Microphone necklace? at DVinfo.net

Gary Lee · August 8th, 2011, 06:55 PM

I'm doing depositions and often the girls come in with really floppy collars. You know the drill. The Lapel mic travels around and flops all over.

So whats that thing called that you wrap around their neck like a necklace? Googled that but no joy.
Sure, I guess I could use a piece of string, but wanted something correct for the application? Is there such an item?

Thanks,
GLB

Brian P. Reynolds · August 8th, 2011, 07:09 PM

Electrovoice produced one years ago that used a neck cord, the mic was HUGE compared to the ones around today.
Electro-Voice Model 649B

I have a skin color shoe lace in my kit for this exact problem, just tape the lapel mic onto the shoe lace with a small amunt of skin color sports bandage tape it will work fine. But the talent will need to remove ANY other necklaces etc to stop them banging the mic.

Don Bloom · August 8th, 2011, 08:15 PM

I've also used shoelaces and even the "necklaces" that have ID tags on them which actually work realy well since the "necklace" is a bit wider than a shoelace and has an alligator clip on it which can make mounting the mic pretty easy with a little 2 sided tape or a clip.
Necessity is the mother of invention.

Richard Alvarez · August 8th, 2011, 09:17 PM

The term lavalier comes to us from the jewelry business. It is a type of pendant suspending from a necklace. "Back in the day' - that's the way folks wore personal microphones. And they WERE pretty big. The term now applies to any kind of small personal mic you clip on or hide on the person.

Greg Miller · August 8th, 2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Lee

whats that thing called that you wrap around their neck like a necklace?

That's a lavalier.

Or were you thinking of a noose?

John Willett · August 9th, 2011, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian P. Reynolds

Electrovoice produced one years ago that used a neck cord, the mic was HUGE compared to the ones around today.
Electro-Voice Model 649B

I have a skin color shoe lace in my kit for this exact problem, just tape the lapel mic onto the shoe lace with a small amunt of skin color sports bandage tape it will work fine. But the talent will need to remove ANY other necklaces etc to stop them banging the mic.

This is a Lavalier mic. in the true meaning.

A modern miniature tie mic. is not a lavalier mic., though lots of people (especially in the USA) seem to call them as such.

Gary Lee · August 9th, 2011, 04:39 AM

I better correct and clarify my question. I have a very good lapel mic. I'm not looking to buy another mic. I just wanted something like a necklace to hang it on. I thought there might be a professional looking something instead of a shoestring.
Although that is a good suggestion if you pros are using it.. it may have to be the route...

I was hoping there would be something with the mic holder built into it like the alligator clip that comes with the lapel. and a fast connector on the top.. I know its a very narrow market.

Thanks,
GLB

Ed Roo · August 9th, 2011, 07:51 AM

Just and idea (I haven't tried it yet)... I have cut up polypropylene milk containers into various sizes and shapes to use as backing/stiffening material for various projects. The same could be used as a backing to the clothing fabric using gaffers tape to affix it to the area where the microphone clip would be attached.

Jay Massengill · August 9th, 2011, 12:46 PM

I keep small oval shapes of thin, buff-colored cardboard (like the backing of a notepad) in my lav kits for use in backing up thin fabrics. However it only suffices to back up moderately thin fabrics, it won't be enough to support if the blouse is totally formless. And it takes some time to place properly with a very small bit of folded gaffers tape.

I think a neck lanyard may be a better course when setup time is minimal, or the people aren't expecting to be connected with a mic (like female on-camera talent is used to) or you're recording many people in sequence.

With most ID or promo neck lanyards that come with a metal clip, I simply break off the thin metal and use the small fabric loop that remains for whatever I need to connect using my own quiet rings or hair bands.

BTW that EV mic is pretty small compared to the lavalier that was in the storage cabinet when I started at this company... It could have doubled as a medieval weapon to be swung overhead on its cable!

Dan Ostroff · August 9th, 2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Lee

I'm doing depositions and often the girls come in with really floppy collars. You know the drill. The Lapel mic travels around and flops all over.

So whats that thing called that you wrap around their neck like a necklace? Googled that but no joy.
Sure, I guess I could use a piece of string, but wanted something correct for the application? Is there such an item?

Thanks,
GLB

Not what you were looking for but cool nonetheless:

neckmics.com

Bill Davis · August 9th, 2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Alvarez

The term lavalier comes to us from the jewelry business. It is a type of pendant suspending from a necklace. "Back in the day' - that's the way folks wore personal microphones. And they WERE pretty big. The term now applies to any kind of small personal mic you clip on or hide on the person.

Oh, oh, oh.... HISTORY. I LOVE HISTORY.

The above is accurate, but to go even further the "lavillier" term comes only second hand from jewelry.

The actual root of the term is owed to a french king's mistress, Madame LaVallier. Who scored a big honking jewel hanging from a necklace from said King - and that style of bauble took on her name.

Look at the early days clips or stills of the TODAY show with Dave Garoway hosting. You'll see the type of mic that originally adapted the term for a neck worn mic.

Like I said. I LOVE history!

Greg Miller · August 9th, 2011, 04:35 PM

You might consider something like this The Museum of Technology, the Great War and WWII" although you'd probably have trouble interfacing to the carbon transmitter. It is worn around the neck, and it would probably hold that floppy blouse securely in place.

