Wireless Headset Mic Systems

Hi, I'm from the keyboard forum. Was wondering if anyone had any experience with wireless headset mics, specifically the Shure PGX-type systems. This would be for a lead vocal situation. Thanks in advance for any input....

depending on what kind of singing you do, be aware that any kind of mic control is out the window when using a headset mic... it's always exactly the same distance and position from your lips. I found that out the hardway using one for the first time, and on a powerballad of all things - eep!

I'd encourage you to stick to mic stands... here's a vid to see how awkward/stupid they can look:

Oh really! Have you seen Celtic Thunder or Garth Brooks? Can you put emotion in your voice? Can you modulate your voice?

I cannot comment on the mic the OP mentioned as I have no experience with it. However, I use a Crown CM-311A headset mic and it works out fine for live performances.

Really?

Really sir? Please take the time to read a post before you pull attitude.

It's even right there in your post...see where you quoted me? The very first phrase in that quote... "depending on what kind of singing you do".

Now, if you actually read what was there, thought for a moment before you decided to flame someone, that phrase: "depending on what kind of singing you do" would have been interpreted as "depending on what kind of singing you do".

Secondly, note the second phrase of my sentence...yes it's right there in your post where you quoted me..." be aware that any kind of mic control is out the window when using a headset mic..." Hmmm, let's review the 7th and 8th word in that phrase..."mic control". Hmm, no mention of voice control, emotion, modulation there...nope, it would appear that when we actually take the time to read the sentence instead of setting phasers to "go {censored} yourself", we see I was actually referring to mic control.

For hard rock applications, mic control is an important technique when singing live, especially those times you find yourself without a FOH soundman. The fixed proximity of a headset microphone can cause issues in such applications, regardless of how stunningly talented you think you are to be able to 'modulate your voice' or how much 'emotion' may be put into the performance. Just for fun, go try it with a loud rock drummer's cymbals 2 feet behind your head, and a pair of halfstacks...hmm then you need to sing whispery in that situation- not much choice but to eat the mic just so you can be heard - unless you have a FOH soundman running the board as you play. Hmm, now here comes the powerful rock scream, hmm better back away from the mic as going from throaty whisper to full bore rock scream will blow speakers (and listeners' patience) - unless you have a FOH soundman - or use mic control.

For example, let's look at an Aerosmith song like "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing". Hmm, in the verses, he is quite quiet - almost whispering; choruses now he let's go considerably more but still is keeping things under control - nice use of 'modulation' there as the 'emotion' of his performance becomes more impassioned. Hmm, well now here's the bridge and outro vamp - my goodness! In some lines there, he's actually almost screaming a bit as the emotion of the performance becomes more fevered and almost desperately passionate. How shall we 'modulate' the screaming so that it doesn't over power everything, or perhaps you mean we should dampen down the emotion of that performance so that those lines don't overpower everything as we cannot use proper mic control.

Indeed however, such considerations are not as prevalent for other applications such as pop country (eg. Mr. Brooks) or folk/pop/showtunes/tenors (eg. Celtic Thunder - yes sir, I have BOTH their DVD's and FWIW Damien was better BEFORE he hit puberty). Llet us also be mindful of the fact that those artists you referenced are performing not only with headset mics and IEMs but also with a top-shelf FOH soundman running faders and utilizing compression/limiters, with which any such remaining issues of no mic control can be minimized or eliminated altogether for that kind of singing.

Wow, you know something? Funny enough - having said all that - I guess it depends on what kind of singing you do. Now where did I read that earlier?....

Oh and by the way, please note I also said 'be aware', as in 'be aware this could be an issue' - not "don't do it'.

Learn to {censored}ing read.

Wow, was I bitchy there -guess I shouldn't respond at nearly 3am - sorry for being bitchy, but really dude- the misplaced condescension you gave me was completely unnecessary.

While mic control is out of the window, you still have voice/vocal control. With good vocal technique it is possible to sing in any part of your range with different dynamics, adding grit etc....

Expect to practice a great deal with it before gigging with it.

agreed

In other words, you [generality, not you personally] need to learn to sing.

