Ok for those of you who use Music in your Acts. when do you Decide to Use it. and How many here Speak while it is playing. Don,

A tip...rather than having to turn down the music during speaking over or Voice Over...set the Music audio level to what it will be when UNDER the Voice...music is almost ALWAYS much too loud for the amount of people or size of area being entertained anyway. Turning down the music when a voice comes on is pretty amatuer stuff easily avoided.
Get a nice balance.

If you have your voice over prerecorded...same deal...set the audio level to the voice so that when the voice comes on it doesn't blast and plaster the audience to the back wall.

Please keep in mind you are not a Rock Band...keep it down...pleasant and entertaining.

Do audio tests prior to taking the stage.


We return you now to the Donster.

We speak several times while music is playing. Do the hard work when you are at home recording the music. Make a 3 or 6 decibel cut when the music is during the part where you speak, afterwards bring the level back up to the norm.

Xmosis is giving good advice when he says it is very amateruish to take levels up and down, when it it can be done ahead of time.

Another thing if you are providing you own sound system. Invest in a compressor and learn how to use it. Put your mics thru the compressor. This will bring up your low speaking levels And bring down you loud speaking levels. You should be able to whisper and still be heard, yet not overbearing when you speak loudly. That is put in laymens terms.


Kevin & Kristen

Next time you watch a movie notice where the music and background noise fade or cut. It's all theater.
You can't do everything, so get a consultant or sound tech to help with sound. Especially, as your venue grows.

Music is a very important element to a complete, professional production.

I recommend that you avoid talking over the music
whenever possible. My show runs over an hour and there
is only one point where I talk over the music.
In that case, the music is kept very low and is
designed to complement the speaking instead of
compete with it.

And just to echo some of the advice above, the music
does not need to be extrememly loud even when you
are not speaking. It should be at a comfortable level for all.

-JH

Doesn't the Virtual Soundman automatically duck the music then you talk?

I'm not sure if it does

Hi

Look for VIP Vocal input Priority on mixers.

The Fender passport has it and is adjustable.

Paula

Yes, Salazar-
The VSM does have a music-ducking feature,
I put it in after I used my Fender PD 250- I found it to be so obnoxious/complicated that I had to design one myself.

Kevin- your right about recording the music levels to accommodate the voice- I do it for stories with magic. Which is very difficult, I sometime drive my composer nuts with story beds.

However- there are times when you are conducting rules for audience members, instructing volunteers, or for those general times during the show you have a semi low bed of music behind- it is altogether professional to use an automatic ducking feature- and not unprofessional.

As long as the ducking is done smoothly, and not so harsh or too quick like the Fender Passport does it.

BTW- I just bought an Anchor Explorer- and found that it too has a music-ducking feature built in the volume knob- and it is a simple- soft duck- I like it- I use if for my lectures now!

Cheers,
Kelly Duro