How To Wear A Wireless Microphone? – Details You Should Know
Public speakers use wireless microphones as these devices allow a more natural way of conversing with an audience. They can move about and make hand gestures freely without the worry of stumbling over cables or holding a mic.
If you are to engage in a public speaking gig, you should know how to wear a wireless microphone. Learn the details as you read along.
How Do Wireless Microphones Work?
Unlike traditional microphones that utilize cables, wireless microphones have a built-in transmitter and receiver through which converted sound signals travel to and fro the sound system. Simply put, wireless microphones use radio frequencies to transmit sound.
Given this, wireless microphones have three components: the microphone, a transmitter, and a receiver. How to make wireless microphone transmitter and receiver requires simple circuits and electronic tools. However, you cannot mix and match receivers and transmitters with your microphone.
Manufacturers sell each wireless microphone as a package due to factors such as consistent frequency, encryption, and proprietary digital conversion methods.
Install Wireless Microphones
How to install wireless microphone is easy. Follow these steps to connect a USB wireless microphone to your computer :
- Connect the receiver to a USB port on your computer.
- If your microphone is plug-and-play, a notification ‘New hardware installing’ will immediately pop up on your screen. If it comes with a CD installer, insert the CD and follow instructions that will appear on the screen.
- Once installin is done, click Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Sound Recorder.
- Switch on your microphone and/or turn the receiver switch on.
- Click the red button on the Sound Recorder.
- Talk on the microphone and check if the flat green line turns wavy. It means that your mic is working well.
Styles Of Wireless Microphones
The three most common styles of wireless microphones are the handheld microphone, lapel microphone, and the head-worn microphone.
- The handheld microphone looks similar to the traditional microphone, except that it has no cables attached to it. Talk show hosts and entertainers usually use this kind of wireless microphone. You can hold it or clip it to a mic stand while you sing, give a speech, recite poetry, play the guitar, etc.
- The lapel mic or lavalier microphone is a small microphone with a transmitter device. The microphone component is clipped into the user’s collar or revere for voice pick-up. The transmitter is then placed into the user's pocket or clipped into their belt. Lapel mics are popular in television, theater, and public speaking venues.
- The head-worn microphone also allows hands-free operation. As the name suggests, you can use it by wearing it on your head with the talk piece or the microphone component to the side of your mouth.
Wearing A Wireless Microphone
The wireless microphones that you can wear are lapel microphones and head-worn microphones. It is important to wear your microphone properly so it can pick-up your voice and deliver the high-quality output to your audience. A poorly-worn microphone will cause a distraction to you as a speaker and to your listeners.
How To Wear A Lapel Microphone
Follow these tips on how to wear a lapel microphone:
- Clip the microphone on your shirt. You may wear a dark shirt if you want the mic to blend on your outfit. Most lapel mics are black.
- Always make sure that other layers of clothing do not cover the mic as it will muffle the sound.
- Make sure that the mic is pointing upward when you clip it on your shirt.
- The wire of your lapel mic should be threaded down your clothes comfortably. Make sure that the wire does not show.
- The transmitter or the battery pack should be clipped at the back of your pants or belt.
- The output of your lapel mic fades when you talk with your head turned sideways.
How To Wear A Head-worn Microphone
Follow these tips:
- Make sure to place the microphone component to the side of your mouth. This position will avoid noise from your breathing.
Keep the microphone an inch away from the side of your mouth. It will not sound as good if you place it too close or touching your cheek, or too far from the side of your mouth.
See to it that the front of the microphone component points toward your mouth. You will recognize this part as it is commonly labeled with a colored dot or with the word Talk.
Conclusion
There, you learned the details about how to wear a wireless microphone and more. Purchase a wireless microphone according to your needs. Wear it properly in a way that is not obtrusive, allowing you to converse with your audience naturally.