Wireless microphones

[Scrumpy]

Hi.

 

I’m looking for new wireless mics for use in the hall in a primary school, and could do with some recommendations or advice if possible from any experts out there. We’re after 4 mics, and they could do with being able to put up with a bit of abuse as we know what teachers are like . Not sure of the budget available at present, but approx. £750 would probably be the limit. I’ve had a look at previous threads but I’ve still got a few questions:

 

 

 

• · How bad can interference/dropouts be on channel 70? We are near an industrial estate and supermarket, plus our comms radios pick up chat from lorry drivers that isn’t really suitable for a primary school, so is it worth going for channel 38 or digital mics for better performance?
  
• · How bad can digital mics be affected by wifi?
  
• · Is it worth going for a dual or quad setup, or just stick to individual mics?
  
• · · Any suppliers you can recommend for further advice or purchasing?
  

A lot of what I’ve read is quite technical and I’ve ended up with brain overload, so please go easy!

Thanks

[PotNoodleTech]

Following this as I need to do the same. We've got some wireless mics but they seem to be having endless interference problems, pops clicks bangs or cut outs, it seems totally random, when ever I test them it works fine whenever their used in anger we get problems.

 

Hopefully some more knowledgeable peps can enlighten us as to what kind of mics we can buy on a reasonable budget for use in a large (older) school with poor EMI characteristics!!

[john]

Where about's in the UK are you someone maybe able to suggest a good local AV firm who could come advise and help with the issues you indicate perhaps and give you the best options for your site then.

[Andycat]

Channel 70 can be ok, but if it isn't in your particular area/building, then you've nowhere to go without new equipment.

 

I'd go for ch38 stuff off the bat. You will need a licence to use, but you can tweak frequencies then too.

 

As for models, I use Sennheiser stuff here, and did previously on ch70, so can't really give experience besides them, but they're solid stuff if not budget friendly!

[Andycat]

Licence info and some guidance re interference etc.

 

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/pmse/pmse-licence-info

[BennyG]

Hi, Not sure if this is any help but we recently moved to the Audio Technica System 10 digital wireless units. So far so good - pretty easy to use, no drop outs or licenses to worry about. Previously had problems with drop outs and interference on both licensed and license free units.

[SamanthaD]

I would avoid Ch 70 totally now. Latest Ofcom reports are now allowing short range devices to broadcast on these frequencies.

 

Ch 38 is becoming more popular now, allows more channels and is therefore more flexible. You do need a licence to use it. HOWEVER...

 

The license you buy for Channel 38 also has a small pocket of frequencies allocated from 823 to 832 MHz. This can be reached with some Ch 70 kit (I know Sennheiser EW300 units can get there...) so bear that in mind. Can you buy secondhand? Get a lot more microphone for your money...

 

Haven't played much with digital yet - we're starting to spec the Sennheiser Speechline kit working on 1.9GHz (I think...) can pass on more when I've used them in anger.

 

With a name like Scrumpy I guess you're in the West Country? Try Stage Electrics or Enlightened - I know Enlightened do educational discounts ;-)

[Andycat]

Hi, Not sure if this is any help but we recently moved to the Audio Technica System 10 digital wireless units. So far so good - pretty easy to use, no drop outs or licenses to worry about. Previously had problems with drop outs and interference on both licensed and license free units.

 

Yes, they look good if you're starting from nothing.

[Joanne]

We use Trantec mics here. We have 2 handheld and 4 headset mics. I bought the handheld ones recently and they were £180 each from a local company to me called Opus Pro Audio. Where are you based?

[Scrumpy]

Based near Lancaster (but a migrant from the SW hence the name). Will look for local companies that could help.

 

I think ch70 is probably a non-starter. Appreciate the need for a licence with ch38. Using the 700MHz band at present but problems with that, although our current equipment is old and probably doesn't help. I understand we'll need to move off that in the future anyway.

 

Sennheiser would be nice, but possibly a bit over what the Head wants to pay. Shure likewise. Will have a look at the Audio Technica digital units & Trantec to see if they are suitable/affordable.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Andycat]

Based near Lancaster (but a migrant from the SW hence the name). Will look for local companies that could help.

 

 

ArranPaul

 

Based in Poulton Le Fylde. Great people.

[howartp]

We use Audio Technica 3000b series.

 

4 in Ch70

11 in Ch38

8 in Ch30

 

Giving 23 mics for our performances with no dropouts or interference.

[dhicks]

We’re after 4 mics, and they could do with being able to put up with a bit of abuse as we know what teachers are like

 

Here's my post from 5 years ago:

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/av-multimedia-related/113765-rackmount-wireless-microphone-set.html

 

The Chord mics we bought have lasted well all that time - four mics, with an all-in-one rackmount receiver that we've mounted inside a solid stage box for lugging around. Uses Channel 70, which has occasionally clashed with another bit of kit plugged in in the same place, but no interference from outside, and we're in central London, with black cabs and delivery lorries going past the whole time.

 

As I pointed out at the end of that thread, I'd consider getting the 6-mic version. I understand that might actually be a digital version of the same hardware, cramming a few more channels into the available radio frequency, which if anything might help avoid interference from other sources.

[Andrew_C]

Be careful.

 

There is knowledgeable talk of MORE changes in the spectrum. I'm not doing much theatre, so I'm out of touch as to detail.

