Current Issue

May 2012

Print Article     Email Article

  Page 1 of 4   >>

Decisions, Decisions: Lavalier or Head/Earworn Microphones

Who’s Got What?

by Mark Johnson

Lavalier or headset/earset microphone? Which one should I use? It’s the question for the ages…. OK, so maybe not the question for the ages, but an important consideration in the worship environment none-the-less. Which one should you use? Well the answer of course, is a definitive, “It depends.” Each style has its own strengths and weaknesses. And each style also has its own options, primarily in terms of pickup pattern (omni or cardioid) or mounting methodology.

Implementations of head- and earworn mics include styles where the mic boom comes from either above or below the ear. The needs of the situation or circumstances will be a main factor in determining whether to use a lav, head- or earworn mic. Other deciding factors include personal preference of the person you will be mic’ing as well as your personal preference.

My church recently completed a production where I had planned for all the performers to use lavs. We had more lavs in our inventory and I felt I would get a consistency in sound quality from person to person. During rehearsal it became evident that one of the younger performers just couldn’t project enough to get a good sound with a lavalier. And the background music was building while he was speaking, which made it difficult to get his lines over the music. I switched to one of the earworn mics I had, and due to the placement of the mic element closer to the performer’s mouth, I was able to get the gain I needed. On other productions, if a performer is in “character’ and has a singing part so they can’t really use a handheld, I’ll generally use an earworn mic.

Productions aside, for use in a regular service, a head/earworn mic can work well for a worship leader that needs to use their hands—like a guitar or keyboard player—or needs to have a fair amount of mobility. I’ve also found that youth and kids ministry leaders, in general, like to use head- or earworn mics. Senior pastors can go either way, and it usually depends on personal preference. My pastor prefers to use a lavalier. We’ve got a wireless bodypack, a console channel, and some outboard processing gear dedicated to the pastor’s mic, so we can get a good consistent sound from week to week.

Let’s take a look at some of the available products. We’ll sample a lavalier as well as a head/earworn mic from each manufacturer’s lineup. Be sure to visit the manufacturers’ websites for more detailed info and other products within their lines.

AKG HC 577 HEADSET

AKG features the HC 577 headset with a behind-the-neck headband and dual earpieces for stability. The mic may be fitted to wear on the left or right of the face, and features an omnidirectional pickup pattern. Its frequency response is 20 Hz-20 kHz, while maximum SPL is 133 dB. The CK 77 lavalier is an omnidirectional mic, as well, with a 20 Hz-20 kHz frequency response and a max SPL of 133 db. Available colors include matte black, white and beige.

  Page 1 of 4   next page >>

Mark Johnson is an independent technical trainer/writer based in Crockett, Calif., and former editor of Sound & Video Contractor and Church Production magazines. He can be reached at mjohnson6286@sbcglobal.net.