I have been experimenting a way to record good sound at wedding reception without connecting to the DJ's sound board. I am now using a Zoom H2 recorder placed on top of a speaker. Then connect it with a wired lav mic hanging in front of it.

The result seems pretty good. Check out the clip. make sure you use a headphone to listen to the left and right channel which is the shotgun mic, and the H2 sound recorded.

Onboard Shotgun Mic vs Sound Recorder with Wired Lav Mic on Vimeo

I put together an article in my blog here
Recording Good Sound at Event | L.A. Color Blog (http://lacolorshop.com/blog/view.asp?id=111)

Welcome any comment!

Very very good - how did you setup AGC?

Wat lav did u use?

I have AGC turn off on the H2. It's easy and have better to boost up audio gain in post than to fix distorted clipped sound.

The lav I use is this one
Amazon.com: Olympus ME-15 Microphone: Electronics

We're using the Zoom H4n to record audio from DJ speakers and we set it up on a stand at a 45-degree angle to the speaker and it gets great sound. We've been considering attaching a shotgun mic to the H4n and the stand and have it angled back to the audience for additional ambient sound. The Zoom is such a versatile device.

Agreed with you on not using the AGC, although on the H4n it has an interesting feature that supposedly eliminates clipping. Just haven't tested it yet.

I have thought of using a stand to hold the mic directly in front of the speaker. But then, there will be another stand to carry and sand bag. Also, the stand will be in an odd position that either doesn't look at at the reception, or interrupting traffic flow. Just have to worry about kids running around tripping the stand over hitting somebody. We do have insurance coverage but we don't want to make a scene.

That's why having the wired lav mic hanging on top of the speaker works for me so far.

I don't experience clipping with AGC off even with loud music playing during open dance floor. I still need to adjust the audio gain level in post. But the audio is clean.

I wrote that in my blog.. once I was asked $50 by the DJ if I want to hook up sound to his sound mixer.Now with this setup, I don't have to bother the DJ or ask for favor and I still get great sound.

I wrote that in my blog.. once I was asked $50 by the DJ if I want to hook up sound to his sound mixer.

Taky, the next time a DJ wants $50, tell him "no thanks". You'd rather have him sound like crap. He's clueless. The better your reception footage sounds, the better he sounds. He should be the one paying you.

haha Michael, that's good thought.. and indeed a valid point. :) I made him sound better in the final DVD.

That time I told him to bill the customer instead of me paying. He refused. and I didn't plug to his sound board.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great idea what you're doing. We use to just place a DVR on top of the speaker with an omni mic, but the H4n has directional onboard mics so we can't do that anymore without getting muddy sound. That's why we're putting it on a stand at an angle to the speaker (best sound at a 45-degree angle). It allows us to get the mics right up between the tweeter and woofer.

When you're dropping a lav down are you positioning it anywhere specific?

The H2 also has direction mics.. but I plug in a wired lav mic instead as I placed the recorder on top of the speaker, the vibration will certainly kill the recording. I just hang the lav mic in front of the speaker. nothing particular.

haha Michael, that's good thought.. and indeed a valid point. :) I made him sound better in the final DVD.

That time I told him to bill the customer instead of me paying. He refused. and I didn't plug to his sound board.

Taky, next time tell the DJ something like.."I'd really like you to have the best sound possible on their final DVD. Mind if I tap into your soundboard"?

This is a fine way to get reception audio. However, the bad part is this puts you at the mercy of what the DJ does. Last week I was recording audio like this and it turns out the DJ had a very hot level going through his board and all the audio is distorted. Just saying... :) Of course, I also have another audio source from the reception. :)

Now with this setup successfully implemented and tested, I don't need to bother the DJ. I can still get good audio. Also, there is no booming sound when I moved the tripod.. or no audio recorded during the time I change tape.