Microphones for chant
  • AngelaRAngelaR
    Posts: 321
    I have received the great honor of putting together a small women's schola (only about five women) to sing for the Behold Conference in Peoria, IL on March 10. We typically stand in a semicircle, and one of our pieces will be a two-part polyphonic piece. The problem is, we are very used to singing in a live acoustic without microphone. We will now be in a dead conference room filled with 900+ women. Obviously, I don't want single singer mikes. But is there a preference between microphones that capture the sound from about halfway around, and ones that catch the sound all the way around? And how many? Thoughts?
  • Matthew
    Posts: 31
    Talk to the company providing the sound/video systems. Ask for the Shure SM81 (not THE best for what you want, but reliable and a workhorse in the industry - they're likely to have one, and one is all you need). Also, ask if they can mix in a bit of digital reverb (most systems have digital effects).
  • francis
    Posts: 10,848
    these are simply the best if you can rent them. get a matching pair

    http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT4050/

    I use these for our choir at church... also in a pair facing off each other at 90 degrees. A good arm's length for each vocalist from the mics is best.

    http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/U853R/

    Matthew:

    Do you like the SM81's for choral applications? I have never used them before. I have a pair of Rode NT-5's (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/NT5/) which are similar, and they are incredible for recording Live acoustical music.