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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB Lounge => Topic started by: Rob Spence on October 01, 2018, 06:53:15 PM

Title: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Rob Spence on October 01, 2018, 06:53:15 PM
I think I have used a lav one time in the past 10 years or so.
I have a W93 and one with no label other than Shure on it. I have some headsets which are mostly what my belt packs get used for.

I need a couple of (presumably Omni) lavs for a wedding.

I expect one on the lapel of the groom and one on a bookmark for the officiant.

These are likely one use given how often I am likely to use them so I don’t want to put huge money into it.

If someone close to me has some I could rent, that might work too.

So, what do you suggest? I have Shure ULX gear.

Thanks


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Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: (Brian) Frost on October 01, 2018, 07:10:53 PM
Why not rent since you are basically never using them.  my company would rent wl50 lavs for $10 ea.  but we arent local. 



I think I have used a lav one time in the past 10 years or so.
I have a W93 and one with no label other than Shure on it. I have some headsets which are mostly what my belt packs get used for.

I need a couple of (presumably Omni) lavs for a wedding.

I expect one on the lapel of the groom and one on a bookmark for the officiant.

These are likely one use given how often I am likely to use them so I don’t want to put huge money into it.

If someone close to me has some I could rent, that might work too.

So, what do you suggest? I have Shure ULX gear.

Thanks


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Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: brian maddox on October 01, 2018, 09:04:10 PM
PM sent
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Brian Jojade on October 02, 2018, 01:05:06 AM
Definitely rent, and rent good stuff.  Cheap lavs are a nightmare, especially for live reinforcement work.

When working with lav placement, realize how far away you are placing the mics.  Consider what would happen if you put a regular mic that far away from someone.  Would you expect to get good results?  If not, then a lav won't magically make it work any better.
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Russell Ault on October 02, 2018, 01:48:53 AM
Definitely rent, and rent good stuff.  Cheap lavs are a nightmare, especially for live reinforcement work.

When working with lav placement, realize how far away you are placing the mics.  Consider what would happen if you put a regular mic that far away from someone.  Would you expect to get good results?  If not, then a lav won't magically make it work any better.

+1 to everything here. The smoother the frequency response (on and off axis) the less likely they are to feed back, and the more likely they are to be expensive...

-Russ
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Mike Monte on October 02, 2018, 08:22:45 AM
I think I have used a lav one time in the past 10 years or so.
I have a W93 and one with no label other than Shure on it. I have some headsets which are mostly what my belt packs get used for.

I need a couple of (presumably Omni) lavs for a wedding.

I expect one on the lapel of the groom and one on a bookmark for the officiant.

These are likely one use given how often I am likely to use them so I don’t want to put huge money into it.

If someone close to me has some I could rent, that might work too.

So, what do you suggest? I have Shure ULX gear.

Thanks


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I provide one lav mic for several outdoor weddings per year.
I will clip the lapel mic to the officiant's binder (at the top of the spine).
I have found that I can run the mic pretty hot...
This way I get the officiant's voice when he/she speaks and I also get the bride and groom's voices as they respond (since the officiant faces each one of them as they recite).

One thing that you may want to aware of: Make sure that the lav pack is in its own pocket...
a case in point:
Two years ago I provided the lav for an outdoor ceremony; prior to the ceremony I mic'd up the Rabbi, tested it, got a level at the ceremony site, muted it, all set.
The ceremony starts and there is an abundance of static in the PA.... I adjusted the gain, etc, and eventually had to shut it off...
Upon conclusion of the ceremony I went to the Rabbi and discovered that the "videographer" had also put a wireless mic on the Rabbi and put his pack in the same pocket as my pack...so that the two units were touching...

Did the addition of the videographer's pack cause the static....who's to say, but I tested my lav at the ceremony site after the the ceremony and it worked fine.... 

Food for thought...

 
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Stephen Beatty on October 02, 2018, 08:52:02 AM
 Having done local theater groups and having gone through a number of mics I found the Microphone Madness MM-PSM-L (omni)  have been really nice.

