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Top of the mornin' everyone.... With the arthritis in my fingers I've been having a very difficult time when trying to play guitar and sing into a mic on a stand. I have to look at my chord hand more consistently to focus on accuracy in my playing. So...I'm researching wireless headset mics. If any here would provide some G2 on what they're using: 1) what manufacturer did you go with 2) pros 3) cons 4) reliability/sturdiness Several manufacturers (some I've never heard of) and price points are all over the place as I look at the link below. I'm not rolling in buckaroos so I'm hoping I don't have to spend few hundred bucks for my purposes which is just playing live in my studio rabbit hole with a couple of other old fossils. I'm going through a Behringer mixer Xenyx 1622FX USB and KRK Rockit 8's. I'd also guess that one would get what they pay for in this context. https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Headset-Microphones-Systems/b?ie=UTF8&node=11974741&tag=tdpri-20Thanks in advance for any guidance and have a great day.
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I'd also guess that one would get what they pay for in this context. Yes. 1000% yes. I'd stay away from those. I personally have a Sennheiser EW-G3 system which has been rock solid - I don't have a headset mic but rather a Lavalier, plus a separate transmitter that plugs onto the bottom of a handheld mic. Pros: Good sound quality, good range, low chance of interference, easy to set up channels, transmitter can also be used for guitar with appropriate cable, excellent build quality and reliability. Cons: High price Reliability: The bodypack is nearly all metal and has been subject to mishandling and dropping, and still works perfectly even after many years. The lavalier I've had to repair a few times, but that's the nature of thin wires. Also have used Shure and Audio Technica wireless systems, both of which I'd recommend. I'd stay away from anything that's not from a reputable brand name (most Amazon stuff), maybe look at something from Samson or something like that.
I work here
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I would look on Sweetwater so you can compare what good gear actually cost.
Brands you know and trust like Shure, and AKG are going to start around $300.
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
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Simon and Plano'....
Doing my research today and reading a lot of various reviews....whew.
On 'reviews'?....I'm pretty skeptical and tend to believe half of what I see and none of what I hear (pun?).
I hear you...it appears one has to fork out a few C-notes to get anything remotely reliable.
It just occurred to me....I'd guess there's no such thing as a headset mic that ISN'T wireless and has a mic cable going the the mixer?
Many thanks gents for the G2 and I'll go with your tips.
Have a great day....
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We went with Shure here.
If you want it to go into a mixer, you have to step up a little, but worth it.
The cheapest have a single headphone mic, transmitter and receiver (around $300).
But for a couple hundred more you may be able to find a dual receiver with 2 transmitters and 2 lavalier mics ..
depends on what you need and the value of the additional mics.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Dumb question, probably, but why not record the vocal as its own track?
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rharv....
I do get it.
I know Shure....I still have several dynamic mics I purchased during my band days back in the 70's.
Boy...where did the time go.
I'm going to save for a few months knowing likely a 300$ price would be a minimum to put away.
I tend to think closer to $400 may be more realistic.
edshaw....
No...not a dumb question.
I'm not using a headset mic to record.
Only to sing when playing live with my old fossil buddies in my studio area.
I'm having trouble singing into a mic on a stand and having to look back and forth at the neck to play my guitar accurately due to my arthritis.
Hope that makes sense?
Thanks gents for chiming in with the guidance.
Have a great day....
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Chulaivet: Oh, I get it, now. Another question to display my ignorance is, "Does it have to be wireless?" For years, I have heard that musicians invite all kinds of grief after budget shopping wireless rigs. Things like fidelity, interference, fades, stuff like that. George Strait makes it look easy. I have a lapel microphone -- electro voice, I think -- that produces surprising quality. That could be clipped to one of the mike mounts that are virtually everywhere we look, today. Something like this: https://www.markertek.com/product/ecrb/countryman-e6-earclip-mic-worn-on-right-blackBTW: You fossils rock!
Last edited by edshaw; 03/11/21 07:09 AM.
