All 36 cast members are miked with DPA 4061s, with the principals wearing two each with dual transmitters and receivers. The 21-piece orchestra is miked with a selection of DPA mics including 4022 and 4011 cardioids and 4007 condensers across brass, woodwind and percussion. For the string section, Potter has chosen a combination of 4011s as ambient mics and 4061s for close miking.
"The balance between these two mics changes per cue depending on the required feel," says Mick Potter. "In the big cinematic moments the mix is biased towards the 4061s and in the more subtle orchestral moments the 4011s feature more."
Potter's collaboration with DPA is long-established; the designer has used the mics on close to a 100 productions since Saturday Night Fever in 1998; either the DPA 4065 omni headband or the DPA 4061 miniature omnis on all cast members depending on the type of show.
"I've used them for a long time because they sound much better than anyone else's mini condenser mics," says Potter. "They have a huge amount of gain before feedback for an omni mic, while maintaining a transparent sound which is critical in the theatre with multiple omni mics open on stage. Everything needs to be set up around high gain before feedback, at the same time maintaining a very natural vocal sound."
(Jim Evans)
