Headset or tie clip - what's best for public speaking?

[kennethsross]

I'm a preacher and Bible teacher in a busy evangelical church in Scotland.

 

We presently use handheld and tieclip wireless mics (Sennheiser Freeport - budget, I know!)

 

Looking for better quality / consistency of voice reproduction and wondering if a headset mic (simple 'over ear' type) would be an improvement. Pulse 600 from CPC?

 

Appreciate any comments and advice

 

TIA

[pete10uk]

The simple answer is yes the sound consistency will be improved when using head set microphones. I run Sennheiser G3 300 series lapels, last year I needed head set mics and bought These Pulse Headsets. They work great.

 

I also have a freeport lapel which I bought when I was short of the G3's and although you can tell the difference, it's not huge, so I would expect you will be pleased with the headsets. Less feedback, better tone and a more consistent level. All you have to do is convince people to use them ;-)

 

Hope this helps

[Simon Lewis]

The headset will give you a fixed mic to source distance, but can be a little fiddly to put on. However, as it's "your" mic, this shouldn't be a problem.

I have used CPC headsets for theatre applications, and they are good for the money. However, I would consider paying extra for a Sennheiser or Audio Technica headset mic to achieve better audio quality and better resistance to plosives.

 

Simon

[Mr Steve]

I would definitely recommend replacing the mic supplied with the Freeport as it's rubbish. Headsets will be better as it keeps the mic a constant distance from the source, although they may seem visually intrusive.

[paulears]

With somebody, like yourself, perhaps, who has an image to consider - it's always down to personal choice. If in your opinion, it is what you say that is the critical element - as in making sure everyone can hear not just what you say, but how you say it - then the headset is the only practical answer. You will have more volume, more adjustment of tone, and a consistency of sound, especially if you are fairly active when working. However, I've worked with people who objected to such overt technology being on show, or even just hated the feel of it. The fallback option of a clip on mic, lavalier style nearly works. With strong speakers who don't turn their heads too much, there is usually just enough level before being aware of feedback restricts what you do. for more quietly speaking people, it's either ineffective but feedback safe, or needs a quick fingered person on the mixer or (forgive me) all Hell breaks loose!

 

I've had quite a bit of success with those Pulse headsets, and to be very honest, I keep the expensive ones, that look very similar, for people who 'know'. Those that don't are very happy. The sound of these budget headsets is actually very good. They only fall down on strength - hamfisted careless people, who seem to be able to destroy them - as in bending the arms into bizarre angles, then cracking them trying to make them nice again. Mind you, would you give these people branded items at ten times the cost?

 

I've found, like Simon that if you poorly position them, then the wind blasts hitting the capsule can be nasty - but in all cases, it's just about moving the capsule back a bit, out of the direct path out of the mouth. Half an inch cures this. With you, who understands what he wants - you simply won't position them poorly, and will become used to the feel of the 'correct fit'.

[revbobuk]

As a preacher who has done what you are considering, I would endorse all the comments above. But a couple of extras:

 

Headset or tieclip, remember to treat the cost of the microphone part as a consumable - they will get damaged eventually. That's one of the great things about the Pulse mics - they are cheap enough to replace.

 

I much prefer the 'both ears' style to the 'single ears' style.

 

If you have other people using the system, then make sure you have the tieclip mic available for them - few visiting preachers will be comfortable using the headset.

 

They're OK with spectacles - I just have to remember that removing the headset at the end of the service is more complex than unclipping a tieclip. Especially if I put it on before my spectacles, but then took the specs off during the service!

 

I prefer not to use the little windshield, but rather (as Paulears suggests) work on getting the placement right to cut out breath noises.

 

And once you've made the move, you won't want to go back.

[kennethsross]

A big 'thank you' to all the folks who have contributed so far.

 

Please continue to add your own thoughts and comments.

 

P.S., I have also started another thread re. the MM-Pro series of earset mics. If you have any experience of them, please post there.

 

Thanks again

 

Kenneth Ross

Moderation: We've merged them back. It's Blue Room policy to keep all topics together if possible - having two on such common ground is just confusing, and as most members use the view new posts function (as I did) you see both together, by the same poster, and then read the same info all over again. I'll edit out the duplication in the following post. As it relates to this topic (the pulse mics) this keeps everything nice and tidy.

Paul mods

[kennethsross]

I'm wondering if anyone has experience of the MM-Pro series of earset mics.

 

Made in the US, comparable with Countryman E6, $99 ..........

 

seems too good to be true.

 

Do I pay a little less for a Pulse mic (well known in the UK, at least), or pay twice that for a 'name' brand?

 

All comments truly appreciated!

 

TIA

 

Kenneth Ross

[Solstace]

From our experience, I'd suggest starting with a budget brand and moving up only when you can justify it.

 

As an example, we started out that way a year ago or more using the CPC headsets and aside from trying different types in the model range (single -> dual ear mount) we've not looked back yet.

 

Sorry though, I can't comment on the MM-Pro specifically as I've yet to play with one.

[paulears]

It's just another Chinese mic - the "good as ..." tag is just a sales ploy, I reckon. We're talking subtle differences, and realistically, even if the Countryman is better, is it 6 times (not double) the price. If the rest of your PA system matches in terms of quality, then it could be worth it. If, however, you just have a modest PA and a budget end radio system, then I reckon you're wasting your money.

 

In real terms the mic you're looking at has a much thicker boom, so is probably a bendy wire, oversleeved with a coloured cover - hence the extra thickness. The small tube ones of all makes are much more delicate, simply because the tubes fracture.

 

For the price, why not just buy a cheap one and try it?

[Sound Man]

My church uses one of the Pulse headset mics every week and they do work ok. We now run a kids club during the week and so it also gets used for that as they prefer it to holding an handheld mic. But yesterday I had to replace the 3.5mm jack on the mic because the wire had broke just where it entered the plug.

 

I myself have four Beyerdynamic Opus 55 headsets which to me sound better than the Pulse ones but they are about £120 each. They have a much thicker boom than the pusle ones and so are not designed to be bent into shape. A local Methodist Chuch to me has one of these.

 

David