The Mogan Elite earset mic boasts an innovative earpiece designed for comfortable extended wear. www.moganmicrophones.com
Imagine a typical worship service: the pastor may prefer a handheld, guitars and bass are using instrument wireless systems, mics are clipped on the bell of a brass instrument or on the rim of a drum, and a grand piano requires one, two, or even three cardioid condenser mics. The toolbox of an experienced sound mixer will include the right tools for these situations.
Microphone technology is keeping up with the times. Earset mics, once distracting and fragile, are becoming more comfortable and durable. Mics in general are smaller and less conspicuous, with booming options and new flexible attachments that allow houses of worship to mic many locations which, in the past, were difficult to reach. While basic battery capacity has not improved, enhanced electronic efficiencies in wireless mic hardware are leading to longer performance times. Mic technology is integrated with smartphones and other handheld devices.
CPM spoke with several sound techs and microphone manufacturers regarding these trends, to find out how the latest systems in their lineups can help church leaders offer experiences to their congregations that are uplifting, clear, and resonant.
Roy Garibaldi, producer and director of Positive Side Productions, relates his experience with Que Audio's DA12 headworn mic. “At Impact Church in Scottsdale, Ariz., one of the toughest things we experience is mic'ing our pastor, Travis Hearn, who is constantly in motion on stage. Recently, while Tim Tebow was our guest at Impact Church, we were faced with having to mic both of them without worrying about any spillage. The DA12 is one of the most phenomenal mics I've ever used. One of the things that makes this mic so exciting is not only [phenomenal sound] quality, but once set in place during three consecutive services I never had to reposition the mics. I have found the more comfortable the headworn mic is, the less fiddling the host or guest does with it, so the production value is great,” Garibaldi says.
Podcasts of sermons have long been popular—and they just got easier. The smartLav, a new lavalier microphone from Rode, makes the process of recording professional dialog simple. Instead of connecting to a digital recorder or running through expensive wireless packs, the smartLav connects to a smart phone or tablet computer (either Apple or Android) via a standard TRRS connection. The savvy house of worship can fit a smartLav to the worship leader and simply place the mobile device in their pocket. At the conclusion of the service a professional quality recording is ready to share with the congregation.
Audio-Technica's UniPoint U853R cardioid condenser hanging microphone is a true multi-purpose tool. Although designed for suspension from a ceiling for reinforcement of a choir or instrument group, the U853R's combination of size, frequency response, and SPL capabilities make it effective in many other situations. According to David Marsh, Audio-Technica marketing and sales director, installed sound, “Placing two to three mics inside a grand piano can separate and reinforce the different octaves.”
The key to successful wireless mic operation is choosing a clear frequency
The stand adapter, included with the U853R, can transform it into a point microphone for reaching over the shoulder of a flute player, or easy positioning for intonation near an acoustic guitar. The isolation instrument mount (an optional accessory) can be used to clip the mic on the bell of a brass instrument or the rim of a drum. Marsh adds, “As worship spaces incorporate video recording, the U853R with the optional omnidirectional capsule makes it an inconspicuous microphone for capturing ambient audio for video and broadcast.”
Gene Houck, house of worship and commercial sound product specialist for Audix, suggests the best way to mic a choir. “Choirs are extremely difficult because they require distant pick-up of the sound source. Depending on the configuration of the choir and whether or not there is musical accompaniment, one cardioid condenser mic will be able to adequately pick up 15-20 singers. For larger groups, a horizontal spacing of approximately six feet is recommended to reduce phase cancellation from mic to mic.”
And Houck adds, “To get complete coverage from the front row to the back row, mics that are two feet in front of the front row should be two feet taller than the tallest person in the back row. Choir groups of many rows should be covered with additional rows of microphones as needed; again, approximately six feet apart.”
For low-height stringed instruments, such as cellos and violas, Houck recommends Audix's 24-inch MicroBoom. “Each section should be covered as a single unit with its own EQ and volume needs,” he suggests. Audix's MicroBoom system is made up of an ultra-light carbon fiber rod protecting a shielded cable, and offers total control over angle rotation and position of the mic by way of a flexible metal gooseneck. Its appearance onstage—when it is noticed, which is rare—is ultra-clean, elegant, and professional.
