Wireless Microphones Guide: In an increasingly wireless world, it’s only practical that audio engineers, singers and public speakers use wireless microphone systems. These allow you to move freely during a performance, and the quality of wireless systems has only grown in recent years. Here’s a detailed guide on wireless mics and how these can be used long with other studio equipment such as mixer, audio interface and any other amplifying equipment.
Recommended Wireless Microphones
Reviews of some of the best ones for various price range.
Vocopro UHF-8800 8-Channel Wireless Microphone System
Eight wireless handheld mics, each featuring independent field-replaceable modules and working seamlessly on eight different channels, it has superior vocal reproduction, perfect for just about any situation.
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GTD Audio G-380H VHF Wireless Microphone System with 4 Hand held mics
GTD Audio G-380 is a reliable 4 channel VHF wireless handheld microphone system. You may use it for professional performance, in church or for home karaoke use.
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GTD Audio G-622H 200 Channel UHF Professional Wireless microphone Mic System
Gtd-Audio’s G-622 wireless microphone system comes with professional features and is designed for a wide range of professional applications. It comes with 200 selectable channels and is easy to use. You can even place it next to speakers with no feedback or distortion.
Audio2000 Awm6032uh UHF Dual Channel Wireless Microphone System with Two Headset Mic
You get a wireless mic system with a wide audio frequency range, high S/N ratio, and outstanding performance. A delicately designed silence circuit eliminates static noise when the transmitters are either turned off or out of transmission range. It works well and sounds great.
Wireless Microphone Systems: Buying Guide
Microphones are important equipment that you need for your music to be heard. While mics are available in various types, wireless microphone systems are also increasingly becoming popular.
In the new age of technology, everything is mobile and wireless. You have wireless phones, wireless computers, wireless mouse, so a wireless microphone comes as no big surprise. The idea behind wireless microphones is the radio frequency that that transmit signals because of which you don’t need wires for your microphone. The microphones work on internal batteries that modulate and send radio signals to the receiver.
Wireless microphones have become relatively common now, but they do come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let us look at some of them.
Advantages of Wireless
Cables take a lot of your productive time — connecting, removing, storing them, all this is not just tedious its also a waste of time. With wireless, the most important advantage is that it keeps your studio clutter-free and if you’re on stage, it allows you to move around uninhibited (let’s you utilize the stage space better). These are more portable and easy to set up. Anything wireless is much cleaner.
The most obvious advantage is the part where it is wireless which means more freedom to walk around without any wires coming in the way. I know way too many stories of people either stepping on a cable or tripping over it and falling in midst of a live performance.
Secondly, it is clean, hassle free, simple, trendy and aesthetic. Most people prefer the wireless microphone as opposed to the wired one which is messy and ugly, needless to say. No one like a bunch of wires popping out from everywhere.
With microphones that have wires, you may have to face the problem of circumference. Circumference is an effect of signal distortion which causes some disturbance or noise which you may face in a microphone with wire. The wire of the microphone acts as an antenna, picking up signals from all around. You may not realize the noise distortions unless you have plugged your microphone to a large output unit, in which case the hissing and humming sounds become obvious.
The wired microphones also have problem of clear signals. Different frequencies have different effect on the signal and because frequencies travel through the wire, different frequencies behave differently and also travel at different speeds. In other words, the smeared signals could make the sound output weak and less expressive.
Several performing artists (especially the singers) use the wireless ones as:
- They don’t want any sort of interference while performing or
- Be concerned about tripping on the wire, or
- Worry about the microphone coming off the wire.
With wireless you need not worry about these!
Wireless mics are suitable not just for vocalists, but can be used by public speakers as well. In fact, a wireless system can be the perfect solution for any sound projection requirement.
Disadvantages of Wireless?
Wireless microphone maybe a thing of today but it is not without its fair share of disadvantages.
- The obvious one is the range; these have a much shorter range so for bigger range you have to invest in an expensive wireless mic. The wired balanced XLR microphones can go as long as the length of the cord; besides extension cables are also available to make them longer.
Wireless microphones also have a limit to how far you can take them. Ideally they have to be within the range of 30 meters although, different brands offer different range, the point here is there is a limit to it.
- You also have to worry about interference from other radio equipment and radio microphones, which can disrupt the sound. That is why mics with frequency-synthesized switch-selectable channels are becoming more popular.
- Runs on Battery, which can die out; so operation time can be a concern. You will need multiple wireless microphones. Imagine your mic going out just when you are on stage in midst of your performance. At times, your mic batteries maybe charged but could have a loose connection with the connecter inside the microphone resulting in the mic going blank.
- Wireless microphone does not eliminate distortion of noise completely. Although there is no wire here, there could still be a small amount of disturbance, although hard to notice yet not completely eliminated. At times two wireless instruments in close proximity could lead to interference. For instance, if you have two wireless microphones used at the same time, there could be interference. It is not just the instruments being in close proximity, but there are so many other radio signals everywhere in the environment that could also add to the interference. A radio silencer also can have the same effect on radio signals.
While wireless microphones have advantageous and definitely works for people like TV reporters, however there are several artists who prefer to use a wired microphone while performing on stage. The reason being wired mics are more stable and reliable. It is also easy to replace without having to change anything with the back end. Also, on louder stages, excessive movement can cause a PA squeal, which actually negates the advantage of a wireless microphone, i.e. freedom of movement.
- Wireless microphones are more expensive, sometimes two to three times more compared to wired microphones. With all that money spent on wireless microphones, they are just as prone to breakage as the wired ones, which is another disadvantage.
How Do They Work?
Wireless mics are attached to a body pack that transmits a wireless signal to its receiver.
Like most other wireless devices, these work by transmitting radio waves using UHF or VHF frequencies, AM or FM. Some inexpensive ones also use infrared light.
So do you need a direct line of sight between the microphone and the receiving equipment? Not really, unless you are using an infrared one.
The more expensive ones do NOT need a direct line of sight.
Types of Wireless Mics & Receivers
These are also known as Cordless microphone or Radio microphone, and are available in three types:
- Handheld: Have a bigger body to accommodate the transmitter and body pack.
- Bodypack: A small box houses the battery pack and transmitter, which is separate from the microphone and is usually attached to the performer belt.
- Plug-in: Cube-style transmitters attached to the bottom of a standard microphone, thus making it possible to undertake a wireless operation.
You can choose from individual microphone or you could also opt for multi-channel wireless system – these come in different shapes, sizes and specifications. A multi-channel wireless microphone system lets you use more than one mic at a time, which is a great option for bands with multiple singers.
Lavalier systems, handheld mics, instrument systems, headsets, in-ear options are some of the options available to users in case you intend to cut the cord.
Types of Receivers
You get different types of receivers:
- True Diversity receivers come with two radio modules and two antennas.
- Diversity receivers have two antennas as well, but only one radio module.
- Non-diversity receivers come with only one antenna
A VHF non-diversity system is great for places where you don’t expect much obstructions between the transmitter and receiver (schools, churches, etc).
It is always best to check the user manuals when setting up a wireless microphones as there is more to it than just plugging in and turning it ON.
Closing Thoughts
There are several types of wireless mics out there. One good way of educating yourself on this topic is to visit any audio shop and check these out yourself. You can ask a lot of questions and also learn a lot from the sales guys there. You also should read online reviews to learn about the pros and cons of the various mics out there.
Also checkout the product comparison features where different models are compared to one another.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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