell ?
I have to agree about the compressor, will give nice even audio signal. But wouldn't a noise gate be of great help aswell ?
alwayslearning
Well-known member
Most (all?) compressors have a noise gate but in a situation where there is a constant loud noise, as in a gym full of cheerleaders, I've never found a good setting for one. I've had to set the level so high that it became very choppy. The cheerleaders would holler out something, turn on the gate and the crowd would all of a sudden be on too ... then off. There might be a good way to do that, but I haven't found it yet. I think that noise gates are pretty much good for close mic'ing.
Larry
Larry
Ryan Izzard
Active member
I've noticed that not too many people are using the Shure SM-57's or 58's, is there any reason? I use them all the time for events like this and they are MONEY!!! Less than $100 each, you can hammer nails with them and they never break, and the sound is great. Plug two into the DVX, pan them hard left and right and you've got a killer stereo spread. Something to think about. ;-)