Micing two singers on one mic

Anyone have any advice for this? I play guitar in a worship group that consists of me, my wife on piano and two singers who just sing. We all sing into mics but I want to put the two stand-alones on one mic. I have been trying to find out about this on the net and have already done individual mics for them but when it comes to the service they either eat their mics or back off too much. I would rather they crowd a mic or sing into some kind of choir mic that has a wider field. Does this make any sense? I have considered a Sure 55SH (Elvis), a pulpit mic, hanging choir mic or maybe a condenser pointed at them. So far, we have been using dynamic Sure 58 type mics.

I'd use a condenser mic; but before I resorted to that I'd try and teach some mic technique to them.

Elk beat me to it...

What's the advantage of using one mic? If you've already got them on two and teach them how to use them, you'll have your best sound quality.

You will have more problems with lack of volume on their mic, other instruments and vocals bleeding into the mic, and feedback with one mic because they will be a couple feet away instead of a couple inches. The extent of the problems depends on what your stage setup and volume levels are like. I'd say it'll be easier to teach them some mic technique. It'll also be more helpful for them in the long run.

Believe me, I have tried to work with them on mic theory. They seem to take it in during practice but it all goes out the stained glass window during worship. They are not pros or have mic-savvy. We are a fairly quiet group. Acoustic guitar, piano, occasion djembe and vocals. I am seriously leaning toward the single mic even though I know it would be best to mic them individually. There is only four of us. I was reading on a bluegrass forum recently and a lot of folks there crowd a mic in a group. Seems to work for them. I will experiment and let y'all know how it works. Thanks for all the input!

PaulR

Just an idea...

http://www.rodemic.com/microphone.php?product=NT4

Crowding a mic is a bad idea. If they are already having trouble with individual mics, it's going to get worse when they're all crowding one mic. There's a reason nobody does it. If a bluegrass group does it, it's usually for 1 of 2 reasons: lack of equipment, or for show. Most likely for the later. But bluegrass players have got to be at the top of their game. You can try it, but it may not sound good. At the end of the day, it's the audience that suffers.

Buy hey, if you can make it work, then go for it.

You may also want to make sure they can hear themselves in the monitors; that way they'll be able to hear what they are doing. A good monitor mix can go a long way in helping bad mic technique. Vocals too loud in a monitor mix and a person will naturally back off the mic, a good house guy can compensate in the mains. Too buried in the monitor mix and a person has tendancy to 'eat the mic'. Again, a good house guy can make some compensation. It's natural for people to make adjustments when they sing so the mix THEY hear in the monitors sounds right to them.