PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Off-Topic headset mike for live performance

Hi,

Looking at your stated spec, I would recommend that you not go for a condenser element headset mic, but rather take a look at a dynamic cardioid headset mic.

*It will respond more like the kind of mic you are already used to using. The proximity effect of bass for male vocal will simply be smoother to use. By adjusting the position of closeness to your mouth, you can get that low-end thang that we male vocalists love about dynamic mics. Translates to punch.

*NO BATTERIES. No battery pack needed, no need to worry about obtaining or charging a battery for the next gig, or a battery running down in the middle of a performance.

Fortunately, Audio Technica makes and markets a nice one.

Audio-Technica PRO 8H

*Lower cost than equal quality condenser mic headset.

*No batteries nor Phantom Power needed.

*Condenser Mic Elements are prone to humidity/moisture damage that is irreversible. One drop of rainwater, one spray of beer or saliva, can KILL the element permanently. Not so with the good old dynamic mic elements.

*Dynamic Mic element can typically be easier to use and will sound better, regardless of what the "audiophiles" rant about. Written specs are not real world and very often are borderline in actual effectiveness.

*When performing, simplicity and ease-of-use is always a consideration.

*This model uses the neodymium magnet design, which means that they are typicaly LOUD microphones, generating a larger voltage swing for the amount of energy applied to the diaphragm. Also are good for "more gain before feedback" -- which, while an argument in itself, really does help somewhat to keep the intelligibility and punch up and the feedback down a wee bit.

A problem when using a headworn mic and operating your own sound is that the mic is right next to your mouth at all times and is therefore always "hot". This can even be a problem when you have a soundman at the board, as he will not always be able to turn you up and down at appropriate times.

I recommend the use of a device like the ProcoSound Cough Drop, which is a silent switchbox that can be worn like a belt pack. Push the button to cough, or talk to a fellow bandmember, or respond to someone from the crowd who will come up and talk with you between songs without having what you say being amplified to the entire crowd. IMO this is an essential item to have with any type of headset mic. Get one before "blurt" can cost you embarassment or a gig, man. You know what I mean (grin).

Proco Cough Drop

Before you ask, no, the Cough Drop is not just some simple switch in a box. That would make a thump or CLICK every time it is operated because mic lines are so sensitive by nature, needing to amplify the few milliVolts that a microphone makes from your voice. The ProCo Cough Drop contains circuitry that prevents that thump.

The link I provided also has the schematic at the bottom of the .pdf file, you can see that the circuit is not active, meaning no batteries needed, and that it consists of only a capacitor, a resistor and a pushbutton switch. It is easy for the handyman who knows a wee bit about electronics soldering to BUILD one of these into a small beltpack type case if necessary. Don't leave home without it.


--Mac