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Title: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Rodney Harris on March 25, 2014, 02:25:29 PM
Unfortunately, our board is in the balcony...it's about 70 feet from the stage (I guess).  Even after using colored electrical tape, trying to identify who has what mic is difficult.  I was thinking about using those multi colored foam windscreens but was afraid of how it would look on our broadcast. 

Currently I am thinking about a dedicated fixed camera to focus on the stage and a 13" monitor at the board for viewing.

...btw, its not just me, some of the younger ones cannot make out the colors from the balcony as well!

Any ideas or suggestions?!
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: frank kayser on March 25, 2014, 02:52:37 PM
Unfortunately, our board is in the balcony...it's about 70 feet from the stage (I guess).  Even after using colored electrical tape, trying to identify who has what mic is difficult.  I was thinking about using those multi colored foam windscreens but was afraid of how it would look on our broadcast. 

Currently I am thinking about a dedicated fixed camera to focus on the stage and a 13" monitor at the board for viewing.

...btw, its not just me, some of the younger ones cannot make out the colors from the balcony as well!

Any ideas or suggestions?!
The colored windscreens are fairly effective, but are a bit cartoonish for my tastes.  I doubt thye'd look professional on the broadcast.
Your solution of a separate camera and monitor does not seem to be a bad idea.
I don't have a better idea other than really good binoculars.
frank
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Taylor Hall on March 25, 2014, 03:01:11 PM
Too bad you couldn't color-coordinate the mics to match the speakers' outfits. ;)
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Jay Barracato on March 25, 2014, 03:02:23 PM
I prefer headphones on the solo bus to confirm what is on each channel more than visual.

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Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: g'bye, Dick Rees on March 25, 2014, 04:01:20 PM
I prefer headphones on the solo bus to confirm what is on each channel more than visual.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

And a nice meter bridge.

This is probably the typical situation where none of the  folks on stage pay any attention to individual mic assignments and consistency, feeling free to grab whichever mic is closest and swap with others at random, unexplainable intervals.

I've actually hired a "mic wrangler" at times to make sure that everyone gets the same mic every time they go on stage.

For wired mics there are also colored cords, but again you run the risk of folks objecting to them as a visual distraction.
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Stephen Swaffer on March 29, 2014, 10:40:40 PM
I have always resisted color coding from an appearance standpoint.  Actually preferred visually following cord back to jack if I had to-but when we went cordless we went to colored tape as well.  We have 5 Line 6s and a Shure that we have had for some time.  We have kept the Shure assigned as the "mobile preaching" mic mainly for ID purposes.  Rest of the mics are used for vocal specials, so in a pinch can all be set rough until they can be sorted out with the solo and headphones.

I have resorted to putting names on mics for special days when we get actual rehearsal time-and making it clear that if you don't get the mic with your name, it is not my fault if it is not on-of course, it helps when leadership backs you on this.

When we had corded mics, I had a few groups that sang quite often, and I knew roughly where to start the mix.  They got it in their heads that some mics sounded better for some singers (maybe an EQ preference different than mine) and instead of working with me would often really throw me a curve ball.  I would watch who got what mic, then as I glanced at the board to bring mics up would trade mics around-they then wondered why it took so long to get the mix right-solo can be a lifesaver!
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Jonathan Johnson on April 01, 2014, 02:59:51 PM
Instead of the colored windscreens, you could use colored wigs on the heads of the talent. Think Ronald McDonald!

Actually, this gives me an idea. Have each performer wear a ring or lapel button with an RFID chip. On each microphone is an RFID reader. When the performer grabs or approaches a mic (any mic), the digital board automatically assigns that mic to a predefined channel with presets appropriate for that performer. When the performer releases or moves away from the mic, it's automatically muted. If they approach a different mic, it's reset automatically. No need for the FOH operator to keep track of who has what mic!

PM me for the address to send patent royalties to.
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Tommy Peel on April 01, 2014, 03:03:26 PM
Instead of the colored windscreens, you could use colored wigs on the heads of the talent. Think Ronald McDonald!

Actually, this gives me an idea. Have each performer wear a ring or lapel button with an RFID chip. On each microphone is an RFID reader. When the performer grabs or approaches a mic (any mic), the digital board automatically assigns that mic to a predefined channel with presets appropriate for that performer. When the performer releases or moves away from the mic, it's automatically muted. If they approach a different mic, it's reset automatically. No need for the FOH operator to keep track of who has what mic!

PM me for the address to send patent royalties to.

Somebody could get rich off that if they made it work....

Sent from my Nexus 4 running Paranoid Android + HellsCore b45-OTG using Tapatalk Pro

Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Jonathan Johnson on April 01, 2014, 05:32:21 PM
Currently I am thinking about a dedicated fixed camera to focus on the stage and a 13" monitor at the board for viewing.

