School Holiday Audio System

Grant's Perspective on ... understanding how to get the most from your audio system for school and worship holiday presentations.

This is the time of year when organizers of school and worship holiday presentations start rehearsals and begin using their audio system.

Here are some tips:

1 - Understand Your Microphone

This is key. There are many types of microphone pick up patterns but the most common is the dynamic cardiod microphone. Pictured below is the very popular Shure SM58.

 I found a chart on microphone use on the Shure website looks at common microphone use issues and placed a screen capture below.

People talking and singing need to be close to the microphone (6" - 2') and should handle the microphone as little as possible.

What this means is that if you only have 1 or 2 microphones, set them up on stands at the front of the stage and have the actors and choir move to where the microphone is to say/sing their lines. You are better off with people moving to the microphone than to not have their voices picked up because they are too far away from it!

2 - Understand Your Audio System

If you have a sophisticated audio system with multiple wireless microphones and proper choir microphones with a large mixer and outboard gear, read your equipment manuals, test your ideas to get the most from your systems and have a great time producing a fantastic event!

For a general introduction to the many types of microphones, read this Wikipedia article.

If you live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North West Ontario or the NWT give your local Inland AV office a call to discuss your audio needs.


Grant