Looking for Wireless Mic

We are going to integrate a singing portion into our show this Christmas and we don't have any anything decent as far as wireless Mics. I don't dabble that much in sound so I am looking for recommendation on a Mid Range priced setup. Preferably with one handheld and one head worn setup.

Thanks in advance.

Cheating out on wireless is a bad idea. Shure QLX-D is what I recommend in the mid price range, and ULXS is what I would get in the low price range. Any cheaper than that is playing with fire in terms of performance and usability.

A few years ago I was able to pick up some Electro Voice RE1 series mics. They have been the best investment to date. The RE2 series is out now and I would highly recommend it. Musician's friend has them for $500 each (mic and receiver).

As far are shure equipment I was looking at the SLX series.

Is this in the arena? How long of a range are you going to need?

In the sub $ 500 range Audio Technica's ATW 3141 is an excellent value. 1000' line of sight is non unheard of for range.

The place I used to work had Sennheiser eW100 (I think that's the series) bodypacks with Countryman and knockoff headworns, and they were pretty well behaved, rugged, sounded great. Only had to go 30 ft through one wall, though. I know they make a companion handheld. Those are agile UHF's.

I concur with everyone else that wireless mics are like lenses to a photographer: *that's* where you spend your money. But if you're not doing 8 shows a week every week, you probably don't need to spend 2 grand a channel, either.

Amiers said:

As far are shure equipment I was looking at the SLX series.

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I'd step it up to the QLX-D if you can. There are a few things I don't like about the SLX - the sound quality isn't great, the body packs have a three position gain switch which makes it difficult to get the gain structure right if your talent's voice is in the middle of two switches, and you can't use a lot of systems at the same time.

If you are just doing a one off system and don't have big expectations, you may be happy with the SLX. The new digital wireless systems are a huge improvement over the old tech: the QLX has a metal transmitter, the sound, being digital, is equal to a wired mic, and it uses much less wireless spectrum so you can use more channels in an increasingly hostile environment.

TheaterEd said:

Is this in the arena? How long of a range are you going to need?

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It is in side but not that large. 65' round plus seating area. Range really shouldnt be a problem.

BillESC said:

In the sub $ 500 range Audio Technica's ATW 3141 is an excellent value. 1000' line of sight is non unheard of for range.

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I looked at AT as well but not so much worried about the range as the quality of sound any opinion in that for AT?

rwhealey said:

I'd step it up to the QLX-D if you can. There are a few things I don't like about the SLX - the sound quality isn't great, the body packs have a three position gain switch which makes it difficult to get the gain structure right if your talent's voice is in the middle of two switches, and you can't use a lot of systems at the same time.

If you are just doing a one off system and don't have big expectations, you may be happy with the SLX. The new digital wireless systems are a huge improvement over the old tech: the QLX has a metal transmitter, the sound, being digital, is equal to a wired mic, and it uses much less wireless spectrum so you can use more channels in an increasingly hostile environment.

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Its going be a one off for the run of the Christmas shows. I would prefer to go with the best I guess I will pull up each and see which gets a yes.

Well Just to update
I got this

Shure QLXD14 Digital Wireless Bodypack System

and this for the mic

Shure MX153T/O-TQG Omnidirectional Condenser Headworn Microphone

Fingers crossed.

So further update.

It has been working fairly well. I was getting some interference from my blizzard lightcasters wifi DMX boxes.

What should the recommended distance from the other boxes be?

Belt pack placement is in chest with antenna up in the first act.

Intermission belt pack is in the small of the butt.

Does placement really matter? Antenna up or down left or right? Type of fabric?

Amiers said:

So further update.

It has been working fairly well. I was getting some interference from my blizzard lightcasters wifi DMX boxes.

What should the recommended distance from the other boxes be?

Belt pack placement is in chest with antenna up in the first act.

Intermission belt pack is in the small of the butt.

Does placement really matter? Antenna up or down left or right? Type of fabric?

Click to expand...

I would not worry about beltpack placement, nor fabrics. Let the transmitter antenna stay straight on the beltpack instead of bending or kinking it to hide it.

Move the DMX box away from the receiving antennas. I would want it 4 to 6 feet away, but the more the merrier. A little distance helps lowers the signal level which reduces the chance of it causing receiver desense. (An analogy is hearing a whisper over a shotgun blast.) Angle the receiving antennas at about 90 degrees to each other for polarity diversity. Typically, that means both are 45 degrees from vertical. If you can remote at least one of the antennas with a cable, more spacial diversity is good. The idea is that when one antenna is in a signal null, the other one is less likely to be in a null. Don't hide receiving antennas in a metal rack or bury them in between other equipment.

I am kind of limited on space but the DMX boxes are on the right and the Mic reciever is sitting behind the console. I am on so little space that I can't even sit it flat. I think I might try to do some rearranging. When I get time :/

Thanks, FMEng

That lighting console can be an unintentional RF radiator, too. Anything with much of a microprocessor can be. Try to keep the receivers away from it, too. Of course, there is no rule that the mic receiver has to be in the booth. It's handy to see its display, but it could be anywhere in the venue, on the end of a mic cable or snake.

FMEng said:

That lighting console can be an unintentional RF radiator, too. Anything with much of a microprocessor can be. Try to keep the receivers away from it, too. Of course, there is no rule that the mic receiver has to be in the booth. It's handy to see its display, but it could be anywhere in the venue, on the end of a mic cable or snake.

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I would love to stick it out in the house but we have a sand arena and the dust and dirt and occasional barn bird makes for having nothing out there unless it is a tank. And with 3 computers on my left and the ETC and DMX box on my right I am not looking pretty atm.

Given your constraints, the best option might be to remote the antennas with some coaxial cables. Even if they stay in the booth, a few feet could make all the difference.