How would you mic this scenario

[CCash]

This is a question for people who are familiar for location sound. Sorry, not Pro Tools-specific.

I had to edit a pilot a while back that was an Oprah-type host + guests + audience arrangement. The problem was, there were two hosts with lavs who kept running out into the audience. They'd often be standing right beside each other, yelling, on top of each other's lines.

It was a phase nightmare... and as they stepped away from each other it would become downright delay with both mics open. Obviously I only had one track open when possible, but when they were both talking, my only option was to phase the mics up. It was really difficult since the distance between the hosts kept changing, even within a take.

The prod co. people asked me how they could have avoided this. I told them I could only guess... but that a single boom mic would have solved the phase issues and saved me a lot of time, but might not have sounded as good and could have gotten in the way.

Any suggestions? I wish I'd had a better answer for them. I forget what they call them, but don't shows like Leno run some sort of overhead shotguns on tracks (fish mics?... can't think of the name).

[georgia]

give 'em both handheld wireless mics when they leave the stage... show them that whenever they are together right next to each other, one of them will hold their mic between them ( back and forth ) then during post, cut between mics for editing as required. You can plan this as to who will hold up the mic...the other mic is simply not used until they sperate again..

I've seen this done on a couple of shows and we have used it once successfully.

cheers
georgia

[CCash]

Well there it is. That does sound like the best approach, though it requires some "training" of the talent. Thanks Georgia.

[AUDIOSFX]

Lav them both and run the hand helds to another set of tracks.. How many input channels do you have?
Use a hybrid like we usually do and you always have backup.

[CCash]

Thank you Will (I'm a little late getting back to this!)

This project is long gone. It was just one of those things I'd been meaning to ask here ever since.