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Give everyone on stage more creative freedom – and safety too!
Wireless microphones let you express your creativity and keep your platform cleaner. Never trip over a mic cable again. Which wireless is right for you? Check out this simple guide!
 Understanding Wireless Microphone Systems
All wireless microphone systems are made up of 3 essential parts:
- Microphone
- Transmitter
- Receiver
Let’s learn a little more about what these parts do and how to choose the right one for you.
Microphones
Choosing a microphone that matches the application it will be used for is vital in helping you create high quality sound. Microphones can be made specifically for speech, singing or instruments. Once you know what you will be using the mic for you need to choose a microphone design, there are 3 basic types.
• Handheld – Handheld mics are great for vocalists and also speakers who prefer being able to hold the microphone. Handheld wireless mics have the transmitter build right into the microphone handle.
• Lapel – A lapel mic is a tiny microphone that you clip onto your shirt, blouse, coat, or tie. A small wire connects the microphone to a beltpack transmitter. Lapel mics are cost effective but can change in volume when the speaker turns his head. They are also more prone to feedback than handheld or headworn mics.
• Headset or Earworn – A headset mic comes in a few varieties: one ear, two ear, invisible or not. The advantage of a headset microphone is that no matter where the speaker moves or turns his or her head, the sound quality stays the same. Also because the microphone is close to the speaker’s mouth, gain levels can be kept low and there is less chance of feedback.
TIP: Guitar, bass, and other instrument players have discovered the liberation of replacing their twisted, worn-out patch cable with an adapter that connects a wireless beltpack transmitter right to their instrument! Call us!
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Understanding Transmitters and Receivers
I’m going to talk about transmitters and receivers together because they work as a team. Think of them in baseball terms. The transmitter is like the pitcher and the receiver is like the catcher, the ball is the audio signal. The transmitter takes audio signal from the microphone and “pitches it” to the receiver. So what things should you consider when looking for a good system? There are 4 important things to consider.
1. Frequency band
Today’s wireless microphones operate on 3 different frequency bands, UHF, VHF and 2.4GHz. Comparing to baseball again, they are all playing the same game but they are in different ballparks!
• UHF – Most professional wireless mics use this frequency band. Currently the only signals that may interfere with your UHF wireless mic are UHF television stations. In 2009 there will be more interference due to the US government selling off many of these frequencies for wireless broadband phone, Internet, and video use. Be sure your wireless system has selectable frequencies so you can avoid interference.
• VHF – The VHF band has fewer frequencies available than UHF or 2.4GHz. Most VHF systems do not have selectable channels so make sure that local VHF television stations will notinterfere with your wireless mic channel if yourVHF system hasonly one channel.
• 2.4GHz – This frequency is used by low power wireless devices like phones. Because it is not used by high power signals like TV stations, you will not usually get interference from anything outside of your building. With many frequencies available within this bandwidth 2.4GHz seems to be a good choice if you want to use multiple microphones and want a system that is ready for the future.
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TIP: You can combine VHF, UHF and 2.4GHz systems with no problem!
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2. Selectable Channels
Selectable channels let you choose a frequency that doesn’t have interference. An additional feature, automatic frequency scanning, will scan all of your wireless microphone’s channels and find the channel with the least interference. You should always try to buy a wireless mic with selectable channels, otherwise you may not be able to avoid interference.
3. True Diversity
You’ve heard the statement “So if plan “A” doesn’t work what is plan “B”?”. True diversity is like plan “B” for your wireless mic. A true diversity receiver has two separate antennas AND receivers. If one receiver isn’t getting a good signal from the transmitter (even for an instant), a true diversity system automatically switches to the receiver that is getting the strongest signal. Just because a receiver has two antennas doesn’t mean it is true diversity, make sure the system says it is True Diversity.
4. Transmitter Power
Last, but not least, is transmitter power. Greater transmitter power can transmit signal further. If you have a large church, or you plan to use your wireless microphone outdoors, you want to look for a system that has a higher transmitter power rating. A 10mW transmitter will typically transmit up to 200 feet while a 20-30mW system can transmit 300 feet or farther.
Are you getting the best sound from your wireless mic?
Here are some common causes of poor wireless sound, and easy solutions to improve yours…
Multiple wireless systems on very close frequencies
Each wireless mic must use a separate frequency, but they must also be frequencies that are far enough apart that the signals don’t compete with each other causing noise, interference, and dropouts.
RF signal obstructed between transmitterand receiver
Radio signals travel in all directions, but larger objects (and metal objects) can block them. For optimum results, have as open a “sight line” as possible. The signal will travel trough walls but loses some distance.
Battery… power… failing… must… replace!
Signal suffers when transmitter batteries lose power. Industrial grade Alkaline batteries are the best choice for the longest and most consistent hours of service!
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