Posted by PTravel on 11/29/07 02:39

"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley@xp7rt.net> wrote in message
news:5r6jgfF135p4vU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Pre-Meltdown" wrote ...
>> But some of the problems are 8' ceilings (ergo no booms), and given some
>> occasional vigorous motion, a lapel/lavalier mic could be noisy, with
>> rubbing etc.
>
> Thousands (10,000s?) of vigorously moving people are
> using effective microphones every week. Both live (at health-
> clubs/gyms) and recorded (exercise videos, TV shows, etc.)
> I can't imagine that use of your device would be any more
> vigorous that some of the kinds of things they do every day.
>
> There is a whole sub-culture of microphones and wireless
> TX/RX systems specificaly designed for this kind of use.
> The problems of movement, attachment, sweat, etc, etc.
> have been effectively resolved over the last several years.
> You should have no problem finding microphones and
> wireless sytems that would perform perfectly for your
> situation.

I'd add to this that virtually all Broadway shows are miked these days, and
use wireless body mikes quite effectively without the least concern about
rubbing or chafing noises. If vigorously-dancing, heavily-costumed Broadway
performers can use wireless body mikes, I'm sure the OP's talent can as
well.

I'm also not sure why 8' ceilings preclude boom mikes. The boom can come
from the bottom or the sides -- back in my professional acting days, that
was done all the time, particularly on location shoots. All that is
required is that the mike and boom be kept out of the frame - it doesn't
matter what direction it comes from.


>
>> Could I mount a couple of shotguns closer to me on tripods, just out of
>> camera view? Mebbe velcro one or two to the ceiling?
>
> No and No. What happens if the talker moves or turns
> around or even turns their head? Not to mention the
> acoustic nightmare of trying to shoot with a shotgun in
> a small enclosed space. Fixed-position shotguns are
> only effective if the person is just sitting in one place.
>
> And shotguns indoors are problematical because they
> depend on sound waves from ("off axis") to properly
> discriminate the desired sound vs. ambience. But when
> the ambient sounds are bouncing off nearby walls, floors,
> ceilings, etc. Their effectiveness breaks down. That is
> why professionals typically use "hyper-cardioids" indoors
> vs. true shotguns outdoors.
>
>> Someone suggesting taping a lavalier to skin, instead of clothing, to
>> reduce noise.
>
> Very slim (and nearly invisible) headset mics seem to
> be one of the prefered methods for micing in this kind
> of situation. Professional "lav" mics are also very tiny
> (the size of your little fingernail). Places like Broadway
> productions frequently hide them in the hairline.
>
>> I imagine a wireless mic would be called for here?
>> Any recs?
>
> I got 7 hits on eBay searching for "aerobics wireless"
>
> The big-gun professionals (such as people who do
> sound for major Hollywood productions and prime-
> time episodic television) have a lively discussion at
> news:rec.arts.movies.production.sound From their
> consensus over the last several years, their idea of
> a decent wireless microphone starts at ~$1500. They
> are willing to concede that some usable systems are
> available as cheap as $500.
>
> From personal experience (and reading the tales of
> woe from others here on Usenet) wireless systems
> <$500 are suspect as cheap, unreliable plastic toys.
> You are better off renting a professional system than
> wasting money on a cheap and unreliable toy.
>
> That said, most of those hits I got on eBay were for a
> Samson "Airline 77" model at ~$300 It might be worth
> a try if you could get one from a local dealer with the
> option of returning it if it doesn't work for your situation.
>
> I'm not above using a wired lav (or headset) mic, either.
> Unless your on-screen person is jumping around, etc.
> strongly consider a wired mic. A modestly-priced wired
> mic is much more reliable than even a $10,000 wireless
> unit. I have even had good results with the cheap (~$25)
> lav available at Radio Shack if you have the time to learn
> how to use it to best advantage, etc.
>

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