If left unfixed, this problem can irritate your presenters and disengage your attendees. Worse still, transmitters for hands-free mics are prone to being switched off in your presenters’ pockets by ordinary jostling, which can cut off the audio signal completely. Problem 4: Running Out of Battery LifeĪlthough hands-free microphones are popular, unobtrusive and easy to use, many presenters have a tendency to turn their head away from the mic when they talk, causing the volume of their voice to drop significantly, even if they’re speaking into an omni-directional microphone.
If you have reason to believe that your venue’s space will create major dead zone issues, invest in what is referred to as a “diversity system.” A diversity microphone system uses a pair of antennae to automatically switch between fading frequencies to ensure that transmission will proceed without severe interruptions.īy researching, testing and implementing a diversity system into your venue, you can prevent your event from being negatively affected by dead zones. If you discover dead zones, take note of them, and let your presenters know where they are so they can avoid them. Find out if anyone has ever had major issues running into dead zones at your venue. Then, consult with your planning team, your venue’s staff and your A/V technician. How can you steer clear of dead zones at your event?įirstly, as in the solution to the tip above, test your wireless microphone system in the room in which it will be used at your venue.
Obstructions and distance create “dead zones,” which are areas in an event space where microphone reception fades drastically, or cuts out altogether. Wireless microphones are prone to signal blockages resulting from obstructions within your venue space, or from the physical distance between the transmitter and the receiver. Problem 3: Weak Signal in Parts of the Venue Learn more about the differences between UHF and VHF wireless microphone systems. In general, UHF receivers offer less interference than VHF receivers for a more secure audio connection. Lastly, consider switching to a UHF microphone system. Visit your venue on the same day of the week your event is scheduled for, and around the same time of day. Then, familiarize yourself with your venue and arrange a visit to test your wireless microphone system if possible. How will you ensure that your event audio will go uninterrupted?īefore you acquire a wireless microphone system, make sure your receivers are frequency-agile so you can switch frequencies to avoid bandwidths that are overcrowded. There will likely be other mobile devices competing for the same frequencies that you’re planning on using. In crowed urban areas such as New York City and Las Vegas, radio interference is the norm. Problem 2: Interference with Nearby Wireless Systems Make sure you know exactly how many microphones you’ll need to have on hand, and what type of microphone fits the needs of each of your presenters.Īs a last defense, keep two or three inexpensive wired microphones (with long cables) in your equipment cabinet. Then, communicate with your presenters and allow them to clarify their needs early on in the planning process.įigure out what your presenters will require. Are your presenters planning on having Q&A sessions after their presentations? What about surprise guests? Will your event include breakout sessions after your presenters speak? Secondly, make sure to keep the phone number of a local rental audio company on hand if you run into an emergency. So, if your event director decides to add a panel discussion or breakout session a day or two before your event, you’ll likely find yourself in an expensive, time-consuming search for additional microphones and receivers in the eleventh hour.įirstly, always have extra microphones on hand to be safe. When selecting a wireless microphone system to purchase or rent, choose one with more receivers and microphones than you’ll need. If you need additional microphones, it’s not a simple matter of adding more mics: you’ll need to have additional receivers on hand, as well. Therefore, if your system only has two receivers, you’ll only be able to use two microphones. Unlike other wireless devices such as assistive listening devices, which can accommodate an unlimited number of listeners as long as you have enough receivers, each wireless microphone transmitter requires a dedicated receiver.