Looking for the Absolute Best Podium Mic

[newrob1]

Thought I would query the folks on this forum to find out what you feel is the best sounding Podium Microphone out there with money being no object. I am a touring corporate sound engineer and have been using SM99's for years. Like yourselves have spent thousands on gear over the years and now want to invest in my own mics so any suggestions out there for the undisputable champion in podium mics will be welcomed.

[Kiwiburger]

Best sounding podium mic ... is this sports, church, lectures? Is the speaker going to be moving around? The best sounding mic in the world isn't much use if the speaker never directly talks into it.

Wireless headset mics? ... boundry mics? ...

IMO - condensor mic's are usually too edgy sounding to be particularly nice in that application. A basic warm sounding dynamic mic is often more pleasant. The SM57 served on the US President's podium for a few years, apparantly.

The nicest vocal PA system i've ever heard was in a church that was build around the 1950's. It had an old ribbon mic (RCA if I recall), and a small tube amp that frequently picked up taxi radio transmission, and these amazing wooden speakers that looked like wind-up gramophone speaker horns. (With real drivers - not scratchy horns like today's P.A.) Coupled with the natural reverb of the place, it was the warmest, lushest, most intimate PA system you could wish for.

So if money is no object, I would look at the whole chain, and get some tube warmth, or least some yummy eq in there. And try to avoid nasty sounding horns in the PA. For the limited frequency range of speech, you don't need subs and you don't need horns.

Just my 2 cents.

[Linear]

Originally Posted by newrob1

Thought I would query the folks on this forum to find out what you feel is the best sounding Podium Microphone out there with money being no object. I am a touring corporate sound engineer and have been using SM99's for years. Like yourselves have spent thousands on gear over the years and now want to invest in my own mics so any suggestions out there for the undisputable champion in podium mics will be welcomed.

I'd have a look at this.

http://www.microtechgefell.de/eng/pr...0/kem970_0.htm

Chris

[newrob1]

Linear,

Unbelievable!!! Mercenary Audio has that mic for $12000.00 (twelve thousand)

Any idea where to get that mic for less? The therory is right on and most of the shows I do are in convention centers with 3000 to 8000 attendees. 90% of the time I travel with 8 to 12 JBL Vertec line arrays a side and reading about that mic it looks like that is what it was designed for. I have mixed keynote addresses from Al Gore to Steve Jobs to Bill Gates and in between and get frustrated with the fact that the SM 99's that seem to be on every show are as good as it gets. Currently all shows are with the PM5D or the M7CL so I feel the weak link in my chain that could be improved on are the mics.

Thanks for turning me on to that mic and if you know any US dealers let me know!

[MIKEHARRIS]

Neumann...KM140/150...KVF118KA...or 158...we have a well seen TV minister using that with a Focusrite Red 7. Maybe you should upgrade your Pre/Comp as well...in that search for improvement
The folks who do most non Rock N Roll ...Talkin Head stuff...feel the Crown LM300 or Countryman Isomax 4 to be the best affordable mics...i had hopes for the Earthworks but havent found acceptance yet

btw...Countryman is the MHHP5VS18EB....18 inch...black...flexible both ends

[Kiwiburger]

IMO any mic system, no matter how expensive, that is designed to catch a wide area of sound is going to sound compromised. If all you want is to pick up a roaming speaker over a wide area, it might still be worth it - but the actuall vocal quality will probably be edgy and phasey in a lot of places.

That's why i would suggest wireless mics or boundary mics you can fade between.

But for sheer sound quality, I don't think you can beat a ribbon on the desk. What does Letterman have? Obviously a ribbon requires a great preamp.

Horses for courses.

[Harley-OIART]

For Straight Sound Quality, wouldn't the Earthworks Flex Series Podium Microphones be a pretty good bet? They are in my books anyway.

I got a set of Shure MX412's @ a podium right now.... would love to run down and give the guy an SM-58 to bring some life back into the room :)

[fifthcircle]

Podium system that they use for the awards shows is really good- has a lot of custom parts, though.

Basically, you have a pair of schoeps mounted right over each other. The top is usually a Cardiod capsule and the bottom is a hyper cardiod capsule. They have a custom mount that was fabricated to attach capsules using the schoeps active cables to move the preamp away from the capsule. Then there is a shockmount system that mounts inside a podium. They also have a system where those cables are run down a tube with cogs on the bottom that attach to a gear system for the floor mount awards.

