Understanding radio mics
Sun, 15 June 2008, 09:28 pmDavid Ashton13 posts in thread
Understanding radio mics
Sun, 15 June 2008, 09:28 pmAs this is the tech talk column I thought it may be a good idea to cover some of the common problem areas and start with this common problem.
Now you will see mics with 16, 32, 300, 700 or 1440 channels, this does not mean that you can use anything like that number of mics together.
Radio transmitters are like musical instruments [in that they produce harmonics which are multiples of the base frequency], and these harmonics interact with each other to restrict the number of usable channels.
As an example, the Redback 16 channel mics have 6 channels which can work together, the main mics I hire are the 700 channel series but only 16-17 channels will work together.To get more channels I am now getting in the Sennheiser 1440 channel units and while they are coy about exactly how many channels I will get, it should be 24+.
Now other areas to consider are interference from other radio sources like in ear monitors, which tend to use the same bands and radio talkback systems which I am now also importing as prices are lowering.
If you are using half a dozen radio mics there is not likely to be a problem but once you start adding talkback and in ear monitors you will need some specialized assistance.
And as I said in an earlier piece, the radio part is only the beginning, the complexity of multi mic mixing a live show added to the potential harmonic interference means that rehearsing with the full system is crucial and failure to do this and find potential problems can lead to disaster.
In short, radio mics are not a panacea so please bear this in mind.
So with that sort of range
Sun, 22 June 2008, 01:20 pmSo with that sort of range it is not beyond the realms of possibly, for this to happen, even in the remotest areas. Good point Taureen! Personally with Comeatre i have only used Radio Mic's once. When i directed Man Of La Mancha at the Old Mill, in South Perth. The female lead Aldonza [Karen Smith] had a bout of laryngitis. She could speak just, Burt no way was I going to allow her to sing. So i hired in a radio Mic, getting her to wear the lapel Mic. Then the young girl playing Cervantes [Hywell Williams] Niece [Rebeca] volunteered to sing Aldonzas songs of stage, via the hand held radio Mic. With Aldonza delivering dialogue reinforced over the speakers, & gold fishing her songs. It went off seamlessly without any hookups. The SM [Karen Hall] informed the punters of the change & speaking to a few afterwards, they had forgot that the songs were being sung off stage. Some reviewer however had a go, because the Niece was not given a special walk down curtain call. Which was totally my fault, by not asking the SM to organise it. also this reviewer nit picked the style of Sancho's sandals? However did not mention the engineering theatrical skills, of having a 20 odd foot staircase descend & be flown out, from the Fly's, between the boarders. [The Old Mill has no fly system] The Cast used them to enter & exit above the stage. Which was quite amusing to see the number of punters, after the show. Walking around the building looking up at the gable roof , wondering how it was done? Ah! illusion is always great to play around with!
TOI TOI TOI CHOOKAS
[May you always play to a full house] Hear the lights & see the sounds.