Microphone for live sound in a church

[Tangerine Trees Music]

Hi

Can anyone suggest a good microphone for a small acoustic folk band in a medium sized church?



The church has a reasonable built-in PA system, and the band needs a microphone to put the signal into the PA.

Thanks

[DV Southampton]

Hi,

It seems unlikely that you would be able to amplify a whole group with just one mic well without running into problems with feedback. I would recommend starting with a dynamic vocal mic for each singer (Shure PG/SM58, or Sennheiser e845), plugging your guitars (assuming they have pickups) into DI boxes (Behringer DI100), and then a small diaphragm condenser mic for any remaining acoustic instruments (SE1A / Perception 150 etc). You may need a compact mixer to get all these things into one or two channels on your installed system amplifier.

Steve @ DV Southampton

[Tangerine Trees Music]

Thanks, Steve

[Stagesound]

I agree completly with Steve's advice on the mics - I'd add some of the great value Behringer condenser mics for instruments. If you could say a bit more about what your PA system has, you may get some more advice.
Be aware that some church sound systems were never designed for music amplification - they are simply speech reinforcement systems - so just be careful what you plug in there!
What all is in your band, and what size is a "medium" size church?

[DjRo]

Hello,

I agree with Steve, however i would also look at the Shure sm57. Both mics are strong as steel but i do like the sound you get out of the SM57. You can position it right up to a speaker just like the 58 but i think the 57 develops a better sound and with its pick up pattern you will be better off. The pick up pattern can changed by unscrewing the top.

Look at this link for the sm57 mate

Shure SM57 Vocal / Instrument Microphone at DV247.COM


DjRo

[Icemankool]

Yeah I agree with these guys too. Although I tend to think that Audio Technica Mics are also worth a look.
Check the Polar pattern, (Cardoid is probably best for vocals).

What would concern me is "church". Do you mean "Church" as in "old style" (stone), or a more modern building?

The style of building would affect the reverberation characteristics of the building, and if these are excessive may cause some feedback problems...

To ascertain the reverberation characteristics, clap your hands in the church when no-one's present and see if there is a "ring"'.

If the church has those "silly" four (or six) x four inch column speakers on the walls, I'd seriously consider hiring (buying?) a more suitable PA (10" 12" even 15" speakers with horns) and a suitable powered mixer.

From experience, to compensate for excessive natural reverberation, Less is the way to go; Usually in this order: Less "effects", Less treble, Less closeness between microphones (ie spread out!), Less volume. Unless the place is full. People "soak up" the treble frequencies and if they are not singing, the natural reverb of the building.