Use the hyper for the PA or for small numbers of people right in front of the podium, use the cardiod for larger numbers or if folks aren't right on the mic. Also, gives choices for the broadcast engineers.

The rack that goes with that usually has a good preamp with EQ and a comp (sometimes 1 unit like a Millennia Orgin or sometimes seperate parts). Also, very often a CEDAR DNS 1000 is in the rack to take care of any noise/ambience issues that come up on that channel. It can be inserted into either a channel or a bus depending on how your system is set up.

--Ben

[Jim vanBergen]

I use Earthworks Flex mics, I have three of them and I know at least six people who have bought pairs after hearing mine- but the ultimate podium mic is of course.....

Schoeps.


http://www.posthorn.com/S_ccm2.html#s250


JvB

[Ozzie62]

IMO - condensor mic's are usually too edgy sounding to be particularly nice in that application. A basic warm sounding dynamic mic is often more pleasant. The SM57 served on the US President's podium for a few years, apparantly.

I spoke to a guy who worked on the presidents sound setup for his location press conferences and he mentioned when the President is at the White there is a Schoeps microphone nestled between the SM57's for the PA and the SM57's are just for show. I think when he is outside or other places the SM57's are used.

[Matt Biermann]

We've gotten the best results with the Audio Technica C87 mkII. I think it's out of production now, but it's basically a SDC with a pop filter ball housing. I don't like using dynamics because the problem is too many people are mic shy and back away from the mic too much, which means I have to boost, which means feedback becomes a problem. With an SDC they can be pretty far away and still get a good level. Also, dynamics give too much proximity effect, so the people who really eat the mic require yet a different treatment in realtime to compensate.

Dynamics, in my opinion, are just plain horrible for PA use. Your best bet is an SDC designed for PA use.

[Cosmic Closet]

Letterman actually has a Neumann 147 tube condenser, and, I suspect, much like Carson's RCA, it is there for the coolness factor more than anything, since both L and his guests are wired with lavs.

But if anyone knows different, and the 147 is in use, do tell.

Claus.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Closet

Letterman actually has a Neumann 147 tube condenser, and, I suspect, much like Carson's RCA, it is there for the coolness factor more than anything, since both L and his guests are wired with lavs.

But if anyone knows different, and the 147 is in use, do tell.

Claus.

That 147 is wired and working, but used as a visual the majority of the time.

[Majkelus]

Schoeps MK series (mk4g or mk41g) and an 18" gooseneck somehow always seems to win. We even had a chance to put it up against that MG line array microphone and the Earthworks podium mics at a big show and had to go with the Schoeps MK 41g in the end.

[Shadow_7]

Of course it depends on what you call a podium mic. About the only time I see people actually stay at the podium is award shows, spelling bees, and sometimes church. Most everyone else seems to roam. Even in churches the pastor is more likely to roam, step aside for the choir, guest artist, or whatever else is going on that week.

As I wonder what the Shure 55SH looking mic was that Hitler and Stalin used on their podiums. Although stealthy mics seem to be more the norm these days. Unless you're a high ranking political type with a cluster of mics in front of you.

[Mazo Audio]

I'll agree with the folks recommending these. I've had the Earthworks for 5 years and it's been real reliable and sounds excellent. Sturdy as heck.

Lance

[MichaelPatrick]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Closet

Letterman actually has a Neumann 147 tube condenser ... there for the coolness factor more than anything, since both L and his guests are wired with lavs.

But if anyone knows different, and the 147 is in use, do tell.

It looks like a side-address mic, but it's a Heil PR-40 with the front facing the guest chair.

[joeshambro]

for live, i prefer a two-mic approach -- one cardioid (or hyper), and one omni -- if more than one person gets up to the podium, you can blend in the omni to give yourself more area volume (especially the case for award shows, etc). if it's just one presenter, two cardioids/hypers (one for PA, another for recording/PA backup) works great.

my favorites: neumann KM100 series (try the wide cardioid or hyper capsule), schoeps (obviously), also consider the DPA 4021. i also really love earthworks for just about everything (haven't tried the podium flex mics) but i assume they'd be great too.

[Walling1]

I've been very happy with the Earthworks Flex mics.

- Dave