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[Scott Wagner]

Forgive my ignorance but I've never dual mic'ed a podium before. What do you do with the signals at the desk? Do you run them both at the same volume? Do you pan them at all? Does if just make it better when they move their head a lot?

One at a time.  The other is a backup.  Anything else would be a disaster.

[brian maddox]

One at a time.  The other is a backup.  Anything else would be a disaster.

or, one to PA, one to record so that the EQ/compression you use for the PA doesn't have to go to record and vis versa.  each is still instantly routable to the other destination as a backup.

[Scott Wagner]

or, one to PA, one to record so that the EQ/compression you use for the PA doesn't have to go to record and vis versa.  each is still instantly routable to the other destination as a backup.

That works, too.  I was speaking of the way they're used for the President.

[Mark Olsen]

One at a time.  The other is a backup.  Anything else would be a disaster.

OK .. excellent, I was trying to work out how it would work and I couldn't work out how you solve the multi path problem.
Glad to see I was missing something.

[Mac Kerr]

Forgive my ignorance but I've never dual mic'ed a podium before. What do you do with the signals at the desk? Do you run them both at the same volume? Do you pan them at all? Does if just make it better when they move their head a lot?

Usually only one mic at a time is on. With the vertical pair, not only is it less intrusive visually, but it is not as bad to keep both mics open since there is no phasing as the speaker moves side to side. Most people don't move up and down as they speak.

I have never understood why they moved to side by side mics. I think during the Reagan administration they had three mics for a while, but then went back to two, but side by side rather than the vertical that dated from the Nixon years. We always referred to the A26 clip as a "Nixon clip".

Mac

[Mike Pyle]

...there is no phasing as the speaker moves side to side. Most people don't move up and down as they speak.

Here in California the Legislature moves up & down but Jerry Brown moves side to side.

[Sam Zuckerman]

We have one at the University I work at. I was't around when it was purchased but I think it was one of those "because we can" purchases. Kind of like the 4ft zip ties we have.

That aside, it works like it should. We only mic up both 57s when it's a "high profile" event for us meaning $$$ contract or high up university officials.

[Brook Hovland]

Usually only one mic at a time is on. With the vertical pair, not only is it less intrusive visually, but it is not as bad to keep both mics open since there is no phasing as the speaker moves side to side. Most people don't move up and down as they speak.

I have never understood why they moved to side by side mics. I think during the Reagan administration they had three mics for a while, but then went back to two, but side by side rather than the vertical that dated from the Nixon years. We always referred to the A26 clip as a "Nixon clip".

Mac

As I recall, the three mic system was used as follows, one for live, one for press and on as a backup for either. I was also told that the backup never needed to be used so it was phased out.
I have had one VP job where the White House sound people wanted BOTH mics in the PA and Press. I kinda gave them one to both and a backup...   

[brian maddox]

That works, too.  I was speaking of the way they're used for the President.

as a native of the washington D.C area, i've had the privilege of working with my good friends at WHCA a good many times.  they like to have all the mics go through them and then give an output to the 'contractor'.  and they typically run one mic for everything with the other as backup only to be used in case of failure.

of course, when the 'contractor' is running all the multicore and cabling, it's entirely possible for them to split the mics and have the backup mic come straight to them so that they can get a good clean signal without the WHCA junk hitting it first.  since this is clearly contrary to WHCA's wishes i would, of course, never do this myself...

[Mac Kerr]

As I recall, the three mic system was used as follows, one for live, one for press and on as a backup for either. I was also told that the backup never needed to be used so it was phased out.

Do you recall that from an event you provided sound for, or do you recall that someone told you that? My experience with both the 2 and 3 mic setup was that WHCA took all the mics into their mixer and gave feeds to PA, and their own system of battery powered speakers, and the sound company provided the press feed. WHCA may have also provided another press feed, it was a long time ago.

The 3 mic setup had balloon iso mounts, the 2 mic "Nixon Clip" did not. For the Presidential Debates, Larry Estrin had Audio Technica build the "TriPoint" mic that had 3 capsules in a single windscreen, and looked like 1 largish mic. AFAIK it was only ever used on the debates.

The only times I have personally mounted a mic on the presidential lectern it was a Shure A26M mount with 2 SM57s with A2WS windscreens.

Mac

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