 Of the original 6 I purchased they are all still working. Easy to mount, I like to use them through the hair mounted if I can. They have been very dependable and sound great for spoken work or singing.

Edited for: I just saw the one time use thing. If I was close you could borrow them.

Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Scott Olewiler on October 02, 2018, 09:59:22 AM
I provide one lav mic for several outdoor weddings per year.
I will clip the lapel mic to the officiant's binder

Small swerve:

We rent lavs  at least twice a month  for weddings where we deliver, set up, test and leave. So no paid operator on site for the ceremony and the officiants  are rarely on site during the set up. Usually the DJ runs the small mixer we provide.

I always tell the clients ( usually the groom and the DJ if he is there) to put the mic on the binder but I find that once the  officiants show up they almost always insist they  wear them on their lapels. 

Do you have some magic phrase you use to convince the officiants that the binder is the best place?  My guess is that the groom just doesn't present the authority I have on the few occasions where we are providing an operator, and they just cave to whatever the officiants wants.

Maybe I should leave typed instructions?


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Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Mike Monte on October 02, 2018, 01:31:11 PM
Do you have some magic phrase you use to convince the officiants that the binder is the best place?  My guess is that the groom just doesn't present the authority I have on the few occasions where we are providing an operator, and they just cave to whatever the officiants wants.

Maybe I should leave typed instructions?


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Let me preface:  I lead a classical trio/quartet that performs extensively in the Rhode Island wedding circuit.  I provide a lav for the officiant for an additional fee if requested. 
I am very cordial.... after introducing myself to the officiant I always say, "let's try this..."

I actually learned the lav-on-binder technique several years ago from an officiant (retired priest) that performs for many outdoor ceremonies in the Newport, RI area. 
On that particular gig I asked him where he would like the lav to be clipped...his answer "right here" (pointing to the spot).
I gotta give credit where credit is due....
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Tim Hite on October 03, 2018, 03:34:00 PM
I just did lab on an atlas for a wedding over the weekend. It worked OK. Trying to convince the officiant that it would be OK was tricky. She wanted a handheld until I took her to the ceremony are and showed her how it all went together. I put an E6 earset on her, which worked just fine.



Let me preface:  I lead a classical trio/quartet that performs extensively in the Rhode Island wedding circuit.  I provide a lav for the officiant for an additional fee if requested. 
I am very cordial.... after introducing myself to the officiant I always say, "let's try this..."

I actually learned the lav-on-binder technique several years ago from an officiant (retired priest) that performs for many outdoor ceremonies in the Newport, RI area. 
On that particular gig I asked him where he would like the lav to be clipped...his answer "right here" (pointing to the spot).
I gotta give credit where credit is due....
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Tony Mamoh on October 08, 2018, 05:56:26 AM
Definitely rent, and rent good stuff.  Cheap lavs are a nightmare, especially for live reinforcement work.

When working with lav placement, realize how far away you are placing the mics.  Consider what would happen if you put a regular mic that far away from someone.  Would you expect to get good results?  If not, then a lav won't magically make it work any better.

Hmmm. Never thought of it that way. Makes real sense!

However, some clients simply want a mic that is hardly visible. This is sometimes because of the video recording where they don't want any visible mics and just focus on the individuals. Also stage play actors typically want a mic on their body....so you're stuck between a lav , headset etc
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Tim McCulloch on October 08, 2018, 11:05:34 AM
Hmmm. Never thought of it that way. Makes real sense!

However, some clients simply want a mic that is hardly visible. This is sometimes because of the video recording where they don't want any visible mics and just focus on the individuals. Also stage play actors typically want a mic on their body....so you're stuck between a lav , headset etc

Actors *expect* mics, brides (and their mothers) do not.  The other difference is that actors understand the importance of the mic, and while brides do they will not accept them, typically.

This is why I don't do wedding reinforcement.  You want network TV quality but don't want the price tag of invisibility... and refuse to make the needed accommodations to enable good sounding work with miniature mics.  Bah, humbug.
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Mark Cadwallader on October 08, 2018, 12:45:52 PM
Actors *expect* mics, brides (and their mothers) do not.  The other difference is that actors understand the importance of the mic, and while brides do they will not accept them, typically.

