Presidents Mic at DVinfo.net

Roy Feldman · August 18th, 2010, 04:22 AM

In every speech I see that Prestident Obama uses the same pair of Mics: outside, inside, windy, big room, small room. So what are they? They have to be pretty good, with just a small foam wind screen they stand up to a gulf wind or canvernous aircraft hanger.
Just asking

Paul R Johnson · August 18th, 2010, 05:26 AM

A pair of Shure SM57s, have been the standard for all your Presidents for years.

Which I think is common sense creeping through. What would the President require? Nothing to do with sophistication, cleverness, exceptional design and state-of-the-art electronics, and especially price - just something solid, reliable and totally fit for purpose. Here in the UK, we give them anything, including radio mics that belong to the broadcasters, who broadcast things they perhaps shouldn't! As in the ex-Prime Minister moaning about somebody just presented to him!

Greg Bellotte · August 18th, 2010, 08:02 AM

The Shure SM57 and its windscreen A2WS have been on the presidential podium since the 60's, nearly as long as this mic has been in production. It was selected for its sound quality, dynamic element that required no other power source, and high reliability. There's a good lesson here, sometimes simplicity is the best option! There used to be three mics, but over the years it was decided that two was sufficient redundancy. I'm not sure what else is in the chain now, but they used to feed a pair of Shure M67 mixers that had the battery backup option, and then a passive press distribution system. Failure was not an option!

Getting the presidential word out has always been given great priority, and I'm proud to say I knew one of the gentlemen that used to work this highly unrecognized position. He passed away about 10 years ago but he always had some great stories to tell. He was raided at home by the Secret Service once because the CBSnews cameraman he worked with phoned him to say "get your mixer and shotgun, we have to shoot the president today". The cameraman meant shotgun microphone and to record an interview of course, but that didn't stop the feds from showing up on his doorstep anyway and in just a few minutes. Big brother *IS* listening, good times!!!

Jacques Mersereau · August 18th, 2010, 08:04 AM

Rumor had it that John Lennon's favorite mic was a 57 that had a crack in the body.

Good mics are wonderful, but what really matters most is who is in front of the mic, not the mic itself.

Paul Cascio · August 18th, 2010, 10:08 AM

and how close it is to the sound source.

August 18th, 2010, 04:22 AM	#1
Roy Feldman Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Grosse pointe, michigan Posts: 189	Presidents Mic In every speech I see that Prestident Obama uses the same pair of Mics: outside, inside, windy, big room, small room. So what are they? They have to be pretty good, with just a small foam wind screen they stand up to a gulf wind or canvernous aircraft hanger. Just asking

August 18th, 2010, 08:04 AM	#4
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	Rumor had it that John Lennon's favorite mic was a 57 that had a crack in the body. Good mics are wonderful, but what really matters most is who is in front of the mic, not the mic itself. __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

August 18th, 2010, 10:08 AM	#5
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	and how close it is to the sound source. __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

August 18th, 2010, 05:26 AM	#2
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,016	A pair of Shure SM57s, have been the standard for all your Presidents for years. Which I think is common sense creeping through. What would the President require? Nothing to do with sophistication, cleverness, exceptional design and state-of-the-art electronics, and especially price - just something solid, reliable and totally fit for purpose. Here in the UK, we give them anything, including radio mics that belong to the broadcasters, who broadcast things they perhaps shouldn't! As in the ex-Prime Minister moaning about somebody just presented to him!

August 18th, 2010, 08:02 AM	#3
Greg Bellotte Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 291	The Shure SM57 and its windscreen A2WS have been on the presidential podium since the 60's, nearly as long as this mic has been in production. It was selected for its sound quality, dynamic element that required no other power source, and high reliability. There's a good lesson here, sometimes simplicity is the best option! There used to be three mics, but over the years it was decided that two was sufficient redundancy. I'm not sure what else is in the chain now, but they used to feed a pair of Shure M67 mixers that had the battery backup option, and then a passive press distribution system. Failure was not an option! Getting the presidential word out has always been given great priority, and I'm proud to say I knew one of the gentlemen that used to work this highly unrecognized position. He passed away about 10 years ago but he always had some great stories to tell. He was raided at home by the Secret Service once because the CBSnews cameraman he worked with phoned him to say "get your mixer and shotgun, we have to shoot the president today". The cameraman meant shotgun microphone and to record an interview of course, but that didn't stop the feds from showing up on his doorstep anyway and in just a few minutes. Big brother IS listening, good times!!!