I am really struggling to decide WHO to mike?! I use an AZDEN WMS-Pro wireless mike and I'm wondering if the problem is that it isn't powerful enough.

My problem...If I mike the groom then I get great audio of him and so-so audio of Bride and officiant. If I mike the officiant I find they end up holding a sermon book or something and inadvertently put up a sound barrier for B&G.

Then I run into the prob where I mike one or the other and then I pick up NO AUDIO from whoever is saying a reading!!! Sometimes I think no mike would be better but then I pick up EVERY little cough etc. ARGH!!!

Any suggestions? I have a GL2 if that matters!

Thanks!

Others will chime in, I'm sure of it, but as for me, I use 2 wireless mics. One for the groom and one for the officiant. I have a second cam in the back to pick up ambient room noise. And I am still falling short. I'm getting ready to buy another wireless for the podium to get better audio for the readings. This setup really is just the minimum if you are going to get a better recording than Uncle Hank in the 3rd row.

Also having 4 mics (1 in the back of the church, 1 for the podium, 1 for the minister and 1 for the bride) will not get you a great recording if there is live music. aghhh. it never ends. But you have to draw the line somewhere. 4 mics will be enough for me for now.

As far as what you said about putting the mic on the groom to capture the bride, This has worked well. Sometimes you get a quiet bride, but most of the time I just need to punch up the volume in post to get good audio out of the bride.

Hi Kelsey,

More mics are better, but you might have limitations of budget, time to setup, or reluctance of someone to wear one.

If you only have one, mic the groom. Hopefully with some work in editing, you can get acceptable sound of the bride and much of what the minister says as well.

If you have two, mic the groom and the podium where readings take place. With more mics, add the minister if you can talk him into it. You can mic the musicians, too, if possible.

Some places will let you tap into the house system to record what's coming over the PA system. That can be good. One church even gave me a copy of the ceremony on CD, which was great.

You can use small, non-wireless recorders as well. Don't have to be wireless to the camera. You just sync up the sound in the edit.

It's that Azden. You fell for oldest marketing gimmick in the book (put "Pro" in the name and people will buy it).

A better kit will pick up the bride quite well from the groom's lapel.

Some places will let you tap into the house system to record what's coming over the PA system

I always thought this was the greatest solution, until the church sound guy didn't raise the levels until halfway through the ministers address. Though it is good to do in addition to your own solution.

has anyone found it useful to mic the groom AND hide a shotgun in the first pew or something like that?

has anyone found it useful to mic the groom AND hide a shotgun in the first pew or something like that?Unless that pew is 2 feet away from the groom's mouth the shotgun is worthless. (Actually, all shotguns are worthless for weddings IMO).

Just mic the minister and the groom. (and make sure you're using a decent lav system for the groom).

^^ 100% Agreed with Rick here.

To take it up a notch re redundency just in case when going the wireless route, have a backup recorder on the groom even if he already has a wireless mic on him already; simply because you never know what can happen.

I typically mic only the groom with a senn G2. I use an Iriver on the minister if he'll wear it, another iriver for readers/podium, and a Zoom H2 for musicians. Typically I end up only needing the grooms mic, but good to have the others. I would say definately at a minimum upgrade to the senn g2 before you go get another azden. just my 2 cents...
Bill

Seems like Giantsquids and irivers aren't favour of the month around here, but for around $50 for a mic setup (GS=$US25, and Iriver for say $US25 off ebay), how can you possibly go wrong? I've got six ($300 or less) - shove them on anyone or anywhere I like - father of bride, father of groom, groom, officiant, podium, with a spare for anyone or anywhere else.

Agree with Bill. Senn G2 is a great piece of equipment. Never encountered any interference, we only mic the groom and never had any difficulties hearing the bride/officiant (slight boost in post very occasionally required). We have Rode shotguns and a Zoom H2 for readings. Very rarely call upon the shotguns apart from Hymns where groom's singing is best not heard! Definitely won't get clean audio from shotguns alone.

