Karaoke Scene's Karaoke Forums :: mixing multiple mics

I hoping maybe to learn something with this thread I may have not known before. At the most I have 3 mics going at once and find it a challenge to do even that. I was surprised to hear so many people put out 4 or more mics at a time. Even sometimes when I have a duet harmonizing I find I'm tweeking to get the right balance.

I have so many questions, but I thought I'd let you guys talk freely asking just a few.
Okay you have 5 singers and one person is way off key. What is the quickest way to figure out who it is because you can't tell by looking at them?

When you have 3 or more singers do you try to mix each voice or just try to equal out each persons volume so they're at the same level? I usually try to just keep everyones volume level the same unless one of the singers is way off key. In that case I try to figure out who is the off key singer and bring them down a little more than the rest.

Many times I find it is a guessing game to figure out whose voice is whose when there are so many singers and I am impressed that some of you can handle 5 mics at a time. Please give up your secrets.

For karaoke i never give out more than 2 mics. Mixing is very easy with all pro gear my mics are pretty much set it and forget it.

Rainbow electrical tape.

Why are you looking for the OFF KEY singer in a group? Unless someone is SCREAMING in the mic or cupping it causing feedback I say leave the volumes EQUAL. What do you do when the ONLY singer is off key ? Do you turm them down so they can't be heard ?

If you have 4 mics in use - either differant colored cables or tape on the ends - so you can tell at a glance which mic is which channel. It's tough to mix 2 harmonizing singers in a karaoke show as most boards are in BACK OF the singers.
Best advise is trial and error....Isolate the SOUND/SINGER you want to turn down and keep trying channels until you get the right one. LOL

jamkaraoke @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:53 pm wrote:

Nope the off key singers get the gong hook.

Just kidding. What I try to do is let the off key singer still be heard, but bring them down a smidge so their just under the mix of the better singers. I think it makes the off key singer sound a bit better than they really are, but I suppose it's personal preference.

Rainbow electrical tape.

I also use the different color electrical tape. I put it on both ends of the mic cord, so I can look at the mic, then at the mixer for the same color. Another plus for having corded mics.

Srnitynow

Author:	Babs [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:28 am ]
Post subject:	mixing multiple mics
I hoping maybe to learn something with this thread I may have not known before. At the most I have 3 mics going at once and find it a challenge to do even that. I was surprised to hear so many people put out 4 or more mics at a time. Even sometimes when I have a duet harmonizing I find I'm tweeking to get the right balance. I have so many questions, but I thought I'd let you guys talk freely asking just a few. Okay you have 5 singers and one person is way off key. What is the quickest way to figure out who it is because you can't tell by looking at them? When you have 3 or more singers do you try to mix each voice or just try to equal out each persons volume so they're at the same level? I usually try to just keep everyones volume level the same unless one of the singers is way off key. In that case I try to figure out who is the off key singer and bring them down a little more than the rest. Many times I find it is a guessing game to figure out whose voice is whose when there are so many singers and I am impressed that some of you can handle 5 mics at a time. Please give up your secrets.

Author:	lyquiddye [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:36 am ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
For karaoke i never give out more than 2 mics. Mixing is very easy with all pro gear my mics are pretty much set it and forget it.

Author:	Moonrider [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:57 am ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
Babs @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:28 pm wrote: I hoping maybe to learn something with this thread I may have not known before. At the most I have 3 mics going at once and find it a challenge to do even that. I was surprised to hear so many people put out 4 or more mics at a time. Even sometimes when I have a duet harmonizing I find I'm tweeking to get the right balance. I have so many questions, but I thought I'd let you guys talk freely asking just a few. Okay you have 5 singers and one person is way off key. What is the quickest way to figure out who it is because you can't tell by looking at them? When you have 3 or more singers do you try to mix each voice or just try to equal out each persons volume so they're at the same level? I usually try to just keep everyones volume level the same unless one of the singers is way off key. In that case I try to figure out who is the off key singer and bring them down a little more than the rest. Many times I find it is a guessing game to figure out whose voice is whose when there are so many singers and I am impressed that some of you can handle 5 mics at a time. Please give up your secrets. I started doing karaoke years after learning how to mix for bands. In larger venues with horn bands it wouldn't be unusual to find myself having to deal with 10-15 instrument and vocal mikes, plus several for the drums. Three vocalists plus a "band" I have total control over is a snap As far as the off key singer, all you can do is guess. It's much like mixing those darn guitar players that can't play on any volume but "11"

Author:	Babs [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:59 am ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
lyquiddye @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:36 am wrote: For karaoke i never give out more than 2 mics. Mixing is very easy with all pro gear my mics are pretty much set it and forget it. I'm talking more about using more than 2. And of course I would set the mics. Are you saying you set them the same for everyone and forget?

