How to Mic and Conceal Microphones on Talent
Since filmmakers often struggle to mic actors on set, “How to conceal microphones?” has become a more commonly asked question.
Using a microphone while filmmaking is a core part of sound design. This, on top of a boom mic, ensures the dialogue is picked up clearly by the sound crew on set. But oftentimes, the mic will need to be hidden to create the illusion of real-life situations, such as in narrative filmmaking.
Microphones, like a Lavalier, are small enough to be inconspicuous in documentary making or interview filming. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t show on screen, since it can ruin ‘how real’ the story being portrayed feels.
This is why proper micing is so important. It ensures the mic stays unseen by viewers while blocking any sound interference on set.
What Causes Sound Interference?
Sound interference is a huge concern to sound designers as interference can ruin the recording. There are many things that can cause disruption in the audio. These can be material interferences such as clothing or hair, which can rub on the mic and create an unpleasant sound. It can also be caused by cable noise, since disturbing the cable can produce a sound on the transmitter that runs a signal to the camera. This occurs when something moves against the cable, such as clothing or a hand, which creates noise within the microphone capsule.
Lavalier microphones are one of the most visually discrete microphones used for filming. This is because they are so small, and therefore easier to conceal on actors. This makes them a popular choice for sound designers as it is essential to conceal a microphone during a scene to ensure continuity within the shot.
Let’s Talk Equipment
Many different types of mics and equipment are used to conceal microphones. Some examples include double-sided tape, lav concealers, universal concealers with vampire clips, a special belt, or even hair clips that act as a concealment accessory – great for integrating a hairstyle with sound design needs.
Using a vampire clip to attach the mic
Lav concealers are made from a smooth and thin material that’s designed to reduce noise. This makes it perfect for hiding underneath clothing items when paired with a double-sided tape to secure it in place.
When concealing a mic to clothing, such as a tie, shirt or bra clip, universal microphone concealers are most often used. Sometimes, layered clothing may be necessary due to the weather or scene. In this case, tape is a better option since it can be secured above or between clothing items quickly. The difference between a lav concealer and a universal concealer is that the latter is chunkier and uses vampire clips to hook into clothing, whereas the lav concealer is secured using tape.
Example of a “moleskin sandwich”
Have you ever heard of a ’moleskin sandwich’? It’s the process of taking two small, square pieces of material and ‘sandwich-ing’ them on either side of the mic. This way, the mic can be completely covered and hidden from sight. But in any other scenario, such as securing a mic to a bra strap, a simple clip will do!
Another option is to purchase a wireless lavalier microphone. This is hooked to the transmitter with a short cable, preventing the need to use tape to secure the wire. You can use this type of mic in front-facing shirt pockets.
How to Conceal Microphones
As a rule of thumb, mics hidden on talent should be beneath as few layers as possible, so that they capture sound clearly. For the best position for sound capture, microphones should be placed on the chest, from the top button to the third button on the chest.
There are several ways that you can hide microphones for different situations.
For example, if your actor is wearing a shirt, then taping or clipping the mic to the inside of the collar or between shirt buttons is a good way to hide it from view.
One issue with microphones is the cable. It needs to be taut so that it doesn’t shift around and produce noise. An easy way to stop this from happening is to tape a loop in the cable to strain it, so that it doesn’t move as much. This handy trick reduces any sound interference.
Clothing restrictions can also play a part in your concealment options, such as layered clothing due to the weather or scene requirements.
Tips for concealing a mic on an actor who is wearing layers include:
Taping it onto glasses
Clipping it to the side of a shirt collar
Clipping it to the back of a tie or through the tie knot
Placing it into a front-facing pocket
Taping it on the back, thigh or ankle
Now, if the actor is wearing a single layer of clothing, then taping the mic to the abdomen and securing it to the chest is the best way to go (use medical or skin-safe tape on skin, trust us!).
When the talent is wearing a lot of layers, you will need to get creative with hiding your mic!
Where can I learn more?
Our ‘An Introduction to Production Sound for Film’ class on Skillshare covers different methods of concealing mics, as well as the equipment that can be used, so that you can understand the different ways to conceal and use microphones in-depth.
We’ll also teach you how to mic so you can confidently rig a microphone during film production on set. Our Audio Courses offer a wide range of technical knowledge. This way, you can confidently enter a film set without hesitation and get to work. By visiting our course, you’ll also gain 30-day free access to all our content and more!
