Recording in a comedy club question? at DVinfo.net

John Stanley · September 18th, 2003, 10:59 AM

I'm going to be recording a comedian over the next few days and have a little time to experiment.
I was going to try to hang a mic a couple of feet in front of one of their speakers (I have an ME2 Microphone that came with the Sennheiser Evolution 100 Series kit).
Will this work, or should I try a different microphone...or a different location for the mic?
I can't come directly out of their sound board because it's so old and has problems.
Anyway, I'd appreciate any help on this. I could also hang a Digital 8 camcorder just for audio near one of their speakers. BTW, I'm using a Canon GL2 for the video part of it.
Thanks in advance,
- John

Joe Garnero · September 18th, 2003, 11:12 AM

If at all possible please get the microphone in front of the performer! Micing a speaker with a single mike is always a difficult proposition. Too close, you only get one driver (woofer or tweeter) too far and you risk people p[assing in fron or talking into the mic.

I think you best bet would be to tape your mic next to the house mic on the stand. This will give you good close coupling for the vocal and use another or one of the cameras built-in mics for ambience.

John Stanley · September 18th, 2003, 11:22 AM

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
I tried using a wireless mic on the comedian (she walks around a lot), but the wireless picks up her voice directly, then picks up the sound coming from the speakers and that causes a slight echo effect.
Hmmm....
- John

Joe Garnero · September 18th, 2003, 12:51 PM

Sounds like a tough room. The speakers you refer to, are these house mains or stage monitors?

How big is the stage? Too wide for a shotgun mic?

Another option would be to hang a cardioid horizontally (angled toward center stage) and an omin pionting down, from somewhaer in the middle to front of the room. Not knowing the room i'ts difficult to judge.

If you do end up placing mics in front of the speakers, use two mics. This way you don't have to worry about dominance of either driver and mic placement. If you use cardioid for lows and omni for highs you may get ambience for free... of course dealing with vocals only this may not be important. In fact you may not be interested in ambience either ;)

Good Luck on your endeavor

John Stanley · September 18th, 2003, 01:45 PM

Thanks. I'm going to do some testing tonight. I'll post if I find something that works.
- John

Mike Rehmus · September 18th, 2003, 06:59 PM

You want a slight echo effect. Otherwise your sound will, well, sound too dry. I'd put the lav on the comedienne and let er rip.

Bryan Beasleigh · September 18th, 2003, 11:32 PM

I had a situation where the house amp was really questionable and the mic was garbage. I used my mic through my mixer and fed their amp with my feed. It worked well and they were very happy. I got what I wanted, decent audio.

That was one hell of a trade off, a $700 mic to replace a $15 radio shack, unbalanced piece of fine merchandise.

September 18th, 2003, 10:59 AM	#1
John Stanley Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 54	Recording in a comedy club question? I'm going to be recording a comedian over the next few days and have a little time to experiment. I was going to try to hang a mic a couple of feet in front of one of their speakers (I have an ME2 Microphone that came with the Sennheiser Evolution 100 Series kit). Will this work, or should I try a different microphone...or a different location for the mic? I can't come directly out of their sound board because it's so old and has problems. Anyway, I'd appreciate any help on this. I could also hang a Digital 8 camcorder just for audio near one of their speakers. BTW, I'm using a Canon GL2 for the video part of it. Thanks in advance, - John

September 18th, 2003, 06:59 PM	#6
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	You want a slight echo effect. Otherwise your sound will, well, sound too dry. I'd put the lav on the comedienne and let er rip. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 18th, 2003, 11:12 AM	#2
Joe Garnero Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Woodstock, GA Posts: 60	If at all possible please get the microphone in front of the performer! Micing a speaker with a single mike is always a difficult proposition. Too close, you only get one driver (woofer or tweeter) too far and you risk people p[assing in fron or talking into the mic. I think you best bet would be to tape your mic next to the house mic on the stand. This will give you good close coupling for the vocal and use another or one of the cameras built-in mics for ambience.

September 18th, 2003, 11:22 AM	#3
John Stanley Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 54	Hi, Thanks for your reply. I tried using a wireless mic on the comedian (she walks around a lot), but the wireless picks up her voice directly, then picks up the sound coming from the speakers and that causes a slight echo effect. Hmmm.... - John

September 18th, 2003, 12:51 PM	#4
Joe Garnero Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Woodstock, GA Posts: 60	Sounds like a tough room. The speakers you refer to, are these house mains or stage monitors? How big is the stage? Too wide for a shotgun mic? Another option would be to hang a cardioid horizontally (angled toward center stage) and an omin pionting down, from somewhaer in the middle to front of the room. Not knowing the room i'ts difficult to judge. If you do end up placing mics in front of the speakers, use two mics. This way you don't have to worry about dominance of either driver and mic placement. If you use cardioid for lows and omni for highs you may get ambience for free... of course dealing with vocals only this may not be important. In fact you may not be interested in ambience either ;) Good Luck on your endeavor

September 18th, 2003, 01:45 PM	#5
John Stanley Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 54	Thanks. I'm going to do some testing tonight. I'll post if I find something that works. - John

September 18th, 2003, 11:32 PM	#7
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	I had a situation where the house amp was really questionable and the mic was garbage. I used my mic through my mixer and fed their amp with my feed. It worked well and they were very happy. I got what I wanted, decent audio. That was one hell of a trade off, a $700 mic to replace a $15 radio shack, unbalanced piece of fine merchandise.