How To Use A Lavalier Mic
Have you lot always experienced issues working with lavalier microphones?
If you lot haven't, you either already know what you lot're doing or you've been getting lucky… I eventually found out the hard manner that there's a right fashion and a incorrect way to use them.
That's why yous'll definitely want to learn how to use lavalier microphones the Right WAY, Correct At present.
Making mistakes is an excellent fashion to learn, but I thought I'd relieve yous (and anybody else) the trouble!
It'southward quite simple, LOTS of things tin go wrong when using lavalier microphones then you need to stay on top of things. Information technology doesn't matter whether you decide to piece of work with wired or wireless lavalier microphones…
I'm going to teach yous how to manage your power, how to manage your cables, how to position your lavalier microphones and finally, how to behave a proper soundcheck.
Of course, I'll also be recommending some important tools that you might be missing.
Read until the end and I guarantee that you lot'll be more than confident on your next gig!
- Wired vs Wireless Lavalier Microphones (PROS/CONS)
- Lavalier Microphones Ability Management
- Lavalier Microphone Cable Direction
- 3 Ways To Place a Lavalier Microphone
- Soundcheck: Lavalier Microphone Troubleshooting
- Summary: How To Use a Lavalier Microphone
Wired vs Wireless Lavalier Microphones (PROS/CONS)
Wired Lavalier Microphones
Wired is less expensive, sure…
Only, you may demand to purchase a recording device for each microphone.
If not, and so you'll definitely exist restricting yourself to a stationary setting. In other words, your subject(s) won't exist able to motility around freely.
That beingness said, you'll never experience RF interference with wired lavalier microphones.
Well, it'll exist MUCH less likely (still possible though)!
PROS
- RF interference isn't a serious event (unless y'all've got terrible quality lavs)
- Much less baterries to worry almost
CONS
- Restricts the movements of you lot and your subject(s)
- Requires an individual recording device for each lav if you want more mobility
Wireless Lavalier Microphones
When it comes to wireless lavalier microphones though, RF interference is a real upshot. That'south why some of the college-cease microphones let you lot to tweak the frequency.
If your wireless lavs don't have that selection, you'll just have to deal with it in other means.
Yet, wireless lavalier microphones have I major reward and that's the ability to monitor your entire cast using i mixer/recorder.
Hell, you could as well be booming at the aforementioned fourth dimension!
Just continue in mind that you'll constantly need to exist checking your battery levels…
PROS
- Increased mobility for subject(s) and yourself
- Monitor all wireless lavs with ane mixer/recorder while being mobile
CONS
- Keeping an heart on bombardment levels becomes increasingly difficult with the amount of lavs
- RF interference could be a serious result
Lavalier Microphone Ability Management
It won't be as much of an issue with wired lavalier microphones.
At virtually, you'll simply need to make sure each recording device has enough batteries.
When it comes to wireless lavalier microphones though, you'll always need to make certain that you've got plenty battery life to make the take!
You'll need to worry nearly the transmitter, the receiver AND your mixer/recorder.
If you lot're working with lavs like the Sennheiser G3, the merely manner to power them is by using AA batteries. As good as the G3s are, that can exist quite difficult to keep track of.
Granted, they'll last a few hours with high-quality batteries.
Nonetheless, one of the reasons I similar my Synco G2s and so much is because they can be powered with an external power bank while you lot're using them.
Lots of high-quality lavalier microphones also have this choice.
I definitely recommend pairing each transmitter and receiver with a ability banking concern that manner you can e'er connect them if battery levels are running depression.
These power banks tin fit in a pocket, so it won't be as well much of a hindrance for you or your discipline(s).
If you're not using power banks, just make sure to have enough of AA batteries on paw!
Lavalier Microphone Cablevision Direction
You'll E'er be dealing with cables, even with wireless lavalier microphones.
To exist more specific, we're talking nigh the cablevision that connects the lavalier microphone to the transmitter or recording device. That cablevision picks up vibrations… Yup!
If yous slide your finger up and down the cable, you'll hear what I hateful.
It's the same situation with all microphone cables, but those cables aren't usually moving. Your discipline(southward) volition definitely NOT exist sitting still 100% of the time.
Then, there are TWO things we can practice to mitigate cablevision noise…
- Brand a small loop at the base of the lavalier microphone
- Make a loop a few inches down the cable and tape it
The get-go one is MANDATORY while the second one is optional.
