What do you think?

[TechiesRule]

Hi everyone. i have not been on latley since we just finished a production in our theater of the middle school next to us..Anne Frank and Me. Anyhoo, I am sound cheif of our high school theater, and in the spring, our musical is 42nd Street. if anyone has done it, or heard about, or even seen it, what type of wireless mics did you(they) use? the director is not the type of person i really like working with, but it will have to do. She is worried that using body mics can amplify the taps during the dance routines, but i know since most routines do not take place during dialoge. how can i convice the director to use mics, or what type of body mics, and how... could i use???
plz help

[avkid]

if they are not dancing during dialogue, there should be no problem, if you mute the mics on time!

[FTOTY]

I've never had a problem with body packs picking up taps even when they're on during the dance number. Just don't ever use floor mics on dancing type shows. They pick up anything near to them.

[avkid]

unless you are deliberately trying to amplify the taps!

[blsmn]

Well, personally, I like using mics to amplify taps during a tap dance routine. The sound of the taps is an instrument and should be mixed into whatever FOH sound there is - PCC's work great for that. I remember working once with Michael Flatley when he was touring with the Chieftans - we spent quite a bit of time working out the mic placement so the taps would get picked up effectively.

As for the original question, seems to me that the director probably hasn't worked much with body mics to be worrying about excessive pick-up during tap numbers. And if for some reason there was a problem, that is what volumes and mutes are for. The advantages of using body mics for such a large undertaking as 42nd Street far outweigh any minor concerns such as potential dance bleed. I would get together with her as soon as possible to see what is available in the budget for mics - then you can start trying to put something together. There are many different ways to do it, but be warned - borrowing and piecemealing differents systems and mics together can be a real nightmare. If she gives you the go ahead, I would figure out exactly how many mics can be gotten by with and then contact local rental companies and check on the cost to rent units that will be frequency matched with the same mic capsules - your life and the ultimate sound quality of the show will be a lot better.

[avkid]

what is a pcc?

[blsmn]

Originally Posted by avkid

what is a pcc?

Phase coherent cardioid - as in Crown PCC-160 - or what is referred to as a floor mic.

[ccfan213]

if your director does not want to use body mics, what other options does she suggest? floor mics? hanging condensers? handheld mics? any one of those would pick up taps alot more than a body mic. i personally agree that the taps should be heard, but dont argue with your director if there is already a problem, it can only make things worse.

[mbenonis]

Originally Posted by avkid

what is a pcc?

PCC is a trademarked term used by Crown to refer to their Phase Coherent Cardioid surface microphones, such as the PCC-160. These mics sit on the floor (or wall) and have a cardioid pickup pattern for their front, and reject sound from the rear. They work relatively well, but I would never try to use them for speech/theatre reinforcement - it will sound really bad unless you know how to use them really really well.

[avkid]

is that like a P.Z.M. (pressure zone microphone)?