Analysis of SERIES8 Lavalier Mics: Performance in Live Theatre Settings

A Musical Theatre Sound Designer’s First Impressions

When delivering top-tier sound in live theatre, few tools make as significant an impact as the microphones used. Theatre sound professional Richard Graham, a sound designer and engineer based in Minneapolis, MN has designed and engineered for numerous productions for the Walking Shadow Theatre Company, Theater Mu, Teatro del Pueblo, Artistry, MN Opera, Mixed Blood, and others.  Recently, he shared his experience with Point Source Audio’s SERIES8 microphones after a critical hands-on evaluation in a production of Rent.

Upper Mids and High Frequencies

One of the most noticeable differences when using the SERIES8 mics is how they handle upper mids and high frequencies. While some mics tend to get harsh and brittle around the 4k range when pushed, the SERIES8 delivers smooth, controlled sound even under pressure.

For shows featuring powerful Broadway-style voices, these lav mics shine. Even during all-out belting, they maintained clarity and headroom. This gave our actors’ voices the space they needed to resonate naturally, enhancing the overall sonic experience for audiences.

Close Proximity Duets

Live theatre often demands microphones that can handle complex challenges like close-proximity duets. The SERIES8 lavaliers were the clear choice for any time we had close-up duets. Their ability to deliver natural sound, even when one actor’s voice was picked up on a neighboring mic, made a significant difference. In fact, we opted to use a single lavalier mic for both actors, achieving a clarity that outperformed even meticulous fader adjustments.

Redundancy For Lead Actors

The form factor on the CO2-8WLp dual element mic is phenomenal – the capsules are so small to begin with that the second capsule is nearly invisible to the audience! The single cable housing is really elegantand my A2 loved not having to worry about two cables getting twisted around each other. The two capsules are pretty much perfectly matched, and hardly required any difference in channel processing to compensate for the slightly different position.

 

 

The EMBRACE Earmount

The EMBRACE earmounts provided a secure, sweat-resistant solution for our actors. One actor always had trouble with tape sticking to their skin, but the EMBRACE earmount maintained the close placement we needed for a loud show.  

Final Thoughts

The SERIES8 lavaliers and EMBRACE are a no-brainer for me. Even the folks who said, “I don’t know anything about sound”, noticed the improvement.

Richard Graham, Sound Designer