The microphone and the Masked Performer

Image: Rob Kaplowitz

written by Elena Araoz - July 27, 2020

In preparation for an outdoor pageant wagon-style adaptation of the morality play Everyman, Sound Designer Robert Kaplowitz shares audio samples of his experiments with a performer who is masked for safety. For this upcoming production, all performers will be masked, and will maintain 6' spacing between one another. The wagon will be traveling street to street in Philadelphia, and audiences will be watching from their porches and from hula-hooped spaces on the street.

The following audio samples use a traditional theater mic (the Sennheiser MKE2, which is a miniature omnidirectional lavalier). Robert placed the mic in three standard positions - the center of the forehead, the cheek underneath the ear, and in a "boom" position, which is directly in front of the corner of the mouth. He then recorded the same text three times - with no mask (for reference), with a 3-ply disposable paper mask, and with a 3-layer cloth mask. He also recorded, as a test, the mic under the masks - which is, as he states, "is not terribly usable."

The performer in these audio tests is Kittson O'Neill for an adaptation of Everyman which she will host on the back of a pageant wagon.

Image: Rob Kaplowitz