Another extremely versatile carbon fiber boom microphone is the Galaxy Audio CBM-3 Series. Grant Brewer, national sales manager of Galaxy Audio, recommends this product. “It can be used to mic church and children's choirs, productions, podiums, pianos, drum overheads, and even audience recording. The CBM-324 comes with an omni, a cardioid, and a super cardioid, so a simple change of that element allows a church to use a single mic for all these applications.” The CBM-324 package includes a 24-inch stand, so everything the church needs to set up the microphone is included in one tidy bundle.
There are many locations, such as a fellowship hall or a sanctuary, where a house of worship needs a microphone but does not necessarily want to drill extra holes in a pulpit. The WX100/WX160 wireless solution from CAD Audio is a pulpit gooseneck microphone that fits the bill, marrying practicality with intuitive design. Glenn Roop, executive director of business development, CAD Audio, adds, “A real-world feature of the WX160 pulpit transmitter is a built-in battery charger.”
Countryman Associates' most popular microphone for houses of worship is the E6 Omnidirectional Earset. Chris Countryman, president of Countryman Associates, says, “Moving from a lavalier to an earset is often the single most cost-effective sound improvement a church can make. With an earset or headset the microphone is right next to the mouth, and the resulting signal is much stronger. Gain at the board can be reduced and there is usually an 8 dB to 12 dB improvement in gain-before-feedback and a simultaneous improvement in intelligibility with less EQ at the board. Placing a microphone on the head also eliminates the dramatic changes in sound from turning or dipping the head that you often get with lavaliers and podium microphones. Working with houses of worship is always exciting—where else can you find dynamic public speakers, rock bands, dramatic performances, and every other imaginable event under the same roof? Because a good earset can travel from the pulpit to the stage to the breakout room, it becomes a versatile tool a church can use for years.”
Earset microphones are becoming more comfortable and less distracting for the user. The Mogan Elite earset microphone features an innovative earpiece designed to be worn comfortably for extended periods—enabling one to deliver clear, crisp vocal performances without distraction. With a fleshy ear cushion concealing its fully adjustable, sprung-steel mechanism, this earset microphone feels extremely natural when worn over either ear.
The Peavey PVM-480 is adept at pulling group voices from an ensemble, yet is also capable of serving as a podium mic or even a handheld soloist mic with the included pop filter. Available in both black and white, the PVM-480 blends well into traditional and contemporary settings and has the sensitivity, low self-noise and frequency range needed to serve as a first-call mic in any environment.
The “unbreakable boom” of Point Source Audio's Series 8 microphones—bendable to 360 degrees—is the flagship feature of the company's new line of miniature cardioid and omni-directional mics. The Series 8 mics also feature low-cost “x-connectors,” user-friendly connectors for fast service or swapping out to a new wireless termination if needed. Yvonne Ho, vice president of sales and marketing for Point Source Audio, recommends the CO-8WS omnidirectional earworn mic as an excellent value for churches. “At 148dB maximum SPL, this mic is unbeatable in meeting the needs of pastors and performers because it captures all the nuances from spoken word to the extremely high vocals of singers. The CO-8WS is a single earworn microphone, but it easily converts to either left or right ear, and dual earset-wearing styles give the mic great flexibility to meet each individual user's preference or wearing requirements.“
Provider Series has taken the popular capsule on their PSL6 lavalier mic and developed it into the PSE9, a series of headworn earset microphones with replaceable cables. The capsule itself is tiny (3mm), and the PSE9 can be worn on either the right or left side of the face.
A 10-year warranty, high quality, and robust construction make the E-900 series from Sennheiser a strong choice for house of worship applications. Andrew Kornstein, house of worship market development manager for Sennheiser Electronic Corp., says, “Every microphone in the e900 series is designed to capture the timbre of the instrument that it is reproducing or recording, and again, this is partly due to its extremely fast transient response and a true-to-life EQ curve. The 10-year warranty is a huge differentiator, since most other brands only have two- or five-year warranties.”
The key to successful wireless microphone operation is choosing a clear frequency. Radio frequency interference can reportedly be easily avoided when using the BLX series from Shure. “The BLX is an analog system,” says Gino Sigismondi, manager of technical training at Shure. “It makes use of the UHF television band to deliver a performance range of up to 300 feet. As an entry-level system for houses of worship, the BLX is ideal for future expansion because of its frequency agility: it can handle 12 compatible systems per frequency band, and multiple bands.” In addition, the Quickscan feature allows users to find the best open frequency channel with a single tap of a front-mounted button.
