Theatre sounds and mic equipment

[timbo343]

Does anyone have any recommendations of companies who do theatre sound and mic equipment?

 

We have a litrle project planned where we would like some wireless face mics, hanging mics etc and have been let down by a couple of companies.

 

We are based on the west / north yorkshire boundary.

[Aprice]

is it something you want to hire or buy?

 

If its hire I'd suggest contacting BH Event Services, I've worked with them in the past on some theatre stuff, really know their stuff.

 

Also probably a good idea to try kit before buying, there's no point spending a load on ch70 kit if outside interference is going to stop it working well.

 

I would stick to Sennheiser really for the kit, because it works! I've had no end of problems with other lower cost brands. On a recent production we had a mix of Sennheiser and 'other' mics, the Sennheiser worked flawlessly every show, the others just gave issues every show ranging from crackles, intermittent dropouts, to mics just stopping working completely. Then followed by another show with someone else just using a different brand where all radio mics just stopped working altogether one after the other.

 

Only catch is for new Sennheiser you can be looking at anywhere from £600 to £1200 quite easily per mic. Which is why a lot of the theatre groups end up just hiring them in.

Edited February 3, 2023 by Aprice

[timbo343]

is it something you want to hire or buy?

The teacher said possibly buy when i asked eariler.

 

The equipment would be used for performances, open evenings, etc in the main hall.

[SamanthaD]

What budget are you working to? What's your existing setup like?

 

With things like headset mics and/or flown mics the key to a good sound is speaker placement so you can get enough gain before feedback to make them worthwhile. A few well placed overhead and shotgun mics and correctly placed speakers will give a much better experience than 20 radio mics ever will.

 

Also consider storage and cabling. Flight cases and XLR looms seem expensive at the time of purchase, but the security it gives during storage and simplicity of setup a loom offers is well worth it!

[Andrew_C]

Also consider who will operate the kit. Giving the job to "that pupil" because they are hopless in the play - not necessarily going to work. Storage, and running repairs, will be an extra cost.

[russlp]

I can highly recommend Ian McDonald @ Mercury AV Ltd - https://www.mercury-av.com/

Really helpful and competitive pricing.