Page 1 of 5 >>
Your Wireless Mics after the Post-DTV-transition
How wireless microphones and IEM systems can successfully survive in the post-DTV-transition world
enlarge
Tops among its four UHF wireless mic systems, Audio-Technica’s Artist Elite 5000 Series features a dual-channel receiver and is often seen on major music industry award shows.
enlarge
Audio-Technica is a relatively recent entrant into the world of in-ear monitors, offering the M2 and M3 systems. The M2 system allows up to 10 simultaneous systems from its 100 channels of frequency agility; while the M3 accommodates up to 16 simultaneous systems, with 1,321 channels on board.
By now, just about every church that presents contemporary music—and many that don’t—have gone through a period of uncertainty regarding the future of their wireless microphone and in-ear monitoring (IEM) systems. The good news is, with the recent FCC ruling on White Spaces, the fate of those systems is now fairly clear, and the prospect of new purchases is not nearly as daunting. The bad news is, the future holds increased competition for open frequencies.
The biggest wireless problem in contemporary worship has been that the number of systems in use has outgrown in-house expertise. As the number of systems increases, the likelihood of everything working without incident, week in and week out, decreases.
While this may sound daunting, the fact is that a few key bits of knowledge and some common sense will go a long way. “It’s not voodoo, and it’s not black magic,” states Karl Winkler, director of business development for Rio Rancho, N.M.-based Lectrosonics. “With proper antenna setup and frequency choice, wireless systems should work flawlessly, every time. But it’s important to know the basics. If you run into interference, you need to know how to change frequencies in a methodical way. Otherwise, you’re just stabbing in the dark.”
Some Basics
Wireless systems are low-power radio stations consisting of a transmitter and a receiver, with each transmitter requiring a separate channel. Each system interacts with the others according to the mathematical relationship of their frequencies, beating against each other in much the same way as musical notes, producing sum and difference products. This can produce intermodulation (“intermod”) that destroys the clean transmission of wireless signals. As more systems are added, avoiding intermod becomes more difficult.
The first step toward ensuring flawless operation is proper physical deployment. Maintaining line-of-sight antenna placement is a critical component in avoiding dropouts. Hiding antennas at floor level is a recipe for disaster, as all the bodies in the congregation effectively block the signal from the receiver. To avoid the visual distraction of having an “antenna farm,” consider investing in an antenna distribution system, allowing multiple systems to share remote antennae. It’s also important to maintain separation of wireless systems from other RF (radio frequency) sources, most notably digital electronics.
Most wireless manufacturers offer educational publications to help teach tech staff the basics of system setup. Niles, Ill.-based Shure’s technical and educational communications manager, Christopher Lyons, notes, “A little knowledge goes a long way. As the wireless environment changes, proper procedures are going to become required practices. Those who do things right, from system deployment through operation, are going to have a much better chance of operating without problems.”
Page 1 of 5 next page >>
Jack Kontney heads Kontney Communications Inc., a marketing and content creation consultancy specializing in pro audio and electronics. He can be contacted at www.kontneycomm.com.
Reader Comments
ADD NEW COMMENT