Better Way to Mic a Show Choir?

[Chris Chapman]

Hey gang,

New to this site and it looks great. Hope someone can give me some advice on a better mic setup for a show choir.

Our show choir runs about 24-30 students who sing and dance on dance risers beneath an acoustic shell onstage. Hanging from the shell are 6 Shure MX202 Drop mics. Whenever I'm recording their performances I'm always fighting monitor masking in the recording. (Lots of monitor level onstage masks vocals.) Any hints on a better way to mic this group?

The Choral Director likes LOTS of onstage monitor level so this is a tough one. In my record mix I have the track isolated on a seperate master to mix with the Drops, but I just can't get a clean vocal that I like.

Thanks,

Chris Chapman
TD, Greenville Performing Arts Center

[AVGuyAndy]

Buy 24-30 58s? :-D

[Chris Chapman]

Mmmmm.... I Think not. And 24-30 Wireless Mics isn't the answer either. 24 Channel board. (Eeek!)

[AVGuyAndy]

Ahem. Note the smiley face indicating my lack of seriousness.

[Chris Chapman]

Andy- I could tell. My Assistant keeps telling me I should go to a 30 channel wireless inear monitor to solve the problem. ;>

[cutlunch]

I am a bit confused are the microphones just for recording or for sound reinforcement? If they are only for recording then move them into the FOH and balance the monitor levels to what you would have for public concert.

Are the monitor speakers facing away from the hanging mikes if not do it this will reduce the pickup.

Also you need to tell the choir director that he can't have it both ways and that you can only do so much. If he does not listen just do your best and give him the best recording you can. It is not your fault if the CD won't help you.

Something else you could try is using boundary microphones placed on the platforms instead of the hanging. Place them on foam so they don't pickup the dancers feet. Make sure the monitors are behind the microphones so they are off axis and won't pickup as much.

Hope this helps.

[jbeutt]

can you first describe the orientation better? Are you dropping straight down? Where are the monitors in relation to your microphone.

Of course, the other question is which capsule are you using with the 202s?

[Chris Chapman]

Originally Posted by cutlunch

I am a bit confused are the microphones just for recording or for sound reinforcement? If they are only for recording then move them into the FOH and balance the monitor levels to what you would have for public concert.

Are the monitor speakers facing away from the hanging mikes if not do it this will reduce the pickup.

The mics are dual use. I'm running 2 mixes out of the 24 channel board we are using. A House mix and a recording mix. Monitors are facing away from drops.

[Chris Chapman]

Originally Posted by jbeutt

can you first describe the orientation better? Are you dropping straight down? Where are the monitors in relation to your microphone.

Of course, the other question is which capsule are you using with the 202s?

3 Rows of dance risers. (32 feet wide, 12 feet deep with an additional 12 feet of stage floor in front.) 2 Rows of 3 MX202 (SuperCardiod capsule) spaced roughly 12 feet apart from each mic. 8 feet above the deck, mic angles at roughly 45 degrees to pic up vocal from that angle.

The second row of 202's is about 12' upstage from the downstage row.

2 Rows of Monitors. Primary monitor line is downstage of the downstage mic line and the upstage monitor line is upstage of the upstage line of 202s.

So we are getting seperation and no monitor is facing into a mic pickup.

Hope that helps to clear up the setup.

I've tried foam mounting PCC's but the number of students dancing and the type of moves they do still sounds like a cattle herd.

-Chris

[Peter]

I would have to agree on the micing from the audience. If that isnt really an option, I would try using some VERY carteroid mics (mics that only pick up from one side) and putting them between the monitors and the singers. It MAY be better as you will have the mics only directly picking up the singing and indirectly picking up the monitors. This idea really hinges on you having good mics that have strong enough pickup patterns.