Wedding Audio Help at DVinfo.net

Bob Harotunian · August 2nd, 2003, 07:16 AM

Looking for suggestions on recording clean audio at live band receptions. We're using a GL2 with Senn ME66/K6 on board. The shotgun was too sensitive for loud music and we had it altered by Sennheiser. The shotgun by nature is not good for loud music so we're thinking of placing a wireless Samson H32 handheld on a stand near the band. We've tested this with DJ music and it worked okay but a live band is something else. Will this work and any ideas on placement?
TIA,
Bob

Jack Robertson · August 3rd, 2003, 06:47 PM

Bob,

I would use a dynamic mic as they can handle high sound pressure levels. Most electret mics by nature are really sensitive and ulnless they have some sort of attenuation they will distort with loud music.

As for placement, I would find a place new the speaker, but you will be running blind unless you can get a level check. PLay it safe and dont place it too close.

Another alternative is to run line (from the mixing desk) into a transmitter (like the sennheiser EW100 series) and use the receiver's output straight into your XM2's XLR connection.

But relying on mixing desks while you have no control can be tricky/dangerous as you may end up with no audio by no fault of your.

Hope some of this helps.
Jack

Bob Harotunian · August 4th, 2003, 09:20 AM

Jack,
I've heard from others that a direct feed to the band's mixer may be optimal but risky as you said. So, my hope is to find a wireless solution where I can control the audio through our GL2. Can you recommend a wireless dynamic mic that would handle live bands?
Thanks for your response,
Bob

Jack Robertson · August 4th, 2003, 07:12 PM

Bob,

I have invested in the Sennheiser Evolution Series 100 Transmitters and Receivers... I got the EW112P kit which consists of the wireless SK100 bodypack transmitter, an electrect ME2 omnidirectional lavalier microphone, and an EK100 camera-mountable receiver.

But to answer your question, I did also get the SKP100 plug-on transmitter which is designed to turn any dynamic mic into a wireless one. The plug-on transmitter can be used with the above receiver (EK100), but I did get another EK100 receiver so that I could use both the lapel and a dynamic mic... I just changed the frequencies so I could have "two" wireless systems working at the same time if I wanted.

Please note: you can have One transmitter and two receivers (ie: recording into two different devices, but you cannot have two transmitters recording into one receiver!

Hope this helps,
Jack

Jack Robertson · August 4th, 2003, 07:21 PM

I guess I should add to my response what actual dynamic mic I use... it is the Sennheiser (yes I am a Sennheiser boy!) E835 dynamic mic. It handles levels up to 150db! Wow yes Weddings never get that loud... not unless they are next to F18 launch pad... LOL

It's very well priced and has slightly better specs than the well known Shure SM58.

You can get the E835s (with a switch) but never get a mic with a switch to void dissapointment!

Cheers,
Jack

John DeLuca · August 4th, 2003, 10:58 PM

Heres what I do. I have two omni senn 500 evolution wireless mics attached to the groom and minister. This gives wireless sterio sound with no reverb. Clean as holywood, and I can boost the other channel, or fill in dropouts with my sound editor if there is a need(rubberbands, right channel = left, and similar tools). As for the reseption I use the onboard mics(I have a two cam set up). They seem to work just fine for the most part. At the end of the day, I have the DJ make an announcement to have "all who wish to say somthing to the bride and groom to go into a nearby room witch I have the GL2 on a tripod with the Senn ME-66 attached. The ME-66 and similar mics are best used on the field, not at a wedding.(Atleast in my opinon) GO WIRELESS!

John DeLuca Akron, Ohio

Bob Harotunian · August 8th, 2003, 08:11 AM

Thanks for the replies.

John, I assume your using two receivers, one for each channel? Would both pairs have to be on the same group but different channels? I'm using the Samson UM32 wireless setup with an ME66 on board but there is always a problem when the officiant is away from the groom. Also, what do you do if the officiant won't wear a wireless?

John DeLuca · August 10th, 2003, 09:56 PM

Yes, I use two receivers(B, and C channels). And I have to make sure that the ministers wireless(yes he wears two) doesnt cause problems aswell. Senn has a local agent, and an online print off of all the channels and freq to use so its not a problem. Ive never had a problem with people refusing to wear mics. I just explain how important it is, and for all the money they dump into it, they never complain. The minister is usually very happy to wear it too.

John DeLuca

John Dimasi · October 22nd, 2003, 08:01 PM

John,
When you use the Senn500 wirless lav on the officient what sensitvity level do
you use? I tried -20 and I still can't get the bride or groom very well. Would -10
work it would that be to loud????

John Dimasi

John DeLuca · October 22nd, 2003, 11:00 PM

Everything changes job to job(range, sound levels, everything). Senn does have a general rule of thumb for most cases, and I belive it's 10 to 15. I would not recommend waiting to the last min to set everything. Go a day or so before the wedding and have two or three people test the mics for you to get your best settings(test the range, sound levels, ext) then you have a general rule of thumb before you get to the job. I've ran into a ton of problems before at high ticket weddings, like the preachers wireless mic causing interrference completely took me off gaurd. I was scrabling to fix it, and almost blew that job. As for the after party, I usually tap the mixing board with one channel, and use a dynamic/directional mic, and the likes for the other. In the hands of a good editor, you can have dramatic sound. Without good sound your footage is useless.

