Mics for general theatre use

[Humey]

Hi, im putting in an order for our school for theatre mics, just all round general use for picking up actors. I don't want to use radio mics, just some along the front of stage. Any suggestions? Got to be around £90 each?

 

ANy help would be good as I have to order before 3pm

[TomHoward]

These caught my eye in the CPC mailout that arrived yesterday - they look a lot like ones that a visiting company held (photo), that they said they'd got from the far east and weren't able to track a supplier for. If these are the same units they performed very well for the price point, and they could either be used in the small desktop stands provided, or they hang very neatly as well.

[Lamplighter]

I have been using CPC boundary mics MP33852 at £29-95 + Vat. Reasonably tough and reliable, though the connecting lead is prone to damage. 2 will cover a 30ft wide stage fairly well to about 8 or 10 feet back assuming that your speakers are suitably positioned to give enough gain. Three will cover up to 50ft If you want maximum gain then 3 across 30ft, actively mixed so that one mic is predominant, also works.

Brian

[timtheenchanteruk]

Samson CM12c hanging and Samson CM10b boundry, both around £60 each I have the boundrys for personal use, and theve been trodden on, and still going after 4years bought 2 of each for our place, only dislike on the hangers is the preamp is integrated into the (rather large) XLR with a mini XLR going to the mic.

 

the boundrys have replaceable leads (XLR-mini XLR) leads.

[cedd]

You might pick up some crown PCC-160's second hand for that money, or to buy the new equivelant would be £140;

http://www.10outof10.co.uk/acatalog/Bartlett_Mics.html

Still the industry standard boundary mic, I've got 3 and love them (The pcc's, not the bartlett's - no experience but they're the same team behind them). I started out with some cheaper ones from CPC and they were little use. Getting away from an omni pattern is the challenge, the Bartlett's are supercardioid and the pattern is far more favourable when it comes to gain before feedback.

 

As for hanging mics, I've not liked any of the cheaper ones I've used. I now use AKG Ck33 capsules with HM1000 hanging modules - very expensive but they do sound nice and can really bring a stage to life - again a hypercardioid pattern.

[TomHoward]

As for hanging mics, I've not liked any of the cheaper ones I've used. I now use AKG Ck33 capsules with HM1000 hanging modules - very expensive but they do sound nice and can really bring a stage to life - again a hypercardioid pattern.

I was very surprised as well with the performance of them - the ones we had in weren't Pulse branded, and I've been trying to find a supplier for them, and then they turn up in the CPC flyer under a Pulse brand - and we do know the reputation some of the Pulse capsules have for the money, so if they are the same I'd encourage you to try them.