Andy Balla · August 9th, 2011, 06:14 PM

This whole thread rocks, and I'm drawn to comment, because yesterday I had an actress that I had wired up with a lav, did a sound check and everything sounded great. During the first take I heard the sound of her necklace pendant moving on its chain as she acted. Ended up having to put a loop of tape behind the pendant to tape it to her chest so it wouldn't move and kill my sound.

Brian P. Reynolds · August 9th, 2011, 07:22 PM

Or even something like this...Gim Crack Microphone Holder, Magic Trick, $16.00, The Magic Warehouse then you could use almost any mic for the shoot ;)

Mics & Amp Issues

Greg Miller · August 9th, 2011, 09:26 PM

I would like to see this used with an RE-20. With this level of technology, it's a miracle that they get any of their magic tricks to work.

August 8th, 2011, 06:55 PM	#1
Gary Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Va. Beach, VA Posts: 26	Microphone necklace? I'm doing depositions and often the girls come in with really floppy collars. You know the drill. The Lapel mic travels around and flops all over. So whats that thing called that you wrap around their neck like a necklace? Googled that but no joy. Sure, I guess I could use a piece of string, but wanted something correct for the application? Is there such an item? Thanks, GLB

August 8th, 2011, 07:09 PM	#2
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Microphone necklace? Electrovoice produced one years ago that used a neck cord, the mic was HUGE compared to the ones around today. Electro-Voice Model 649B I have a skin color shoe lace in my kit for this exact problem, just tape the lapel mic onto the shoe lace with a small amunt of skin color sports bandage tape it will work fine. But the talent will need to remove ANY other necklaces etc to stop them banging the mic.

August 8th, 2011, 08:15 PM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Microphone necklace? I've also used shoelaces and even the "necklaces" that have ID tags on them which actually work realy well since the "necklace" is a bit wider than a shoelace and has an alligator clip on it which can make mounting the mic pretty easy with a little 2 sided tape or a clip. Necessity is the mother of invention. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

August 8th, 2011, 09:17 PM	#4
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Re: Microphone necklace? The term lavalier comes to us from the jewelry business. It is a type of pendant suspending from a necklace. "Back in the day' - that's the way folks wore personal microphones. And they WERE pretty big. The term now applies to any kind of small personal mic you clip on or hide on the person.

August 9th, 2011, 04:39 AM	#7
Gary Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Va. Beach, VA Posts: 26	Re: Microphone necklace? I better correct and clarify my question. I have a very good lapel mic. I'm not looking to buy another mic. I just wanted something like a necklace to hang it on. I thought there might be a professional looking something instead of a shoestring. Although that is a good suggestion if you pros are using it.. it may have to be the route... I was hoping there would be something with the mic holder built into it like the alligator clip that comes with the lapel. and a fast connector on the top.. I know its a very narrow market. Thanks, GLB

August 9th, 2011, 07:51 AM	#8
Ed Roo Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Columbus USA Posts: 312	Re: Microphone necklace? Just and idea (I haven't tried it yet)... I have cut up polypropylene milk containers into various sizes and shapes to use as backing/stiffening material for various projects. The same could be used as a backing to the clothing fabric using gaffers tape to affix it to the area where the microphone clip would be attached.

August 9th, 2011, 12:46 PM	#9
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Microphone necklace? I keep small oval shapes of thin, buff-colored cardboard (like the backing of a notepad) in my lav kits for use in backing up thin fabrics. However it only suffices to back up moderately thin fabrics, it won't be enough to support if the blouse is totally formless. And it takes some time to place properly with a very small bit of folded gaffers tape. I think a neck lanyard may be a better course when setup time is minimal, or the people aren't expecting to be connected with a mic (like female on-camera talent is used to) or you're recording many people in sequence. With most ID or promo neck lanyards that come with a metal clip, I simply break off the thin metal and use the small fabric loop that remains for whatever I need to connect using my own quiet rings or hair bands. BTW that EV mic is pretty small compared to the lavalier that was in the storage cabinet when I started at this company... It could have doubled as a medieval weapon to be swung overhead on its cable!

August 9th, 2011, 04:35 PM	#12
Greg Miller Trustee Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,786	Re: Microphone necklace? You might consider something like this The Museum of Technology, the Great War and WWII" although you'd probably have trouble interfacing to the carbon transmitter. It is worn around the neck, and it would probably hold that floppy blouse securely in place.

August 9th, 2011, 06:14 PM	#13
Andy Balla Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 182	Re: Microphone necklace? This whole thread rocks, and I'm drawn to comment, because yesterday I had an actress that I had wired up with a lav, did a sound check and everything sounded great. During the first take I heard the sound of her necklace pendant moving on its chain as she acted. Ended up having to put a loop of tape behind the pendant to tape it to her chest so it wouldn't move and kill my sound.

August 9th, 2011, 07:22 PM	#14
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Microphone necklace? Or even something like this...Gim Crack Microphone Holder, Magic Trick, $16.00, The Magic Warehouse then you could use almost any mic for the shoot ;) Mics & Amp Issues

August 9th, 2011, 09:26 PM	#15
Greg Miller Trustee Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,786	Re: Microphone necklace? I would like to see this used with an RE-20. With this level of technology, it's a miracle that they get any of their magic tricks to work.