zoomplayer
Joined: 01/05/12
Posts: 2
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Micing a Ukelele band
#985173 - 01/05/12 10:32 AM
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Hi Chaps,
I've been asked to mic up a ukelele band for a gig. They are worried
that their vocal will overpower the uke's. Having had a try with some dynamic (sm58's) and
various condensors (pencil and large diaphragm) last night, using 6 open mics in total, I
got the entirely predictable feedback problems.
Unfortunately there will be
between 8 and a dozen of them, no-one has a pickup fitted so it will have to be mics.
The best set up I could get was with 3 overhead condensors and a specialist vocal
mic for when they have a main vocalist and not just general singing. They originally asked
me to try a mic setup to try and bring up the level of the ukes against the voices, but
given the relatively close proximity of the uke's to the mouth that's going to be
difficult.
Anyone have experience of this and/or other suggestions?
Cheers in advance.
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Exalted Wombat
Joined: 06/02/10
Posts: 4211
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: zoomplayer]
#985179 - 01/05/12 11:08 AM
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Ukes, or ukulele-banjos? If the latter (the George Formby instrument), they're impossible
to keep OUT of a mic! Give each player a SM58 on a stand. Tell them not to sing too
close.
If it's the more subtle true ukulele, you may have to favour it a little
more with mic position.
Your main problem will be preventing them from
continually adjusting their mic stands.
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Big Kev
Joined: 24/02/06
Posts: 183
Loc: Sunny Shropshire
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: Exalted Wombat]
#985180 - 01/05/12 11:19 AM
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Someone I work with did a show with 'The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain' a few years
back and I'm sure he just used SM57's on the ukulele's and SM58's on vocals (all close
mic'd). BUT apparently they are really good at controlling there own dynamics via self
control on mic positioning if that makes sense. Some folk are mic shy where others try to
eat the damn thing. Not sure if you have enough mics to do this plus you will need a mixer
with enough inputs. I wouldn't imagine getting much volume from ambient mic'ing. Depends
on how much volume you need to achieve.
--------------------
I met a strange lady, she made me nervous; she took me in and gave me breakfast
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Bob Bickerton
active member
Joined: 20/12/02
Posts: 2523
Loc: Nelson, New Zealand
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: zoomplayer]
#985181 - 01/05/12 11:20 AM
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The two ukulele orchestras I know (I've done sound for one of them) insist on a pickup for
ukelele and vocal mic for each person, with a monitor shared between every two players. So
in other words, it's not a simple gig, and then people wonder why it costs so much to
provide sound for them! What I'd like to try is a couple or three condensers
across the group, balancing vocals and Ukes and maybe a solo vocal mic for soloists, but
have not yet had the opportunity to try it. Good luck! Bob
-------------------- www.bickerton.co.nz
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Exalted Wombat
Joined: 06/02/10
Posts: 4211
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: Bob Bickerton]
#985185 - 01/05/12 11:32 AM
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Quote Bob Bickerton:
What I'd
like to try is a couple or three condensers across the group, balancing vocals and Ukes
and maybe a solo vocal mic for soloists, but have not yet had the opportunity to try it.
An attractive idea,
but it rather counts out the players having monitors.
Much better if they have
individual mics, know how to use them, and you keep hands-off as far as possible. They
know what's coming next. Unless you're a regular member of the team you don't, and
"Whoops!" followed by a rapid correction happens far too often behind most mixing desks,
even with the better class of operator :-)
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Big Kev
Joined: 24/02/06
Posts: 183
Loc: Sunny Shropshire
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: Exalted Wombat]
#985187 - 01/05/12 11:40 AM
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Curiosity got the better of me and I found this video on ukulele orchestra of GB - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlMT-oEIQuoBass ukulele
must have used a pick-up. I think it also depends on the music. The track on the video is
fairly simple but if you watch some of their other tunes they cover, then you realise
everyone needs to have individual mic's.
-------------------- I met a strange lady, she made me nervous; she took me in and gave me breakfast
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zoomplayer
Joined: 01/05/12
Posts: 2
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: Bob Bickerton]
#985192 - 01/05/12 12:39 PM
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I totally agree about the difficulty and being a small amateur group they don't really
have the budget to pay for individual mic'ing.
I guess they'll just have to
accept sound reinforcement as opposed to the best balance between voice and ukelele.
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shufflebeat
Joined: 09/12/07
Posts: 2272
Loc: Manchester, UK
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: zoomplayer]
#985199 - 01/05/12 01:12 PM
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Is it possible to pair them off and have two at 90% to each other on a '58?
Monitoring would be on the one hand difficult but on the other hand unnecessary as the
band are used to playing together acoustically and the environment isn't that hostile.
Apart from that, get your FOH speakers well away from the stage and EQ them
carefully.
--------------------
Ohm's Law states, "Your PA isn't as powerful as you think it is".
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Bob Bickerton
active member
Joined: 20/12/02
Posts: 2523
Loc: Nelson, New Zealand
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: Exalted Wombat]
#985201 - 01/05/12 01:23 PM
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Quote Exalted Wombat:
Quote Bob Bickerton:
What I'd
like to try is a couple or three condensers across the group, balancing vocals and Ukes
and maybe a solo vocal mic for soloists, but have not yet had the opportunity to try it.
An attractive idea,
but it rather counts out the players having monitors.
Yes, and I'm not suggesting my idea would be acceptable by the
way, but the two groups I've come across have used fairly high levels in monitors (false
aspirations to become rock stars?) whereas they would do well to create a more acoustic
balance on stage. I quite like low level side fill or simply tune into the mix in the room
for acoustic ensemble work myself, but then I'm weird..........
Bob
--------------------
www.bickerton.co.nz
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Dudecraft
Joined: 27/04/12
Posts: 1
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: Bob Bickerton]
#985208 - 01/05/12 02:02 PM
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Having spent 5 years in a ukulele band, I can tell you that individual micing for both vox
and ukes can be a perilous choice. We favored using one SM58 for both vocals and uke for
each player, positioned half way between mouth and ukulele. We controlled our own dynamics
by repositioning instruments/vocals in proximity to our mics. It always worked quite well,
but it does entail more work for the band and a certain sensitivity on the players' parts.
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shufflebeat
Joined: 09/12/07
Posts: 2272
Loc: Manchester, UK
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: Dudecraft]
#985220 - 01/05/12 03:32 PM
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Quote Dudecraft:
Having spent 5
years in a ukulele band...
Good God, man what did you do to deserve that? I only had to pick up litter.
--------------------
Ohm's Law states, "Your PA isn't as powerful as you think it is".
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shufflebeat
Joined: 09/12/07
Posts: 2272
Loc: Manchester, UK
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Re: Micing a Ukelele band
[Re: zoomplayer]
#985221 - 01/05/12 03:40 PM
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Sorry, DC. Kneejerk reaction. Welcome to the forum.
--------------------
Ohm's Law states, "Your PA isn't as powerful as you think it is".
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