Author:	karaoke koyote [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:15 am ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
I use up to three mics at a time, and it is very challenging, but I have some tips that might help. With multiple people of various skill singing at once, regardless of how "professional" your system is, there is no "set it and forget it": 1. Mic handling: Observe how your singers are holding the mics. Any cuppers? Turn down their mids. 2. Do a sound check: With this many open mics its ok to have each of the singers say something into the mic before they start so you can get an idea of each person's mic presence. Adjust the gain appropriately for each singer, then have them all speak at once. 3. Pay attention to the music and be prepared to adjust for vocal peaks. I have a group of 3 ladies that do a really great job on the lil kim/ christina agulira version of "Lady Marmalade", and balancing them out as they dance, move about and rock out on the mics can be a real challenge... but what a great learning experience. Of course it helps knowing each individual's general mic settings since they sing with me regularly. The setting for three people whom you've never heard sing before is interesting. Watch their mic handling and do your sound check before you start the music and you'll be ahead of the game. This also leads into multiple singers using one mic. This usually does not work out because some people sing "louder" than other. In addition, most KJs use a unidirectional microphone, which is meant for one person to sing into. For a group sing, an omnidirectional mic is more appropriate... but I've never tried it. Not to hijack your thread Babs, but I think it fits.... anyone ever use an Omni for a group sing?

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Author:	tovmod [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:16 am ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
Babs, When I put out more than 3 mics it is for sing-alongs and I don't care much about the mix. And perhaps that answers most of your question? When I turn on just two or three mics I start them at the same setting. If everyone sounds "good", I make sure to adjust the gain for anyone holding the mic "down by their sternum". If they don't sound good I bring down the gain for any singer who has the mic near his mouth while increasing the volume on the track! Then I see what else I can do to improve the mix. While this may not be the most technically correct way to handle the situation it has worked very well for me Sometimes the biggest problem initially is the volume on the track being too loud or too soft!

Author:	mckyj57 [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:26 am ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
Rainbow electrical tape.

Author:	Babs [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:34 am ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
mckyj57 @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:26 pm wrote: Rainbow electrical tape. Great idea ! At one time I used duct tape in different places to tell the mics apart. Now this is what I'm talking about you guys are helping a girl out already. I so appreciate the professional responses ! I pretty much do things like Tov now. I think he put it into the best words for me.

Author:	jamkaraoke [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:53 am ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
Why are you looking for the OFF KEY singer in a group? Unless someone is SCREAMING in the mic or cupping it causing feedback I say leave the volumes EQUAL. What do you do when the ONLY singer is off key ? Do you turm them down so they can't be heard ? If you have 4 mics in use - either differant colored cables or tape on the ends - so you can tell at a glance which mic is which channel. It's tough to mix 2 harmonizing singers in a karaoke show as most boards are in BACK OF the singers. Best advise is trial and error....Isolate the SOUND/SINGER you want to turn down and keep trying channels until you get the right one.

Author:	srnitynow [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:47 am ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
I also use the different color electrical tape. I put it on both ends of the mic cord, so I can look at the mic, then at the mixer for the same color. Another plus for having corded mics. Srnitynow

Author:	Babs [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:31 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
jamkaraoke @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:53 pm wrote: Why are you looking for the OFF KEY singer in a group? Unless someone is SCREAMING in the mic or cupping it causing feedback I say leave the volumes EQUAL. What do you do when the ONLY singer is off key ? Do you turm them down so they can't be heard ? If you have 4 mics in use - either differant colored cables or tape on the ends - so you can tell at a glance which mic is which channel. It's tough to mix 2 harmonizing singers in a karaoke show as most boards are in BACK OF the singers. Best advise is trial and error....Isolate the SOUND/SINGER you want to turn down and keep trying channels until you get the right one. Nope the off key singers get the gong hook. Just kidding. What I try to do is let the off key singer still be heard, but bring them down a smidge so their just under the mix of the better singers. I think it makes the off key singer sound a bit better than they really are, but I suppose it's personal preference.

