Topic: Mounting mics above a stage

[wharfratjoe]

Hello,

I was wondering if I could get some guidance to clampping mics to a light bar that is above a stage. I want to point them straight down at the front of the stage area and use Omni Caps

Venue pic with an idea from a friend. See his remarks in red.

Thanks!
Joe

[F.O.Bean]

I would recommend using a Manfrotto Superclamp with a Lowel Half or Full Pole. A Lowel Half Pole should do the job

[ScoobieKW]

I would recommend using a Manfrotto Superclamp with a Lowel Half or Full Pole. A Lowel Half Pole should do the job

I'd also pick up a Manfrotto Rapid Adapter with a 3/8 stud. Add a 3/8 > 5/8 mic adapter and you're golden. Makes grabbing your mics so quick and easy on a ladder.

[ScoobieKW]

Or, for a permanent hang from a  light grid. I like the hook for attaching to pipe.

http://www.premier-lighting.com/shop/product6672.html

[bremusound]

Most omnis are quite directional in the upper frequencies. Keep this in mind when you consider to hang them simply straight down.

[ArchivalAudio]

Most omnis are quite directional in the upper frequencies. Keep this in mind when you consider to hang them simply straight down.

yes
you might want to hang them at a 45° to 60° angle.

also if you are running omnis, you'll want to considering spacing them  over the stage perhaps a nice 8' spread would be nice. you could try close to each end of the stage pointed in at 45 toward center, and at a 45° or so angle from the ceiling.
you'll be happy with the results.

[F.O.Bean]

I would recommend using a Manfrotto Superclamp with a Lowel Half or Full Pole. A Lowel Half Pole should do the job

I'd also pick up a Manfrotto Rapid Adapter with a 3/8 stud. Add a 3/8 > 5/8 mic adapter and you're golden. Makes grabbing your mics so quick and easy on a ladder.

Yes, forgot about the rapid adapter All of my clamps and shocks have 1/4"-20 so I have a 1/4"-20 rapid adapter The rapid adapters make setting up/tearing down SOOOOO frickin easy

[wharfratjoe]

Wow, Thanks for all the responses! The owner said whatever I want to do for the setup is cool with him. I was planning on doing a permanent setup and just take my mics down when done and leave the clamps, etc.

Would Hyper caps be a better choice then? I am planning on using Busman BSC1's

[F.O.Bean]

Wow, Thanks for all the responses! The owner said whatever I want to do for the setup is cool with him. I was planning on doing a permanent setup and just take my mics down when done and leave the clamps, etc.

Would Hyper caps be a better choice then? I am planning on using Busman BSC1's

Dont get me wrong, I am a HYPER GUY, through and through, but hypers DO NOT sound like the right choice for that recording location I would run cards if it were up to me. The bar/venue/whatever is probably pretty chatty as most bars/small venues are. If you were recording in front of the PA like a typical venue, then yes, I would DEFINITELY suggest hypers. But youre recording ABOVE the stage and band, so IMO, its either cards or omnis

Upon another look at your recording location, I would go with cards. The room is small and the ceiling is low, so I think if you ran omnis, youd probably get a LOT of room reverb and reflections off of the ceiling! Are you able to record here on a semi regular basis? I would go with cards for the first time, and just see how it turns out. If you ever record there again, maybe try omnis the second time around. If you like the way the cards sound, then sweet, keep running cards there. But if youre unhappy with the card source, I would DEF try the omnis next

Best of luck bro. Please keep us updated and post a link to a sample or the whole show so we can see/hear if you/we/us made the right choice

[wharfratjoe]

Yes I am able to record here on a semi-regular basis. I can do both cards and omnis and compare and post the results. It maybe a little while before i order everything and go back down there and setup everything.  However some links would definitely help with what i should get. Uncle Google is helpful but could use more specifics 

Here is what the room sounds like in front about 10 feet away approx 7.5' high using hypers. If I recall the ceiling maybe higher in front of where the stage area is where this picture was taken. I was just to the left of that running my rig.

I EQ'd some of the mid-range echo-y-ness out of it and brought up the bass some.

http://archive.org/details/trr2013-07-20.aud.bsc1-k31.wharfratjoe.flac16

Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

[F.O.Bean]

Yes I am able to record here on a semi-regular basis. I can do both cards and omnis and compare and post the results. It maybe a little while before i order everything and go back down there and setup everything.  However some links would definitely help with what i should get. Uncle Google is helpful but could use more specifics 

Here is what the room sounds like in front about 10 feet away approx 7.5' high using hypers. If I recall the ceiling maybe higher in front of where the stage area is where this picture was taken. I was just to the left of that running my rig.

I EQ'd some of the mid-range echo-y-ness out of it and brought up the bass some.

http://archive.org/details/trr2013-07-20.aud.bsc1-k31.wharfratjoe.flac16

Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

Well, if you can run BOTH cards AND omnis at the same time, then DEFINITELY go that route

And that recording you linked sounds really goo bro. I would be happy with that recording

[ScoobieKW]

Think beyond hangin above the stage. Walk the room. find the sweet spot, and look up. What's close? If you can get permission can you put one of these up there?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/838901-REG/impact_srp_115_3_0_baby_pin_wall.html

sometimes there is a light bar close to the spot, at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle (350 cap club) there's a bar for a few spotlights about 20 feet from the stage. we get the perfect mix of good stage volume and pa with the mics at 12 feet. 4 xlr lines back to the booth by FOH.

http://archive.org/details/acb2013-08-30.scoobiesnax.flac16

or

http://archive.org/details/mhb2011-12-01.scoobiesnax.flac16

[wharfratjoe]

I am just getting around to buying items for this. I will post back with results and any additional questions. Thanks again!

[wharfratjoe]

I have not had a chance to run the Mics at Kegs (picture above) yet, but here are the mics mounted on the lightbar at OC Tavern. This is the 1st official clamping I have done. Thank you again for all the info.

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1465177_760888363927887_694623779_n.jpg

https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1424496_760916977258359_2129447234_n.jpg

https://archive.org/details/bg2013-11-16.aud.bsc1-k11.wharfratjoe.flac16

[wharfratjoe]

Finally setup the mics on the lightbar @ Kegs.

https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1475901_783265688356821_541014728_n.jpg

https://soundcloud.com/wharfratjoe/the_rum_runners-2013-12-21set1-think

[wharfratjoe]

Latest transfer of the clamp with some mastering:

https://archive.org/details/trr2014-04-12.aud.bsc1-k11.wharfratjoe.flac16

Thanks again for everyone's input 

[PJWeitzner]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008XCQNHG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This works great as well with a 3/8 to 5/8 converter.

[wharfratjoe]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008XCQNHG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This works great as well with a 3/8 to 5/8 converter.

Nice! I have a few other places I record at that may just come in handy. Thanks!