[HANASHIR:6991] RE: choir miking

[Adrian Durlester <durleste...>]

Rachelle:

As one who has worked as a professional in this area for many years, I will
offer these comments to Rachelle and also the entire list:

The amplification of stationery choirs with fixed micing is possible, but
can only be successful when the parties involved are willing to not cut
corners and get the right equipment.

So, the question are:

1. Is your synagogue's existing sound system up to the task of amplifying
more than just the spoken word efficiently and fully? Is it designed to
handle complex material (that is, was it designed to properly allow for
instrumental, spoken word and vocal micing in combination?) If it is not,
then attempts to provide adequate amplification of the choir will not
succeed.

2. Where can the microphones be placed, and how important is the aesthetics?
Can they be hung from above (the ideal placement) ? Must they be stand
mounted (again aesthetics will affect choices here.)

If hanging microphones are required, several companies make hanging
condensor style microphones designed for and readily suitable for micing a
choir. I highly recommend any of the following:

Crown CM-30 or CM-31 approx $300 ea (your audio engineer will know which is
appropriate for your needs.)
Audio-Technica AT-853 approx $250 ea

Do not buy the less expensive Audio Technica PRO45, you will be
disappointed. Same applies to the Electro-Voice EV RE-90H.

Properly positioned over the choir, and properly adjusted, they will work
well.

If stand micing is necessary, there are several alternatives.

One alternative is the use of 36"x36" or larger clear Plexiglas plates on
which are mounted a boundary style microphone (i.e. Crown PZM 30GP.)
Depending on the size of the choir and placement, four or more such
microphones will suffice. (List $370 for the microphone. The Plexiglas
barriers, with special hardware to allow installation on microphone stands
are available, but most people just make their own.) The Plexiglas barriers
are placed in front of (or suspended above at an angle) the choir sections.
This style of micing requires special attention to equalization to be
effective.

If your choir performs in a  fixed location with some floor space in front
of it, you can consider utilizing phase coherent microphones (Crown PCC 160
or similar, $List $309) placed on the floor. These will do well at picking
up the choir as a whole, but not necessarily individual sections.

If you must stand mount, and if you can deal with the not necessarily
attractive aesthetic, then get large/tall boom stands and raise the mics as
high as you can and focus them towards the choir sections. The Countryman
ISOMax series ($440) or Audio-Technica Unipoint series ($330 list) mics will
work well.

If you have the funds, you can consider more expensive units like the AKG
Blue Line of modular small diaphragm  condensors. (Components required for
each mic will total about $500 list.)

The number of mics needed will depend on the size of the choir, the layout,
placement, etc.

List prices are generally discounted from 10-20%.


If you're not sure how to answer any of these questions, I;d be happy to
discuss them further with you, and assist you in making wise choices.

Finally: the idea of a "set it once and forget it" sound system are an
idealized fiction. As room conditions change, including temperature, number
of people, humidity, etc., adjustments to levels and equalization become
necessary.

Adrian
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adrian A. Durlester, M.T.S.  - durleste (at) home(dot)com
http://members.home.net/durleste/
Judaica & Music Instructor, Akiva School, Nashville TN
Music Director, Congregation Micah, Nashville, TN http://www.micahnash.org/
List-Owner for hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org; Co-Owner for L-Torah (at) 
shamash(dot)org
http://uahc.org/hanashir
Editor, Bim Bam (for Torah Aura Productions) http://www.torahaura.com/
Evening Program Chair, CAJE 26, Aug. 5-9, 2001, Colorado State University


  -----Original Message-----
  From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
shamash(dot)org]On
Behalf Of Rachelle and Howard Shubert
  Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2000 7:43 PM
  To: Hanashir
  Subject: [HANASHIR:6989] choir miking


  I would like to hear from anyone who has had success with miking their
choir.  I have just been notified of an opportunity for funding but have to
write up a budget in the next couple of weeks.  I realize that miking a
choir can be tricky and would like to make effective choices.

  Shana Tova,
  Rachelle