Microphones

[abillybob]

Hello All,

 

Sorry wasn't sure where to put this post, please move if you feel it's in the wrong place.

 

I have been asked by the deputy to find someone that can possible supply us with some Microphones for the hall, preferably before the end off next week.

 

We want it so that one Mic can be left on a stand in front of the students and it will be able to pick up all their voices without having to pass them around. Is there anyone that could come out to the school that any of you could recommend or maybe you know a microphone that will do the job?

 

I don't understand Microphones so I don't know what I'm even looking for!!

 

Any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks

[3s-gtech]

One microphone for a school hall, for all students? How big is the hall and how many? I think you may be looking at movable boom mics for that, though a sensitive ceiling mounted one may work if the hall is small and there aren't massive numbers in there. Not necessarily an easy or cheap job this.

[abillybob]

We don't mind if we need two or three Mic's. As I said I'm no expert so I'm open to all suggestions. The hall isn't massive although is a decent size that we can fit all the school students into (around 400 pupils). I've been told budget doesn't matter so I guess price isn't a problem!! I'll have a look at boom mics. Any one's that you'd recommend!?

[Chris_]

Are you after a company to sell you some microphones, or a company to come in, setup and operate microphones for an event?

[Oaktech]

You are asking for something pretty much impossible.

 

Your best bet would be something like an AT Pro45 hanging mic for use onstage. The kids would still need to speak up. We used to have 4 installed permanently and then sub-mixed independently into the main desk.

 

You could call my old company CPS who will be able to advise you. Sound, Lighting & Audio Visual Equipment Sales & Hire 01202572000

[Arreks]

Do you have any kind of audio/visual system in place already in there? do you have speakers/amps?

[sonofsanta]

Acoustic Boundary Mics

 

We have two of these on our lighting rig, mounted to a couple of bits of MDF and hung up by thick cable ties a couple of metres in front of where performances/assemblies are done (about a quarter of the way back in the hall). Couple of XLR cables feed back down to a USB mixing desk and from there can be recorded or streamed via VLC. You would be amazed how clearly they pick up any spoken conversation in front of them. They are exactly the tool for the job--tucked out the way & pick up anything in front of them.

 

Can't remember exactly what we have but it's something like this. Our hall is pretty big - holds around 800 kids, we're a big secondary, so they should work for you.

[abillybob]

Are you after a company to sell you some microphones, or a company to come in, setup and operate microphones for an event?

 

A company to come out, maybe have a look at the hall and be able to sell us the Mics that they'd recommend.

 

You are asking for something pretty much impossible.

 

Your best bet would be something like an AT Pro45 hanging mic for use onstage. The kids would still need to speak up. We used to have 4 installed permanently and then sub-mixed independently into the main desk.

 

You could call my old company CPS who will be able to advise you. Sound, Lighting & Audio Visual Equipment Sales & Hire 01202572000

 

I knew it'd be fairly difficult, in all fairness though it wasn't me who wants these I've just been given the task to sort it by next friday... I mean seriously!! Thank you I'll give your company a call and see what they say!!

 

Do you have any kind of audio/visual system in place already in there? do you have speakers/amps?

 

Yeah, we currently have 4 speakers already mounted... well to be honest I don't have enough of an idea of what it all is. I've taken pictures of it all below as well as a picture of the size of our hall.

 

[sonofsanta]

To give you an idea of how good the boundary mics are: we have them installed because we can't quite fit everyone into our main hall, so we overspill into the gym and stream video and audio down there for big events (e.g. pantomimes).

 

You can hear what's going on more clearly in the gym than you can in the main hall where they're actually performing.

[robk]

The problem here is going to be gain before feedback. That looks like a relatively small Hall with reflective hard surfaces all round. I would be looking at either using hand held radio mics (guessing that one is out) or maybe a couple of large diaphragm condenser mics, but if the students are not loud anyway they are not going to work.

[Dos_Box]

Moving to AV and Multimedia forum. Edited November 24, 2015 by robk

[bladedanny]

Are you looking for amplification or for recording?

[pslater]

If it's for amplification then you will have big feedback issues. I would get in contact with a local reputable company sharpish. Enlightened Lighting have always done an excellent job for us but they might be a bit far for you.

 

Pete

[sonofsanta]

Ah yeah, we don't use ours for amplification in the hall because of the feedback issue; the only way you can do that is with a directed mic i.e. a standard mic, be it handheld & wireless or on a stand. If you want to record/stream, boundary mics; if you want to hear the kids better, maybe they'll just have to learn to pass a mic around. Not everything is a technical problem.

[Love_Sausage]

Get someone in who can take a good look around, that isn't an easy space to achieve what you've been asked for - not going to be solved easily/cheaply, and definitely not by our advice alone.