Hiding a Lavalier Mic (page 2)
On the Chest
Let's give the men equal time too. Taping a lav to the chest is fairly common in movie production. The mic is applied during costuming and often installed with clear medical tape. Anywhere on the chest is fair game if clothing won't rub on the mic element, but man-cleavage is always preferred. Alternatively, if the talent is wearing an undershirt, gaff tape the mic inside the shirt. This often minimizes clothing rubs and still maintains a clear sound. By the way, gaffer's tape comes off clothing fairly easily, but it is murder on chest hair.
T-Shirt Pocket
If your talent is wearing a costume or other clothing dedicated to the shoot, consider installing a lav mic in the pocket. A pocket T-shirt is soft and provides a natural windscreen for your mic. Cabling is similar to the chest or cleavage method, but route the mic element through a tiny hole in the back, resting the mic in the bottom of the pocket. You will probably need some tape to keep it in place but, if the shirt is loose and not too clingy, both mic and cable will be invisible.
Hat Brims
This is another technique borrowed from the theater. If the talent is wearing a hat with a brim or bill, consider hiding the lav mic there. Of course, it would have to be a solid hat, not loose straw or mesh. And, the darker the brim, the better to hide both cable and mic. This technique could be combined with the hair technique to hide the cable and exit the mic on the side of the head. This one is a bit of a stretch for video production, but if you need options, this one could save the day.
Accessories
I once saw a theater production where the narrator carried a large walking stick. His costume would have been very challenging for hiding a lav, and I wondered how they had done it. During intermission, I introduced myself to the sound guy, and he explained that the wireless lav was actually built into the walking stick. Genius! While you won't pull this trick out on any random shoot, the idea is very clever. As you can guess, this technique requires quite a bit more preparation. But store the idea away; it could come in handy some day.
Don't Hide It
In video production, we often tell the viewer what to think through set design, lighting, costumes and camera angle. If your production has a newsy flair, why not just plant the lav out there for all to see?
Watch the news, and emulate how they use a lav mic. It's usually clipped to a lapel or collar, with windscreen installed, and the cable is looped behind the mic and fastened with the clip. Route the cable through the clothing, out of sight, and don't forget to hide the belt pack. That may be all it takes for you to create an instant news anchor.
It's Up to You
While this list outlines many of the popular ways to hide a lav mic, it's certainly not the whole story. Every shoot situation is different, the talent is different and your creativity will determine how to best hide the mic. Don't forget the clothing factor: clothes make rubbing sounds on our little lav mics. Do everything possible to minimize that while still getting the clearest sound possible.
Hiding a lav mic is a compromise for aesthetic purposes. The quality of sound will certainly be diminished, but with good placement, the impact will be small. Get creative and make the most of it.
Sidebar: What About The Beltpack?
The majority of lav mics in use today are wireless. That means that in addition to hiding the mic, you also have to hide the beltpack. Some favorites are jacket pockets and purses but often, you must be more creative. Try clipping the beltpack inside the pants at the small of the back. With loose clothing, they can also be attached inside bra straps. I've taped them on backs, inside legs and even hidden them in hats. My personal favorite is in the back pocket as a replacement for a wallet. Don't forget talent comfort. They will have to wear this for a while.
Contributing Editor Hal Robertson is a digital media producer and technology consultant.
