The Microphone and the Chorus

Abstract

DOUBTLESS many people have wondered why the majority of radio programs are given over to instrumental groups such as symphony orchestras, bands, and smaller ensembles rather than to vocal groups. The question then arises, Why do we not hear over the radio more vocal performances by the fine oratorio societies, a cappella choirs, and glee clubs of which the country can so rightfully be proud? It will of course be inferred that for quality in performance choral groups are not as good as instrumental groups, hence radio's seeming preference for instrumental groups. It is my purpose to discuss the reasons why instrumental ensembles are, for broadcasting purposes, superior to vocal ensembles. From observation, I have found that there are two reasons why this is true: (1) Radio operators have not perfected their technique in broadcasting choral music, and (2) choral performance itself is inferior in tone quality, intonation, and dynamics-three major elements that have a marked effect on the microphone. Sometime ago I listened to a broadcast by a college a cappella choir from a station that would rank with the best in the United States. The selection was the Song of the Volga Boatmen. Instead of the light, in-thedistance effect of the opening measures, there was considerable volume and the tone was badly distorted. The volume increased as the song progressed and at the peak, the quality and clarity left little to be desired. But, toward the close, when the singing should have faded away in the distance, it took on the same volume and bad quality noted at the beginning. Altogether the radio reproduction of a very good piece of singing was most unsatisfactory. In looking for the explanation, it was quite obvious that the operator responsible for monitoring the broadcast was either ignorant or inexperienced. He evidently was trying to the volume indicator register evenly throughout, and, in so doing, destroyed the shading--one of the major musical values of this particular selection. The operator who monitors a broadcast by twisting a little dial can make or break a performance. He should be a musician or, failing this, he should at least possess musical sense. Having this, he will not do the ridiculous thing just recounted, nor others equally bad but not so obvious. Even with this factor taken care of adequately, there still remains the matter of how much sound and what kind shall go into the microphone. The proper placing of the microphone for a broadcast is, of course, the responsibility of the radio station. It should be placed so that the various parts of the choir are in balance. One of the worst faults often observed in the broadcast of choral performances is the overpowering tendency of the soprano section in mixed choruses. Here again the station operator is supposed to function. Nowadays, the choral director can check up on the proper placing of the microphone by use of a sound recorder. By means of auditing through the public address system, which is part of any reputable recorder, the best arrangement can quickly be determined by experimenting during rehearsal. Once determined, the most satisfactory arrangement should be charted and always used. As a rule, soprano voices should be placed much farther from the microphone than the male voices. If the sopranos cannot conveniently be placed farther away, they may be placed at either end of the usual semi-circular grouping rather than directly in front of the microphone, and their tendency to preponderance will thus be avoided. The practice of using more than one microphone has not come within my experience, and, in my opinion, such a practice seems neither wise nor necessary. It is likely that vocal broadcasts are more often ruined than helped by the use of more than one microphone because of the difficulties involved in mixing the various pick-ups. After all, a person who sits in a favored location hears perfectly a musical performance with one pair of ears. It is therefore reasonable to assume that a single microphone as favorably placed will register the same desired balance.