Organist/baby Monitor

[sbarber49]

Apologies if this has been discussed before.

 

Has anyone any experience of wireless microphone and speaker for portable and instant use. The purpose would be to relay the sound of a choir to the organist in those situations where co-ordination is difficult.

 

I once used a pair of walkie-talkies in Amiens cathedral for the Vierne mass and they worked brilliantly - except that one of the sopranos had to hang it round her neck and when she stopped singing it cut out! Has anyone tried a baby monitor? Or any other suggestions that do not involve cables or vast expense?

 

I should have put this in the "General" section but don't know how to move it.

[Tony Newnham]

Apologies if this has been discussed before.

 

Has anyone any experience of wireless microphone and speaker for portable and instant use. The purpose would be to relay the sound of a choir to the organist in those situations where co-ordination is difficult.

 

I once used a pair of walkie-talkies in Amiens cathedral for the Vierne mass and they worked brilliantly - except that one of the sopranos had to hang it round her neck and when she stopped singing it cut out! Has anyone tried a baby monitor? Or any other suggestions that do not involve cables or vast expense?

 

I should have put this in the "General" section but don't know how to move it.

 

Hi

 

Good quality radio mics are far from cheap - around £300+. The cheap ones often sold in music shops, etc. have a very limited range (I have one that won't even work reliably in a 100 seat room).

 

If there's any sort of line of sight to the conductor from near the organ console, then a cheap camcorder + TV will work. (Most camcorders will work as cameras if there's no tape inserted).

 

Every Blessing

 

Tony

[sbarber49]

Hi

 

Good quality radio mics are far from cheap - around £300+. The cheap ones often sold in music shops, etc. have a very limited range (I have one that won't even work reliably in a 100 seat room).

 

If there's any sort of line of sight to the conductor from near the organ console, then a cheap camcorder + TV will work. (Most camcorders will work as cameras if there's no tape inserted).

 

Every Blessing

 

Tony

 

It's the hearing rather than the seeing. I was thinking of doing some of Bédard's Duet Suite for organ and piano, which is a great piece if you like Bédard (which I do, in moderation). The organ and piano are some distance apart, so I wouldn't attempt to do it unless I could hear the piano. The quality of the sound doesn't matter - just being able to hear enough to co-ordinate. (No sight line on this occasion.)

 

I just wondered if a Baby Monitor would pick up enough sound. There is also the advantage that I would be able to hear what people were saying when they thought I wasn't listening!