HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT WIRELESS MICROPHONE SYSTEM/Choosing a Perfect Wireless Microphone
Wireless microphones give you unparalleled onstage freedom to connect better with your audience. No matter if you’re addressing an important shareholder meeting, spreading the gospel at church, or rocking a local club, this guide can help you find the right wireless microphone system.
Wireless microphone systems play a critical role in modern productions, from energetic rock concerts to passionate house of worship services and big business presentations. Musicians, pastors, CEOs, journalists, vloggers, and fitness instructors all depend on wireless microphones to get their message across loud and clear.
A wireless microphone system offers undeniable advantages over traditional cable-bound options. A wireless system lets you take advantage of an easy setup process and eliminates unnecessary onstage clutter. And most importantly, it allows performers or speakers to move throughout the sanctuary while performing or speaking freely. With a wireless microphone system, you no longer have to make holes in the walls and floors to accommodate wired microphones. Not only does it save labor and costs, but it also protects you from unnecessary drilling!
There are many options for wireless microphones, from simple analog microphone systems to complex, multi-channel digital microphone systems. Choosing the best wireless microphone system based on your unique needs is critical in creating an optimal sound environment for your production.
This guide will teach you several critical factors to consider when selecting a wireless microphone system and will provide you with wireless best practices.
Sound Quality – Analog vs. Digital Wireless Microphones
When choosing a wireless system, sound quality is typically the chief concern. Analog wireless microphone systems use a compander – the word is a contraction of the words compressor and expander – to squeeze the entire dynamic range of a voice or instrument into the narrow frequency allocation provided for wireless mic use.
On the other hand, a digital microphone system can transmit a consistent digital sound that provides a full dynamic range without companding and gives a more natural sound to your audience.
VHF vs. UHF Bands vs. 2.4GHz
Most wireless microphone systems operate in the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band of 470 - 952 MHZ. Some work in the VHF (Very High Frequency) band of 49 – 216 MHZ. While VHF systems are typically more affordable, they will have fewer available channels. And VHF requires extremely long antennas.
However, the UHF band contains several bands that are readily available for wireless microphone systems. You can achieve high-quality audio in the UHF band and accommodate many concurrent systems.
The UHF band has been the standard for many years and typically gives the strongest and best performance due to its extensive frequency range and smaller antennas.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has limited the number of operating frequencies for wireless microphones. These limitations have caused UHF wireless microphone systems to become considerably more efficient in bandwidth use to accommodate multiple wireless microphones in a frequency band.
In addition, you can find several wireless microphone systems that operate in the 2.4 GHz band. Keep in mind that the 2.4 GHz frequency band is the same as your Wi-Fi network, making its operating range much shorter. It is best practice with 2.4 GHz wireless systems to make sure that you have a controlled environment.
Pro tip: To provide optimal communication between the transmitter and receiver, you must maintain a clear line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver.
The Basics – Transmitters and Receivers
Every wireless mic system has two major components. One is a transmitter – typically worn or held by the performer. The other component is a receiver – which collects radio signal from the transmitter, converts it to audio, and sends the audio through a cable to your mixer or power amp.
Wireless handheld microphones usually have a microphone capsule integrated directly into the transmitter body. This integration allows wireless handheld microphones to be quick and easy to set up. Lavalier and headset mics connect to a transmitter pack, usually worn on someone’s belt.
Wireless microphone systems play a critical role in modern productions, from energetic rock concerts to passionate house of worship services and big business presentations. Musicians, pastors, CEOs, journalists, vloggers, and fitness instructors all depend on wireless microphones to get their message across loud and clear.
A wireless microphone system offers undeniable advantages over traditional cable-bound options. A wireless system lets you take advantage of an easy setup process and eliminates unnecessary onstage clutter. And most importantly, it allows performers or speakers to move throughout the sanctuary while performing or speaking freely. With a wireless microphone system, you no longer have to make holes in the walls and floors to accommodate wired microphones. Not only does it save labor and costs, but it also protects you from unnecessary drilling!
There are many options for wireless microphones, from simple analog microphone systems to complex, multi-channel digital microphone systems. Choosing the best wireless microphone system based on your unique needs is critical in creating an optimal sound environment for your production.
This guide will teach you several critical factors to consider when selecting a wireless microphone system and will provide you with wireless best practices.
Sound Quality – Analog vs. Digital Wireless Microphones
When choosing a wireless system, sound quality is typically the chief concern. Analog wireless microphone systems use a compander – the word is a contraction of the words compressor and expander – to squeeze the entire dynamic range of a voice or instrument into the narrow frequency allocation provided for wireless mic use.
On the other hand, a digital microphone system can transmit a consistent digital sound that provides a full dynamic range without companding and gives a more natural sound to your audience.
VHF vs. UHF Bands vs. 2.4GHz
Most wireless microphone systems operate in the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band of 470 - 952 MHZ. Some work in the VHF (Very High Frequency) band of 49 – 216 MHZ. While VHF systems are typically more affordable, they will have fewer available channels. And VHF requires extremely long antennas.
However, the UHF band contains several bands that are readily available for wireless microphone systems. You can achieve high-quality audio in the UHF band and accommodate many concurrent systems.
