shooting live speaker

M

mark adams

New member
Hello All,
I've been monitoring this forum for a few months to learn about audio. I am going to be shooting an event with a soft spoken speaker, seated on a low platform speaking to about 100 people in a 40x60 foot room. She will be using a wireless hand held mic, the room speakers are in the ceiling and the wireless PA stuff is supplied by the venue. I have a wired shotgun and a wired hyper cardio. I'm worried that when this soft spoken speaker gets the handheld PA mic up close and speaks softly that my mic on a stand 18-24" away will pick up room noise and ceiling speaker echo when I get my levels high enough to hear her. I'm asking for some suggestions using my current gear. (2 mics, cables, SD 302 mixer, Marantz recorder, a few stands, no wireless stuff.
Thanks, Mark Adams www.rocketclips.com
 
You mentioned that she will be using a microphone through their system. Why not take a feed off of their board/PA? Aux send or mono out available?
 
I sounds like it might be in a conference center or similar where there's not much more than an automatic mixer locked away in a closet somewhere, so perhaps a board feed isn't an option.
 
I do this type of shooting all the time. Without a wireless lav, you're at the
mercy of the venues board/PA. It's a bit of a crap shoot. If it's only one
speaker, renting a lavaliere (no more than $50) would be the safest bet.

As a cautionary tale, I just shot 5 speakers on stage at a hotel conference.
They all were sharing one wireless hand-mic (the client didn't want to go
with lavs). The first 4 speakers were fine, but the 5th, a low talker, kept
pointing with the mic and holding it either too far away or too close, in which
case we got ugly distortion. It was a nightmare.

Another option, with your gear, would be to put a mic stand on the platform
in front of where she is sitting and aim your wired shotgun at her (assuming
you have enough cable). Then record one channel from your shotgun and
the other channel from the PA system. This way you're covered.

Kind of like this (but on a stand) and you would want to get as close as
possible. Without being too intrusive.

1259607346.jpg
 
If there is no one running their board, take the feed BEFORE it hits their board.

Simple 5 dollar Y cable out of their receiver and you're golden.
It will be cleaner that way as well.
 
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