Different types of wireless microphones and their advantages

A wireless microphone, as its name implies, is a microphone without a physical cable connecting it directly to the sound amplification or recording equipment with which it is associated. Wireless microphone systems are a key component in almost all broadcasts, motion pictures, theater and sound stage productions, as well as in corporate, religious and educational venues.

The professional models transmit in VHF or UHF radio frequency and have a true diversity of reception that eliminates dead spots and the effects caused by the reflection of radio waves on walls and surfaces in general. The VHF band is in the 30 MHz to 300 MHz frequency range. This is the other common band used in wireless microphone systems, but it is not used as often as UHF.

VHF wireless microphones are typically of the fixed frequency type, which means that the user does not have the opportunity to change frequencies if they encounter interference. The UHF band is in the frequency range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz and is the most common band used in wireless microphone systems. Depending on national regulations, which differ for each country, wireless microphones can operate in the range between 470 MHz and 865 MHz. These frequencies are shared with television broadcasts over the air. Therefore, when selecting a frequency, the user should know which frequencies to stay away from to avoid interference.

Advantages and disadvantages of wireless microphones.

The biggest advantage of a wireless microphone system is its freedom of movement. Since a wireless microphone is not connected by any cables, the user is not restricted by the length of the cable. The wireless microphone sends audio signals over the air, rather than through microphone cables. The microphone is connected to a transmitter and the signals are received by a receiver connected to the audio console or recording device. User can avoid cable problems that occur frequently due to constant movement and tension of cables.

Although wireless microphones are used everywhere, they also have their downsides, regardless of their state-of-the-art technology. It has a limited runtime due to poor battery life. It does not work if the user takes the microphone out of range. Sometimes there may be the possibility of interference with other radio equipment or other microphones.

Different types of wireless microphones.

There are generally two types of wireless microphones: handheld wireless microphone and pocket wireless microphone. The handheld microphone is like a normal wireless microphone, but has a larger body to accommodate the transmitter and battery. The bodypack microphone is a small box that houses the transmitter and battery, but not the microphone itself. It can be attached to the belt or anywhere else and has a cable that goes to headphones, lavalier mic, or a guitar.

Some of the wireless microphone manufacturers offer a plug-in transmitter for existing wired microphones that connects to the XLR output of the microphone and transmits to the receiver. This offers many of the benefits of an embedded system and also allows microphone types to be used without a cable.