I work at a small private school, and we need to make some quick upgrades to our sound system. Here is the current set-up for reference:
What are my options? Right now, I'm working with middle-school aged actors. Even with LOTS of prompting, some of their voices are small, changing, etc. and require help via equipment. I have a $2000 budget, and I want to spend it wisely. (I already know that I will need to replace at least 2 XLR cables, which shouldn't be costly...but you know how things can add up.)
Floor mics might be a good option...*if* I have an reliable input and *if* they don't end up in another feedback loop with the lap mics or hanging mics. I can buy another lap mic, then I have four for leads, but that won't cover all of the other actors that I can't hear.
*sigh* Any suggestions are MORE than welcome.
- 2 hanging condenser mics, cheap, very little amplification
- CFX16 MKII mixer in the sound & lighting booth
- podium mixer (Yamaha MG102C) with iPod, CD player, and computer routed through it
- FRS MAS-3100 switcher (video scaler w/audio support) in the booth
- 3, AKG C417L wireless vocal condenser mics w/body packs, each married to SR450 stationary receivers
- Fender Passport 500 Pro (portable PA system)
- 2 mic stands and various stand-alone mics: 1) cheap RadioShack omnidirectional dynamic mic, 2) Shure PG58, 3) Audiotechnica P48, 4) Sennheiser e835
- A handheld wireless (Shure SM58) that we use for EVERYTHING...routed through the mixer in the booth. This is by far the loudest, clearest mic we have.
- Everything attached to our podium mixer is routed through a single mic channel; 2 out of the other four work, now that cables have been replaced.
- Hanging mics don't seem to work at all, still working on this....
- I can run the lap mics through the board in the booth, but right now I only have three lap mics...and only four available inputs.
- I have two more inputs left on the podium board, but every time I have tried to test the lap mics using these inputs, the feedback is horrendous....
- All of our stationary receivers for the lap mics are housed in the same portable box, because we use it outside of our main building 1x/week. As a result, I don't even know if I could use the podium inputs for additional wireless mics, even if I had them on hand.
- When they built the auditorium, they decided to house the heating and cooling blower units there, as well...so every time they turn on, the entire ceiling vibrates. Nothing I can do about that, but it kills sound, overall.
What are my options? Right now, I'm working with middle-school aged actors. Even with LOTS of prompting, some of their voices are small, changing, etc. and require help via equipment. I have a $2000 budget, and I want to spend it wisely. (I already know that I will need to replace at least 2 XLR cables, which shouldn't be costly...but you know how things can add up.)
Floor mics might be a good option...*if* I have an reliable input and *if* they don't end up in another feedback loop with the lap mics or hanging mics. I can buy another lap mic, then I have four for leads, but that won't cover all of the other actors that I can't hear.
*sigh* Any suggestions are MORE than welcome.