Fully agree with Renton....I have 4 of GS+iRivers and although the sound is never going to match a senn, I have never had and reason to change.

Speech is clear with acceptable clarity and as you say, cheap as chips (if you can find one!) and you can mic everyone!

My only concern is when they become less and less easy to find (difficult as it is now) and if mine die.

I have been checking the opinions on here for the Olympus range, seems like a potential upgrade option for us iRiver fans?

I mic the GROOM and the LECTERN with wireless-My shotgun on the 2nd cam helps to get the ambient sound and music as does the hypercaroid on my primary camera however my typicall post process is to take ALL the MUSIC from cam 2 shotgun and use it and all the VOICE comes from cam 1-the grooms mic gets everything said on the altar and the lectern mic gets the everything said there as well as music although the music is generally rather low it is a good time track for cam 2.

I much prefer to monitor all of my audio so therefore I don't use recording devices but to each their own.
The Azden unit you have is not the best BUT I used old Radio Shack VHF gear years and years ago and it works if you know how to work it. Proper mic placement proper levels ETC. Gotta play with the gear before you put it into play. That said, a better unit will bring better results.

Don

Seems like Giantsquids and irivers aren't favour of the month around here, but for around $50 for a mic setup (GS=$US25, and Iriver for say $US25 off ebay), how can you possibly go wrong?I guess you haven't been on ebay lately. Show my one for $25 and I'll buy it.

It's time to get off the iRiver bandwagon - not because they don't work (I have 5)... simply because they're too hard to find these days. For those of you that have them I would hope you're looking at alternative replacements.

Thanks everyone!

Dumb question...If I have 2 cameras and 4 wireless mikes what am I plugging them into to capture the sound? Can you tell I'm new to this!? lol!

We try to keep the Ceremony simple.

1. Wireless on Groom with Omni lav mic. For backup purposes, the feed goes to both Camera 1 and camera 2, using one transmitter on the groom and two recievers (one on each camera).

2. Shotgun mic on both cameras for ambient audio and room tone.

3. Small recorder (either Edirol R09 or Marantz PMD620) on podium for readings using the built in mics. Works great and simple to setup. Test before hand, place on top of the podium, push record and go. Sync as needed in post.

4. Musicians if any are playing, which we get often, a Zoom H2 recorder on a mic stand set to 2CH or 4CH record mode. What this enables us to do is record from both sides (front, 90 degrees and Rear, 120 degrees) of the H2. 2CH mode records front and rear in stereo pairs. And 4CH mode lets you record using all 4 mic elements. You can get a real nice natural sound by recording in these modes. Very little noise, and it's simple to do. Screw H2 onto a mic stand, test, push record and go. Sync up in post as needed.

5. We normally don't worry about micing an officant as he's normally either near the couple or speaking on the podium. If he won't be speaking by either and moving a lot, then we will wire him with another recorder and a lav mic, and use in post as needed.

So that's 2 wireless systems (you can use only one if you don't want redundancy) and 2 or 3 recorders, and that's it.

I don't like the iRivers as they have failed me in post too many times and record at inferior compressed MP3 audio. But mainly because they don't have removable media as these other recorders do, and you don't have built in mics if needed like these new small recorders do.

Thanks everyone!

Dumb question...If I have 2 cameras and 4 wireless mikes what am I plugging them into to capture the sound? Can you tell I'm new to this!? lol!

If your camera has the capability, you plug 2 wireless mics into your L/R channels in your camera via XLR or XLR adapter box.

AS a result you are using 2 wireless systems on both cameras for your L/R audio and no onboard audio, which is really a waste in most cases.

If you need an XLR adapter box (as your camera only has 1/8 input capability) wanted, you could use a unit from Juicedlink called the CX431. This will let you plug 4 inputs into your camera and record on 2 channels. You can mix onboard as needed. What's cool about this is that you will never want or need all 4 sources being recorded at once. SO what you do is have, groom on CH1 (panned left), Officiant on CH2 (panned right), Podium on CH3 (panned left), and musicians panned center. You can then mix accordingly in post using each left and right audio channels. If you want one of the channels muted, simply turn the audio pot completely down.