John DeLuca Akron, Ohio

August 2nd, 2003, 07:16 AM	#1
Bob Harotunian Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 360	Wedding Audio Help Looking for suggestions on recording clean audio at live band receptions. We're using a GL2 with Senn ME66/K6 on board. The shotgun was too sensitive for loud music and we had it altered by Sennheiser. The shotgun by nature is not good for loud music so we're thinking of placing a wireless Samson H32 handheld on a stand near the band. We've tested this with DJ music and it worked okay but a live band is something else. Will this work and any ideas on placement? TIA, Bob

August 4th, 2003, 10:58 PM	#6
John DeLuca Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 496	My opinion on wedding sound Heres what I do. I have two omni senn 500 evolution wireless mics attached to the groom and minister. This gives wireless sterio sound with no reverb. Clean as holywood, and I can boost the other channel, or fill in dropouts with my sound editor if there is a need(rubberbands, right channel = left, and similar tools). As for the reseption I use the onboard mics(I have a two cam set up). They seem to work just fine for the most part. At the end of the day, I have the DJ make an announcement to have "all who wish to say somthing to the bride and groom to go into a nearby room witch I have the GL2 on a tripod with the Senn ME-66 attached. The ME-66 and similar mics are best used on the field, not at a wedding.(Atleast in my opinon) GO WIRELESS! John DeLuca Akron, Ohio

August 3rd, 2003, 06:47 PM	#2
Jack Robertson Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 125	Bob, I would use a dynamic mic as they can handle high sound pressure levels. Most electret mics by nature are really sensitive and ulnless they have some sort of attenuation they will distort with loud music. As for placement, I would find a place new the speaker, but you will be running blind unless you can get a level check. PLay it safe and dont place it too close. Another alternative is to run line (from the mixing desk) into a transmitter (like the sennheiser EW100 series) and use the receiver's output straight into your XM2's XLR connection. But relying on mixing desks while you have no control can be tricky/dangerous as you may end up with no audio by no fault of your. Hope some of this helps. Jack

August 4th, 2003, 09:20 AM	#3
Bob Harotunian Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 360	Jack, I've heard from others that a direct feed to the band's mixer may be optimal but risky as you said. So, my hope is to find a wireless solution where I can control the audio through our GL2. Can you recommend a wireless dynamic mic that would handle live bands? Thanks for your response, Bob

August 4th, 2003, 07:12 PM	#4
Jack Robertson Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 125	Bob, I have invested in the Sennheiser Evolution Series 100 Transmitters and Receivers... I got the EW112P kit which consists of the wireless SK100 bodypack transmitter, an electrect ME2 omnidirectional lavalier microphone, and an EK100 camera-mountable receiver. But to answer your question, I did also get the SKP100 plug-on transmitter which is designed to turn any dynamic mic into a wireless one. The plug-on transmitter can be used with the above receiver (EK100), but I did get another EK100 receiver so that I could use both the lapel and a dynamic mic... I just changed the frequencies so I could have "two" wireless systems working at the same time if I wanted. Please note: you can have One transmitter and two receivers (ie: recording into two different devices, but you cannot have two transmitters recording into one receiver! Hope this helps, Jack

August 4th, 2003, 07:21 PM	#5
Jack Robertson Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 125	I guess I should add to my response what actual dynamic mic I use... it is the Sennheiser (yes I am a Sennheiser boy!) E835 dynamic mic. It handles levels up to 150db! Wow yes Weddings never get that loud... not unless they are next to F18 launch pad... LOL It's very well priced and has slightly better specs than the well known Shure SM58. You can get the E835s (with a switch) but never get a mic with a switch to void dissapointment! Cheers, Jack

August 8th, 2003, 08:11 AM	#7
Bob Harotunian Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 360	Thanks for the replies. John, I assume your using two receivers, one for each channel? Would both pairs have to be on the same group but different channels? I'm using the Samson UM32 wireless setup with an ME66 on board but there is always a problem when the officiant is away from the groom. Also, what do you do if the officiant won't wear a wireless?

August 10th, 2003, 09:56 PM	#8
John DeLuca Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 496	Yes, I use two receivers(B, and C channels). And I have to make sure that the ministers wireless(yes he wears two) doesnt cause problems aswell. Senn has a local agent, and an online print off of all the channels and freq to use so its not a problem. Ive never had a problem with people refusing to wear mics. I just explain how important it is, and for all the money they dump into it, they never complain. The minister is usually very happy to wear it too. John DeLuca

October 22nd, 2003, 08:01 PM	#9
John Dimasi Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 51	John, When you use the Senn500 wirless lav on the officient what sensitvity level do you use? I tried -20 and I still can't get the bride or groom very well. Would -10 work it would that be to loud???? John Dimasi

October 22nd, 2003, 11:00 PM	#10
John DeLuca Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 496	Everything changes job to job(range, sound levels, everything). Senn does have a general rule of thumb for most cases, and I belive it's 10 to 15. I would not recommend waiting to the last min to set everything. Go a day or so before the wedding and have two or three people test the mics for you to get your best settings(test the range, sound levels, ext) then you have a general rule of thumb before you get to the job. I've ran into a ton of problems before at high ticket weddings, like the preachers wireless mic causing interrference completely took me off gaurd. I was scrabling to fix it, and almost blew that job. As for the after party, I usually tap the mixing board with one channel, and use a dynamic/directional mic, and the likes for the other. In the hands of a good editor, you can have dramatic sound. Without good sound your footage is useless. John DeLuca Akron, Ohio