Mic A Small Choir

Capture a small choir using a condenser or dynamic microphone.

Capturing the sound of a small choir may seem like a difficult task, but it is easily accomplished with a microphone or two. Dynamic or condenser microphones can be used to complete this task. While either type of microphone will work fine, condenser microphones are typically preferred because of their expanded high frequency range. Whereas most dynamic microphones have a high frequency limit of around 16 KHz, most condenser microphones have a high frequency limit of around 20 KHz.

Instructions

1. Acquire one condenser or dynamic microphone for every 20 foot span of singers. For about 15 singers, you'll need one microphone. For about 30 singers, you'll need two microphones. When more than one microphone is required, acquire two of the same type of microphone if possible.

2. Place the microphone, or microphones, on a boom stand. Alternatively, hang the microphones from the ceiling if they are small enough to do so.

3. Place the microphone, or microphones, about a foot and a half in front of the singers in the front row of the choir.

4. Raise the microphone, or microphones, about a foot and a half above the heads of the singers in the back row of the choir. Doing so will position the microphones equidistantly from the singers in the front row and singers in the back row. This will yield a balanced mix of the choir.

5. Position the microphone in the center of the group if only one microphone is needed. If two microphones are needed, position one microphone towards the left side of the group and one microphone towards the right side of the group. When using multiple microphones, the general rule for placement is that the microphones should be three times as far away from each other as they are from the sound source they are capturing.

Tags: condenser microphones, high frequency, microphone microphones, about foot, about foot half, about singers