Equipment Recommendations for Recording a Stage

D

Dennis Spielman

New member
Dear Sound Guys and Gals,

I film various improv troupes at a local theatre. The theatre is rather small, seating less than 50 people. We would like to record better sound for the videos, which we upload to YouTube. I need recommendations for what pieces of equipment I would need to hold a microphone up in the ceiling tiles. The ceiling type has panels that can be lifted up and it can support some serious weight (I've been told they had people hanging up in them when the theatre was being built).

I'm thinking just getting a whole boom pole, but it seems like there is something else that would be more fitting for a general ceiling mic.
 
How much area are you trying to cover? (What is the length/width of the stage?)

I would consider hanging a pair of small "lav" type mics from the ceiling, as low as you can get away with. There are microphones made for this type of hanging installation (called "choir mics"). You could even try some cheap "computer mics" that can be found for $5-10 to experiment with the concept.

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/MIKE-93/ELECTRET-MICROPHONE/1.html
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/MIKE-92/ELECTRET-MICROPHONE-W/LONG-CORD/1.html

I don't why you would need a boom pole when you have a whole ceiling grid to hang mics from?
 
It really depends on what you're trying to accomplish. PZMs or hanging mics will not remove reverberation from the sound, and will, of course, capture the loudest sounds loudest meaning that if the actors are not projecting their voices, then their footsteps on the stage, and other mechanical sounds may still be distracting in the recording.

Having a long background in theatrical sound, I have found that many of today's actors depend on being wired with a lav or earset.

My experience is that in any noisy or reverberant enviroment, the actors have to be wired to produce a quality recording.
 
gpforet said:
It really depends on what you're trying to accomplish. PZMs or hanging mics will not remove reverberation from the sound, and will, of course, capture the loudest sounds loudest meaning that if the actors are not projecting their voices, then their footsteps on the stage, and other mechanical sounds may still be distracting in the recording.

Having a long background in theatrical sound, I have found that many of today's actors depend on being wired with a lav or earset.

My experience is that in any noisy or reverberant enviroment, the actors have to be wired to produce a quality recording.
Click to expand...

Improv troupes mainly consists of 2+ people, which requires multiple microphones and possibly a mixer, to mix all the actors down to a two track. Then you'll need to consider the capture of audience responses if needed, there goes another microphone. It's a 50-seater space. KISS.
 
Richard Crowley said:
How much area are you trying to cover? (What is the length/width of the stage?)
Click to expand...

I believe it's best if I show everyone what stage and set up I'm working with in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPYrGEJen3w

This was the first time we actually tired to put a mic in front of the stage, which at times you can see in the video. We didn't have a stand, so we took an extra tripod and held the mic in place with gaffer tape. (I know, not very professional, but it worked.)

The mic used was a Sony ECM-670. The camera was a Panasonic DVX-100P. The onboard camera mic was used as well, but the volume on it was lowered as not to compete with the shotgun mic. Overall, it gave the audio a bit of depth.
 
how about mics on the bottom of the stage or around the edge of the stage pointing upwards towards the players. but not on the stage so it doesnt record them walking.

i see a lighting issue also but that's another subject.
 
FYI, the Bartlett TM-125 has been updated to the Bartlett Stage Floor Microphone and Boundary Recording Mic, http://www.bartlettaudio.com/collections/boundary-recording-mic/products/boundary-recording-mic

Alan H. Chang said:
1) Get a PZM microphone, something like the Bartlett TM125, http://www.bartlettmics.com/tm125-1.html
2) Mount it up on the ceiling against the removable ceiling tiles positioned above the lip of the stage, OR, mount it down on lip of the stage.
3) Phantom power, enough cable length.
4) Have fun!
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top