WirelessMicrophones.Com / Product Discussions / Live Sound

Welcome everyone to the WirelessMicrophones.com Live Sound forum

Mikey — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:12:22 GMT

You're into live sound? This is the place to talk about it. Problems, solutions, comments, criticisms or confessions -- bring it on in. Come across an interesting SR-related issue? Let's hear it. Wondering about a particular piece of gear? Ask. Whether you're in the corner club, local gym, boardroom, house of worship or major venue, it's all live sound and it all fits here.

Squelch

Mikey — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:35:58 GMT

I'm asked about this quite a bit -- what is it and how do I use it? Simply put, squelch works like a noise gate, except that it's triggered by RF instead of audio. If the receiver does not sense a strong-enough signal from the transmitter, it mutes the output so that you don't have to listen to all the other mess that they pick up. Just remember that squelch is RF level dependent, not audio level dependent -- it has to do with the communication between the transmitter and the receiver.

Here is a good set-up procedure grom Shure --

Turn the transmitter power off to eliminate the desired signal.
Turn on all associated equipment in nearby locations to create the "worst-case" signal condition.
Set the receiver volume control to minimum to avoid excessive noise in the sound system.
Turn the receiver power on.
Observe the RF and audio indicators on the receiver.
If the indicators are showing a no-signal condition the squelch setting may be left as-is.
If the indicators are showing a steady or intermittent signal-received condition increase the squelch control setting until a no-signal condition is indicated. Set the squelch control slightly past this point to provide a threshold margin.
If the no-signal condition cannot be achieved even with high squelch settings it may be possible to find and eliminate the undesirable signal. Otherwise it may be necessary to select a different operating frequency.
Turn the transmitter power on.
Make sure that the receiver indicates a signal-received condition with the transmitter at normal operating distance. Remember that high squelch settings reduce the operating distance.

Now go forth and be wireless --

Miking live piano

Mikey — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 14:20:51 GMT

I've spent years in the studio and I've recorded many pianos on hundreds of tracks, but that's in the studio. I'm always interested in mic techniques, and thought that this is a pretty cool idea. Diana Krall's FOH Tony Romano is using two Audix SCX-25s and mounting them semi-permanently in the piano by clipping the D-flex clip directly to the bracing. I wondered about vibrations through the bracing, but I guess the mounting internals of the mic itself take care of that.

I know that not many of us are touring with a grand piano, but there are lots of us who at some point mic a piano -- usually on Sundays. It's a great idea for getting rid of mic stands (in the way, distracting to look at and always getting bumped), whatever mics you choose to use.

Live monitor system

pearldrummer — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 22:56:26 GMT

I have a lot of experiences from the otherside of the board both good and bad. This is another bad one that has spurred me to finally do something about it.

For a brief background, I play Christian music from different genres, from p&w to edgy rock. I have played outside at many places around the area. Most of the times it is in a format that gives about 10 band in a day to play. So that means: set up, do a very very fast sound check, play and get off the stage.

My issue is that my monitor mix is rarely if ever descent and my questions are as follows:

1. What do you recommend for a monitor mix that we can set up in the practice room, that is portable enough to be set up in the above situations and controlled by a member of the band?

2. Assuming that this system will be somewhat expensive, is there a way to buy it in stages utilizing each stage as we buy it?

3. Any other recommendations?

I have drum mics along with a Behhringer 2004 board. Thank you in advance for any help.

Mic for acoustic guitar

Mud Diver — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:04:49 GMT

I am playing praise & worship for my local church and I am playing through basically an SM58 to mic my guitar. I would rather not install an internal pickup system or mic system in my guitar, but I have a feeling that there is a better solution for this than the SM58. I have been told I need to use a condenser mic but can anyone recommend one and is there anyone else who is doing this that is using a particular mic that they are happy with.

Thanks,