As much as sound guys love music, the fact remains that spoken word is probably the most important element in a service and occupies the majority of the time in a service. A big part of getting this right is choosing the right microphone for the job, so it's important that we know what tools we have at our disposal. Countryman Associates recently introduced a new tool in the form of a head-worn microphone, the E2 Earset.
I recently had the chance to put the E2 through its paces under a wide variety of circumstances. I used it for a typical Sunday sermon in a large and somewhat feedback-prone room, with a host walking around in front of the PA, and even when a couple of guys were doing skits and running around on the stage.
Like most microphones, I found that the Countryman E2 has its areas where it really shines and a few to be aware of.
E2 vs. E6
The E2 is worn over the ear much like the classic E6 Earset, but it differs in that it has a significantly shorter boom. The E2 is also a directional microphone, while the E6 is omni-directional. The shorter boom has several advantages over a longer boom head set. One is that it is very unobtrusive visually, a definite plus if your pastor doesn't like the look of a traditional head-worn microphone. It is hardly noticeable in camera shots and in the room.
Another advantage to the smaller boom is comfort factor. This is mostly due to a simple matter of physics: the shorter boom means less leverage when the communicator moves their head. The E2 tends to stay positioned better and cause less tugging at the ear compared to other head-worn microphones. Without fail, everyone I asked to try the E2 loved its comfort factor. Be warned, though, it may be like taking candy from a child if you let them try it and then decide not to use it.
Yet another advantage to the shorter boom is the microphone's resistance to pops from plosives and other strange mouth noises that plague some other head-worn microphones.
Let's talk for a minute about the directional pickup pattern of the E2. In pretty much all instances, the gain-before-feedback was excellent when the mic was properly placed. I was even pleasantly surprised at how well the mic performed when the host was in front of the PA walking in the crowd. It does a great job of rejecting sound from the sides and rear, which is why it performed so well in this situation. The E2 does sound slightly more ambient than a traditional head-worn mic at times, but it is not as bad as you might think.
Countryman advertises that the E2 is within 3 dB of the popular E6 in gain-before-feedback ratio, and I would believe that. It also has a nice presence boost in the low-mids, which helps the mic sound nice and warm. There is no sibilance problem with the E2 either.
As with all mics, however, placement is critical. Get it wrong and you will be sorry. This is especially true with this mic. If it is pointing away from the face, that lovely off-axis rejection is no longer your friend. Instead of rejecting unwanted noises from behind and the side, it rejects the person's voice. Go ahead and hide behind the console now.
Some Shortfalls, Some Pluses
The one thing that was most worrisome for me was the E2's susceptibility to wind noise. This is a common problem for directional head-set mics, and the E2 is no exception. It does come with a windscreen that is very effective, but of course this is a bit of an eyesore and certainly counters the unobtrusive visual appeal of the mic. In the words of one user, “I don't want to wear a cotton ball on the side of my face.” The wind noise was troublesome both when the speaker walked around quickly, turned his head quickly or stood near a strong A/C system. This is certainly something to be very well aware of.
Another less critical downfall of the E2 is that it tends to pick up clapping a little too well if the person speaking claps their hands in front of them. This isn't a big deal for most, but just be aware that its directional characteristic extends beyond just the mouth. If you have a pastor who claps or even does a lot of page turning while looking at their notes, this may be a little distracting. I wouldn't say that it's a major turnoff, just a minor unwanted side effect.
There are some pretty strong positives for this little mic: it looks great, it's comfortable, it's resistant to unwanted mouth noises, it rejects feedback well and it generally sounds very pleasant. As with any microphone there are a few negatives, most notably its susceptibility to wind noise. If your pastor doesn't move quickly and there isn't much air movement on your stage, this mic could be a real winner.