This is why I don't do wedding reinforcement.  You want network TV quality but don't want the price tag of invisibility... and refuse to make the needed accommodations to enable good sounding work with miniature mics.  Bah, humbug.

"You want me wear that WHERE?"
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Brian Jojade on October 11, 2018, 02:40:31 PM
I can't wait until this technology is available:

https://newatlas.com/sonitus-in-mouth-two-way-radio-molar-mic/56302/

It could be a pretty awesome solution!
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Mike Caldwell on October 11, 2018, 06:09:02 PM
I can't wait until this technology is available:

https://newatlas.com/sonitus-in-mouth-two-way-radio-molar-mic/56302/

It could be a pretty awesome solution!

Interesting technology till it comes loose in your mouth and you choke to death on it.
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Dave Garoutte on October 11, 2018, 08:36:34 PM
Or  transmit your bowel noises over the PA. :P
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Rob Spence on October 11, 2018, 11:24:07 PM
Somehow I doubt this will be inexpensive


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Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Chris Hindle on October 12, 2018, 08:10:53 AM
Somehow I doubt this will be inexpensive


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"Inexpensive" and "USAF" kind of don't go together.........
Sure, you can FORCE an airman to wear one, but Bridezilla ?
Good luck with that.....
Chris.
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Stephen Beatty on October 12, 2018, 09:22:31 AM
My heart goes out to you who do weddings. Best of luck.
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Mike Monte on October 12, 2018, 09:24:57 PM
My heart goes out to you who do weddings. Best of luck.

Weddings are lucrative if you keep your head about you. 
My classical group played wedding number 900 over this past weekend...yup, I speak from experience.
We average about 1 "tough client" out of 5....and usually one real PITA out of 20....
Over the past 10 years or so we have averaged about 40 weddings annually.
Over the past 23 years of contracting my group I've gotten good a "sniffing out" the mom/bride-zillas prior to sending them our contract.
For those that I know are going to be a pain I charge them extra for the "hassle factor".
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Luke Geis on October 12, 2018, 11:45:07 PM
I am trying to stay away from weddings for more than a few reasons. I have only 1 band that I contract with these days for weddings and between them and my other work I only do about 6 a year. That is 5 too many. The only ones that are fun and worth doing are the ones that are for friends. I could charge double the money and still wouldn't be happy doing weddings. For me, it is such a dog and pony show that I don't want to deal with it.

I had my run at it and yes it is lucrative, but I was giving a piece of my soul every time. I was done with them when I went to the Bahama's to do a $1 million + wedding and they wanted all the best stuff you could get. I was placing Meyer UPJ's in the bushes because they didn't want to see the PA. They rented the entirety of The Ocean Club and had a party every night for 4 nights ( including the wedding reception ) and another farewell show the morning after. They didn't want to see me either. I had to mix the band that they had for the three nights prior to the wedding on the other side of the building.  I was mixing through headphones and had no direct line sight to the band. They turned the tennis courts into a giant pond where they also placed a football field sized tent that we hung an 8 box hang per side of D&B Audiotechnik Q1's for a Four Seasons Tribute band. It was absolute hell...... After that, I was no longer interested in weddings. I could have gotten 4X the money I did and I would still never even consider something like that again.

On topic though, If you need something nice that works and is cheap, Pyle Pro makes some pretty decent mics for the price.
Title: Re: Inexpensive Lavs
Post by: Rob Spence on October 15, 2018, 07:12:42 PM
Thanks all for the suggestions and help.

The wedding happened.
Wedding planner was a pleasure. Bride & groom were great. Never met any family. Only time anyone came by mix position (side rear) was to compliment on sound. Made me happy.
Only family request (aka demand) was from father of groom via wedding planner for the band to keep it down.
The band did that up to the last hour when the energy level climbed. I had master fader at half.

Lavs from Brian worked a treat. Shure MX150 omnis.

Truck half unloaded. Having a beer now.




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