Headset Microphones

Subject: Headset Microphones
From: Hamish
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 06:37 AM

Have any of you Mudcatters experience of using headset microphones? I'd love to hear views on pro's and con's.

I'd guess pro's might include: light and portable; ease of set up; ease of moving your head and staying 'on mic' e.g. when you've just *got* to look at your left hand and sing; ability to move around generally - for those up-tempo numbers - and stay 'on-mic'; less of a physical barrier between yourself and the audience...

Con's might include: inability to stand off when hitting those big notes/move in close for the intimate notes; inability to move off mic to clear throat...

But I'm only guessing. Have you got actual performance experience, and what have you found?

Cheers,

Hamish http://www.lombardy.clara.net

Subject: RE: Headset Microphones
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 07:21 AM

Having seen their use in stage musicals (also those belt/strap transmitters for guitarists so they're not wired into the amps direct) I've wondered why they're not more widely used. Cost? Picking up local taxi transmissions? Quality? Would they work for a harmonica player attached to his neck harness? The ones musical artistes use seem no bigger than a cotton bud, makes one wonder why stage mikes are still so big if there isn't a quality issue. I suppose a non-playing singer likes to work a hand or stick mike like a prop but I would have thought a multi-instrumentalist who has to move around a bit might find all those trailing wires a hazard (despite acres of duct tape) which radio mike/amp would avoid.
RtS (Not a performer, just naively curious, ie pig-ignorant).

Subject: RE: Headset Microphones
From: alison
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 07:48 AM

mine tends to be very sensitive..... ie . in order for it have the whistle at a good volume it is loud enough to pick up my breathing.. really loudly...

also things like the waffling in between songs "what'll we play next"..... you have to remember to mute....

but it is wonderful for getting down on the floor to demonstrate dances....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Headset Microphones
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 08:36 AM

I have only used them in plays (I have a pretty good story on that) but we have discussed getting a set for Roll & Go. We do not have particularly good mike habits and these would solve a wide range of those problems. Plus, only one of us plays a whistle and almost never as part of the performance (It acts as his pitch pipe and intro music).

One of our number is concerned about the audiences hearing all the little aside remarks and comments but you can put your hand over the mike and muuffle it for those.

Subject: RE: Headset Microphones
From: GUEST,Mudchick, I mean moodchunk, I mean, oh, f***
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 10:51 AM

Naemanson, I think there is available - I saw it in Musicians Friend catalog - a foot pedal box for headset mic wearers, that's just a button that cuts the mic off while it's held down, so you can cough, or belch, or mumble obscenities at you fellow band members, or whatever.

Peter

Subject: RE: Headset Microphones
From: rich-joy
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 11:54 PM

refresh

what's the latest on these, please?

what do singers think now, and what are the recommended types etc. etc.

Thanks!

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Headset Microphones
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 01 May 04 - 06:46 AM

As mentioned in an earlier thread on "Calling" for ceilidhs or barn dances; I know a local caller who uses a headset mike. This allows her to get down among the action, and give help to a group having problems while still seeming to be directing things from the stage.

Subject: RE: Headset Microphones
From: rich-joy
Date: 01 May 04 - 07:40 PM

Thanks,
I was thinking more along the lines of the QUALITY of mic needed for A CAPPELLA HARMONY SINGING - does anyone have any recommendations or current information for headsets to be used for this purpose???

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Headset Microphones
From: freightdawg
Date: 01 May 04 - 11:42 PM

Don't know about singing, but I used a wireless lapel mic for speaking quite a bit. There are several cons, along with the pros listed earlier in the thread.

The one we used was pretty finicky about the type of batteries we used. Also, once the batteries started to weaken there was liable to be a squeal set in. Also, be careful about frequencies. They are supposed to be guarded pretty well, but atmospheric skips do happen. I have heard cell phone calls, c.b. radio transmissions, and there is the possibility that another wireless transmitter with the same freq. being in the vacinity.

As mentioned earlier, they are sensitive, so they pick up everything, and that can be embarassing, if not just distracting. Cough buttons are okay, but the whole thing about being mobile is that sometimes you would be far away from the foot pedal when you needed it. Reaching up and moving the mic with your hand causes even more noise. The solution would be a really fast and clairvoyant sound board operator.

They allow for more flexibility, that's for sure. But to me, from an aesthetics point of view, they make you look like a NASA ground controller on a lunch break.

Basically comes down to making a list and seeing whether pro or con has more entries. Also, how critical is your mobility? The more you need to move, the more valuable they become.

Just take them off before proceeding to the little boys or girls room.

Freightdawg