Stage mic question at DVinfo.net

Ben Moore · July 6th, 2008, 12:32 PM

Can anyone recommend a good mic for picking up stage show audio?. The feed from the sound board works for music, but I need to mix in some ambiance like tap shoes and other onstage sound as well as applause. I have a Sennheiser E604 mic I use for weddings, would this mic work? or should I look at something else?

Thanks in advance!
Ben

Stephan de Lange · July 6th, 2008, 12:59 PM

I assume you refer to the sound board as an audio mixing console or desk. I use 2 Behringer C2 - 2 Matched Studio Condenser Microphones to pickup live soundeffects. These two mics are great for many purposes. Patch it to the audio desk and send it as a group to the audio recorder and the musictracks as another group. You can then mix it later in post.

Ben Moore · July 15th, 2008, 11:32 AM

Thanks Stephan for the advice, I will check into that.

Anyone use the Audio-Technica AT822 for stage micing?, seems to get good reviews.

David Beisner · July 15th, 2008, 12:13 PM

Any and all of the mics that have been listed will work. I've used the C2 a number of times, though I've found it somewhat tinny and transparent. I really like the AT2020 (maybe 2021, can't remember right off hand). It's another small diaphragm condensor that sounds a little better than the C2. If you really want some good rich audio, you need to be looking at either a large diaphragm condenser or a really good small diaphragm condenser such as the Neumann KM184 or 185.

Bill Warshaw · July 15th, 2008, 12:27 PM

Floor mics (PZM/Boundary) are usually employed for this as they are low profile and unobtrusive. Crown PZM's are used in most professional productions, but I have had decent results with the low cost Nady CBM-40 (3 across the front of the stage):

http://www.nady.com/cbm40_mics_pg.html

Hanging area mics are the other approach to pickup the chorus/ensemble if they are not mic'd. Audio Technica has several to choose from:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/sear...?s=hanging+mic

/BILLW

David Ennis · July 15th, 2008, 04:43 PM

You didn't say, but I guess we're assuming you have access to the stage or the pit area. Mic placement is the key issue. A $60 Sony mic up front will sound better than a $1600 Schoeps or Neumann at the back of the auditorium.

If you're forced to place the mic at the back, then a Rode Videomic is in the similar price range of your Senn, but will do a much better job than the Senn on those taps. The Rode is a shotgun, a pattern which you don't normally want to use indoors, but will be pretty good for the purpose of non-voice, non-musical stage sounds and the applause between your camera position and the stage.

Jimmy Tuffrey · July 15th, 2008, 06:23 PM

Crown pcc 160 on front of stage. Ideally 2 spread across for stereo.

July 6th, 2008, 12:32 PM	#1
Ben Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 190	Stage mic question Can anyone recommend a good mic for picking up stage show audio?. The feed from the sound board works for music, but I need to mix in some ambiance like tap shoes and other onstage sound as well as applause. I have a Sennheiser E604 mic I use for weddings, would this mic work? or should I look at something else? Thanks in advance! Ben

July 6th, 2008, 12:59 PM	#2
Stephan de Lange Tourist Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 2	Mic for FX I assume you refer to the sound board as an audio mixing console or desk. I use 2 Behringer C2 - 2 Matched Studio Condenser Microphones to pickup live soundeffects. These two mics are great for many purposes. Patch it to the audio desk and send it as a group to the audio recorder and the musictracks as another group. You can then mix it later in post.

July 15th, 2008, 12:13 PM	#4
David Beisner Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dayton, TN (USA) Posts: 219	Any and all of the mics that have been listed will work. I've used the C2 a number of times, though I've found it somewhat tinny and transparent. I really like the AT2020 (maybe 2021, can't remember right off hand). It's another small diaphragm condensor that sounds a little better than the C2. If you really want some good rich audio, you need to be looking at either a large diaphragm condenser or a really good small diaphragm condenser such as the Neumann KM184 or 185. __________________ David Beisner Media Specialist, Bryan College, Dayton, TN -- www.bryan.edu

July 15th, 2008, 04:43 PM	#6
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	You didn't say, but I guess we're assuming you have access to the stage or the pit area. Mic placement is the key issue. A $60 Sony mic up front will sound better than a $1600 Schoeps or Neumann at the back of the auditorium. If you're forced to place the mic at the back, then a Rode Videomic is in the similar price range of your Senn, but will do a much better job than the Senn on those taps. The Rode is a shotgun, a pattern which you don't normally want to use indoors, but will be pretty good for the purpose of non-voice, non-musical stage sounds and the applause between your camera position and the stage. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

July 15th, 2008, 11:32 AM	#3
Ben Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 190	Thanks Stephan for the advice, I will check into that. Anyone use the Audio-Technica AT822 for stage micing?, seems to get good reviews.

July 15th, 2008, 12:27 PM	#5
Bill Warshaw Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Brea, CA Posts: 37	Floor mics (PZM/Boundary) are usually employed for this as they are low profile and unobtrusive. Crown PZM's are used in most professional productions, but I have had decent results with the low cost Nady CBM-40 (3 across the front of the stage): http://www.nady.com/cbm40_mics_pg.html Hanging area mics are the other approach to pickup the chorus/ensemble if they are not mic'd. Audio Technica has several to choose from: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/sear...?s=hanging+mic /BILLW

July 15th, 2008, 06:23 PM	#7
Jimmy Tuffrey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bristol U.K. Posts: 244	Crown pcc 160 on front of stage. Ideally 2 spread across for stereo.