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Wireless Microphone Tips

By Bruce Hathaway

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 03Aug2011
Word count: 591
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One of the most important audio tools is the wireless microphone. In this article we'll talk about choosing a wireless system and the best practices on how to use it. Wireless mics are great for people on the go. If you're a one-man band or producer a wireless microphone can actually save time and a lot of hassle. There are two wireless frequency ranges that you can use and that's VHF (very high frequency) and UHF (ultra high frequency).

If you need to choose between the two, VHF is a more crowded with more devices being used in that particular frequency range. UHF has a bit more leeway in terms of getting a clean signal that's more practical to work with.

Both kinds work essentially in the same way: The mic transmits an audio signal, which then modulates the signal into a radio frequency and sends it across to a receiver, demodulates the signal, turning it back into an audio signal.

Now let's get into the equipment used. As an example we'll use a body-pack transmitter and a lapel microphone; probably the most used of all the types of systems. The lapel mic plugs into the body-pack transmitter and again transmits across the selected frequency to your receiver.

Most receivers will have an XLR output in order to plug it into an amplifying system. Some receivers will provide both an XLR and 1/4" jack. It's your choice, depending on the compatibility of the amplifier or mixer.

A couple of things that you'll want to look for before you buy are a low battery indicator on the body-pack transmitter so you can closely monitor the level of the battery and a display that tells you that tells you what frequency you're operating on.

Let's take look at our tips for operating a wireless system:

1. Allow a clear line of sight between the transmitter and receiver. This will increase the chances that there will be a good connection between devices without much interference. It's still important to know that wireless mics can transmit around walls or other obstacles, even if the connection is not as good. The best advice is to give it a try. If it's satisfactory use it. If not try another frequency. (You won't have that opportunity, unless you're using a scanning frequency UHF system).

2. This tip concerns the battery level. First it's important to monitor the strength of the battery, but more important is to carry a spare. The last thing you need is to ruin a recording or broadcast by not having such a basic thing.

3. When choosing a wireless mic receiver try to get a "diversity" receiver. If you're using a wireless in a room, the signal from the body-pack can bounce off the walls and, depending on the slightly difference of signal timing, it can cancel the waves causing a drop-out. A diversity receiver has a second antenna and a second demodulator. With two antennas the signal will still be received at different timings but with the two antennas it will switch back and forth and choose the best one.

We hope that these few tips will make your understanding and experience with a wireless system a bit more profitable and trouble free.

Bruce has achieved a lifetime of producing and engineering at his recording studio, Excello, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He is also a microphone expert with extensive knowledge of wireless microphone systems.

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