Fairfax Public Access
Audio How-To Guide Copies of various equipment manuals are available online at (https://www.fcac.org/equipment-user-manuals)
Step 1 Get familiar with the types of microphones FPA has available to use in the studios and the function of each. In most interview style productions each talent will have one Lavalier mic. How-To “Setup the wireless microphones” The Wireless Lavalier / Clip-On / Lapel mic studio kit -When looking at the top of the microphone connector cable the white dot is the actual mic. Make sure it’s facing out (away from the talent). See Fig. 1 - On the microphone pouch the mic clip container should include three pieces. A smaller connector clip, a larger clip, and a windscreen. See Fig. 2 - Connect the small connector clip facing away from the mic and then clip it to the larger clip. See Fig. 3 and 4
Production tips:
Loop the mic wire along the clip to further secure the microphone. See Fig 4 Mic at least three inches away from the chin. Plus towards the side that your talent will be facing. When you place the mic on your talent, re-clip the mic cable to hide the wire from being exposed during the taping. Place the mic pack at the back on the talent. On the same side in which the mic was placed. Clip the pack to pants / pockets if possible… Our mic clips can rotate by pinching the smaller clip and rotating the larger one. Depending on the talent’s wardrobe (dresses, jackets….) rotating the clip for better positioning might be required. This will result in capturing better audio. Power on the monitor speakers in the control room by selecting the power button above the audio speaker unit.
In the Control Room How-to “Begin with setting the compressor”: See figure 7 for equipment layout. -Use these compressor settings for an interview: The compressor should always stay on. However, if you are experiencing problems requests assistance from staff. In studio A and B these starting settings should be the same. (The first knob, the far the left of the compressor should be set to -40, the next knob the “Release” set it at the 1 o’clock mark, then “threshold” at -10, then ratio 2 to 1, both the “Attack” and “Release” knobs should also be set at the 1 o’clock mark, the “Output Gain” knob should start at the zero mark but try adjusting the output gain as needed throughout the production if needed, set the “limiter” knob also at zero). -Click the stereo couple button to have channel 2 match all settings of channel 1. (Make sure the yellowish light is lit)
In the Control Room How-to “Cont. by powering the wireless receiver”: See figure 7 for equipment layout. -Turn on the power to the receiver(s) (SHURE ULXD4G units). For the Lavaliers mics turn on the top unit. -Turn on the mic pack power then check for lights on the receiver to recognize the microphone. -You can check the receiver display for the power levels of each microphone. If you need to pair a microphone to the receiver follow these steps.