Tired of mic cables and want to untether yourself? Or maybe you’re looking to upgrade your entry-level wireless microphone system to something better. Either way, given the plenitude of options available, finding the best wireless microphone system for your needs can be quite intimidating, especially if you’re going to be running more than one wireless system in your setup. After all, not all wireless systems work well together. What’s more, specific frequency bands perform differently (and may even be illegal) in different locations. Then there are antenna distribution systems, remote antennas, and other accessories to consider. In this article, we’ll cover four basic — but eminently important — questions you should ask yourself when building or expanding your wireless microphone setup.
#1: What Wireless Brand and Series Should I Get?
Although there may be some inoperability between different brands and models, the only surefire way to guarantee compatibility between wireless-system components is to choose transmitters, receivers, and microphones that are within the same brand, series, and frequency band. That’s not to say that you can’t mix and match brands, series, and frequency bands within your entire system (e.g., running a Shure wireless handheld system and an Audio-Technica bodypack system simultaneously). Just don’t count on your Shure transmitter working flawlessly with your Audio-Technica receiver. It might work, and then again, it might not.
It’s also important to note that different brands and series use different connectors on their bodypack transmitters. For example, Sennheiser uses locking 3.5mm connectors; Shure uses TA4F connectors; Audio-Technica uses cH or cW connectors; AKG uses T3 connectors; and so on. Therefore, a lavalier or headworn microphone designed for an AKG system won’t be able to plug into a Sennheiser bodypack without an adapter.
#2: What Wireless Mic Frequency Band Will Work Best for Me?
Determining which frequency band will work for your application — and, most importantly, for your location — is arguably the biggest source of confusion when it comes to choosing a wireless system. After all, we all want the same thing: reliable performance with minimal signal dropouts! But this is easier said than done.
Wireless frequencies are used for a wide variety of applications, including mobile communication, television broadcasts, and emergency services. These frequencies, which are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), are broken into various bands and channels. The FCC allocates certain frequencies for specific uses, which makes using a wireless microphone system in the reserved frequency bands illegal.
To make matters even more difficult, the FCC has repeatedly shifted frequency bands away from wireless mic users and reallocated them for other purposes. This most recently occurred in 2017, at which time the FCC auctioned off most of the 600MHz wireless spectrum. This auction not only limited the frequency bands available to wireless mic users, but it also rendered many older 600MHz-band systems illegal to operate.
It’s the limited number of frequencies and bands available that makes determining which wireless system will work for you an arduous task, especially if you’re located in a densely populated area with lots of competing wireless usage from cell towers, television broadcast signals, and even other wireless microphone systems. The more simultaneous wireless systems you want to use, the more challenging matters become.
Specific brands and models of wireless systems are designed to access a specific range of frequencies. Entry-level systems typically give you a small number of channels in a single band, which is great if you’re only running a single wireless system and there are plenty of frequency bands available in your area. Higher-end systems offer more channels, making them preferable if you’re running multiple simultaneous systems or if you’re in a heavily populated area.
Simply put, understanding how many wireless channels you need as well as which frequency bands are available to you at your location must be the primary consideration when choosing a wireless microphone system.
#3: Do I Need an Antenna Distribution System?
Wireless microphone antennas spaced less than 1/4 wavelength apart (that’s about six inches at 500MHz) will disrupt the pickup patterns of one another, which can result in spotty coverage. Not to mention that when you stack or rackmount a large number of wireless receivers, it tends to look sloppy and create an unsightly — and difficult to manage — tangle of cables.
So, if your wireless microphone system is suffering from frequent dropouts and random bursts of unwanted noise and you’ve tried reorienting your setup in myriad ways without success, then an antenna distribution system offers a highly effective solution to this conundrum, especially if you’re running more than two wireless systems simultaneously.
Antenna distribution systems work by splitting the signal from a single pair of antennas so that they can feed multiple receivers. This limits the number of antennas required for your system, thereby cutting down on interference between receivers. This also keeps cable runs to a minimum. Aside from routing wireless signals, many antenna distribution systems also route power to your receivers, eliminating the need for multiple wall-wart power supplies.
It can also be helpful to reinforce your antenna distribution system with an upgraded remote antenna. This is especially true if you’re unable to maintain a line of sight between your wireless microphones and their respective receivers. It should also be noted that typical wireless antennas are highly susceptible to orientation, such that they must be positioned in the same plane as their transmitters. If the receiver is out of polarization with the transmitted frequency, then dropouts will inevitably occur. This is especially problematic if an artist keeps changing the angle of their handheld transmitter as they move around during a performance.
This is why many higher-end remote antennas are multi-polarized, as this ensures that their effectiveness isn’t hampered by the orientation of the transmitter.
#4: Should I Use Rechargeable Batteries?
If you’re adding wireless microphones to your live rig or expanding your setup, then there’s one hidden cost that many folks don’t consider: batteries. After all, virtually all wireless bodypacks and handheld transmitters require batteries. And they’re hungry — you’ll be shocked by how many batteries these units can consume in a short time span!
Once your wireless microphone system is up and running, you’ll soon realize not only how wasteful it is to constantly replace these batteries but also how quickly the cost adds up. That’s why Sweetwater recommends a rechargeable battery as a solution to anyone who deploys wireless systems on a continuous basis.
Sweetwater Takes the Worry out of Wireless
Does all this sound overwhelming? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. Sweetwater Sales Engineers undergo hours of intensive training on wireless systems alone, and they’re uniquely qualified to help you find the wireless solution that best suits you. What’s more, Sweetwater has full-time, in-house staff from Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, RF Venue, and other wireless brands right here on-site to assist us with questions, system designs, and product recommendations.
So, give us a call at (800) 222-4700 today, and we’ll discuss the best wireless microphone system for your individual needs!
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