No one can deny the convenience of a wireless microphone. It frees you from having to pick through a jumble of wires that seem to get tangled every time you turn your back. It also significantly reduces the amount of weight you have to carry, thanks to the fact that there are no wires. However, wireless mikes are more delicate than their wired cousins, and more prone to malfunction unless they are handled and maintained properly. If you want to get optimum performance and longevity from your wireless microphones, here are some tips to help you out.
* For the receivers that have an external antenna, make sure they aren't bent or twisted in any way. Not only does this result in signal loss, bend it too far and the antenna is bound to eventually break.
* In case of a hand-held mike where the antenna is built into the body, make sure the person using it is gripping the mike near the head and not the bottom. This is because that's where the antenna usually is, so if the user inadvertently wraps his fingers around it, there is likely to be an immediate drop in signal quality.
* Don't let your batteries run low. This will cause signal strength to weaken, plus you don't want to be changing batteries in the middle of an event. So don't wait for your batteries to completely run out of juice before you recharge them - it's a much better idea to do it before every use.
* Make sure the wireless microphone you use has good feedback resistance. This will eliminate the ugly, screeching noise associated with poor quality microphones.
* Finally, make sure your wireless microphones are good and rugged, because there is every chance that they may be dropped by users.
When used properly, a wireless microphone is a great piece of equipment, both for sound engineers, as well as performers. Audio technology is also advancing at a brisk pace, so naturally the wireless mikes available today are leagues better than the ones we had just a few years ago. However, they are also expensive investments, as they usually cost more than wired mikes, so adhere to the above mentioned rules to ensure you use your wireless microphones to their fullest potential. Otherwise it could let you down at the worst possible time and all you would end up with would be nothing more than a very expensive, and oddly shaped paperweight.
* For the receivers that have an external antenna, make sure they aren't bent or twisted in any way. Not only does this result in signal loss, bend it too far and the antenna is bound to eventually break.
* In case of a hand-held mike where the antenna is built into the body, make sure the person using it is gripping the mike near the head and not the bottom. This is because that's where the antenna usually is, so if the user inadvertently wraps his fingers around it, there is likely to be an immediate drop in signal quality.
* Don't let your batteries run low. This will cause signal strength to weaken, plus you don't want to be changing batteries in the middle of an event. So don't wait for your batteries to completely run out of juice before you recharge them - it's a much better idea to do it before every use.
* Make sure the wireless microphone you use has good feedback resistance. This will eliminate the ugly, screeching noise associated with poor quality microphones.
* Finally, make sure your wireless microphones are good and rugged, because there is every chance that they may be dropped by users.
When used properly, a wireless microphone is a great piece of equipment, both for sound engineers, as well as performers. Audio technology is also advancing at a brisk pace, so naturally the wireless mikes available today are leagues better than the ones we had just a few years ago. However, they are also expensive investments, as they usually cost more than wired mikes, so adhere to the above mentioned rules to ensure you use your wireless microphones to their fullest potential. Otherwise it could let you down at the worst possible time and all you would end up with would be nothing more than a very expensive, and oddly shaped paperweight.
