Earthworks FW730 Choir Miking System
Integrated choir miking system with 30kHz cardioid and hypercardioid microphone, low profile microphone stand and boom
– Wide coverage area
– Near-perfect polar pattern with high rejection of sounds from the rear of the microphone
– No spotlighting
The Earthworks FlexWand Series 7′ integrated microphone systems are designed for miking choirs.
Performance
When you do not want to compromise appearance for sound quality, the FW730 and FW730/HC FlexWand provides the best of both worlds. Combining a 30kHz cardioid microphone, low profile microphone stand and boom as a single freestanding unit, the FW730 and FW730/HC delivers a low profile and flexible miking solution for choirs and other applications.
Its near-perfect cardioid polar pattern is consistent across all frequencies, which simplifies microphone placement and and ensures more gain before feedback. With 32dB of rear rejection, it is ideal for live performances where there may be bleed from surrounding instruments.
The FW730 and FW730/HC FlexWand’s wide coverage area allows for the use of fewer Earthworks microphones with better coverage and sound quality. And there is no spotlighting, so no one voice will stand out ahead of the rest. Instead, your choir will sound like a unified voice instead of a bunch of separate voices.
Beyond its improved audio performance and coverage, the FlexWand is designed with functionality in mind. The microphone head can be positioned as high as 7 feet and as low as 1.5 feet from the floor or anywhere in between, allowing a nearly unlimited number of microphone positioning options.
Additionally, there are no visible wires or cables above floor level. Instead, the microphone cable plugs into the base of the microphone, making it incredibly low profile and clean.
While designed with the needs of choirs and orchestras in mind, the FW730 and FW730/HC is also highly effective for drums and percussion, electric and acoustic instruments and speech.
Construction
Standing 7′ 2″ tall (2.18m) and measuring just .75 inches (19mm) at its widest point, the FW730 and FW730/HC FlexWand provides both height and a very low profile appearance, virtually disappearing from sightlines in the congregation, audience or on camera.
The FW730 and FW730/HC incorporates a large flex section near the center of the stand that couples the stand and the wand, allowing you to adjust the microphone from its tallest height at 7′ 2″ (2.18m) to 1.5′ (0.45m) above the ground and anywhere in between. The mini-gooseneck between the end of the wand and the microphone head lets you precisely and quickly position the microphone for optimal coverage.
The sturdy cast iron base provides enough weight so that there is no concern of the FW730 and FW730/HC FlexWand falling over if it is bumped into. Rather, the microphone easily stabilizes itself.
The FlexWand is a combination of a 30kHz High Definition Microphone and a low profile microphone stand and boom as a single unit. It allows the microphone head to be positioned as high as 7 feet and as low as 1.5 feet from the floor or anywhere in between. There are no visible wires or cables above floor level. Visually it is low profile, smooth, sleek and clean. The FlexWand is the ideal solution for applications where the utmost in sound quality and a low profile is required. Now you don’t have to find a mic, attach the mic clip to the stand and then dress the cable around the stand. Just pick up the FlexWand, position it and plug the mic cable into the base.
Benefits
– High intelligibility
– More gain before feedback
– Near-perfect polar response
– Excellent off-axis rejection
– Uniform frequency response on or off-axis
– Wide pickup pattern, allowing performer to move about freely and still maintain pristine sound quality
– Far less sound in the microphone from your floor monitors
Reliable performance
Earthworks directional microphones have patented near-perfect polar patterns. The sound across the entire front hemisphere is remarkably uniform and is flatter at 90 degrees than most microphones are on-axis. Our live performance microphones also have an incredible transparent sound quality, offering near-perfect polar response and high rejection of sounds at the rear of the microphone, resulting in less leakage and more gain before feedback.
With a maximum sound press level of 145dB SPL, you don’t have to worry about overloading the microphone with loud attacks or strong plosives. While the microphones are able to capture your performance with incredible nuance and precision, they are also built to withstand the rigors of the road.
Hypercoardioid Polar Pattern
Cardioid Polar Pattern
Impulse Chart
Features
– Uniform frequency response on or off axis
– Frequency response of 30Hz to 30kHz
– Near perfect polar response and the ability to reject sounds from the rear of the microphone, making it a perfect solution for choirs and vocal groups
– Large flex section near the center of the stand that couples the stand and the wand
– Mini-gooseneck between the end of the wand and the microphone head
– Substantial improvement in gain before feedback
– They will handle high sound pressure levels with high rejection of sounds to the rear of the microphone
– Ideal where bands or orchestras are placed in front of a choir, as the FlexWand will reject much of the sound of the band or orchestra
– The near perfect polar response of the FlexWand allows the use of fewer microphones on choir, with better sound quality, no spotlighting and incredible rejection of sounds from the rear of the microphone
– The sturdy 12 pound cast iron base will not allow the FlexWand to be accidentally knocked over
Coverge Area
The narrow usable portion of a conventional microphone’s polar response (with full frequency response) provides only a narrow area that will pick up sounds without high frequency losses at the sides of the microphone. The figures on the left indicate how many conventional microphones it takes to cover an 80-person choir.
Conventional Microphone
Earthworks FW730 FlexWand
The figure on the right shows the much wider polar response (with full frequency response) of Earthworks directional High Definition Microphones, requiring fewer microphones. In addition you also have more sound level before feedback, no spotlighting or highlighting, more rejection of sounds from the rear of the microphone, in addition to a vastly superior sound quality.
Conventional Microphone
Notice in the Conventional Microphone polar graphic, the narrow usable portion of the polar response only provides a narrow window in which it can pick up sounds with full frequency response (due to the high frequency losses at the sides). In Figure 10 you will see an 80-voice choir miked with conventional microphones. It takes 6 conventional microphones, placed 6 feet in front of the choir, to adequately cover the choir with the full frequency response of the microphones.
Earthworks Microphone
In contrast, the much wider polar response (with full frequency response) of Earthworks High Definition Microphones allows the use of fewer microphones. With Earthworks High Definition Microphones, you can not only use fewer microphones, you also have more sound level before feedback, no spotlighting or highlighting, more rejection of sounds from the rear in addition to a vastly superior sound quality. Figure 11 illustrates how the same 80-voice choir is covered fully with only 3 Earthworks High Definition Microphones because of their wider pick-up pattern and utilizing the full frequency response of the microphones.
Models
FW730 7 Foot Cardioid FlexWand with cast-iron base
FW730mp 7 Foot Cardioid FlexWand with cast-iron base – matched pair
FW730/HC 7 Foot Hypercardioid FlexWand with cast-iron base
FW730/HCmp 7 Foot Hypercardioid FlexWand with cast-iron base – matched pair
FW730TPB 7 Foot Cardioid FlexWand with tripod base
FW730TPBmp 7 Foot Cardioid FlexWand with tripod base – matched pair
FW730/HC-TPB 7 Foot Hypercardioid FlexWand with tripod base
FW730/HC-TPBmp 7 Foot Hypercardioid FlexWand with tripod base – matched pair
Uses
– Acoustic Guitar
– Bass Amp
– Brass Instrument
– Choir
– Drum Overhead
– Guitar Amp
– Orchestra
– Percussion
– String Instruments
– Woodwinds
Testimonial
“I thought the SR40V sounded incredible,” says Divens. “It required very little EQ. It had clarity, presence and a very rich sonic quality about it. The rejection is very impressive also.”
Brad Divens