Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Help! Wireless Mics

Author

Message

colleene24
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 2/06/08
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Topic: Help! Wireless Mics
Posted: 2/06/08 at 1:24pm

Hi, This is my second year doing my school musical and last year our sound was awful. We only had hanging mics to work with. This year we have a new sound system and we are looking to purchase some wireless mics. We are a middle school and unfortunately have a gymnasium to work with. We have a nice stage and do a great job on sets and such.

I am hoping that someone out there can give me some info. about what to look for in wireless mics. We would like to get about 8-10 to start with. We also cannot afford to spend $600 or more per mic. We just need something that will work for what we need it to do, but something that will last a few years. They definately do not have to be anything too fancy.

Please help, our show is in just over a month.

Thanks a bunch!!!!

IP Logged

JoeMc
Celebrity

Joined: 3/13/06
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 832

Posted: 2/07/08 at 4:56pm

I realise it is a gymeatre, but beyond employing hanging chorus mikes, would it not be easier to have the cast coached in vioce projection, rather than individual vioce reinforcement.

{Which can become a logistic nightmare with students}

What is the sound problem in the theatorium?

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

IP Logged

colleene24
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 2/06/08
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 2/07/08 at 7:17pm

I am dealing with middle school kids here, so they don't really know about projection yet. We try to show them, but they just aren't doing it. We will definately need more than hanging mics.

IP Logged

JoeMc
Celebrity

Joined: 3/13/06
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 832

Posted: 2/08/08 at 5:08am

Have a squint at the these posts on the 'Blueroom' about boundry mics, this may help!;-

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=25123&pid=211764&start=0&#entry211764

These are posts from pro theatre techies & niose boys.

The bigest hiccup with using a heap of radio mics with kids, is the logistics of tracking them & ensuring the unit is taken out, when they are off stage &/or they fiddle & switch them off!

Using the boundry mics as suggested on this forum would solve your problems I think!

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

IP Logged

John Luzaich
Celebrity

Joined: 2/24/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 174

Posted: 3/07/08 at 4:02pm

You don't have to spend a ton of money to make it sound fairly good. Check out Audio Technica in Ohio. We bought some lavalier mics from them at a pretty good price. Of course, you need someone to mix sound on a sound board that is fairly competent. But, you can make it as difficult and complex, or as easy as you want. I had a sound guy tell me he hates hanging mics overhead because they're not just picking up singing, they're picking up every noise that's underneath them. You can use wireless and make sure you buy plenty of 9 volt batteries, because you use a lot of them.

John
cfct@cfu.net
http://www.osterregent.org
http://www.facebook.com/osterregent

IP Logged

JoeMc
Celebrity

Joined: 3/13/06
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 832

Posted: 3/07/08 at 9:07pm

Just to follow on from John on batteries. It is good practice everytime a radio mic is used, to replace the batteries before the show starts no matter what.

Which saves a lot of problems while on stage.

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

IP Logged

skyguy
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 1/26/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 3/16/08 at 11:58am

+1 for audio technica lav mics! I purchased a bunch of the 3000 series for about $280 per unit (no mic included) from a place in Las Vegas. I'm on my third musical with them and they have performed beautifully. From all the research I did, the only real difference between the 3000 series and the higher models are features that would pertain to linking the units and a bit more flexibility in finding an open frequency. This is really only important if you plan on traveling with them to different cities. 200 frequencies is plenty if you stay in one area.

The absolute best part is that they run on AA batteries! With the newer rechargables out there, they still last for six to seven hours. I just recharge them for every show. This has saved me a fortune. Four rechargeable AA batteries = $9.00. This will power two wireless units for a couple hundred shows!!! If you look around, I think a couple of other companies are going to AA batteries as well.

Can I have some more talent in the monitors please?

IP Logged

Lights and Sound
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Lights and Sound

Author	Message
colleene24 Walk-On Joined: 2/06/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Help! Wireless Mics Posted: 2/06/08 at 1:24pm
	Hi, This is my second year doing my school musical and last year our sound was awful. We only had hanging mics to work with. This year we have a new sound system and we are looking to purchase some wireless mics. We are a middle school and unfortunately have a gymnasium to work with. We have a nice stage and do a great job on sets and such. I am hoping that someone out there can give me some info. about what to look for in wireless mics. We would like to get about 8-10 to start with. We also cannot afford to spend $600 or more per mic. We just need something that will work for what we need it to do, but something that will last a few years. They definately do not have to be anything too fancy. Please help, our show is in just over a month. Thanks a bunch!!!!

	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 2/07/08 at 4:56pm
	I realise it is a gymeatre, but beyond employing hanging chorus mikes, would it not be easier to have the cast coached in vioce projection, rather than individual vioce reinforcement. {Which can become a logistic nightmare with students} What is the sound problem in the theatorium?
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

colleene24 Walk-On Joined: 2/06/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 2/07/08 at 7:17pm
	I am dealing with middle school kids here, so they don't really know about projection yet. We try to show them, but they just aren't doing it. We will definately need more than hanging mics.
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 2/08/08 at 5:08am
	Have a squint at the these posts on the 'Blueroom' about boundry mics, this may help!;- http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=25123&pid=211764&start=0&#entry211764 These are posts from pro theatre techies & niose boys. The bigest hiccup with using a heap of radio mics with kids, is the logistics of tracking them & ensuring the unit is taken out, when they are off stage &/or they fiddle & switch them off! Using the boundry mics as suggested on this forum would solve your problems I think!
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

John Luzaich Celebrity Joined: 2/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 174	Posted: 3/07/08 at 4:02pm
	You don't have to spend a ton of money to make it sound fairly good. Check out Audio Technica in Ohio. We bought some lavalier mics from them at a pretty good price. Of course, you need someone to mix sound on a sound board that is fairly competent. But, you can make it as difficult and complex, or as easy as you want. I had a sound guy tell me he hates hanging mics overhead because they're not just picking up singing, they're picking up every noise that's underneath them. You can use wireless and make sure you buy plenty of 9 volt batteries, because you use a lot of them.
	John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 3/07/08 at 9:07pm
	Just to follow on from John on batteries. It is good practice everytime a radio mic is used, to replace the batteries before the show starts no matter what. Which saves a lot of problems while on stage.
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

skyguy Walk-On Joined: 1/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/16/08 at 11:58am
	+1 for audio technica lav mics! I purchased a bunch of the 3000 series for about $280 per unit (no mic included) from a place in Las Vegas. I'm on my third musical with them and they have performed beautifully. From all the research I did, the only real difference between the 3000 series and the higher models are features that would pertain to linking the units and a bit more flexibility in finding an open frequency. This is really only important if you plan on traveling with them to different cities. 200 frequencies is plenty if you stay in one area. The absolute best part is that they run on AA batteries! With the newer rechargables out there, they still last for six to seven hours. I just recharge them for every show. This has saved me a fortune. Four rechargeable AA batteries = $9.00. This will power two wireless units for a couple hundred shows!!! If you look around, I think a couple of other companies are going to AA batteries as well.
	Can I have some more talent in the monitors please?
	IP Logged

Topic: Help! Wireless Mics( Topic Closed)