Widdy Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Hi All. I am very new to this forum, so please be gentle! :unsure: I am working on a local drama group production but as a technical team, we are really having problems with getting some mics on stage for voical purposes. I have been told about something called cushion mics or floor mics. From what they looked like, it was a cushion that laid on the floor, the idea being that when the 'acting' lot are banging about, they don't pick up the vibrations and noises made on the floor, just the voices on stage? I have tried searching Google and nothing seems to be turning out or me! Can anyone assist me in this matter. We are (as a community Drama Group) minior funded so any ideas that won't cost us a great deal of money but would be effective, please write back. We are also slightly down on what we can use as we are based at a local Secondary school and running cables, use of various equipments is not allowed. Many thanks in advance. ;) Widdy. (Mat Whitaker, Snaith and Cowick Drama). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 What you're looking for will be found (including many topics on this forum) by searching for PCC, boundary microphone, PZM, PCC-160, pressure zone microphone. They are by design pretty immune to floor vibrations, and certainly don't have to sit on a cushion (which would actually make them less efficient) - but some people like to put them on a thin piece of foam - but we're talking thin - not more than a few mms deep. However - they pick up ANY noise they can hear - so the actual thumping noise of clumps of dancers is heard - and very often, as you'll find from reading around, they don't pick up the very faint voiced people - they pick up everything! The limit is when they start to feedback - so don't expect miracles. They are however, very popular, and most people think they're worth considering. They have cables - but being honest, running cables is what every theatre does - so if your venue won't allow this, change the venue - it's a crazy rule put in place by people who should not be in charge of things they don't understand. Don't buy them, by the way - rent them from the local lighting and sound supplier. I assume you have a decent sound system to actually attach them to, and a person with good ears to work it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widdy Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share Posted January 8, 2011 Hi there... thanks for the Rapid Response. We tend to run cables for the speakers and have areas sectioned off and a couple of metres of zoning anyway! We do have a sound system, it is a good one which I can't remember the name of as I don't normally have dealings with sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 How odd!Most venues are quite happy running cables across gangways and other public walkways with simple precautions - some use proper moulded cable protectors, others use carpet, gaffered down, while others are quite happy with just a few layers of gaffer straight over the cable. Some add hazard tape, others white gaffer, others don't. All can be perfectly safe, and just need simple risk assessment. A couple of metres of zoning for a few cables seems, er, somewhat of an overkill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave SA Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Completely agree Paul. I'd go as far as to say that forcing people to be that ''aware'' of cabling will likely mean that their attention is elsewhere when a real risk presents itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndenim Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 I suppose there is no option for flying the mics?As it's amdram, I presume you are trying to reinforce speech? As Paul mentioned, there are several risk assessments that can ( and have to, these days ! ) be carried out, and suggested methods usually appease the H&S nutters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.