Here's the link for the box:
http://juicedlink.com/index_files/CX_camcorder_XLR_microphone_adapter_audio_mixers_CX431.htm

Kelsey,
I don't remember what cams you use but what I have done in the past to set 4 wireless to 2 cams is the following depending on what I need.
1) Either set 2 wirless to each camera each wireless going to a seperate channel and simply kill off the shotgun and or hypercaroid mic. There will be SOME ambient sound from the lavs depending on where they are placed.
2) If I know I NEED to have the shotgun/Hypercaroid running on my cameras I have used a 2 into 1 XLR cable into 1 channel with the on camera mic going to the other channel.

Today with the AT dual channel wireless receiver I use I use the 2 into 1 XLR feeding my primary camera channel 2 with the Hypercaroid going to channel 1. Since I have the grooms mic on the 2 side of the receiver I can have it off until the bride and groom get to the altar and are in front of the officiant and then switch it on at the receiver. The lav on the lectern and the hyper get all the music and ambient sound until then. Works for me.

Don

Kelsey,
I don't remember what cams you use but what I have done in the past to set 4 wireless to 2 cams is the following depending on what I need.
1) Either set 2 wirless to each camera each wireless going to a seperate channel and simply kill off the shotgun and or hypercaroid mic. There will be SOME ambient sound from the lavs depending on where they are placed.
2) If I know I NEED to have the shotgun/Hypercaroid running on my cameras I have used a 2 into 1 XLR cable into 1 channel with the on camera mic going to the other channel.

Today with the AT dual channel wireless receiver I use I use the 2 into 1 XLR feeding my primary camera channel 2 with the Hypercaroid going to channel 1. Since I have the grooms mic on the 2 side of the receiver I can have it off until the bride and groom get to the altar and are in front of the officiant and then switch it on at the receiver. The lav on the lectern and the hyper get all the music and ambient sound until then. Works for me.

Don
Don, what camera are you using that will let you plug into your cameras XLR CH2 and still use onbaord audio. Does your camera have a built in mic or does it need an eternal shotgun or hypercard mic plugged into XLR CH1 anyway?

Also, what 2 to 1 XLR cable do you use to feed 2 channels into CH 2 on your camera?

Is it and XLR splitter?

Oh yeah I forgot to mention. I use the 150/170 (used to use the 250 which was great-3 XLR inputs) with the 150/170 I can of course split the audio channels by the flip of a switch.
The cable is one I got from B&H a few years ago when I was using my JVC5000 which only had 2 XLR inputs. (dumb) Anyway, it's a splitter cable with 2 female into 1 male connection.
I know that both receivers (or both sides of the AT dual) are going to the same channel on the camera but at least this way I have some control over which mic I have on when.
Like I said earlier, I generally keep the grooms mic OFF (it's on the 2nd side of the dual) until they get up to the officiant, then I flip it on so I can get the officiant talking. Both the grooms mic and lectern mic are going to channel 2 on my camera with the hyper going to channel 1, but honestly I'm going to experiment a bit. Since I really never use the audio from channel one and get all the ambient sound and music from the 2nd camera I'm thinking I'm going to kill off the hyper and just send each side of the receiver to it's own channel on the camera. We'll see.

Don

I use a transcend 630 with an olympus omni directional mic.

Gets descent sound from the immediate area. Do mostly protestant weddings although doing a Catholic one in October. Seems to work pretty charges using USB. Will accept linein or mic. Creates 16-bit Compressed WAV. Works with my MAcbook on OS X or XP.

Sorry for any I have a 2 year old and 8 mo on my lap.

Sorry for any I have a 2 year old and 8 mo on my lap.

Can they edit yet? ;-)

Don

Wow! Thanks for all this great info! I love this board!

I guess I'll be shopping again this weekend!

Thanks again everyone!

