MIPRO - Knowledge | Wireless Knowledge

How to Hold a Wireless Handheld Microphone in order to Achieve the Best Sound Performance

It is with regret that I often see many users holding their wireless handheld microphones in various major stage, TV and concert performances using incorrect techniques. Inappropriate usage of a premium microphone can not only diminish its original superb performance characteristics and sound quality, but can even make it seem no better than an inferior quality microphone.

Many audio engineers have their own microphone sound preferences and feel that they can obtain the sound they want by simply using a leading brandname of microphone coupled with their own sound adjustments. The importance of mentoring the users in the art of correctly using a microphone is often sadly overlooked. A microphone is simply a part of the complete audio system. A satisfactory sound cannot be achieved, even when using the most expensive microphones, without a thorough understanding of the proper usage and adjustment of the microphone as well as the other related audio components. The same principle applies in driving an expensive sports car. If drivers are not fully aware of a car's unique characteristics and operation, they will be unable to get the maximum performance out of the car.

Many performers tend to hold the microphone by the grille. Unfortunately, this position seriously degrades both the sound quality and directionality of a microphone. Even the most expensive microphone will have its original sound quality compromised by this method. Grabbing a microphone by the grille will isolate the capsule's acoustic resonance circuit and/or change the capsule resonator's frequency. This results in an inferior performance in both frequency response and the separation of directionality. In addition, a palm's sound-focusing effect will tend to strengthen resonances in certain frequencies and can cause unwanted feedback.

Although a wireless microphone is convenient and safe to use without those tangling cables, users often negate their inherent superior characteristics by the use of improper techniques in holding the microphone. Therefore, to achieve the best sound possible, a microphone user must learn the proper techniques, which fortunately are rather simple. The single most important principal to remember is to always hold the microphone by its housing or body instead of covering the microphone grill.

Traditional design has protruding antenna . Modern design has built-in antenna or external design. If users hold the microphone over or near these areas the transmission range will deteriorate. The transmission range will deteriorate severely if holding it with both hands.

Holding two different frequency transmitters in close proximity can cause intermodulation interference. This is especially risky in multi-channel system operations where issues such as interference and unstable reception can easily cause the audio quality to deteriorate.

Close proximity causes interference in a microphone's audio frequency phase and directionality, and can destroy a microphone's default characteristics, apart from just RF interference. When both microphones' audio signals are in phase, it adds up to two microphones' audio output and a subsequent sudden increase of the amplifier volume, thus causing feedback. Conversely, if the signals are out of phase, they will offset each other's output and result in insufficient volume.

When two microphones get close to each other, their directionality will interfere with each other and destroy their default directionality. Performance tends to get worse as the distance between two microphones diminishes. Therefore, users should avoid the practice of holding two or more microphones simultaneously in one hand to prevent an undesirable loss in output volume, frequency response, and directionality. If more microphones need to be used simultaneously, then keep one microphone at least 30 cm away from the others to reduce the likelihood of detrimental changes in performance.