Make sure IEM talkback mic is clearly audible

trothwell

trothwell

Apr 9, 2008
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#1
We already have the talkback mic pretty loud in the IEMs, but when the music is going strong, it's still hard to hear what is being said clearly and consistently.

Are there any known tactics for dealing with this? Like, auto-limiting the music when the talkback mic goes into use, or something like that?
 
#2
trothwell said:
We already have the talkback mic pretty loud in the IEMs, but when the music is going strong, it's still hard to hear what is being said clearly and consistently.

Are there any known tactics for dealing with this? Like, auto-limiting the music when the talkback mic goes into use, or something like that?
Click to expand...

Some mixers may have built-in "ducking" (automatically limiting the existing audio when another source is present) but I can't say which.

Also, you can buy hardware specifically for this function and add it to your setup. Example:

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com
 
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#3
trothwell said:
We already have the talkback mic pretty loud in the IEMs, but when the music is going strong, it's still hard to hear what is being said clearly and consistently.

Are there any known tactics for dealing with this? Like, auto-limiting the music when the talkback mic goes into use, or something like that?
Click to expand...
Put a mute foot switch (on the floor) between the mic and the mixer.
Anyone can access and mute it before laying a song. Not sure why it would need to be active while playing.
 
#4
s0c9 said:
Put a mute foot switch (on the floor) between the mic and the mixer.
Anyone can access and mute it before laying a song. Not sure why it would need to be active while playing.
Click to expand...
Thanks! But kind of trying to solve the opposite problem, I think. While playing, when the mic is in use, it's hard to hear in the IEM what is said over the mic in relation to the volume level of the band. A foot switch is a good idea in general though!
 
#7
trothwell said:
Thanks! But kind of trying to solve the opposite problem, I think. While playing, when the mic is in use, it's hard to hear in the IEM what is said over the mic in relation to the volume level of the band. A foot switch is a good idea in general though!
Click to expand...
I guess I'm not understanding why you need an active talkback mic on stage while the band is playing ??
 
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#8
s0c9 said:
I guess I'm not understanding why you need an active talkback mic on stage while the band is playing ??
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When I'm scheduled to play at a mega church in my area, I'll play at 1 of like 6 satellite churches that have their own worship band. The main church streams the message to the satellite churches at a specified time, so all the bands have to finish at the same time. Most of the churches have a "Music Director" on a talkback mic... usually the keys player... to keep us in schedule. Since most of the musicians are paid musicians... it common to play with people you haven't played with before, so the MD is like a guide while we are playing playing. Since we have to finish at the sometime with all the other satellite churches, the MD will shorten/stretch or add a song... guiding the band, calling chords using the NNS... which is very common for most of the churches I play with that have an MD.

A talkback mic works well at the mega church I play with because all their satellite churches are sound treated well, zero backline or floor wedges... silent stage (all IEM's and drums fully caged), and a great sound system with paid sound engineer who knows how to mix. Our personal mix are in stereo... which we control on a mobile app (including the talkback mic)... and it sounds like a recording... until you hear the MD talking... 😅
 
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#9
erayser said:
When I'm scheduled to play at a mega church in my area, I'll play at 1 of like 6 satellite churches that have their own worship band. The main church streams the message to the satellite churches at a specified time, so all the bands have to finish at the same time. Most of the churches have a "Music Director" on a talkback mic... usually the keys player... to keep us in schedule. Since most of the musicians are paid musicians... it common to play with people you haven't played with before, so the MD is like a guide while we are playing playing. Since we have to finish at the sometime with all the other satellite churches, the MD will shorten/stretch or add a song... guiding the band, calling chords using the NNS... which is very common for most of the churches I play with that have an MD.

A talkback mic works well at the mega church I play with because all their satellite churches are sound treated well, zero backline or floor wedges... silent stage (all IEM's and drums fully caged), and a great sound system with paid sound engineer who knows how to mix. Our personal mix are in stereo... which we control on a mobile app (including the talkback mic)... and it sounds like a recording... until you hear the MD talking... 😅
Click to expand...

This sounds like on a larger scale, but more or less, yes, this is the kind of thing we're doing.
 
#10
erayser said:
When I'm scheduled to play at a mega church in my area, I'll play at 1 of like 6 satellite churches that have their own worship band. The main church streams the message to the satellite churches at a specified time, so all the bands have to finish at the same time. Most of the churches have a "Music Director" on a talkback mic... usually the keys player... to keep us in schedule. Since most of the musicians are paid musicians... it common to play with people you haven't played with before, so the MD is like a guide while we are playing playing. Since we have to finish at the sometime with all the other satellite churches, the MD will shorten/stretch or add a song... guiding the band, calling chords using the NNS... which is very common for most of the churches I play with that have an MD.

A talkback mic works well at the mega church I play with because all their satellite churches are sound treated well, zero backline or floor wedges... silent stage (all IEM's and drums fully caged), and a great sound system with paid sound engineer who knows how to mix. Our personal mix are in stereo... which we control on a mobile app (including the talkback mic)... and it sounds like a recording... until you hear the MD talking... 😅
Click to expand...
Got it.. thanks for the explanation. Makes sense why it's needed now.
There's no easy way to adjust the mic volume levels when the music is playing vs when it isn't, other than having someone riding a fader - which doesn't appear to be an option in your situation. I've not experienced your scenario personally, but from my audio background I don't know of a way to boost/clarify the speech while the music is playing... without having someone ride a fader.
Is that even an option at a satellite location?
 
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#11
s0c9 said:
Got it.. thanks for the explanation. Makes sense why it's needed now.
There's no easy way to adjust the mic volume levels when the music is playing vs when it isn't, other than having someone riding a fader - which doesn't appear to be an option in your situation. I've not experienced your scenario personally, but from my audio background I don't know of a way to boost/clarify the speech while the music is playing... without having someone ride a fader.
Is that even an option at a satellite location?
Click to expand...
I don't know if this is a question for me or the OP. All satellite churches allows their own band/musicians to control their mix via a mobile app. As you know, that's one of the benefits of digital mixers. Adjusting the talkback mic is part of adjusting your personal mix (individual instruments and vocals) during sound check and setlist run troughs. Once set... it should be good to go when we play live. Don't really have to touch it again... but there are times when you have to minor adjustments.
 
#12
erayser said:
I don't know if this is a question for me or the OP. All satellite churches allows their own band/musicians to control their mix via a mobile app. As you know, that's one of the benefits of digital mixers. Adjusting the talkback mic is part of adjusting your personal mix (individual instruments and vocals) during sound check and setlist run troughs. Once set... it should be good to go when we play live. Don't really have to touch it again... but there are times when you have to minor adjustments.
Click to expand...
It was for the OP - given this commen:
trothwell said:
We already have the talkback mic pretty loud in the IEMs, but when the music is going strong, it's still hard to hear what is being said clearly and consistently.
Click to expand...
My understanding is that they are unable to hear the talkback clearly when then band is playing, given their need to be able to hear and follow the MD's directions.

PS: - I'm very familiar with adjusting (and configuring) IEM mix levels - set it and forget it approach. I'm a HUGE proponent :)
 
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