Let’s hear it for the Room

Last time, we talked about Presence, the full experience of being there in the room. This time we will talk about how to make that happen.

Remember, when you are mixing for an online audience, they don’t hear anything you don’t put in the mix. They aren’t going to feel the kick drum or the bass. They will not hear cheering, singing, or any other response unless you put it in the mix and Presence is dependent on the room.

First, let’s talk about what we are actually looking for. Ideally, we want just what is coming from the room, not what is from the platform. Crowd response with just a bit of room tone. How do we get that? Crowd Mics.

Crowd Mics

In our venue we have very directional mics at the edge of the platform in 90 degree off-axis pairs. One pair at the left edge and another at the right edge.

We also have pairs up in the rafters to pick up the balcony and back of the auditorium. With all these mics we can control how much response we are putting in the mix.

Your mileage may vary.

Experiment with placement in your space. Look for areas where people respond. Stay away from areas where there would be distracting noise (doors, windows, air conditioning ducts). Also, you don’t want individual voices as much as a crowd response so don’t put the mics too close to people. Try to keep the locations symmetrical so they make sense in a stereo mix.

Crowd mics also have to treated with care. They can sweeten a vocal and enhance the presence of the mix, but they can also make it boomy and distracting. No matter how much you process the mics or how directional they are, they will sound like a wide open reverb unless you are careful. You might have to adjust a pair independently. I have had times where someone was standing directly in front of the mics sing VERY off-key. I’m all for a joyful noise, but not going out to 300,000 people!

Crowd mics are one of the things that make mixing for an online experience different from front-of-house. They take some time to get used to, but when you learn how to use them, they will help create an experience that your online audience will come back for.