The folks who speak to us during our times of worship have a serious responsibility. They're teaching, leading, inspiring, sharing, interceding.... They're also relying on technology. But no matter how high-tech the sound and video system they command, their signal path always starts with the same simple tool: the microphone.Church techs also have a serious responsibility to ensure that the technology is effective and non-distracting.
Good mic technique can make for more consistent sound, but it’s only possible with a handheld mic.
Because no piece of sound equipment is closer to the presenter, the sound tech's job starts with the microphone as well. Thankfully, there are a myriad of options available for that crucial piece of gear. These fall into three main microphone types: handheld, lavalier and headset. We’ll cover the advantages and disadvantages of each here.
Handheld Mic Advantages
- When hand-held, the speaker can vary the placement of the mic for dramatic effect. Good mic technique can make for more consistent sound, but it’s only possible with a handheld mic.
- Options abound for pickup pattern, sound quality, price, even color.
- A handheld mic is positioned for optimum sound quality. Because of proximity, it also offers excellent rejection of unwanted noises and feedback.
Handheld Mic Disadvantages
- A handheld mic either occupies one hand or it fixes the speaker’s location in front of a microphone stand. One can't roam the stage and keep both hands free.
- Being able to vary the distance between mic and voice can result in inconsistent sound, especially for people with little or no mic savvy.
- Certain handheld mics are prone to handling noise, which can be a disaster when held in busy hands.
- A mic positioned directly in front of the mouth is prone to plosive noises (pops from "P" and similar sounds).
- A handheld mic can't be hidden, and is sometimes visually distracting.
The little lavalier mic
Lavalier mics are compact mics designed to be clipped to clothing, usually on the chest of the speaker. Most are about the size of a pencil eraser, with a small cable going to a beltpack or XLR connector.
Lavalier Mic Advantages
- With care in placement and some creative cable routing, a lavalier mic can be effectively invisible. If avoiding visual distraction is important (in a video close-up, for example), the lavalier is as good as it gets.
- Because it can't move, the lavalier offers the potential for more consistent sound than a handheld mic.
- A lavalier mic frees up both of the speaker's hands.
- Most lavalier mics are comparable in price to a high-quality handheld mic, and less expensive than most headset mics.
- A lavalier mic will not pick up distracting mouth noises or plosives.
Lavalier Mic Disadvantages
- Because head movement changes the mic's position relative to the mouth, a lavalier mic sometimes produces less consistent sound than the other options.
- If not positioned with care, a lavalier mic may pick up rustling noises from clothing.
- Because it's further from the mouth than a handheld or headset mic, the lavalier offers the least amount of rejection of unwanted stage noises and feedback.
Because no piece of sound equipment is closer to the presenter, the sound tech's job starts with the microphone.
The tiny headset mic
Headset mics are the smallest of all, being attached to a small boom for placement near the corner of the mouth. Most headset mics use a lightweight, flexible assembly that wraps around one ear. With adjustment, the fit can be good enough to forget the mic is even there.
Headset Mic Advantages
- Even more than a lavalier mic, a headset mic’s position relative to the mouth doesn't change. This offers the best-possible consistency of sound.
- The clearest sound is often captured close to the source, and a headset mic sits extremely close to the mouth. Provided it's kept back far enough to avoid plosives and breath noises, a headset mic can sound great.
- Because of proximity, a headset mic "focuses in" on the voice and rejects unwanted stage noises and feedback. A directional headset mic offers even better rejection than an omnidirectional design.
- Several headset manufacturers make their mics in a range of colors to match various skin tones. With the right match, the mic is nearly invisible.
Headset Mic Disadvantages
- The closer a mic is to its sound source, the greater the effect of small mic movements. A ½-inch shift might not affect a lavalier mic's sound, for example, but could significantly change the sound of a headset mic.
- Again, due to proximity, headset mics have a rather small "sweet spot" for best sound and can be finicky about placement.If a small space isn't maintained between headset mic and face, it may pick up rustling sounds from skin or facial hair.
- Some of the best-quality headset mics are quite expensive ($500 and up).
- Headset mic manufacturers work hard to create designs that are lightweight and visually unobtrusive. This can also mean fragile.
Other Considerations
There are a few more things to consider when deciding between a handheld microphone and one of the other options.
The first is whether the speaker should be “captive” to the microphone. Headset and lavalier mics are always picking up sound, even when you don’t want them to, and can only be muted with the deliberate push of a button on the belt pack. Only the handheld mic can be moved away from the mouth to discreetly cough, sneeze or talk to someone else on-stage.
Next is speed and ease of setup. There’s little or no setup for a handheld mic, so it’s ready to go in a hurry. A lavalier mic requires you to place the mic itself (sometimes a challenge depending on clothing) and route the cable unobtrusively. Then you have to find a home for the belt pack or XLR connector, which can also be a trick. A headset mic requires a similar amount of time and effort to get set up. For a typical service, time isn’t a problem. If you’re playing beat the clock, a handheld mic may be your best option.
Consider flexibility. Because it's not attached to any one person, a handheld mic can be used by anyone on the stage for any purpose: announcements, interviews, special music, message. Lavalier and headset mics are attached to (hence dedicated to) one person, so they’re not a resource you can use for other applications.
Finally, there’s personal preference and speaking style. Some pastors like to hold a mic in their hand, others want to forget about the mic altogether. Some like to roam the stage, some prefer to stay put behind a podium. Some hate the feel of a headset mic wrapped around their ear, others choose shirts that make placing a lavalier mic inconvenient or impossible.
Which mic type is best for your application? Only time and experimentation will tell.
