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Location: Yucaipa, California | We've been experiencing PA problems at our Church recently and thought I'd ask the Sages here for advice:
We have (purchased by our "Music Committee") a Shure Lapel Mic. I don't know the model Number, but can get it. It is one of their better models and has been quite good.
Recently, there have been almost constant problems with the explosive "Tuh", "Cuh", "Puh" sounds of the consonants when the Pastor speaks.
We have the foam "pop" cover in place. We have moved the lapel mic to various places on his tie/shirt/suit, and have adjusted the Gain/volume controls to try and compensate....all to no avail.
I get the feeling that the next step is to replace the actual lapel mic (not the transmitter), but, because this is for the Church, $$$ are tight.
Any suggestions where else to look to solve this very annoying situation???
Thanks! |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Novacaine. |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | ...but, Cliff, I don't play the banjo through THIS PA! And the Pastor is actually rather interesting to listen to... not sonombulatic at all.... |
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Location: NJ | I was referring to giving HIM a shot of Novacaine (in his lips) to minimize his ability to "pop" his "P's" . . .
Possibly look into backing down on the low freq's.
Sometimes inexperienced soundmen have a tendency to "up" the bass on a speaker's voice to give it more "presence" or "authority".
Unfortunately, this will also accentuate the "pops".
Have the pastor and the soundman do a "soundcheck" and experiment . . . |
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Posts: 1320
Location: Round Rock, TX | Your board should have a 100Hz cutoff switch on each channel. Make sure that this switch is engaged on the channel that the lapel mic comes through. (It should be engaged on all vocal mike channels) This will help reduce the problem. Additionally, you can adjust the EQ on his channel and see if you can reduce it some more. Also, do you change batteries in the the transmitter each week? |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | I was referring to giving HIM a shot of Novacaine (in his lips) to minimize his ability to "pop" his "P's" . . .
He's from South Africa. Not much can help his natural speaking abilities.
Possibly look into backing down on the low freq's.
Sometimes inexperienced soundmen have a tendency to "up" the bass on a speaker's voice to give it more "presence" or "authority".
Unfortunately, this will also accentuate the "pops". Yep, tried that
Your board should have a 100Hz cutoff switch on each channel.(It does) Make sure that this switch is engaged on the channel that the lapel mic comes through.(It is) (It should be engaged on all vocal mike channels) This will help reduce the problem. Additionally, you can adjust the EQ on his channel and see if you can reduce it some more. Also, do you change batteries in the the transmitter each week? Yes we do
Thanks for the tips.... others??? |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by wilblee:
Your board should have a 100Hz cutoff switch on each channel. Make sure that this switch is engaged on the channel that the lapel mic comes through. (It should be engaged on all vocal mike channels) This will help reduce the problem. Originally posted by Tim Chapman ...but, Cliff, I don't play the banjo through THIS PA! You use the Mute button for Banjos. :D |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | ... You use the Mute button for Banjos. Not necessary... the Church Board has already issued a banjo-preemptive strike! :(
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Location: South of most, North of few | That was great Tim... :D
Sorry I can't offer any help, it seems that our board is different every week and takes about a half hour sound check to get it right again. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I'm curious, does it only happen when the Minister speaks. Have you tried other people with different frequencies? (ie a woman and a child and another man to check it out) if it happens with all of them, and never happened with the old mike, then I'd say it's a defective mike and should be returned to the manufacturer.
Or in the alternative, the manufacturer may have some tips.
Or have you tried another mic? Try some different ones, cardoid, ribbon, the same type, that way you can rule out the mic as an issue. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | I'm curious, does it only happen when the Minister speaks. Have you tried other people with different frequencies? (ie a woman and a child and another man to check it out) if it happens with all of them, and never happened with the old mike, then I'd say it's a defective mike and should be returned to the manufacturer.
Yep... tried other speakers... it still happens, but not quite as bad.... I also am starting to think that the mic portion needs to be replaced.... |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | If it's not happening with the other mics, then return it. |
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Location: Round Rock, TX | Yeah, without being on the ground there, it's hard to say, but I'm favoring the mic replacement route. It could be that the diaphragm has been compromised (it got dropped, somebody finger-thumped it to test it, etc.) If it was working before and isn't now and the board and batteries are all good - then get another mic. |
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Location: San Bernardino, California | The foam windscreen goes-bad/gets-clogged-up after a while, try changing it. |
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Location: Scotland | There's no easy way to get rid of the effect of plosive consonants with this type of mike. One way is to use a graphic or parametric EQ into the sidechain of a compressor. The offending frequencies are heavily boosted on the graphic and used to trigger the compression early at those frequecies, so you end up with a frequency-dependant compressor. It's a tricky set up and not totally effective.
Try pointing the mike 30 to 40 degrees off axis. This should get rid of some of the problem but will reduce the output quite a bit
Presumably the mike is a cardioid pattern. Directional mikes exagerate plosives because of a characteristic known as the proximity effect. Try an omni-directional version, omni's don't show the proximity effect. |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | Thanks guys! |
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Location: NJ | . . . or, . . . y'can just give hime a bullhorn. |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | ....don't really wanna give "da horn" to a Pastor! |
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Posts: 4827
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Take the mike away and teach him to project from his own diaphram. As a bonus, his sermons will be shorter and more concise. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Good Idea.
Y'can hit him with the phrase:
". . What would Jesus do?? . ." |
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PA Experts, I need help!!!