Mic bleed problem.

[[email protected]]

I'm doing sound for a church. The singer used to use a stationary,
wireless mic. But now he uses a headset. Since he started using it,
I've noticed a lot more bleed from the drums and everything else on
stage through his mic, and it affects both the monitor and the house
mix negatively. Is this a common problem with headset mics (he has two,
and although one seems a bit better it's still not as good as the
regular mic)? Anything I can do about it?

[Arny Krueger]

> wrote in message
oups.com

> I'm doing sound for a church. The singer used to use a
> stationary, wireless mic. But now he uses a headset.

So you're asking for advice related to three mics that none of us have ever
seen or could ever see, and keeping the makes and models secret?

Now that's helpful! ;-)

> Since he started using it, I've noticed a lot more bleed
> from the drums and everything else on stage through his
> mic, and it affects both the monitor and the house mix
> negatively. Is this a common problem with headset mics
> (he has two, and although one seems a bit better it's
> still not as good as the regular mic)?

I could speculate that the most offensive headset mic uses an omni capsule,
and the best wireless mic used a hypercardioid mic. There may also be
differences in the effective frequency response of the mics, above and
beyond the differences in directional patterns.

Letsee, we don't even know the sex or vocal register or style of this
singer, now do we?

> Anything I can do about it?

How about start out by telling a story that can be comprehended in a useful
way. I know this is a church, but the devil is still in the details. ;-)

[Julian]

On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 08:34:44 -0500, "Arny Krueger" >
wrote:


>I could speculate that the most offensive headset mic uses an omni capsule,
>and the best wireless mic used a hypercardioid mic. There may also be
>differences in the effective frequency response of the mics, above and
>beyond the differences in directional patterns.

Even though we have few details to make a determination by, Arny's
observation is going to be useful. A tighter pattern mic regardless
if it is on a stationary stand or on a headset should normally have
the least bleed through. that is unless there is something else we
don't know like now the singer likes to walk in front of the drums but
before he (she) didn't :-)

Julian

[Mike Rivers]

wrote:
> The singer used to use a stationary,
> wireless mic. But now he uses a headset. Since he started using it,
> I've noticed a lot more bleed from the drums and everything else on
> stage through his mic

He needs to work on how he has the headset mic placed. It needs to be
very close to his mouth. It might be an omni mic, but if it's close
enough to the desired source (the singer's mouth) you'll be able to
reduce the gain on the channel so that it doesn't pick up so much of
what's at a distance.

You might also need a more directional headset mic, or one with a
noise-cancelling design. They aren't all the same, and they don't all
work like you'd wish they would - just like any microphone.

[Scott Dorsey]

In article . com>,
> wrote:
>I'm doing sound for a church. The singer used to use a stationary,
>wireless mic. But now he uses a headset. Since he started using it,
>I've noticed a lot more bleed from the drums and everything else on
>stage through his mic, and it affects both the monitor and the house
>mix negatively. Is this a common problem with headset mics (he has two,
>and although one seems a bit better it's still not as good as the
>regular mic)? Anything I can do about it?

Throw it out and try the Countryman headset. It's a cardioid instead
of an omni, so it will pop more easily, but if you are careful about
placement you'll do well with it.

Make sure the guy has the mike in the right place, of course. If you
have the mike stuck under the chin, you won't pop but you also will get
very little voice sound and so the leakage will be comparatively high.

Then just be thankful he doesn't want to use a lav mike...
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Laurence Payne]

On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 08:34:44 -0500, "Arny Krueger" >
wrote:

>> Since he started using it, I've noticed a lot more bleed
>> from the drums and everything else on stage through his
>> mic, and it affects both the monitor and the house mix
>> negatively. Is this a common problem with headset mics
>> (he has two, and although one seems a bit better it's
>> still not as good as the regular mic)?
>
>I could speculate that the most offensive headset mic uses an omni capsule,
>and the best wireless mic used a hypercardioid mic. There may also be
>differences in the effective frequency response of the mics, above and
>beyond the differences in directional patterns.

Yes, I think that's the obvious conclusion :-) If he was used to
sucking a directional hand mic, an omni headset capsule would be less
efficient. Telling us the models involved might confirm it.

>Letsee, we don't even know the sex or vocal register or style of this
>singer, now do we?

I count 4 "he" or "his" in the question. Not sure quite how that, or
his vocal style, would affect the issue though? I'm sure they'd have
been EQd to sound the same.

[Paul Stamler]

"Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
...
> > Since he started using it, I've noticed a lot more bleed
> > from the drums and everything else on stage through his
> > mic, and it affects both the monitor and the house mix
> > negatively. Is this a common problem with headset mics
> > (he has two, and although one seems a bit better it's
> > still not as good as the regular mic)?
>
> Letsee, we don't even know the sex or vocal register or style of this
> singer, now do we?

Do you suppose the words "he" and "his" might provide a clue?

Peace,
Paul

[Scott Dorsey]

In article >,
Paul Stamler > wrote:
>"Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
...
>> > Since he started using it, I've noticed a lot more bleed
>> > from the drums and everything else on stage through his
>> > mic, and it affects both the monitor and the house mix
>> > negatively. Is this a common problem with headset mics
>> > (he has two, and although one seems a bit better it's
>> > still not as good as the regular mic)?
>>
>> Letsee, we don't even know the sex or vocal register or style of this
>> singer, now do we?
>
>Do you suppose the words "he" and "his" might provide a clue?

Not if he's a countertenor.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Thomas Bishop]

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
> Throw it out and try the Countryman headset. It's a cardioid instead
> of an omni, so it will pop more easily, but if you are careful about
> placement you'll do well with it.

Amen! That's the E6, not the cheaper and larger model Isomax.

> Then just be thankful he doesn't want to use a lav mike...

I tried to get our pastor to switch to a headset for years. I finally
bought the Countryman E6 and just handed it to him one day. It sounded
fantastic, but he didn't want to try getting used to it. Oh well, at least
the 10 year olds enjoyed it during the children's musicals. </sarcasm>

[[email protected]]

On 2007-01-18 (ScottDorsey) said:
>>I'm doing sound for a church. The singer used to use a stationary,
>>wireless mic. But now he uses a headset. Since he started using it,
>>I've noticed a lot more bleed from the drums and everything else on
>>stage through his mic, and it affects both the monitor and the
>>house mix negatively.
>Throw it out and try the Countryman headset. It's a cardioid
>instead of an omni, so it will pop more easily, but if you are
>careful about placement you'll do well with it.
>Make sure the guy has the mike in the right place, of course. If
>you have the mike stuck under the chin, you won't pop but you also
>will get very little voice sound and so the leakage will be
>comparatively high.

THat's part of the regular sound person's gig with a church
group or performers you're regularly going to deal with.
Part of your mission is to help performes choose equipment
and techniques that improve their presentation. MR. DOrsey
might have called it right on with the microphone choice,
but work with the performer on utilizing proper technique
with it.

>Then just be thankful he doesn't want to use a lav mike...
Amen brother!



Richard webb,
Electric Spider Productions
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