Earthworks C&C30 User Manual - page 7
Figure 7. An 80-voice choir miked with 6 conventional microphones at 3 feet
Closer Miking Provides Additional Gain Before Feedback
Seasoned sound engineers know that placing a microphone closer to the sound
source will result in additional gain before feedback. Figure 6 below, shows the same
80-voice choir miked with 3 Earthworks cardioid microphones, however, notice
that the microphones are placed 3 feet in front of the choir rather than at 6 feet as
indicated in Figures 4 and 5.
In contrast, Figure 7 shows the same choir miked with 6 conventional cardioid mi-
crophones placed 3 feet in front of the choir. Notice the blank coverage spots in the
pick-up area. This illustrates that placing conventional microphones 3 feet in front
of the choir would require even more microphones to adequately cover the choir.
5
Figure 5. An 80-voice choir miked with 3 Earthworks microphones at 6 feet
Figure 6. An 80-voice choir miked with 3 Earthworks microphones at 3 feet
Figure 10. Rear Polar Response of an Earthworks Cardioid Microphone
What we have reviewed so far is technical information shown on charts and graphs.
Now lets look at what happens in the actual use and application of these two types
of cardioid microphones. If you were to take the typical conventional cardioid
microphone in your hand and talk into the front of the mic and while you are talk-
ing, rotate the microphone 180 degrees and talk into the rear of the microphone,
you would notice some reduction in the audible level of your voice. In contrast, if
you were to do the same exercise with an Earthworks cardioid microphone, when
you started talking into the rear of the microphone your voice would be nearly
inaudible. This practical demonstration shows how dead the Earthworks cardioid
microphones are at the rear. As a general guideline, you can consider the coverage
area from 90º, 180º to 270º the dead zone of an Earthworks cardioid microphone
as illustrated in Figure 10.
When miking choirs with an orchestra or band in front of the choir, the rear rejec-
tion of sounds from an Earthworks cardioid can be a real benefit. When positioning
the Earthworks microphone, make sure that the rear of the capsule is facing the
direction of the orchestra or band as shown in Figure 11.
8
Figure 11. Proper Positioning of an Earthworks Cardioid Microphone
with an Orchestra or Band behind the Microphone
Correct
- microphone head
perpendicular to floor for
maximum isolation from
the orchestra or band