JacobLovie Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Hey, this is my first post so be kind :D Im just wondering if this microphone could be used in a theatre environment, it is required to be school production quality equiptment: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=27415 Do you think that this microphone minus the clip on the microphone head would work as a microphone when worn as a halo microphone on the actors head? PLEASE HELP! I look forward to your response xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killyp Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 No, I would avoid it like the plague. I've got one, and I only bought it as an emergency (literally half way through a gig when the guitarist's acoustic pickup died). You'd be better off just telling the actors to shout. :D What's your budget? You may be better off hiring in some good kit if it's just for the one show... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacobLovie Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 No, I would avoid it like the plague. I've got one, and I only bought it as an emergency (literally half way through a gig when the guitarist's acoustic pickup died). You'd be better off just telling the actors to shout. :D What's your budget? You may be better off hiring in some good kit if it's just for the one show... Well Im just looking into it really...thank you very mush for your advice. Did it not work due to it not being intended as a guitar mic? Have you tried it on spoken and sun vocals? Any more opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Oddly, the actual element on those is really common - there are dozens of variants of these about. They're omni-directional and have a reasonably smooth frequency response. They're not particularly new, design wise. The cap unscrews and the element is simply tucked inside. Pretty crude really - but as a cheap lav type mic they're ok. Trantec used the capsule end for many years on their budget systems. Fault are usually down to the cable failing at the ends. The maplin one has the power supply in the end plug - which is a bit yucky and easy to break.What are you going to do with them? - Halo as in an elastic headband with the mic centre forehead or temple? They work ok - but much depends on the rest of your system as gain before feedback with mics in that position might not be what you expect. The cable doesn't look very long - extending it might be a problem as it has a jack on the end and they usually pull out if you make extensions. A bit more info is needed. You can get very similar things from many suppliers.I've just seen the other posts - I'm amazed. I cannot comment on the quality of the maplin PSU plug, but I can comment on the mic and I'd estimate that I have used loads - maybe 50 or 60 over the years. They perform perfectly well - they are not as smooth as DPAs, they don't have the clarity of MKE2s or the reliability of Countrymans - but at the price, when you damage them, bin them. They're not the kind of mic to use when you need plenty of volume before feedback and they are OMNI so they simply need to be near the sound source. I have even used a pair as drum overheads for a jazz gig once when the mic box went missing and they worked perfectly well. This maplin one is simply a housing and power supply for a very, very common mass produced electret condenser element and perform like one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacobLovie Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 Oddly, the actual element on those is really common - there are dozens of variants of these about. They're omni-directional and have a reasonably smooth frequency response. They're not particularly new, design wise. The cap unscrews and the element is simply tucked inside. Pretty crude really - but as a cheap lav type mic they're ok. Trantec used the capsule end for many years on their budget systems. Fault are usually down to the cable failing at the ends. The maplin one has the power supply in the end plug - which is a bit yucky and easy to break.What are you going to do with them? - Halo as in an elastic headband with the mic centre forehead or temple? They work ok - but much depends on the rest of your system as gain before feedback with mics in that position might not be what you expect. The cable doesn't look very long - extending it might be a problem as it has a jack on the end and they usually pull out if you make extensions. A bit more info is needed. You can get very similar things from many suppliers. Well I dont have any specific show in mind that I need it for I am just considering looking into new equiptment to see what works, and yer wither a halo with the mic on the temple or clipped through the hair/wig. Thanks for your advice :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 There have been previous discussions in here about using cheapie mics in this application and generally most of us have been pleasantly surprised. Have a look at the similar offerings from CPC which are likely the same capsule but cabled up by somebody else. As I type this, I can't connect to the CPC site but they're often cheaper and also available in a flesh/beige colour which might make your life easier. You'll also find a number of topics in here about adapting them with different connectors, putting them on headset booms and so on. The last panto I did before leaving the UK I used expensive mics on the leads but "disposamics" on the rest of them...it all worked well. Give it a try, particularly if you're handy with a soldering iron for changing the connectors which tend to be a weak spot. