Radio mic's

A radio mic is a complex piece of kit, that requires a lot of knowledge & experience to use well.  They are high-maintenace, expensive & don't have the sound quality of a cabled mic. Avoid VHF and budget systems. Smaller transmitters are becoming more common but most hire ompanies still have large stocks of the larger, older transmitters.

Senneheiser make the best radio mic's but are expensive:  SK50 UHF transmitter (TX) [Product | Manual], 3031 UHF receiver (RX) [Product | Manual].  The lower cost Evolution 100/300/500 system is popular but the 3.5mm connectors are prone to failure. Product | Manual

Trantec make the 5000 series, a sturdy radio mic. system, considerably cheaper than Sennheiser and used on a number of West End shows. Trantec are not found commonly outside of the UK.

5000 Series Product | Manual

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Mic'ing up Actors

Float mic’s - used to mic up a performance area

Sennheiser MKH60 - A popular rifle mic, often rigged to the FOH boom or on a flybar or LX boom.

Product | Manual

Crown PCC160 - A popular "surface" mic, often seen on the DS edge of a stage, spaced at 1.5m-ish intervals to mic the downstage area. Prone to footstep noise, so also good for tap-dance.

Product | Manual

Vocal mic's - used to mic up a specific performer

Shure SM58 - well-known vocal mic.  Beta 58 is an improved design.

Product | Manual

Neumann KMS105 - my favourite mic. Hypercardioid high quality, for voice-over, singing or foley purposes.

Product | Manual

Shure 55SH - period-look vocal mic.

Product | Manual