Church Music

Buying and Using Choir Microphones

There are three basic reasons for using microphones

1. Amplifying the choir

The room acoustics of many sanctuaries many it necessary it amplify the choir. A small choir in a large space that may have sound problems really needs the volume boost. Also balancing with louder accompaniment styles may require using a microphone.

Choir microphone patterns

Using directional microphones with a broad pick-up pattern such as the cardioid pattern will help maximize the amplitude gain while still covering the most voices with the fewest number of microphones. A hyper- cardioid pattern will be to focused picking up only a few singers. A omni-directional or bi-polar pattern microphone will cause feedback too readily.

Number of microphones to use

Keeping the microphone count down is also good. Too many mics picking up the same sound causes phase-cancellation distortion and increases the possibility of audio feedback, reducing the useable gain range. In other words focus on a few good quality microphones put in the best possible placements.

2. Recording the choir

 If microphones are being used to amplify the choir then they can also be used for recording the choir. If on the other hand, the mics are only for recording many more possibilities are available. Omni-directional microphones can be used to pick up a wider range and also record the room' s ambience. Look for choir microphones that bring out the best choral tone.

3. Distributing the choir sound

If their is a live broadcast of the service or if the choir needs to be heard in remote part of the church building then chior mics should be used. Since their is not a feedback issue with this application microphone placement and pick-up pattern are more flexible. The requirements are the same as for recording microphones.