Prosound News - April 2008 - (Page 58)

[58] field. It is called a “random-incidence microphone.” The conventional microphones we all use (regardless of their pick-up pattern) are designed to pick up sounds that are in front of the microphone. The random-incidence microphone is designed to very accurately pick up sounds in a true global sense, from multiple sound sources, with multiple reflections coming from any direction. A closely positioned cardioid microphone has a very narrow pick-up pattern. Piano strings that are played outside Fig. 2 Innovations (continued from page 51) sound source). Inside a piano, every note played (vibrating strings) and the soundboard are sound sources, and there are multiple reflections of sound from sides of the piano case and from the lid back down into the piano (see Figure 1). In the field of acoustic measurement, there is a special type of microphone that is specifically designed to accurately pick up sounds in a diffuse sound Fig. 3 Fig. 1 Love. Death. Water? Photo by Michal Daniel Usually, water means death for wireless microphones. Not so for the Lectrosonics MM400C transmitter. Just ask Tom Clark of Acme Sound Partners, Sound Designer for New York’s very wet Shakespeare in the Park: “Throughout the entire month Romeo and Juliet ran, not once did we encounter a single hiccup from any of the Lectrosonics equipment. These transmitters were literally the only devices available anywhere enabling the director’s vision of this production to be realized.” Choose Lectrosonics and raise your wireless standards. Made in the USA by a Bunch of Fanatics. The modular Venue Receiver with the remarkable MM400C watertight transmitter, used for this 2007 production of Romeo and Juliet. Call 1-800-821-1121 or visit www.lectrosonics.com of the cardioid microphone’s pick-up pattern will be lower in level than those played within the pick-up pattern (see Figure 2). In Figure 3, you can see that the random-incidence microphone is picking up sound accurately from all directions. The Earthworks PianoMic suspends two random incidence (omni) microphones on a telescoping bar, over the strings, supported at the ends by the piano case. The microphones have a frequency response from 4 Hz to 40 kHz, incredible impulse response, near perfect polar response and will handle sound levels up to 148 dB SPL. The center section of the bar can be moved to the left or right (favoring either the high or low strings). Each microphone is mounted on a 5-inch mini-gooseneck allowing the microphone to be moved to the left or right, in addition to up and down. The PianoMic is invisible from outside the piano and sounds incredible with either the lid up or down (you can hear the PianoMic sound files at www.EarthworksAudio.com). Our first beta test was in a church that had been attempting to feature piano and organ duets (quite unsuccessfully as the organ would drown out the piano). Using the Earthworks PianoMic, we could make the piano louder than the organ (with the piano lid wide open), and there was still more gain available before feedback. It was stunning! We also tried using the PianoMic with their orchestra (with the piano at the side of the orchestra as well as in the middle). The level of the piano was significantly louder than any leakage of outside instruments being picked up inside the piano and it sounded great in the orchestra mix. In the final analysis, the PianoMic is an ideal piano-miking solution for churches, performing arts centers, touring musicians who use acoustic pianos, and recording studios. It only takes about three minutes to install the PianoMic in a piano, and the audible results are astounding. Experience this for yourself by requesting a free demonstration of the Earthworks PianoMic at your facility via e-mail at sales@earthworksaudio.com, or by phone 603-6546427, ext. 14. Larry Blakely is director of product development for Earthworks. Earthworks www.earthworksaudio.com psn April 2008 http://www.EarthworksAudio.com http://www.lectrosonics.com http://www.earthworksaudio.com http://www.lectrosonics.com

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Prosound News - April 2008 Sound Business Contents Sound Retail Mojo’s Working at NY Noise Studio Showcase: Jungle Room Studios Software Tech Tracks Sessions Nomad Takes Root TCB at NYC’s JSM SoundScreen White Space Turning Gray Audio for Video and Broadcast Field Reports:Sony PCM-D50 Linear PCM Recorder; Holophone H4 SuperMINI Surround Microphone Sound Innovations: Earthworks Audio PianoMic System Frozen Liquid Live Sound Showcase: Jill Scott Centerstage Soundcheck Sound People View From the Top Product Spotlight Advertiser Index Company Index Classifieds Music, Etc.

Prosound News - April 2008

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