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#189 - 06/08/09 03:05 PM Wireless Microphones
jillian Offline
newbie

Registered: 05/14/09
Posts: 30
I am thinking about purchasing a wireless microphone to use when performing. I know a lot of artists use them making it easier to move around the stage. Have any of you had any experience using wireless? Any recommendations on a quality product.

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#191 - 06/08/09 03:46 PM Re: Wireless Microphones [Re: jillian]
ShackMan Offline
enthusiast

Registered: 03/14/09
Posts: 325
Loc: Pittsburgh Area
AKG makes some quality wireless gear. I'd suggest just making sure the receiver is top quality. It gets rough on certain stages dealing with interference from various sources (this is a big reason why they always tell you to turn off your cell phones).

Are you still looking for a handheld mic or a headset? There are little things that can help whittle down exactly what you want.
_________________________
I love science, and it pains me to think that so many are terrified of the subject or feel that choosing it means you cannot also choose compassion, or the arts, or be awed by nature. Science is not meant to cure us of mystery, but to reinvent and reinvigorate it. -R. Sapolsky

Upton Bass Custom 3/4 Upright, BSX Custom Allegro EUB, '80s Peavey T-40, MIM Active Jazz Bass, Godin BG-5 (for sale!), Fender Bassman 100 , `68 Fender Bassman 50 head, SWR Goliath 4x10, Markbass 2x10 cab

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#370 - 07/08/09 12:07 AM Re: Wireless Microphones [Re: ShackMan]
drumstick Offline
stranger

Registered: 07/06/09
Posts: 20
I like them too. I just hate the sight of so many wires following a person around on stage. Wireless microphones are the best!

What is your budget? A Samson Stage 5 Handheld System is the best you could get for somewhere around $200. If you are looking the top quality and not bothered much about the price, you could go in for an Audio-Technica Artist Elite Wireless 4240. This sleek little beauty would cost you somewhere close to a thousand bucks.

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#389 - 07/09/09 07:37 PM Re: Wireless Microphones [Re: drumstick]
ShackMan Offline
enthusiast

Registered: 03/14/09
Posts: 325
Loc: Pittsburgh Area
Samson does make some good stuff, drumstick. AKG has some stuff in the middle of that price range that's pretty solid. Generally, you're paying for two things in a wireless system.

1) Quality of sound coming from the mic.
2) Quality of signal from wireless mic to wireless receiver (aka no RF interference, feedback, sibilance, etc.).

Those are the main two things you want to look for. Everything else is gravy.
_________________________
I love science, and it pains me to think that so many are terrified of the subject or feel that choosing it means you cannot also choose compassion, or the arts, or be awed by nature. Science is not meant to cure us of mystery, but to reinvent and reinvigorate it. -R. Sapolsky

Upton Bass Custom 3/4 Upright, BSX Custom Allegro EUB, '80s Peavey T-40, MIM Active Jazz Bass, Godin BG-5 (for sale!), Fender Bassman 100 , `68 Fender Bassman 50 head, SWR Goliath 4x10, Markbass 2x10 cab

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#406 - 07/13/09 04:34 PM Re: Wireless Microphones [Re: ShackMan]
rio1969 Offline
stranger

Registered: 07/06/09
Posts: 12
I would love to be able to find a wireless microphone that isn't too expensive for my daughter. She loves to sing and I don't want her or myself for that matter tripping all over wires. Also my dog loves to chew things and that would be one more temptation. I really don't want to spend a couple hundred though, are there any that have good quality without having to pay a fortune?

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#414 - 07/15/09 12:48 AM Re: Wireless Microphones [Re: rio1969]
ShackMan Offline
enthusiast

Registered: 03/14/09
Posts: 325
Loc: Pittsburgh Area
If you aren't planning on dropping at LEAST $150, you're better off just getting a wired microphone. A cheap wireless will just feedback and succumb to radio interference; generally, it'll probably just have a weak connection. In any case, they START at around $125 at the lowest prices. Decent ones start at around $200, thus the recommendations you've received. These things just aren't as inexpensive as many of us would like.

It may not be worth it for you to buy a microphone that cheap. You can always check out used ones, but be wary of bad receivers. They're an important part too, just as much as the microphone.

As I was saying before, though, my recommendation at this point is for you to buy a wired microphone and just wrap the cord up and put it all away whenever you're done using it. It'll save you probably around $300 off what a wireless mic of the same quality would have cost you. A Shure or Sennheiser would do just fine, and you could easily get a near professional wired microphone for under $100. Probably even under $75. Plus the cost of the cable of course. By the way, you'll want a 20' XLR cable, at least, possibly more depending on where she's singing. But get enough so that you have slack to play with.

Why the difference in cost you ask? The receiver and the microphone antenna. You're essentially paying for a device not unlike a cellphone combined with a computer. It has to transmit the data wirelessly where it is then decoded into an analog signal. The more you pay, the better the signal you're paying for. That's why they cost so much more.
_________________________
I love science, and it pains me to think that so many are terrified of the subject or feel that choosing it means you cannot also choose compassion, or the arts, or be awed by nature. Science is not meant to cure us of mystery, but to reinvent and reinvigorate it. -R. Sapolsky

Upton Bass Custom 3/4 Upright, BSX Custom Allegro EUB, '80s Peavey T-40, MIM Active Jazz Bass, Godin BG-5 (for sale!), Fender Bassman 100 , `68 Fender Bassman 50 head, SWR Goliath 4x10, Markbass 2x10 cab

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#418 - 07/15/09 07:14 PM Re: Wireless Microphones [Re: ShackMan]
rio1969 Offline
stranger

Registered: 07/06/09
Posts: 12
I didn't think of it that way, thanks! I am going to have to check out the wired ones then because she is too young for me to spend that kind of money unless she is serious about it.

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#421 - 07/16/09 03:40 AM Re: Wireless Microphones [Re: rio1969]
ShackMan Offline
enthusiast

Registered: 03/14/09
Posts: 325
Loc: Pittsburgh Area
That's probably a good call, and by then she can know well enough what she wants in a wireless microphone if she decides to get one. Glad to be of help Rio.

By chance, what does she sing? I'm curious as to how young she is if she's getting gigs and needs a microphone. That's awesome. Do you have a PA system as well? If so, what kind?
_________________________
I love science, and it pains me to think that so many are terrified of the subject or feel that choosing it means you cannot also choose compassion, or the arts, or be awed by nature. Science is not meant to cure us of mystery, but to reinvent and reinvigorate it. -R. Sapolsky

Upton Bass Custom 3/4 Upright, BSX Custom Allegro EUB, '80s Peavey T-40, MIM Active Jazz Bass, Godin BG-5 (for sale!), Fender Bassman 100 , `68 Fender Bassman 50 head, SWR Goliath 4x10, Markbass 2x10 cab

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#427 - 07/17/09 05:29 PM Re: Wireless Microphones [Re: ShackMan]
fgurl Offline
stranger

Registered: 07/06/09
Posts: 20
Loc: USA
Of all the reading up I have done for wireless things for computers and music, its just the same, sometimes brand name does better than the "good priced" ones. Depending on age and how well the child is into the music (and plans to continue) would be the easy way to weigh if the price is worth it or not at this time.

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#486 - 07/21/09 10:51 AM Re: Wireless Microphones [Re: rio1969]
Rocker14 Offline
stranger

Registered: 07/06/09
Posts: 20
Wow, I'm with you. That is a lot of money for a microphone especially if she is just using it for fun. I would go with the wired microphone too.
Good luck finding something that works.

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