Audience Mics Can be Simple

Creating a lively broadcast mix begins with the capture. Using audience and room microphones to capture the atmosphere of your room is essential. Proper mic placement and tuning are just as important. Timing, EQ adjustments, and microphone types all play a critical role in an engaging listening experience.

Key Points:
  • Audience mics should be strategically placed around the stage. Shotgun microphones on tall stands should be used to capture the crowd’s reactions without picking up the PA. This enriches the broadcast mix with authentic audience sounds.
  • Previously, audience mics were used just for in-ears. Now, they’ve become a key part of the broadcast mix. Audience mics aim to give remote viewers a complete live experience.
  • EQ should be used on audience mics to improve sound quality. Reduce low frequencies and mids while boosting highs. This makes applause clearer and reduces background noise.
  • Microphones should also be placed near front of house to record the complete sound of your room. This helps to “re-create” what you’re hearing in front of house, for your online viewers.
  • Time aligning your microphones is also important. Doing so ensures that the sound from the audience and room mics matches the main mix. Time alignment avoids problems with phase and smearing.

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Audio
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