Microphones for handbells

[MARY YERKS]

My church is working on placement of microphones for our handbells choirs.  The basic setup is the vocal choir on built in risers with the bell tables on the top level behind them.   The choir mics are on the floor with the stands raised to about the height of the back row.  They pick up the bells when the choir is not singing, but we would to balance the bells with the choir, organ and brass when all are playing.  We are not sure about the being able to hang the mics from the ceiling.  I'm sure that would be the best, if we can do it. Any advice on type of mic, you can include brand and model, and placement would be appreciated.  Thanks. 

[Dellinda Ebeling]

If it's not too much of a diversion from the topic, are microphones something routinely done by most churches for bells?  We had mics once when the performance was being video recorded by the church cameras (rather than mine), but we don't normally have them for playing in worship.  I have wondered how well we're heard since we play off to one side of the stage.  There are a couple of hanging mics behind us where the choir is.

[Charles Peery]

It would bother me if I worked on balance then some sound operator turned up the mic over the treble bells on a whim.  There's have to be some rules or I'd be against this.

C

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 12, 2013, at 9:35 AM, Dellinda Ebeling <dell...@gmail.com> wrote:

If it's not too much of a diversion from the topic, are microphones something routinely done by most churches for bells?  We had mics once when the performance was being video recorded by the church cameras (rather than mine), but we don't normally have them for playing in worship.  I have wondered how well we're heard since we play off to one side of the stage.  There are a couple of hanging mics behind us where the choir is.

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[Paul Allen at James Rutter]

I’d like contact information for Nancy Haskell, please.  What I have is out-of-date.  Thank you.

[Bill Ingram]

In a large room microphones really help...bell sounds decay so quickly... If possible get good quality condenser mics...we use 3 mics for 5 octaves and in a sound check we set them pretty equally around our tables.  Once you have got them adjusted to your ear... encourage - threaten - the sound operator...they must not change your settings...

 

over all we have had very good experience using microphones.  Good luck...

 

Bill Ingram

281-422-7713 home

281-731-4193 cell

[Barb]

Nancy Hascall = HASCAL...@gmail.com

Barb

On Sep 12, 2013, at 1:25 PM, Paul Allen at James Rutter <PAl...@egusd.net> wrote:

I’d like contact information for Nancy Haskell, please.  What I have is out-of-date.  Thank you.

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[Paul Allen at James Rutter]

Thank you.

 

She responded directly.

[TimR]

On Thursday, September 12, 2013 3:35:28 PM UTC-4, Dellinda Ebeling wrote:

If it's not too much of a diversion from the topic, are microphones something routinely done by most churches for bells?

 

Microphones?  I've contemplated passing out ear plugs.   

[MARY YERKS]

Bill,

Thanks for the info.  Where do you place the mics?

Mary

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[White, Elke]

As far as placement, you will find that the high treble bells (C6 on up) often don't need any mic's to be heard - the higher sound carries well.  The lower treble and bass bells, on the other hand - often are lost in large churches and do need to be mic'd.  I typically will place one mic in front of 2-3 lower treble/upper bass bells, and try for one mic per ringer for anything F4 on down.  I set them back a bit (4-8 ft away)  for the lower trebles and bass bells down to G4, and get them as close as possible for the bass bells F4 and down.  This gave the best balance in each of the two churches where we had mic's.

 

Good for you for looking into microphones.  I can't tell you how many churches I have visited, whose bell choirs are barely audible.  This includes bell choirs that ring from lofts. 

 

Elke White

On Thu, Sep 12, 2013 at 1:49 PM, MARY YERKS <mkyb...@gmail.com> wrote:

My church is working on placement of microphones for our handbells choirs.  The basic setup is the vocal choir on built in risers with the bell tables on the top level behind them.   The choir mics are on the floor with the stands raised to about the height of the back row.  They pick up the bells when the choir is not singing, but we would to balance the bells with the choir, organ and brass when all are playing.  We are not sure about the being able to hang the mics from the ceiling.  I'm sure that would be the best, if we can do it. Any advice on type of mic, you can include brand and model, and placement would be appreciated.  Thanks. 

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[MARY YERKS]

Thanks.