Radio Mics - Things To Watch Out For
So as promised, I'll talk about my time at the beginning of the year acting as the no.2 sound on the pantomime run here at the local theatre. It ran for 2 months so there was plenty of time to get acquainted with radio world, which I had previously had minimal experience with.
The first week was technical rehearsals which gave us as the sound team plenty of time to set the frequencies of each microphone and see what, if any, problems arose. Thankfully it was quite a smooth run.
So this post is dedicated to a few things to watch out for when looking after and using radio mics, specifically lavalier mics (the tiny ones that attach to the cheek of he performer).
So something to watch out for with these mics is placement. These mics predominantly pick up sound omni-directionally, though some lav mics are cardioid, so feedback is always a threat here. So, if you're using them and have a lot of time to sound check, use that time effectively to get as much gain before feedback whilst also retaining a natural sound for the vocal or spoken word. The best placement I have found is on the cheek as close to the mouth as possible without getting too close as this may lead to the mic catching some of the plosives (B's, P's etc) whilst also catching spit and a breathy sound.Â
Another placement that worked well having the mic hanging from the top of the hairline pointing down the face. This worked particularly well with singers and speakers who are good at projecting to an audience as it provides a nice loud signal to the engineer.Â
It all comes down to what the singer is used to and whatever makes them feel most comfortable. On a long run, especially on a long tour that lasts for months, even years, you want to ensure that the artist or speaker is comfortable.Â
As you can imagine, these mics are extremely delicate. They are subdued to spit, sweat, make-up, water (especially during pantomime season) amongst other things. So here's some things that might help you out.Â
Batteries -Â This is a big one. ALWAYS have spare batteries on you, be it AA or 9-Volt. They will inevitably run out and they may need to be changed during the performance. So always have them to hand.
Spit, Sweat & Water - If these mics get wet for whatever reason, the best things to do is dry it as fast as possible before any damage is done. A good way of doing this is spraying the mic with  a can of compressed air, but NOT directly into it. This will make the diaphragm of the mic oscillate too far and break it internally. Go in from an angle instead. Also, having it near a radiator to dry it out could possibly help, ensuring that it's not too hot.
Make-up -Â In a pantomime show, there's no doubt that it will have actors with a lot of make-up on. A good way of reducing make-up getting into the microphone is putting on a small foam cap on the end of the mic. This will also provide some protection against spit and sweat as well.
Cables -Â After each show I ensured that the cables going from each wireless pack to the microphone was untangled and not tugging against anything.The cables are very fragile and if they are pulled on too hard they will start to break internally. So ensure that they are well looked after. Another thing to ensure, especially when attached to a belt pack, is that the cable is attached to the pack properly, not too loose or too tight. There will be some loud bangs that will come through the system if that does happen which is the last thing you want during a show.
Tape Choice -Â The way to keep the mic cable hidden and in kept in place is with tape. Whichever you choose to use, be it clear or skin coloured, ensure you have some hypoallergenic tape as well. Ask the artist/actor before the first show whether or not they are allergic to certain plasters and tape.
This should provide you with a good grounding of things to watch for when looking after radio mics. Keep these in mind when doing you're next show.Â
Is there anything else that you do? Let us know in the comment section below.
