Are Wireless Microphones the Key to Engaging Your Live Audience?

When presenting to an audience its essential to be heard clearly. With an audience over a certain size, you’ll need to use some kind of microphone, connected to a PA system, to amplify your speech.

The simplest approach is to have a wired microphone fixed to a lectern on the stage. This is the most cost effective way of picking up the voices of presenters on stage. And when you have a busy program with many different speakers sharing their message, fixing the microphone to a lectern is the ideal solution.

But for a presenter that likes the freedom to walk around the stage, a different approach is required.

WIRELESS SYSTEMS

Wireless systems replace the cable that goes between the microphone and the sound system using a radio transmitter and a paired receiver.

The transmitter itself is battery powered, but in most radio systems, your technical operator can keep track of the power level for you, and change to fresh batteries during scheduled breaks.

Radio mic’s come in several flavours. The hand held is essentially the same as the wired version, but without the restrictions imposed by the cable. It’s ideal for stage work, but can also be very useful to pass out into the audience during questions and answer sessions.

For a presenter that enjoys the freedom to gesticulate naturally whilst speaking, one of the wearable options is the preferred solution.

The lavalier, or tie clip mic, fastens to the presenter using a clip. There is a short wire which goes to the transmitter pack, but the batteries make the pack quite heavy, so it is important to have somewhere well supported to clip it to. A belt or trouser waistband is ideal. For anyone wearing a dress without a belt there are a few options, but fashion doesn’t always favour a box of electronics being fastened to it, and some of the choices are less than ideal, but more on that later.

Lavalier mics are an good choice if you have a confident and clear speaking voice, but they can sometimes sound quite thin and weak, especially if you have a lighter voice.

If the room you are in is acoustically challenging, Lavaliers can make it difficult for your audio engineer to get a strong and clear sound, even with all of the best in terms of equipment.

The preferred option in that instance is the wearable headset.

In the 90’s, pop singer Madonna became so synonymous with this type of microphone, that it is often referred to as a Madonna mic, but modern head worn sets are so light by comparison, they are almost unnoticeable.

A very light wire frame clips over the ears like spectacles, and places the microphone only inches from the presenters mouth, ensuring loud and clear sound reproduction with complete freedom of movement.

You still need to consider how to fit the belt pack securely, but the headset option avoids the challenges of microphone placement caused by certain types of clothing.

TRANSMITTER PACK.

So as we have said, with either of the wearable options you have to consider where to fit the transmitter pack.

Your technical team will do what they can to come up with a solution, but it’s always better, if you know you are going to be wearing a radio transmitter, to choose clothing that has some way of supporting your body pack safely, and without pulling your garments out of shape. Here are few options.

Body belt.

Your audio engineer can provide an elasticated belt with a pouch to keep the transmitter in place. Whilst this is probably the most practical solution for wearability, the challenge of how to put it on can be time consuming, and will usually involve a visit to a private room, or more often than not, the lavatory.

If you are on stage for a long time as a host, or chairperson then this may be the best option, but if you are just grabbing a mic for a ten minute slot and then need to return the mic for the next presenter, then you simply won’t have time for the body belt option.

Turtle style.

This is simply clipping the pack to the collar of the garment. The weight of the pack might make this arrangement a bit top heavy and uncomfortable, so to lower the centre of gravity we need to go down to the next level.

The bra strap option.

For anyone with a flimsy bra strap this is not ideal, but any substantial strap arrangement is adequate. Of course there is the less than ideal situation of attaching the device, and if there is little time and the ‘micing up’ has to be performed in a conference room full of delegates, then there are modesty issues to consider.

Of course all these challenges can be avoided if you choose clothing that suits the wearing of a transmitter pack..

LICENCSING IN THE UK

In the UK the government-approved regulatory authority, OFCOM manages the radio frequency spectrum, and transmitting equipment for stage use is covered by the Programme-making and special events (PMSE) Licence.

The owner of the radio system, be it the venue or the production company, must hold a license that covers them to use of any one of 12 frequencies.

You need the choice of 12 to ensure that each microphone has its own designated channel, so the microphone in one room doesn't get picked up by a receiver in another room.

For a large event, if 12 channels isn't going to be enough a temporary licence can be applied for but there is an additional cost associated with this.

IN SUMMARY

Lectern or podium mics are the perfect option for those who are happy to stay in a fixed position.

A radio system allows freedom of movement, and the hand held is perfect for Audience Q&A.

For presenters who like to roam the stage, it’s a choice between the tie clip and the headset – but you must always remember the belt pack when choosing your outfit for the day.

To find out how we can support your in person, hybrid or virtual events, please get in touch. Hello@confidence-digital.com