Microphones
The microphones are stored in the lighting box area in suitcase style aluminium cases labelled "Wired microphones", "Wireless Microphones" and two boxes labeled "RL Professional wireless microphones".
We have 8 microphone inputs on the mixer desk which is the limit on the number of mics we can use at present (April 2025). In passing, it is worth noting that, although changing hardware to accomodate more channels would not be technically demanding, we have found that as the number of channels increases, so do the number of glitches and complications!
Wired Microphones
Any of the wired microphones can be pugged into the XLR socket in the stage managers area marked "mic1". The other end of this cable ends up in the bundle of microphone cables above the mixer desk and it can be pugged into any of the microphone sockets. It is marked with label "From Stage Manager's Area"
Handheld Wireless Microphones
We have two reliable handheld wireless microphones. These are identified by their red or green bases. They use frequencies that cannot be adjusted and their signals are picked up by the antennae in the roof of the auditorium. Cables from there run back to the older style red and green receivers above the mixer desk. The red and green identified cables then run down to inputs on the the mixer desk
Red and Green channel wireless microphones
Antennae for the red and green mics. (Looking towards the lighting box)
Red and green receivers - first two channels of the lower unit. Click for full size version
Of course the hand held mics can be put into mic stands if needed.
It is good practice to ensure that new or just recharged batteries are used for every performance
Headset Wireless Microphones
The wireless headset transmitters use a channel in one of the 4 channel receiver units at the top of the last picture.
The antennae are on the rear of the units insead of in the auditorium. This system is more modern than the red and green handheld mics
and the transmission frequencies can be adjusted. This adjustment is made using a short distance
infra red link from the receivers, i.e. the receiver controls the selection of channel and matches the microphone to it.
The manual for the mics and receivers can be found here
As with the handheld mics, newly charged batteries should be fitted before each performance.
We have found it essential to have pre-show dry runs when using mic headsets.