QUEBEC CITY, Quebec — Directed by Frédéric Dubois and staged in the recently renovated Capitol, Quebec City's oldest theatre, this new production of Les Misérables has broken new ground in terms of its simple and direct staging, high-end cast and audio quality. With 32 live microphones on stage, the new Sennheiser MKE 1 lavaliere mic proved a valuable asset.
Richard Lachance, vice-president of international development at Solotech, oversees audio production and managed the selection of the required clip-on microphones and wireless systems for the show. According to Lachance, "One of the main sound challenges for Les Mis was that the audio had to be 5 dB to 6 dB louder than the average Broadway-type show, resulting in an average level of 88 dB to 90 dB SPL. And for such a small theatre like the Capitol, this was a real challenge. So, we turned to Sennheiser and their latest innovation, the MKE 1 lavaliere microphone."
Lachance describes how a unique placement of the microphones made achieving a higher dB possible. "Due to their super-small size, we were able to attach the MKE 1 directly onto performers' cheeks with make-up and skin tape, resulting in excellent gain before feedback." In addition, the combination of the mic's miniature size, make-up and skin tape made them virtually invisible to the audience.
"With a cast covering a wide range of ages along with different singing and speaking styles, the microphone had to showcase these differences. The actors could not all sound the same," continued Lachance. "The MKE 1 did a beautiful job of rendering these subtle shades and characterizations. The sound was just crystal-clear. Musicians and critics alike paid notice. The entire production was performed in French and the intelligibility was a hundred percent. You could hear every word, every nuance."
Despite the potential for the microphones to sweat out in the demanding conditions posed by Les Misérables, especially by the very intense lighting system, Lachance was impressed with the MKE 1's imperviousness to moisture. "We didn't lose a single microphone to moisture even through many weeks of performances," he said. "You always hope to get a certain number of performances out of a lav before replacement. To date, the MKE 1s have 'out-sweat' other brands and are still going strong."
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