The UHF band has been the standard for many years and typically gives the strongest and best performance due to its extensive frequency range and smaller antennas.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has limited the number of operating frequencies for wireless microphones. These limitations have caused UHF wireless microphone systems to become considerably more efficient in bandwidth use to accommodate multiple wireless microphones in a frequency band.
In addition, you can find several wireless microphone systems that operate in the 2.4 GHz band. Keep in mind that the 2.4 GHz frequency band is the same as your Wi-Fi network, making its operating range much shorter. It is best practice with 2.4 GHz wireless systems to make sure that you have a controlled environment.
Pro tip: To provide optimal communication between the transmitter and receiver, you must maintain a clear line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver.
The Basics – Transmitters and Receivers
Every wireless mic system has two major components. One is a transmitter – typically worn or held by the performer. The other component is a receiver – which collects radio signal from the transmitter, converts it to audio, and sends the audio through a cable to your mixer or power amp.
Wireless handheld microphones usually have a microphone capsule integrated directly into the transmitter body. This integration allows wireless handheld microphones to be quick and easy to set up. Lavalier and headset mics connect to a transmitter pack, usually worn on someone’s belt.
Frequency Agility & Automatic Frequency Selection
If you plan to use several wireless microphones simultaneously, each microphone must operate on a different open radio frequency so that the signals do not interfere.
Wireless microphone systems that are “frequency agile” offer users various frequency paths to work with during production. Being frequency-agile is essential if your venue requires multiple wireless microphones to operate simultaneously, or if stationed at a location with many competing signals from wireless devices.
Today, some wireless microphone systems have automatic frequency selection, readily scanning the environment for open channels and automatically picking the best one. This functionality is handy for novice users or volunteers with little experience coordinating or deploying available frequencies.
The three things you must know if you want to go wireless are:
What am I planning to do?
Where am I going to set up the mics?
How many microphones do I need in the same room at once?
Below are some of the most popular Shure wireless microphone systems. All systems mentioned below come with a variety of best-in-class handheld, headset, lavalier, and instrument microphones.
GUIDE TO CHOOSING THE PERFECT WIRELESS MICROPHONE
For any voice performer, from a lead vocalist to an inspirational speaker, there are tremendous benefits to having a wireless microphone system that allows freedom of motion on stage without any of the restrictions imposed by cables. And for certain stage productions where a number of performers are expected to wear a microphone, a wireless mic system isn’t some exorbitant luxury — it’s a basic necessity.
But with volumes of catalogs listing endless assortments of wireless microphones, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) outlawing certain operating frequencies and differences in hardware such as bodypack versus built-in transmitters, the decision to purchase a wireless microphone system can understandably be a daunting one.
This is why we’ve put together the following points for you to consider when choosing a wireless microphone:
Frequency: Let’s start off with the bad news from the FCC. If you’re using 600 to 700Mhz wireless mics, they need to be replaced. The 700Mhz models are already illegal, and by 2020 those that operate between 566 and 698Mhz will be illegal too. The good news is that for strong transmissions across distances, the UHF frequencies between 470 and 548Mhz are perfectly fine and not in any foreseeable danger of being outlawed. Other systems use a 2.4GHz band, but since this is the same frequency Wi-Fi operates on, it’s prone to interference. Others use the 902 to 928Mhz range, which works well. And for up and coming digital systems, the VHF range of 169 through 216Mhz is being put to good use.
Sound quality: When it comes to sound, the question remains whether your budget can afford a digital system over an analog one. For sound quality, the answer is simple. Since analog systems make use of companders — a system by which the sound signal is compressed and then expanded, hence its name — the end result can suffer. In contrast, digital systems not only average longer battery life, but they also transmit a fuller and much more dynamic sound.
Reliability: As noted above, if you’re looking for solid noise reduction but the wireless microphone you’re using has an inexpensive compander mechanism that results in an output resembling a pumping sound, neither you nor your audience are going to be satisfied. Look for systems that have noise, static and dropout reduction, as well as robust compatibility, that fit your price range. A word to the wise: If you cut too many corners with a low-budget microphone, you run the risk of getting what you paid for!
Operating range: To eliminate interference and dropouts, you’re advised to look for a wireless mic that’s rated for approximately twice the distance you think you’ll need. In that way, you’ll be using the microphone well within its strongest operating range. Also, consider purchasing a wireless distribution system if you are looking for better wireless coverage or if you are using multiple microphones in a space.
Features: If you’re looking for a wireless microphone for a lead singer or for single-speaker stage situations, you can benefit from a system with a built-in transmitter that’s built much like a wired handheld mic. On the other hand, if you’re looking for wireless microphones for singers who dance or play an instrument like drums, then you’d do better to choose a microphone with a wearable headset and bodypack transmitter. In addition, features like rechargeable batteries, twin antennas and separate mute switches might also be worth considering.
How to Choose the Best Microphone for Vocals
How to Choose the Best Microphones for Home Recording
How to Choose the Best Mics for the Guitar
How to Choose the Best Mics for Brass, Wind, and String Instruments
How to Choose the Best Mic for the Pianist
How to Choose the Best Mic for the Pastor
How to Choose the Best Mics for the Choir at Worship
How to Choose the Best Handheld Mics for Worship
How to Choose the Best Mics for the Drummer at Worship
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