Outdoors 1st time out

[Gregory East]

Finally picked up a outdoor gig. It's a mishmash of acts for a charity concert. SPL is expected to be modest.

I'm taking the whole rig, 4 Dr250, 4t48, w10s. Mostly so I can prove a point with the sound quality. Duelling piano keys is the big guns material. The rest could be done with a pair of jacks.

Organiser girl wants to cover her ten piece choir with 2 sm58. Is that feasible? From what I gather they are none too flash. There are no fancy condenser mics to be had. Recommendations on how to best support the amateur choir?

[LelandCrooks]

Recommendations on how to best support the amateur choir?

Give em 10 bucks?

Sorry couldn't resist. I don't have any pertinent advice.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Organiser girl wants to cover her ten piece choir with 2 sm58. Is that feasible?

No. SM58s, or for that matter any mic of that sort, are intended for sources 6 inches or less distant. Shotgun mics are best when you can't mic each singer individually w/wireless lapels.

[Bruce Weldy]

A couple of cheap Behringer condensers - C2s would certainly be better than a 58. Then you can use them as overheads on drums too.

For choirs, try to find mics with a wide polar pattern, even omni. But, don't put an omni in the monitors - very prone to feedback.

[BrentEvans]

A couple of cheap Behringer condensers - C2s would certainly be better than a 58. Then you can use them as overheads on drums too.

For choirs, try to find mics with a wide polar pattern, even omni. But, don't put an omni in the monitors - very prone to feedback.

Better than the C2s are CAD cm217s. American company, great products. 2 for $60 at http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... t-one-free
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Edit.... Thats what you get when you post on a cll phon

[AntonZ]

Better than the C2s are CAD cm217s. American company, great prosucts. 2 for $60

I could not have made that one up


On a more serious note, +1 on something like the C2's or CAD mics. I have a similar pair of cheap condensers that work fine for such applications, for drums overhead. I even record piano with them once in a while. Mine are available in Europe only, so the make/model are not all that relevant for Gregory.

[Grant Bunter]

SM58: probably one of the worlds most used live music vocal mikes. Until the Beta58 came along.
As Bill said, not suitable over 6" away from it.
Odd, always seems to pick up cymbal spill though @ 10' or more...

May be quite useful for the choir if any of the group step up to solo
Have used the C2's at our local school, sure there are better condensors out there, but not at the price.
Don't know where you are:
Music mania have them in stock (they are sold as matched pairs) @ $199NZ
Same price at Rubber Monkey.

Only $70ish on Aussie e-bay so you lot are being ripped off, again.

Have used shotguns plenty of times before too. If you don't have phantom power some are battery powered which is handy, batteries usually last, say 2 x three hour shows
Hate to think what you'd pay for them in NZ, so see if you can hire some over a weekend at you local pro audio/AV hire place.

[AntonZ]

Mine are these: http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_sc140_stereoset.htm
Some user reviews: http://en.audiofanzine.com/condenser-mi ... r_reviews/

Cannot beat them for the money.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

SM58: probably one of the worlds most used live music vocal mikes. Until the Beta58 came along.
As Bill said, not suitable over 6" away from it.
Odd, always seems to pick up cymbal spill though @ 10' or more...

That's because it relies on proximity effect in the lows and low mids, but not the high mids and highs.

[Gregory East]

As it turned out the choir was every man and his dog and children. One Rode condenser in front of the PA. We still got a teensy bit of help to them with the mic low .

Opera singer was outstanding. She sang 1ft to 2ft off the 58. I'd say she could have made a valid show with no mic.

Btw, had barely got it dialed in and visiting Aussie muso bailed me up about the system. Michael Franks loud and proud funky jazz, easy the best sound I've heard in the park so I wasn't surprised but nice to be recognised all the same.

It has me itching to get a proper loud gig.

Another btw, whole shebang ran off one outlet and all but two t48 got home in one trip in a Camry with 6x4 trailer, one sub on the roof. I need a bigger trailer.

[Grant Bunter]

Good stuff Gregory,
Seems like it went well!