Depending on the lighting and the quality of the camera and monitor, it may be even more difficult to tell the difference on video. If you use colored lighting -- and uncorrected lighting qualifies as 'colored' -- there's no way to reliably distinguish color codes.

A cheap alternative is to use multiple bands of distinctly-colored tape. So instead of a band of green tape on one mic and a band of blue on the other (which would be hard to distinguish from a distance), you could have a single band of green on one and two bands of green on the other.
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Tim Perry on April 02, 2014, 03:42:55 AM

...btw, its not just me, some of the younger ones cannot make out the colors from the balcony as well!

Any ideas or suggestions?!

I once saw a Bluegrass 'specialist" who had made round signs about 4 -5" diameter. These clipped to the mic stands with broom holder type snap clips. Each sign had a single digit number.

This facilitated operation when each act decides to move all the mic around to suit themselves.

Obviously this will not work when people remove the mics to hold them  which is why I do not deploy such a scheme an my gospel shows invariably require 2 to 5 wireless handhelds.

I might suggest, if possible having different colored grills for the mics (see Heil rc-22)
 
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: PAULBORDON on April 03, 2014, 08:36:33 PM
I keep half a binocular, (a monocular) on a string around my neck when I am in those long distance gigs.
Bless you JP

You might want to go a higher power (no pun intended) but I like this type because of the weight... and I am a cheap dude. Ha! Besides that It really enables me to see things I normally can't at 300 feet like trip hazards, setup mistakes between choirs, mic's that are out of position and mic's that got accidentally knocked over next to a guitar amp.  Sometime when you have a large choir on stage stuff happens and you are in the eagles nest and are responsible to relay that info to the stage.

Might be the best four bucks ever spent... Mine hangs off a rosary. I hope that is not a sacred no no.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-10x25-Multi-coated-Lens-Sports-Monocular-Hunting-Camping-Telescope-E0Xc-/310717041089?pt=Binocular&hash=item48582dc9c1
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Rodney Harris on April 06, 2014, 04:43:17 PM

Thank you all for the responses and advice....I purchased a monocular...its cheaper than setting up a dedicated camera & video monitor rig!   
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AMPIVFO/ref=pe_385040_30332200_pe_309540_26725410_item (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AMPIVFO/ref=pe_385040_30332200_pe_309540_26725410_item)
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: PAULBORDON on April 07, 2014, 06:35:53 AM
Nice mono, Rodney
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Jerome Malsack on April 07, 2014, 01:07:31 PM
another expensive and development required would be to insert into the mic's  RFID, along with RFID for the artist.  have the computer display as they approach the stage the scan to show on the computer who is up and ready and what mic they have. 

Think Easypass or  IPass   

Now throw in the computer identifying the artist with the mic and setting the channel strip to preset.   Would be so nice and so cool.   I have dibs on this patent.
 
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: PAULBORDON on April 15, 2014, 09:30:56 AM
Hey Rodney,

How is the monocular working out for you? Report back?
Thanks JP
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Rodney Harris on April 17, 2014, 02:51:12 PM
Hey Rodney,

How is the monocular working out for you? Report back?
Thanks JP

it is working out surprisingly well!   I won't walk around the church with it suspended from my neck...I leave it at the console.
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: PAULBORDON on April 17, 2014, 03:17:49 PM
I won't walk around the church with it suspended from my neck...I leave it at the console.
A bit of a fashion risk ehh?  Well someone has to hold to the sound engineer's couture. (besides a roll of duct tape on your belt and those half "shorts/pants")  You know those pants that came from the 80's grunge scene. I cant tell you what % of engineers/gaffers/stage crew wear those but over 70% in LA. Ha!

PS thanks for reporting back ... we are not the first engineers with this problem. I hope this helps others.

Now if I could get one of these monoculars implanted for hands free mixing... aka Borg type, I would be sittin in butter.
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: TJ (Tom) Cornish on April 17, 2014, 05:25:11 PM
A bit of a fashion risk ehh?
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: PAULBORDON on April 17, 2014, 05:39:47 PM

That is sooooo...  funny.  If I could photoshop in a modern monocular around his neck on a string or borg implant type "aged of course" we have the perfect engineering genX humor... hehhheee

"I know nothing... I know nothing..."  "I hear nothing... I hear nothing..."  Dohh...
Title: Re: HELP...Old Eyes Can't See Mic Colors
Post by: Malek Pallie on April 17, 2014, 07:15:20 PM
Thank you all for the responses and advice....I purchased a monocular...its cheaper than setting up a dedicated camera & video monitor rig!   
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AMPIVFO/ref=pe_385040_30332200_pe_309540_26725410_item (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AMPIVFO/ref=pe_385040_30332200_pe_309540_26725410_item)

I use a set of binoculars as well when I mix at my church. This doesn't seem to be as much of a problem with the vocalists at my "day job", but both at work and at church, I found that talking to the vocalists ahead of time and telling them that it is important that they pick up the correct mic so I can turn them up during their solos helps keep them in line.  ;)