Andrew HopeCity

I'm looking for suggestions for a congregation mic. & placement. This is for our live stream where we want to pick up as much of the congregational singing as we can. Congregation is usually ~175 and the problems are most acute when we have a full band (drums, bass, acoustic & electric guitars, keys) at which point, the current boundary mics pick up lots of stage sound, but little of the congregation. Venue (pictured) was originally office space so has a fairly low ceiling, and we're filling it, so the front row is very close to the stage. Somebody suggested a short shotgun, but I don't know whether they're excessively directional in this setting - and therefore likely to pick up one or two individuals but miss the fuller sound. Also, where would you suggest placing the mics? The front lighting bar doesn't seem ideal because it's so close to the stage (and the speakers). The rear one doesn't seem ideal because much of the congregation sit in front of it. If we were to go with the front bar, (I) can you get mics with suitably good off-axis rejection such that they really don't pick up much stage sound and (ii) can you get mounting adaptors for the mics the would hold them angled back towards the congregation? Any ideas very welcome, thanks.