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Howdy Ed.... To your points...yes...I've heard similar stories. I'm still in research mode. I tend to think the technology (in this context) has been there for a couple of decades and proved itself worthy....if we're willing to pay for it, that is.  Yep....and those that have had problems maybe went to cheap. I'm sure that's happened to many of when were talking a few hundred buckaroos. I don't know if there are headphone mics with the typical cable or not. I haven't seen them....yet. The 'lapel' mic isn't grabbing me and tend to think it wouldn't be as robust a choice over time when accounting for any of my performing (exaggeration) clumsiness. Ha....well, thank you sir for the generous rocking fossils comment. Thanks for chiming in Ed....I need all the guidance I can muster.
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chulaivet1966, Both wireless and wired headphone microphones are plentiful. Business applications and gaming make headsets a very competitive market. Just about all multiplayer game includes a chat function so a player can chat with their friends while playing the game. I have a Logitech wired headphone with boom microphone I use daily. The microphone boom can be positioned out of the way when I'm using just the headphone function and moved into position as needed. +++ HERE +++ is a premium product intended for business while +++ HERE +++ is a gaming headset.
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Howdy Jim....
Got it.
I'm not 'Shure' which option I'll take quite yet.
It's a tough decision.
I'll check out the links you offered.
Thanks for chiming in with more food for thought.
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Mornin' gents.... Lots of ways to go and I believe we will get what we pay for with this device. I've done lots of research and reading reviews even though my confidence in 'reviews' integrity wavers. Several models are $700+ buckaroos! Did I mention I'm not rolling in greenbacks or disposable C-notes? I think I've found the one. It does have great reviews by all and is in the mid price range: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro...phone?rNtt=shure wireless microphones&index=1 How to set it up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-f8z3sgRZkThis particular model is not on Amazon and I've done biz with Musician's Friend several times. I'll report back should anyone be interested. Have a great weekend....
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Your musiciansfriend link didn't work correctly for me.
got a page with no product ..
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Shure (and some other companies) has some wired headset mics that plug into their wireless bodypacks. If you forego having a wireless system and stick with wired, then you can save a fair bit of money.
Most often they'll have a mini XLR plug on them, but that can be adapted to regular XLR fairly easily.
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Shure (and some other companies) has some wired headset mics that plug into their wireless bodypacks. If you forego having a wireless system and stick with wired, then you can save a fair bit of money. I have an Audio Technica that I bought for my sax and after that I bought a mic and just by changing from clip on to mic I can use it both ways. That's kind of what Simon is alluding to. That was the cheap guy coming out. I could have just bought one of each...
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rharv...eddie...Simon...
Sorry I somehow screwed up the link...I must be getting old and daft.
Thanks all for the comments....have a great weekend all.
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Good morning....
Well....
Should anyone be remotely interested, I pulled the trigger on the Shure unit and received it last Thursday.
I'm quite pleased with the purchase.
We all recall that darling term from the Win95/Win98 days of "plug & play (pray)".
This unit was just that:
Plug in the receiver.
Add (2) AA batteries to the transmitter.
Set the channel up on the transmitter...very easy/straight forward.
Turn on the receiver.
Turn on the transmitter.
End of story....works great and I'm not tethered to the necessity of good mic technique on vocals while going through my practice play list which is 21 songs.
Yes....I would endorse this product based on my experience.
Have a great day....
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eddie1261
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Did that model have an little impedance switch inside the transmitter that you had to throw? I had a friend buy a wireless mic several years ago and it had a switch inside it, as does my AT for my sax. His mic was barely audible until he flipped that little toggle switch,
Wireless is really the way to go! You done good with Shure!
Last edited by eddie1261; 03/21/21 03:16 AM.
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Howdy eddie....
No....no 'impedance' switch.
Just a 'gain adjustment' setting inside the transmitter pack.
It was at 04:00 as default and looks like it goes to about 06:00.
I left it at the default and I had no need to increase it.
I'm still getting accustomed to it and if anything I could actually decrease it a bit and still have plenty of gain out to my mixer channel.
Yeah...I preferred 'wireless' and figured from the onset that going 'cheap' on this device was not a prudent way to go.
Plus, I have Shure mics that I bought in 1974 (Unisphere 1 - SM57) which are still reliable tools to this day....that has some merit to me.
So far....so good.
Last edited by chulaivet1966; 03/21/21 06:50 AM.
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