Micing The Ceremony

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jturk1000

jturk1000

And WHERE is Alma MI ?!
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
 
Ausumm

Ausumm

Active Member
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.
 
jturk1000

jturk1000

And WHERE is Alma MI ?!
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?
 
NickyB

NickyB

Gear and Equipment Moderator
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.
 
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bill_smith

bill_smith

MobileBeat Moderator
Staff member
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.
 
jturk1000

jturk1000

And WHERE is Alma MI ?!
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.
 
bill_smith

bill_smith

MobileBeat Moderator
Staff member
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.
 
Ausumm

Ausumm

Active Member
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.
 
robertbenda

robertbenda

Active Member
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.
 
A

Arthur

Active Member
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.
 
Ausumm

Ausumm

Active Member
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?
 
bill_smith

bill_smith

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

NickyB

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