Choir microphones...

[manasotakey41]

Our choir is seeking some information and recommendations for new microphone. Right now we have two mics in the balcony in front of the choir, vintage unknown but from the 50's! With the new sound system installed 6 mo ago, they still work pretty well, but do not have an on/off switch...and sometimes our choir is quite chatty at the wrong times :o

We would like to purchase 2-3 mics, condensing therefore requiring phantom power, on/off switches (obviously) that can also be removed from the balcony/choir loft and repositioned for choir cantatas in front of the church. Note that we already have wireless individual mics for solos, etc...not omnidirectional, but a nice cardoid pattern.

It would be nice to have something for a wide frequency pickup as we only have two tenors and two basses most of the time. Or perhaps one mic with a lower frequency sensitivity.

Cost...mmm...$100 each? I don't know exactly what the choir will go for, but give me your best suggestions. Thanks!! :D

Fred
manasotakey41@hotmail.com

[Klampert]

We currently use AKG C1000 mics...great for choir and has little pieces you can pop on them to make them a single vocal mic. Amazing responsiveness and quality and not too hard on the budget

[Adam Ogden]

I have a couple different sets we use for various choirs we have...

If you want splurge, go with the Audix M1245....its about the size of a AAA battery....sweet mics, sound great, HUGE gain-before-feedback ratio, but a little pricy.

For our kids Choir, we use Shure PG 81's, and they are good, and pretty dang cheap. You know, the on/off switch only works if you are using the internal AA battery...if you are phantom powering a microphone, often times the Phantom power bypasses the on/off switch....hince the "mute" button on most audio consoles. :)

[Soli Deo Gloria]

My first observation would be if you can hear the choir when they are talking but can't turn the existing mics off maybe you don't need new mics but a means of controlling the existing ones.
I agree with getting 2-3 condenser mics and others have made some very good suggestions on which ones to buy, But if the ones you have are sensitive enough to pick up people while talking, they should do the job when the choir is singing.
If the issue is sound quality then any of the mics already mentioned will work very well but I would still recommend that you revamp your control system to allow the sound operator to control the volume. Tis would also allow them to alter the mix and bring out those two basses and tenors. :)

D J Sebens
Lynden, Wa.

[manasotakey41]

It is unfortunate, but will all the other projects going on in the church, and with regard to the console...the console is hidden in a room in back of the pulpit, in a locked cabinet! Nothing much can be controlled when nothing going on in church can be visualized. Supposedly that is going to change...sometime...whenever <sarcastic grin>. I agree that the mics in place are excellent, but not very portable for front-of-the-church presentations.

Thank you for your suggestions...keep 'em coming!

Fred

[Adam Ogden]

Wow...

Just.......wow...

Ok, that's changes things a little bit. You still have a couple options.

1. Move the console out into the room. Tomorrow. Better yet. Today.
2. Move the console out into the room. Now.
3. Move....just kidding. Seriously, if this is going to be set up like this a while, you could look into getting a couple gates for these mics. It's an outboard processor that, in a basic description, automatically turns the mics on and off when they "hear" sound. You can set that threshhold level, so that the gates don't "hear" the choir talking, but they DO "hear" them sing (since I assume they will be louder when they sing). Once you set the levels, it's pretty much set it and forget it. This will keep the mics quiet when the choir isn't singing, yet turn them on when they are, without the need to physically flip any switches.

Just a thought....

[manasotakey41]

...isn't that the truth...ALL THREE of yours:D

Tonight I sing in a gospel choir concert in Eau Claire, WI which will be attended by our church choir director. She's the one who saddled me with the microphone issue. Rather than spending $400-600 on mics, I will strongly suggest we spend it on moving the console FIRST. It will definitely solve a lot of problems.

It will be a disappointment for some of the choir members who are expecting suggestions for new and improved mics...even though we already have mics that are actually pretty good to begin with.

I'll let you know how it goes :)