However, both of these manoeuvres attain the same matter and that'south to release tension!
When the cable moves now, information technology shouldn't brand whatever dissonance considering those loops will terminate the vibrations from reaching the microphone capsule.
The second one will also make it easier for your subject area(s) to move around, everyone's happy!
Next, I'll be showing you how to reduce noise by PROPERLY placing your lavalier microphones.
3 Ways To Place Your Lavalier Microphones
On a Shirt
One of the all-time locations to place your lavalier microphones is on the shirt's forepart placket (where the shirt is buttoned/unbuttoned).
If the shirt has a pocket, that could besides be a pretty good location!
In regards to height, information technology'll exist optimal to identify the microphone somewhere between the lower and middle breast. Try different placements to find the best position for each field of study.
You'll also want to brand sure to hide the cable behind the shirt using a loop equally nosotros discussed in the department on cablevision management. It'll look AND sound more professional person!
On a T-Shirt
T-shirts are more difficult because you merely have the collar to work with.
If by chance the t-shirt has a pocket, I'd use that instead! Why?
Your sound won't be as skilful if you become also shut to the neck. Yous too increase the risk of having beards and jewelry rubbing up against your lavalier microphone.
It'due south not impossible to become a proficient sound this fashion, but I definitely recommend pointing the lavalier microphone AWAY from the neck if yous're placing it on the t-shirt's neckband.
Also, don't forget to make a loop with your cable to avoid pulling on the collar.
On The Chest
Do you need to have your lavalier microphone out of sight?
In most situations, the best manner to attain this will be by creating a shell made of gaffer or medical tape and sticking it on your subject field'southward upper breast.
Information technology won't be ideal for your bailiwick (particularly when they remove it) and it'll likewise muffle your lavalier microphone a scrap. But, it might just be your only selection in some cases!
If the microphone is showing over the shirt, you lot can effort placing it under the collar instead.
Soundcheck: Lavalier Microphone Troubleshooting
Regardless of where and how yous've positioned your lavalier microphone(due south), you'll demand to confirm if you made the right decision by doing a soundcheck.
Now, the all-time time to do this is BEFORE the shoot begins!
If possible, I recommend audio-checking each subject 1-on-one to brand certain the microphone placement is optimized for his/her attire, physiology and vocalization.
Nonetheless, you may not always have the time to be that diligent.
In most cases, you'll but want to soundcheck the whole cast while y'all start mixing.
If your mixer/recorder has the ability, you can recoup by isolating each track. Listen for a few moments to make sure you don't hear whatsoever rubbing, interference, etc…
If you practice, then you'll demand to get that sorted out BEFORE the first take.
Information technology'll as well be the last gamble for you to double-bank check battery levels.
When setting levels for lavalier microphones, I e'er try to keep them as low as possible (usually peaking effectually -18 dB). I'd rather non risk clipping when someone laughs, yells, etc…
If your recording device has 32-flake float recording, yous won't have to worry about that though.
For anybody else, information technology's better to be safe than sorry!
Summary: How To Use a Lavalier Microphone
That's a lot of information to digest for a clip-on mic, isn't information technology?
Well, I sometimes experience like my job as a audio mixer/recordist is to overthink everything. Information technology's not every bit elementary every bit clipping on a lavalier microphone and calling information technology a twenty-four hour period!
Y'all're essentially managing power, cables, talent AND sound.
Information technology requires lots of focus and please, I highly encourage y'all to make yourself some checklists to make it easier on yourself. I keep them on my smartphone's annotation app.
Information technology'due south likewise a good idea to have annotation of which input is associated to who.
When y'all're working with more than 2 lavalier microphones, it'southward very like shooting fish in a barrel to lose track of things.
Likewise, brand sure to communicate with your managing director and DOP.
Establish dandy advice from the get-go that way if you hear something get wrong in the center of a take, you can either signal that or ask them to practise some other have.
It's actually a HUGE responsibility so don't have any of this lightly.
Practice you have any questions? Exit them down in the comments and I'll be more than than happy to answer!
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjMg–iii-SxI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?5=F_OWfO22_7o
https://www.youtube.com/sentry?v=KmgjOeg3Pas
https://www.youtube.com/sentry?5=V9DYqLo6c38
How To Use A Lavalier Mic,
Source: https://decibelpeak.com/how-to-use-lavalier-microphones/
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