Oh, boy!!!!!

J

Joe Calabrese

Well-known member
Hi everybody,

I'll be working on sound for my school's musical (which happens next Friday and Saturday). Basically, we have 8 wireless lav systems (4 Shure, 4 Sennheiser). The Shure systems have cardioid lav mics, while the Sennheisers have "omni" lav mics. The reason I put down "omni" is because when you move away from directly in front of the mic, it changes the EQ characteristics. In order to get usable sound, we have to turn these mics into headset mics, so we have two options at this point: Attach the mics to makeshift metal headpieces or actually tape them to the actor's face with medical tape, and make-up over it. Obviously, each has its own benefits, either getting the mic closer to their mouth, or making it easier to get on and off (which ties into the second problem).

The second problem is that we only have 8 wireless systems (1 has a defective transmitter and has to be sent to Shure for repair, and we are not sure if we will get it back in time), but will need 11 in order to have every actor on stage during each scene to have their own mic (backup singing will be captured by overhead mics). I looked at the script, and there are only two scenes where 11 mics are needed. But for all others, the actors rotate mics. My possible solution to the second problem is to buy 3 more wireless lav mic systems, too bad we only have a $200-$250 budget for sound. I was considering an AT system: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Audio-T...VHF-UniPak-Wireless-System-275113-i1371801.gc If you have any other suggestions, for wireless systems or reviews about this one, please chime in. If you feel the money could be better spent on something else, I'm all ears.

So, yeah, thats my microphone problems. Please, I need all the help I can get.

Thanks,
Joe


BTW, I know someone who said to me that I'm thinking this through way too much for a school musical, but I'm just trying to do a kick ass job.
 
With the budget you have, you'd be insane to buy the extra kit, you're not going to get any semblance of quality. Rent the extra stuff and you'll get far far better gear than that cheapo AT kit you link. Talk to Gotham or another rental house in town there and they can surely help you sort this out.
 
Looking at Gotham's most recent rental rates, you can rent a G2 Tx/Rx pair, with your lav of choice for $35/day.
 
Joe Calabrese said:
Renting would be too expensive. I'm planning on testing that system out anyway, not just buying it blindly.
Click to expand...

That system is VHF. That is highly susceptible to drop-outs, even if it's diversity. Don't waste your money on the AT. And to really understand its shorfalls, you'd need to do a real-world test in a packed house with the system set up for the show. Firing it up on the sales floor at GUitar Center isn't going to tell you much.

As for you conundrum with the lavs... do you know which lavs you have with your systems? If it's the stock that comes with most low-budget Shure systems, the capsule is huge and not worth bothering to tape to the face. It'll stick out like a sore thumb.

I'm another vote for rental. See if you can work out a package rate... cut a deal of some sort. You might even be able to get a little barter value if you print a large logo ad for the rental company in the musical's program.
 
Hi Joe,

Welcome to the world of theatricals, where the numbers of wireless and wardrobe changes are endless. Good job on doing the gig for your school. It'll be fun.

Here at my place, I have a mixture of AKG, AT, Shure, Sennheiser, and Lectrosonic wireless all in use during our musicals and shows. The frequency coordination can get out-of-touch and would need to be coordinated before the rehearsals. Since you're on a two system (Shure and Sennheiser), make sure to check that their frequencies aren't overlapping each other. In most cases, you'll be fine. One thing you should check every day of the week during tech week is to turn all wireless receivers on to check for cross-frequencies, then turn each individual transmitters on at a time. Preparation like this would give you a higher chance that the system will work at the time of performance.

When your actors turn their head away from the lavalier microphone and you hear a drastic change in frequency, then most likely this is a cardioid or even a super-cardioid pattern.

As already suggested by other members, you should just call or drop by Gotham or Professional Sound for rentals. With your given budget, required amount of wireless systems, and a defective unit, you should just rent. Period. Shure is very speedy at repair work with a turnaround of 24-48 hours, depending if you get a hold of them. I won't count on it since you're currently in tech week.

Are you sure that every actor needs a lav? Double and triple check that everyone needs a headset/lav. Another possible solution is to have stage mics like the most commonly used Crown PCC-160. These can pickup lots of stage vox without having footsteps protruding your sound. I'm in direct contact with Bruce Bartlett on a daily/weekly basis, the original designer behind the PCC-160, and he would advise in using a stage mic if there's a chance.
 
