The synergy between pop music and commercials

The synergy between pop music and commercials

Ambiance microphone

During a theatre-production I needed a super sensitive mic. It should pick up spoken word and contact sounds of objects on a table. No cord should be visible. So I had to look for a wireless system. I started making the contact microphone. I taped 3 wireless transmitters and some omnidirectional condensator microphones at the bottom of the table.  I screwed a wooden slat under the table so I could attach the transmitters to it.

I stuck the microphones so that they had direct contact with the tabletop. In this way I hoped to pick up the sound of stirring a coffee cup on the table. The result was far better than I expected. The whole tabletop of the table began to work like a kind of microphone and not only picked up the contact sounds but also the voices of the actors.
By editing some delay and a large room reverb, I created  a nice open and spacious sound, a sparkling presence, without being sharp. It had just enough body.
I set the volume at a low level to prevent the sound from coming out of the speakers rather than from the actors. Like mixing dry and wet signal on a mixing-desk. In this way, the sound of the actor seems to come true and you know where they are in space. Adjusting the balance between wet and dry sound is quite accurate and can change when the actor changes position.