Head set or lav mic? and why?

[mjsaab]

Ok, I am trying to figure it out, Is it possible to have a high energy show and still use a lav mic? it would make escape acts a lot easier. But will the audience allways be able to hear me? And how do you work out costume quick changes and still have your lav in the right place. Will it work just as well at your neck? Say at about your adams apple?


Head sets are great but I find many are clunky and get in the way. What do you think? What do you prefer and why?

Dirt

[Doctor Eric]

rrrrraAAArRR!!

Hey Michael, two words

Samson, Airline.

[Daniel Craig]

Agreed.

Samson Airline headsets.

I love them with all my heart and soul and being. Almost as much as I love Etienne and Dynamike.

[le pire]

DISAGREED.

I was at first impressed by the size of the Samson Airline and then watched the shows of several different performers who had the samson airline. The sound was muddy and kept cutting out. Loads of feebback loops.

At first I thought "maybe that loser just doesn't know how to use his mic," but then I watched 3 other guys have the same problems.

I don't use a Samson and from what I heard of other people using it, I will NOT be buying it.

I use a Sennheiser system and the receiver runs off a 9-volt. No feed back loops, even if you are standing dead in front of the speaker. Great range. Great price ($400-$500).

[mjsaab]

Well I bought the Sennheiser system. I just used it last weekend, and it worked great. The things that I was most concerned with were really not a problem. Also it makes me feel good to know that I have multiple frequencies to choose from.

Here were my concerns making it difficult for me to buy the Sennheiser.

#1 the headset is big and clunky.
#2 wires running down my back to my pocket could get tangled.
#3 I have a couple of acts where I need to do a quick change. For example I escape from chains, and later I have to take the mike off entirely and get inside a 10-foot balloon.


Well after one show I realized that the mike really is not that big and obtrusive. The chain escape went great; infact the mike is contoured to the head and is easier than other headsets that I have used in the past. And as far as the change and then removal of the mike for my bubble act, practice makes perfect. There is even a special piece that Sennheiser makes that allows you to convert your transmitter power source from 9v DC in to 12v DC in. This makes it possible fro me to power my transmitter off my crate portable amp.

So after much investigation at the moment I am a Sennheiser fan. The Samson Airline was running a close second, but I feel confident that the Sennheiser is superior in quality and durability.

By the way this email started out as a more simple question lavaliere versus headsets. I was just wondering if anyone preferred a lavaliere. I guess not. Looks like the headset is the popular form of microphone.

Thanks

[Thom]

I prefer the lav. Headsets are for boy bands. I think a lav looks more professional. But, you said you were escaping. That takes a lav out of the runnning. For the theater, opera mikes for the escape, lav for everything else. For the street; boy band.

Thanks.
Thom

[Chance]

Not true actually. For 10 years now I have used only the lav, but taped to my face -- a common professional application for stage work (most commonly placed in the hair line.) You might even be able to identify it in my sig photo below... Yes, that thing resembling a big zit next to me mouth.

[Thom]

You're right and wrong.

Right - you use a lav for escapes. I'm wrong. Can't argue against a guy whose doing it. I guess lavs are superior.

Wrong - those aren't true lavs in the hairline (RENT, Eddie Izzaard, Jon Leguizamo), they are a different type of mike and the name escapes me, but they are sort of directional, and about an inch long at the reciever. They are also REALLY expensive. But worth it if you're on Broadway.

Right - It does look like a zit.

[Rex Boyd]

Lav mikes can be omni-directional or uni-directional. If it is attached to your chest or lapel then it needs to me omni because your head turns to the side sometimes when you speak making the mike further away. If the mike is attached to your head or face or headset then a unidirectional has a smaller pick up area and therefor it is less likely to feedback but it also it imperative that it stays close to your mouth.

You sometimes get the choice of omni or unidirectional at the same price when you purchase your mike.


Rex