Need advice for mic’ing a small theater…

2009-08-19T11:01:14-06:00

So, I’m working with a youth theater program and need to mic a theater for a musical/play… the venue is small (seats about 200), and I’ve had a hard time mic’ing for this in the past.

I’ve got several cardiod “chior” mics, that I have hung from the ceiling at the front of the stage. The mics pick up fine, but a little too good. I get feedback really badly. The house speakers are hung from the ceiling just above these mics, so there is about 6-8 feet between the mics and the speakers (not ideal, I know).

Since these mics are cardiord and their pickup pattern looks like a cherry, they are picking up sound from “around and almost behind” them… thus the feedback. So, I’m thinking about getting some lobar pattern shotgun mics, thinking that those would have a more narrow pickup pattern and would work better in this situation. But, for these, I’d probably need to hang them from the lightbar - so about 10-12 feet in front of the stage, rather than right at the curtain. My thinking here is that a couple of these lobar pattern mics would be able to be positioned to pickup sound from the stage area, and avoid picking up sound from the speakers as much… so (hopefully) less feedback, etc.

I’d appreciate anyones thoughts, ideas or suggestions along these lines, as I am not a pro… or even an amateur… what’s below that??

Thanks in advance,
John

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Need advice for mic’ing a small theater…