Author:	jamkaraoke [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:35 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
Babs @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:31 pm wrote: jamkaraoke @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:53 pm wrote: Why are you looking for the OFF KEY singer in a group? Unless someone is SCREAMING in the mic or cupping it causing feedback I say leave the volumes EQUAL. What do you do when the ONLY singer is off key ? Do you turm them down so they can't be heard ? If you have 4 mics in use - either differant colored cables or tape on the ends - so you can tell at a glance which mic is which channel. It's tough to mix 2 harmonizing singers in a karaoke show as most boards are in BACK OF the singers. Best advise is trial and error....Isolate the SOUND/SINGER you want to turn down and keep trying channels until you get the right one. Nope the off key singers get the gong hook. Just kidding. What I try to do is let the off key singer still be heard, but bring them down a smidge so their just under the mix of the better singers. I think it makes the off key singer sound a bit better than they really are, but I suppose it's personal preference. censorship !!!

Author:	karaoke koyote [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:57 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
mckyj57 @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:26 am wrote: Rainbow electrical tape. NO DOUBT!! I do the exact same thing... taping the mics so I can tell who belongs to what control... .

Author:	harpman [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:20 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
Different colors of electrical tape is definitely the way to go. I put a strip near rhe bottom of the wireless mics and the corresponding color on the channel they are plugged into. If there is a large group it is sometimes difficult to see around them to tell who has which mic, but with up to 4 singers it works pretty good.

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Author:	RLC [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:45 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
srnitynow @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:47 pm wrote: I also use the different color electrical tape. I put it on both ends of the mic cord, so I can look at the mic, then at the mixer for the same color. Another plus for having corded mics. Srnitynow It can also be used on wireless setups too.

Author:	timberlea [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
C,mon, duct tape now comes in many colours. . Yes this would be the first step, then observation of the singers and how they are holding thier mics. Your can usually tell by looking who has a strong voice or weak voice. Then adjust the mic volume and/or gain accordingly.

Author:	evm3 [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:01 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
I do color coding on my cables, not a must but I do believe it's a best practice. I use EWI with Nuetrik connectors and use these colored rings for $0.35 a piece http://audiopile.net/products/Adaptors_ ... heet.shtml

Author:	letitrip [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:31 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
First of all, yes, being able to identify which mic is on which channel of the mixer is key. The e-Tape idea is a great one. For me with the Shure wireless I use this little kit to color ID each mic: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3 ... er_ID.html As far as how I handle off key singers in groups I do a couple things. First I'll watch them against the meters to determine which singer it is if I can't tell just by watching. If I really am having a hard time telling which person it is I'll solo each individual mic channel. Assuming that there are others in the group that are singing better I'll set them up like a lead and backup situation (i.e. the best vocal is prominent and the others are run at a slightly lower level and with a little more reverb). Of course this only works if they're all singing the same thing, doesn't work on duets or multi-part songs, there you're pretty much stuck. What I don't do is adjust the monitor level. This way they can all hear themselves at the same volume. I also don't burry the off-key singer, they can still be heard in the house just fine. It's a very subtle effect but has pretty big benefits in terms of everyone's enjoyment of the song.

Author:	Blade [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:49 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
We also do the rainbow electrical tape. FWIW...I used to tape the very bottom of each mic (with a different color, obviously) but now tape a few inches down on the actual xlr cable. Because if the performer gripped the mic near the bottom, it covered the tape.

Author:	Dr Fred [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: mixing multiple mics
I try to keep track of the mics and adjust for duets depending on who is a quiet/loud singer. I did have tape on the mics for a while to keep them identifiable, but eventualy the tape got worn and unprofessional looking. My problem is sometimes after a duet the mics get switched around, and the singers hand the mics to each other as they enter the stage, so unless you are paying close attention you can loose track of who has which mic. This even occurs sometimes when I had the mics taped and they were covering up the taped areas with their hands.....