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacobLovie Posted January 29, 2009 Author Share Posted January 29, 2009 There have been previous discussions in here about using cheapie mics in this application and generally most of us have been pleasantly surprised. Have a look at the similar offerings from CPC which are likely the same capsule but cabled up by somebody else. As I type this, I can't connect to the CPC site but they're often cheaper and also available in a flesh/beige colour which might make your life easier. You'll also find a number of topics in here about adapting them with different connectors, putting them on headset booms and so on. The last panto I did before leaving the UK I used expensive mics on the leads but "disposamics" on the rest of them...it all worked well. Give it a try, particularly if you're handy with a soldering iron for changing the connectors which tend to be a weak spot. Bob Thank You for you advice, its is helpful :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killyp Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 FWIW, the lack of a balanced connection (which helps to reduce hum etc... over long cable lengths) has annoyed me and I've found to be very limiting. You may not have the same issues though. I hear what the others above say, but I've found mine to sound horrible on vocals too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Killy P - I have no idea where you are getting your advice from, but if the OP is looking at lav mics of this type, none of them are balanced are they - at any price? If you want balanced, the some have the psu and a small pre-amp in an extended shell on an XLR, so can be plugged into a normal mic input with phantom power. The OP has made no comment about what he wants to plug them into - he wants something that can be clipped to a headband - he's not said why? So maybe it will be plugged into a radio pack, or extended for connecting to something else (although cables might be a bit troublesome if used this way) If hum has troubled you with your long connection, and you NEED a balanced mic, then this isn't the right thing for you. As others have said, for the job this mic is designed for, it produces sound that's perfectly usable. If you want it to sound like a hand-held, or want it to simply sound like a cardioid sounds, it won't. It's a small capsule, omni mic and perfectly fine for the kind of jobs these things are used for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killyp Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Truth, I have had limited knowledge and experience with lavlier/lapel microphones, but all I'm saying is that the CK55Ls I've used don't hum, wheras the mic I bought from Maplins hums even when connected into a belt-pack if it's anywhere near something like a transformer. If the OP finds it does what he wants, then that's good. All I'm saying is it didn't do any of the things I've tried it out on well, which wasn't really surprising given it's cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.elsbury Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Truth, I have had limited knowledge and experience with lavlier/lapel microphones,And so surely it would be better to hold off on the comments and wait for people with more experience? I mean, a mechanic wouldn't go charging in and offering advice on a car engine fault, when all he's had to play with in the past are lawnmower engines, would he? ;-) but all I'm saying is that the CK55Ls I've used don't hum,And the CK55L being a mic that costs a fair bit more than the Maplins mic... wheras the mic I bought from Maplins hums even when connected into a belt-pack if it's anywhere near something like a transformer.Why on earth would the mic/ beltpack be anywhere near a transformer when in normal use, IE on a person? To the OP, my advice to you is to try it out, if you find the sound is OK, that's great, if not then it's not a whole lot of money wasted.:P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killyp Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 A presenter using a laptop for instance? This wasn't the situation where I found it to give issues, but there we go. I can't really do anything more than give you my experiences with the microphone in question can I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Hope-Streeter Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 <br />A presenter using a laptop for instance? This wasn't the situation where I found it to give issues, but there we go.<br /><br />I can't really do anything more than give you my experiences with the microphone in question can I?<br /><br /><br /><br /> A laptop with a transformer that could cause a hum ? Hmm ...... David E has given you some good advice. I suggest you take it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_Beech Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 But how close are they really to the transformer? If this isn't the situation where you got a hum, then what was it? What sort of transformer? I'm not sure if the CPC offerings use the same capsule or not, but either way I'd recommend these over this mic if for nothing other than price. Of course this depends on your wiring and the power arrangements and if this is suitable. But about 18 months ago I spotted the cpc mics like this in the bargain basement section for about £1.50 a piece with mini jack and beige ones for less (but they did have mini XLR on), so I bought 50 beige and 100 black. I'd like to say I'm about ready for some more as they're cheap and cheerful but in truth I've probably lost about 2 beige ones and a dozen black ones, some of which I have literally LOST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacobLovie Posted January 29, 2009 Author Share Posted January 29, 2009 Thanks everone for your help :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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