TechDecisions Guide to Wireless Mics for Houses of Worship
Sennheiser EM 500

Slide Show

Check out the slide show for a detailed look at the components that make up the wireless systems from the following brands: AKG, Audio Technica, Beyerdynamic, Electrovoice, Sennheiser and Shure.
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The freedom of a wireless microphones can transform your church’s service into a dynamic and engaging event.
By Frederick J. Ampel

February 25, 2013

In houses of worship, the use of wireless microphone systems has experienced explosive growth, especially in the last five years. This has been driven by the introduction of more affordable, UHF, multi-frequency and often digitally based system packages from all the major manufacturers.

The systems listed in the accompanying slideshow/roundup are a wide-ranging selection of hardware, software, and microphone elements/capsules. Within this group there will most certainly be something to meet the needs of your worship space, it’s style of presentation and the needs of the worship leaders and their staff.

Before choosing any particular product, you might consider the following checklist of questions. The answers you select will greatly help you focus on a particular product or group of products from the huge menu of offerings.

1. How many channels of wireless mics will be used? This will help you decide on what type of UHF system you may need.

2. Do you need wireless capability for music performers as well as the spoken word? Again there are numerous options for belt-pack or body worn units to be used with everything from guitars to flutes.

3. What style of worship service is taking place? For example is it a straightforward service with little or no musical support? Or, is it a full blown high-energy rock & roll style presentation with lots of music, many performers and multiple worship leaders?

4. How much local interference are you likely to encounter? There are many systems with specialized capabilities to minimize this, and they will help you find clean channels from the nearly 1,000 or more possibilities open in the UHF bands.

5. How many different types of microphones do you need? For example do you need head-worn for the worship leaders, lavaliers for support presenters, hand-held on stands for choir or singers, micro-lavs to hide the mics for televised services and so forth.

6. How much battery life do you need for a typical weekend schedule? Whether it’s the good old 9 volt or double/triple A’s, having a mic go down because of a dead battery in the middle of


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TechDecisions Guide to Wireless Mics for Houses of Worship

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About the author
Frederick J. Ampel - TechDecisions, Chief Audio Adviser
Frederick J. Ampel is the president and principal of Technology Visions Analytics consulting in Overland Park, Kansas. His work in the pro A/V industry for over 40 years includes live sound reinforcement, broadcast audio production, audio systems design and installation, systems integration, hardware design and development, market assessment and analysis, small room acoustics and system integration. He was the founding editor of Sound & Video Contractor and has chaired standards committees for AES and InfoComm.


Comments
Posted by Fred  on  07/16  at  02:09 PM
I am surprised none of the Mipro Systems were included in this guide. They certainly meet the criteria and deliver the reliability and performance required with out costing an arm and a leg.
Posted by Frederick Ampel  on  07/16  at  02:56 PM
Dear Fred Thank you very much for your suggestion. Thank you for pointing out another option.
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