Videomaker - How to Choose a Wireless Microphone

Mark covers the dos & don'ts of using a wireless mic.

So one of the most important tools for audio is a wireless microphone system, that is what we are going to talk about today on Tips and Tricks. [Music Playing] Hi, I am Mark Montgomery for video maker so we are going to talk about choosing a wireless microphone and how to use that. Best practices how to use that in your system. Now, wireless microphones are great for people who running and getting and it is a great tool to add to your set. If you are one man-band producer, a wireless microphone is going to save you a lot of time and hustle. So there are two wireless frequencies you can work in and that is VHF (Very High Frequency) or UHF (Ultra High Frequency). If had not choose between the two, VHF is a little more crowded, there is more devices working in that frequency. So, UHF has a little more lead room with choosing a clean frequency you can work in but both do the same thing, transmit an audio signal, modulate to a radio frequency and send it across to a receiver, demodulate and turn it into an audio signal. So, let us get into the equipment here. Right here, I have a body back transmitter with a repel microphone. So this is a typical microphone, repel microphone that goes into your body pack transmitter and transmits on a selected frequency to your receiver. Here is our receiver, with an XOR input. So we receive the signal, it demodulates and comes out the other end as audio. A couple of things you are going to look for when you are actually buying a wireless system is a battery, low battery signal. Some of the more professional versions will actually send the signal to your headphones telling you that a battery needs to be replaced. Otherwise, you just need to closely monitor what your battery levels are. The other thing is it will tell you what frequency you are operating on and those are the two most important things you are going to look for on the external of your receiver and body pack is a battery low indicator and what frequency you are operating on. So you actually know how these devices are going to communicate. Let us take a look at our first tip for using these devices. Our first tip here is try to always allow a line aside between your body pack transmitter and your receiver. This increases the chances you are going to get a good connection between the devices that you are not going to get a lot of interference but know that wireless devices can work around walls, around foliage. It just does not give you the chances you are going the best connection and it really depends upon every situation so give it a try and if it works, just keep monitoring and make sure it keeps working. Our second tip here is always be aware of your “Juice” your battery level. Carry spares but monitor the battery level on both body packs and receivers. You never want to get in a situation where wireless allows you the separation of distance that your talent maybe further away in a critical moment and running out of juice so monitor them closely. Our third tip is choose a Diversity Receiver. Now, let us set this up a bit, if you are shooting with a wireless microphone in a room. The signal from the body pack can bounce of the walls and depending on the slightly different timings that signal goes to the receiver. You can actually cancel out your signal and you get a drop out. A Diversity Receiver creates a second antenna and a second demodulator. Slightly different positions which means different timings and the device will actually monitor both and choose which one has a best signal and switch between both of them ensuring that you are going to get the best signal in the end. So, when choosing a receiver type diversity, will give you a better chance of getting the best audio so we recommend using that. Let us take a look at this again. First tip, always a savage the line the sight between your transmitter and your receiver. Second tip, monitor your battery levels and third and final tip, try to choose a Diversity Receiver, it is going to improve your quality of audio and actually all those tips are going to improve the quality of