I wouldnt waste your time calling gotham and other "audio for tv/film" type rental houses.
You're going to save a LOT more money if you go the "musician" route type rental houses.

They are used to musicians with no money so their rates are WAY more affordable,
and because you dont need ENG style systems its perfect for you.

I know a local music store in my city rents stuff so cheap it makes you scratch your head.
I rented a fog machine. Ended up having it for 5 days and it cost me $8 bux.

I rented an entire stage monitor rig.. 6 monitors..amp..etc
And I think the cost was like $30 bux or so.
 
If its $35/day but 3x day rate for a week, that's $105/week, so for 3 mic systems, thats $315, which is money we don't have.

I will look through the script one more time to see if we absolutely need it, but I'm pretty sure we do. Does anyone have other suggestions?

For the last play, I simply hung 6 overhead mics, and turned them on when needed (like when an actor was standing directly under them and didn't have a lav, but I don't think that would work too well for this because I won't have enough mixer channels for all the on stage mic and the band.
 
Well you can only do what you can do.

You cant walk into a car dealership and throw down $100 and say gimmie a car.

If you dont have the money to spend, you dont buy it.

You make do with what you have or borrow from someone.
 
I spoke to Gotham, and worked out a deal with them for rental, and will probably have them repair the defective transmitter on one of our Shure systems. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
 
Maybe go old school and have the band play quietly so the audience can hear the voices without help from the PA?

Or just put an array of overheads covering the stage, with some sort of baffle that gives some separation between the band and singers.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/534318-REG/Astatic_900_AS900_Overhead_Cardioid_Condenser.html


Overheads not practical? How about boundary mics on the floor for part of the cast?

OR if there are singers with limited parts, hide a wired mic someplace where they can be staged to sing.

You've probably thought of all these ideas already, but I thought I'd throw it out there. You could always ask a local videographer if he could help "THE CHILDREN" by loaning his wireless if he doesn't use it on the nights of the show. Maybe he cold just give you a good cheap rate if loaning isn't cool?
 
I want to move there. Got a spare room?

Rippie said:
I wouldnt waste your time calling gotham and other "audio for tv/film" type rental houses.
You're going to save a LOT more money if you go the "musician" route type rental houses.

They are used to musicians with no money so their rates are WAY more affordable,
and because you dont need ENG style systems its perfect for you.

I know a local music store in my city rents stuff so cheap it makes you scratch your head.
I rented a fog machine. Ended up having it for 5 days and it cost me $8 bux.

I rented an entire stage monitor rig.. 6 monitors..amp..etc
And I think the cost was like $30 bux or so.
Click to expand...
 
OK I'm old school (25+ years in theatre) but you do realize that until 20 years ago or so NOBODY was miced in a musical. It's something they teach to actors, it's called "projection". If your not doing a rock musical in a bad theatre they should be able to get it out there. Now I've been in the community theatre end of things where its not about good sound but getting the grandparents (who are too vain to wear hearing aids) to not yell "what?" at the stage. But really only the leads should need to be miced even in those situations. If the chorus cant top the orchestra they either are totally in competent or the conductor is.

Personally i HATE miced singers in musicals. The audience looses all conection to the actor since the voice is in one place and the body is somewhere else. If they have ANY training and the conductor isn't an idiot ( and the stage isn't impossible - there are some) there is no reason to mic anybody but the leads.
 
Noiz2 said:
I want to move there. Got a spare room?
Click to expand...
Yea they have always been ridiculously affordable.
There are 2 big mom an pop music stores in my city and the other one is
much more shall we say "traditionally" priced with their rentals.

The best part was when I picked up the fog machine it cost me $18 bux (with a full tank of fog juice). I was thinking "this is a great deal".

When I went to return it, I started to walk away and he stopped me and said..
here is your $10 back. Im like !?!?. He goes "that $10 was just a deposit".

nice.
 
Rippie,

You're right. There are places and people who would rent out units that are considerably cheaper than your "traditional" rentals. I can't really say whether that's a good or bad thing, but how they cover replacement costs and maintenance is beyond my understanding.

As long as the OP gets a deal, then by all means great! If the same place do repair work, even better!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top