 

Early digital systems weren't troubled by WiFi. They stamped all over it. They may play nicer now; and would probably be where I would look in your shoes. Latency (delay in the sound getting through the system) is something to be aware of, but I'd be very surprised if it gives you problems at a primary.

 

Line 6 are getting good views.

[Katy]

+1 for ArranPaul.

 

After going down the "I'll have a research then buy something" route myself, I'd definitely recommend getting somebody who has a clue what they're talking about in. Waste of money on ours (which like others work fine when we test them but as soon as you stick them on a guest speaker, it's fading in and out and all sorts of rubbish)

[Scrumpy]

The Audio Technica 3000b are nice but unfortunately way over budget. The System 10's are a possibility but maybe not as robust as our current Audio Technica's, which have taken a bit of a battering. Looks like the Chord's 4 & 6 mic versions are all out of stock or Discontinued at present. Other suggestions still to research.

 

The local options mentioned above are my next option, so I'll have a chat to them and continue my research, but agreed, certainly worth speaking to someone who knows what they're on about! I only hope our Head isn't expecting me to buy some before Thursday when we have a production, he only asked me to look for some new mics yesterday

[john]

Based near Lancaster (but a migrant from the SW hence the name). Will look for local companies that could help.

 

I think ch70 is probably a non-starter. Appreciate the need for a licence with ch38. Using the 700MHz band at present but problems with that, although our current equipment is old and probably doesn't help. I understand we'll need to move off that in the future anyway.

 

Sennheiser would be nice, but possibly a bit over what the Head wants to pay. Shure likewise. Will have a look at the Audio Technica digital units & Trantec to see if they are suitable/affordable.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

Given your in Lancaster, I 110% recommend Audioworks - Audioworks - Audio and Audio Visual - PA Systems - Induction Loop Systems - Installation - Lancaster then for your needs they have done work for many education establishments in Lancs / Cumbria / Yorkshire and other neighbouring counties and I know several members on here will agree on that recommendation.

 

Martin at AW is brilliant and always looked after me well and they sell lot of makes as they just want the good and best for the job rather than the vendor that gives them the best freebies etc

[mikeprice]

I got a set of 2 Prosound mics from Maplin (which may be a problem now!) a while ago for my Primary School.

 

I seem to remember they were quite cheap

 

they worked great - came with a charging base so they were always ready

No idea if they will work on multi frequencies as I never needed to change it

 

previously we had ones that used batteries - which the teachers always left in with the mic switched on - strangely enough they were always flat when the next person wanted them - cost a fortune in batteries and they would never work at short notice

[SamanthaD]

Serious question I always ask - how often are they used? Why not hire when you need them?

[atcoates]

We have Shure microphones in most schools which are good quality and a bit cheaper than audio technica. We also loan stuff between schools sometimes as they maybe only use a few times a year.

[mikeprice]

Serious question I always ask - how often are they used? Why not hire when you need them?

 

I found they were often used at no notice - the teacher/TA just needed to have them available to use if and when

Once I made this happen they were used far more often

[Scrumpy]

As Audioworks (thanks john) are the closest to me I'll pop in when I get the chance and see what they recommend. Not sure how often mics are used but if we hired them when required I doubt I'd be given much notice, and I don't want to have to drop everything just to source mics when I've got better things to do.

 

I'll probably give the Head a couple of options (cheap and mid-price) and see what he prefers. Now off for 2 weeks so I'll report back at a later date what we go for.

 

Thanks to all for your replies, have a good Easter.

[howartp]

As Audioworks (thanks john) are the closest to me

Ditto to what John said - AudioWorks have done all our AV in Keighley, West Yorkshire for about 8 years now.

 

Peter

[SamanthaD]

Not sure how often mics are used but if we hired them when required I doubt I'd be given much notice, and I don't want to have to drop everything just to source mics when I've got better things to do..

Then they don't get them.

 

Sorry to say this but radio mics are a big luxury. I'm always of the opinion less is more and surely we want to teach kids to project their voices in a clear manner, not mumble in a quiet voice?

 

We get this all the time with HE lecturers who insist their events need umpteen radio mics. When we say we can't supply and you have to hire them in (at their cost, not ours, and they need a full PA because they're not tieing into our kit) then all of a sudden the urgent need disappears and the event goes just as well anyway.

 

My 2p. I'll shut up now!

[Scrumpy]

Update – the suggestion of hiring mics when required didn’t appeal to our Head, so I spoke to Audioworks who gave me some advice and recommended the following - https://www.andertons.co.uk/live-pa/wireless-systems/handheld-mic-wireless/shure-blx24-with-pg58-analogue-wireless-vocal-system (not shown on the Audioworks site so just here for info & Audioworks were a touch cheaper).

 

Digital mics weren’t recommended due to reports of interference with wifi, etc, which was a surprise as the Audio Technica System 10 series looked promising. The Shures though are apparently robust enough for our staff & pupils, and performance wise are meant to beat similarly priced mics from other manufacturers.

 

We’re going for mics that we can use on ch38, so a licence is required, but I’d rather purchase equipment that (hopefully) works without too much IT assistance required (which keeps the Head happy). Using ch38 means we can also use more than 4 at a time if need be. Possibly overkill for our needs but they should last a while, and as they’re not coming out of the IT budget I don’t have to look at the cheapest equipment for a change.

 

 

Cheers.