Kelsey,

Today with the AT dual channel wireless receiver I use I use the 2 into 1 XLR feeding my primary camera channel 2 with the Hypercaroid going to channel 1. Since I have the grooms mic on the 2 side of the receiver I can have it off until the bride and groom get to the altar and are in front of the officiant and then switch it on at the receiver. The lav on the lectern and the hyper get all the music and ambient sound until then. Works for me.

Don

I do the exact same thing with the AT dual. 2 into one, mic groom & lectern, switch between the two anytime or leave both on & never have to override on-camera audio.


What I don't get is why so many peeps don't think the groom's mic will pick up the bride audio??? She's stands right in front of him!!!

I guess you haven't been on ebay lately. Show my one for $25 and I'll buy it.

Tell me about it. I thought about picking up another one, but they are going for crazy prices now. Two or three times what I paid a year or two ago. It's nuts.

Must be a bunch of videographers ruining the party...

You're much better off now getting a brand new Olypus unit.

Tell me about it. I thought about picking up another one, but they are going for crazy prices now. Two or three times what I paid a year or two ago. It's nuts.

Must be a bunch of videographers ruining the party...

You're much better off now getting a brand new Olypus unit.

I watched for about three or four months at the beginning of the year, and while I saw them go for as high as $us84, with patience I got one for $us30 in March, (and one in Dec for $us25). I must have bid on about 20 or more of them. I use PhantomBidder which means I don't push up the price.

I confess I haven't looked recently, but even at $50 (plus $25 for a GS) it's a pretty cheap way to get another mic system.

I see them regularly going for over $100 now, and a brand new Olympus with warranty isn't much more than that.

I like the iRivers, too, but I think their time is coming to a close.

Anway, we're veering off topic a bit.

We are completely obsessed with perfect audio so we run four Sennheiser G2's.
Minister, Groom, Podium, music or soundboard tap.
All four go into A1's and then are backed up to H2's after the cameras get them.
The G2's sound phenomenal pretty much all the time.

[QUOTE=Vito DeFilippo;915050]
I like the iRivers, too, but I think their time is coming to a close.QUOTE]

Why??

[QUOTE=Vito DeFilippo;915050]
I like the iRivers, too, but I think their time is coming to a close.QUOTE]

Why??
Simple...
For one they don't make the units anymore, and haven't in 3 years. The only ones that you might be able to find are refurbished units on ebay, and even they are hard to come by.

Next, they only record in an inferior compressed MP3 format (fine for personal use, but inferior for field and production use), you can only record to the flash drive (no removable media), no built in mics, everything is menu driven.

They are ok for the spoken word, but not suitable for field capturing.

There are much better ways to capture audio now (Zoom H2/H4, Edirol R09HR, Marantz PMD620, Tascam DR-1, Sony PCM-D50, Yamaha Pocketrack, Olympus LS10 and more), as there are a slew of affordable digital audio recorders on the market, that allow recording of uncompressed WAV audio as well as MP3 if you so desire, have removable media, built in mics that work anywhere form pretty well to excellent, as well as very good manual controls that are not menu driven.

These are only a few of the advantages of these new recorders.

The iRivers were a good low cost solution for video producers in their days and may have even paved the way for development of the new crop of field recorders. But as soon a high end audio producers such as Edirol, Tascam, Marantz and others saw the need to produce and enter the market, the iRiver ifp series was doomed.

Of course iRiver did this to themselves as well, by taking the ifp recorders off of the market and instead of enhancing them, replaced them with units that don't have a mic input.

Personally speaking, I used to use the iRivers until they started failing me miserably, and as such looked for more reliable and good for me, better alternatives.

We are completely obsessed with perfect audio so we run four Sennheiser G2's.
Minister, Groom, Podium, music or soundboard tap.
All four go into A1's and then are backed up to H2's after the cameras get them.
The G2's sound phenomenal pretty much all the time.


You aren't getting perfect audio from G2s. You are getting affordable, squelched and relatively quiet audio though.

There is a big difference with some higher end radios/mics, but probably not worth it for a wedding production.

Can they edit yet? ;-)

Don

No but they try to help. And the 2 YO has made me decide to give on over shooting him in 24P. LOL