Micing The Ceremony

I use a single wireless lapel-clipped microphone (on officiant) when my brides want the ceremony broadcast over my speakers. Once in a blue moon I have clients who also want their (bride and groom) voices broadcast as well. I'm not interested in putting a wireless device in them. These requests are almost all outdoor weddings. What are your suggestions? Microphone on a stand?

I use a Denon MC6000 (and macbook pro), and have never used the functional ability to record the output of the MC6000 (to record the ceremony music and microphone outputs, for example). What are your suggestions here? I think I recall hearing of a cheap (~$100) audio recorder that can hook into the Denon.

Thanks!
Jeff

My wireless unit has two channels.
One is a lapel (lav) mic, and the other is a handheld.
I use them just as you described.
Lav mic on the officiant, the handheld on a stand in between the B&G.

Works okay, but could be better.
In order to pick up the B&G proper;y, you'd have to have the mic at mouth level...
and I keep the mic stand low, so it doesn't show up in pictures.

Ausumm said:

My wireless unit has two channels.
One is a lapel (lav) mic, and the other is a handheld.
I use them just as you described.
Lav mic on the officiant, the handheld on a stand in between the B&G.

Works okay, but could be better.
In order to pick up the B&G proper;y, you'd have to have the mic at mouth level...
and I keep the mic stand low, so it doesn't show up in pictures.

Click to expand...

Do you find you have to turn up the handheld mic too high to begin creating noise/hiss from the speakers?

Tough to do but with best results ..... shotgun mic from directly overhead. It requires a portable boom and someone to hold the boom. Connect the shotgun mic to a wireless belt pack taped to the boom.

The one GREAT thing about shotgun mics, especially about outdoors, is that they reject any and all wind noise coming in from the sides. They are very focused which is why I recommend holding them overhead.

Another method which also requires an assistant, is to use a hand-held, parabolic dish mounted mic which can be re-aimed as each person speaks.

I've often had the officiant clip the lav on the end of his/her folder/bible, turned the volume up and got all three. But in a windy situation, this can be a problem.

bill_smith said:

I've often had the officiant clip the lav on the end of his/her folder/bible, turned the volume up and got all three. But in a windy situation, this can be a problem.

Click to expand...

That's interesting - never tried that. I've always been disappointed with the at-3000 series bodypack/lav duo that I've been using - I can't imagine I'd be able to turn up the volume very much without getting way too much feedback. BUT... it would be interested to try - thanks for the tip.

Try experimenting with your EQ. Straight up(zero for bass), MINUS settings for highs and Mids. You should be able to boost the volume a lot more than you would with overtly positive settings. Of course, distance from speaker will also directly influence this. I'm always at the back of the outdoor ceremony location, with the Lav(s) in front. At a minimum, I always strive to have at least 25 ft of separation from the Lav to the speaker.

jturk1000 said:

Do you find you have to turn up the handheld mic too high to begin creating noise/hiss from the speakers?

Click to expand...

Pretty much. I usually ride the fader up and down.
Unless you put a lav on each person, it won't be perfect.

bill_smith said:

I've often had the officiant clip the lav on the end of his/her folder/bible, turned the volume up and got all three. But in a windy situation, this can be a problem.

Click to expand...

I've wanted to try that exact technique, but most of the officiants I've had use an Ipad, or they are flipping through pages of their script.

I do lav mics on both the pastor and the groom. The groom's get's turned on for the vows. They don't want a mic stand in their wedding pics, so I don't use one, except for separate readings.

For wind you have a few options, but I'll assume a typical dress shirt and tie here. For the tape, fold it into a sort of double-sided triangle so that it sticks to both the fabric and the mic, without covered the mic head (requires 2 pieces, one for each side of the mic). Done right, it also creates space so the mic head doesn't get rubbed by clothes:

Option #1: thread the mic through the back of the shirt, into the collar. tape the mic inside the collar.
Option #2: come out the shirt and fasten to the back side of the tie.

Very simple on the wind noise.....I do beach weddings...never a problem with an "audio dead cat" Google it.............Rhode or Rode is just a brand name. They come in all shapes and sizes for pretty much all mics.

NickyB said:

Tough to do but with best results ..... shotgun mic from directly overhead.

Click to expand...

Nicky, I've considered trying a shotgun mic in the past.
A lot of venues I work at have arches or gazebos, which would me a great place mount one.
Do you recommend a certain brand?
-or-
Are their certain specs I should look for?

Arthur, thank you! That's frickin awesome. Got an outdoor event in July, and I'll be armed.

I use a Rode NTG-2 shotgun ....should cost you around $249-$269 depending on where you buy.

Your welcome Bill. Check them out:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_12?url=search-alias=mi&field-keywords=mic+dead+cat&sprefix=mic+dead+cat,aps,140
I've always mic'd the Officiant and ride the volume for the couples vows, but I have put the lav on his/her book/bible too. One time the Officiant asked me to put it on his shirt near has cuflinks and he would move his arm around to catch the vows. Never did that again!