moderator + 6 tables with people

[Brian Busch]

Hi - got a job to record (video + audio - stressing audio) a meeting with a wireless moderator and 6 round tables with people contributing to the discussion.

We're a small videographer shop - have plenty of wireless, a few nice condensor mics, XL1s, GL2s, audio mixer, but no decent boundary mics.

Any suggestions? We'll be taking all 6 tables + 1 moderator on wireless into a mixer, recording everywhere (video cameras, one stand alone camera in the corner), and a sony cdr.

They know we need breaks to change audio + video tapes, this is no problem, but the day runs from 8:30 - 4:30.

Any ideas on decent boundary mics that can be rented/purchased quickly?

[Donald V]

we use crown pzm mics for some drama productions that have more people than we have wireless...i really don't have any problems with them.

http://www.crownaudio.com/mic_web/pzm.htm

Donald

[Brian Busch]

Sorry - was 3 round tables with 6 people each. They don't require individual recording of each tables activities. All 4 inputs in a mono-mixdown. Would probably still use stereo and have the mod in left with the 3 tables in right. No amplification in the room, so no problem w/ feedback.

Need to rent, tho - we don't really have a need for 3 boundary mics for our stuff.

[Brian Busch]

Crown - seen those - they're good - have to find a place to rent them. Thanks!

[Nathan J]

Looking around, there are several I found (depending on what your rental company has available -- more selection)

EV has one here: http://www.electrovoice.com/electrov...7?Opendocument

A/T has some here: http://www.audiotechnica.com/guide/t....html#boundary

Audix: http://www.audixusa.com/products.html (under products->accessories>ADX60

If you are renting make sure they are all the same make and model (imaging 2 camera video shoot with 2 different camers), and that they are omni.

Tony

Be careful because some boundary mics do have specific pick up patterns therefore with round table configuration those people off axis of the mic will sound lousy on tape.

Secondly, a potoential problem exists with open microphones. For the best possible results on tape, a microphone gating system will work best. The gate threshold can be set so when somebody speaks at their respective table, the mic will open up very quickly. In contrast it is automatically gated off when sound is below the threshold.
This keeps sound out of microphones from adjacent tables and significantly cleans up the mix.

Nothing kills a good recording like comb filtering and room reflections in mics that should other wise be off. The option to using gates is manufally ride the fader up and down while the conversation is going on-not easily done!

Most rental houses have the Shure automatic microphone systems that work great for these types of applications. My preference for mics would be the Crown PZM.

[Allan Lester]

I have to second the recommendation for some means of shutting off unused microphones. Whether this be a simple gate (which will require careful adjustment to use properly) or an automated microphone mixer (which I have never used but I hear they work quite well for things like this.)

I once tried to record a round table discussion similar to what you are describing and quickly noticed that the sound quality was terrible when there was more than one microphone on at any given time. Unfortunately I had no access to anything but the mixing console, so I sat there for three hours manually muting and unmuting the microphones.

[Brian Busch]

Eeek. I can't be there to ride the faders (what we call it on Sunday). I'll check to see if the Shure ones my rental place has are "auto-gating", or, if they have an automatic microphone mixer. I've never used one, but all the ones I've looked "read" like they do the trick, if setup properly.

I just found out they are rectangular tables, 1 guy at the head, 2 guys on each side, in a U shape - perfect for a non-omni.

Hey - just read they have both "boundary" and PZM mics - should I go for the PZM if its a Crown vs. normal boundary mics?

[TL5]

Which Shure model? I have a bunch of 819's. They are condensors, so they require phantom power (or batteries in a line lump, cable). They also have a smaller 3 pin connector at the mic, not a standard XLR. I also have 4 Audio Technica AT871's that have the same connector. This allows for a lower profile, it may be typical of the genre. Point: Make sure you get the cables.