I'm a keyboard player as well ... and picked up a PGX headset system a couple of years ago. I quickly discovered that I liked the freedom that the headset gave me - it was nice not having to lean uncomfortably in order to put myself "on mic" and screwing up my playing in the process because my hands were at awkward angles as a result.

Like others have mentioned - you won't be employing "mic technique" to control your vocal dynamics with a headset mic. You can back up from here to Tucumcari and still be "on mic". However, being that I don't tend to change the distance between my mouth and the mic to regulate my amplified voice even when I sing with a stand mounted mic (I simply sing louder or softer as I think appropriate) - that was a big deal for me when I switched to the headset.

What I found can be an issue - is the fact that you can't ever get off mic (to cough, sneeze, talk to the drummer about chicks in the audience, yell out chord changes to the sub bass player, etc.) - unless you have a way to mute the mic. The PGX body pack transmitter has a mute feature - which works pretty well if you keep the body pack transmitter somewhere that's easy to grab.

The one thing I discovered pretty quick was that most of the money spent on the PGX wireless system is wrapped up in the body pack transmitter and receiver - and not in the microphone itself. The PG30TQT mic that came with my system can be had for less than $40 new at Guitar Center. I had problems properly positioning the mic - meaning that the "arm" of the headset didn't extend far enough leaving the microphone capsule next to my cheek and not at the corner of my mouth. Granted that's an issue of having an oversized mellon ... but still it presented an issue for me. I also found that the system had a tendency to feed back - especially if I had to lean down or do anything that got me close to my monitor.

In the end - I replaced the mic itself with a Crown CM311-AESH (keeping the PGX body pack and receiver units). The Crown is plug compatible with the PGX body pack - and wow, what a difference THAT made! It's far more comfortable, it adjusts such that the mic capsule is properly placed, it's got incredible gain before feedback characteristics. I use it all the time and absolutely love the system.

rorylawford,

Hey dude, chill! I didn't mean you personally. I should not have used the second person. It would have been better if I had said "singers" can . . ., etc., etc.

As I said in my follow up I shouldn't have got so bitchy - that's what I get for being awake at that hour of the morning. I apologize for going off.

As space says, there is some advantages too. Also you have to get used to ANY mic type: omni, dynamic, cardioid, condenser etc... So you'd might loan a few types and play with them to find out your preference.

I was a micstand guy, then converted to headset. Now I went back to stand (because my system died) and it was more trouble getting used to stand than the other way around. I still have trouble having the excact right distance and angle, and it is hard to not be able to concentrate on my guitar when playing riffs up the fretboard while I sing. In total, I feel more physical free with headset, so I'm going back again.

Only problem is that playing harmonica on stand is virtually impossible with a headset.

Another thing: I think those "telemarketing" headsets look terrible!!!! Check out DPA (4088) and countryman Isomax E6 style. Much more pro looking and discrete. The countryman is almost invisible in a few feet distance.

I have used a number of headset mics. I have been using the Crown cm311 on a wireless bodypack for about 8 years now. I play guitar, keys and drums at different times in my show, all while singing. The crown has the best feedback rejection with the best sounding mic capsule. The country man and other small side address mics are not really made for singing. That is why you usually only see them on broadway where a visible mic will ruin a costume. I personally have good voice control. There are times where I I like to belt out a note without having my compressor kick in or force my engineer to ride the mic channel. I have learned how to tilt my head back slightly to project my voice over the mic capsule instead of directly into it. At times I will also reach up and slightly pivot the capsule downward at my chin and I can sing an entire song with power. As for private conversation, there is a product called the "Cough Drop" which is basically ax XLR in to a kill switch to an XLR out. This allows you to step on the switch and kill your signal to the board to cough or talk to the band. This is also something that can easily be made yourself. All I can say is if you can't afford a crown, wait until you can. When I play harmonica or talk box, I use a second mic on a stand. One last perk is that playing a wireless guitar with a wireless headset and wireless in ear monutors allows me to go into the crowd and perform.

i know it sounds almost comical, but when I tried a friends headset mic I had problems with wind noise from my nostrils!

couldn't get rid of it, no matter how I positioned the mic. never knew how much air came out of my nose, a normal stand mic won't pick this up at all.