Wireless Microphones for Wireless Audio

Wireless microphone systems consist of various components that enable performers, musicians, speakers, content creators, interviewers, and actors to move freely in both indoor and outdoor settings without being hindered by long audio cables. These wireless audio systems are essential for capturing voices, instruments, sound effects, and ambient sounds in a wide range of situations, including news gathering, sports broadcasts, concerts, theater productions, sermons in houses of worship, conferences, weddings, and TV/video/film production. Whether you opt for a complete wireless system that is ready to use out of the box or choose individual components to upgrade or expand an existing setup, it’s vital to understand the components involved.

Wireless Microphone Systems

Every wireless system requires two main devices: a transmitter to send the wireless signal and a receiver to receive it. Typically, the wireless transmitters are placed near the sound sources, while the receivers are located near the recording device, such as a camera or mixing console. The fundamental signal flow is as follows: sound source to transmitter, transmitter to receiver, and then receiver to recorder. Complete wireless systems often include one or more transmitters, a receiver, one or two microphones, and additional accessories like cables and mounting hardware.

Wireless Transmitters

Wireless transmitters come in various form factors. The three most common types are handheld, bodypack/beltpack, and plug-on transmitters:

• Bodypack/Beltpack Transmitters:
•  These are compact, lightweight, and easy to conceal, making them simple to attach to subjects with supplied belt clips. However, bodypack/beltpack transmitters are not microphones themselves; they usually have mic input jacks to connect to a microphone, line-level signal, or musical instrument via an appropriate cable.

- Handheld Transmitters: These combine a wireless transmitter with a microphone capsule, effectively creating a cordless microphone.

- Plug-On Transmitters: Designed to connect directly to an XLR microphone or a 1/4-inch instrument, these are ideal for setups such as news gathering or wireless guitar systems.

Wireless Receivers

Wireless receivers come in various styles and are responsible for receiving the signal from the transmitter and routing it to outputs that connect to recording devices. Common receiver types include portable camera-mount, tabletop, rackmount, and plug-in models. Videographers using DSLR cameras or camcorders typically choose camera-mount or plug-in receivers, while smartphone vloggers and content creators prefer portable options. Live event engineers often opt for tabletop or rackmount receivers. 

Receivers can be single-channel, working with one transmitter at a time; two-channel, allowing simultaneous reception from two transmitters; or quad-channel, supporting up to four transmitters per receiver.

Microphones for Wireless Systems

In addition to handheld wireless microphones, there are several other types of microphones that can be used in wireless systems. Many of these microphones connect to wireless transmitters via cables. For example, a lapel mic, or lavalier mic, is a small microphone that clips onto the subject's clothing. A "wireless lavalier microphone" is essentially a lapel microphone designed to connect to a wireless transmitter.

When you watch a TED Talk presenter or a guest speaker at a conference, you’ll often see them using an earset or headset wireless microphone. An earset wraps around one ear, while a headset goes around both ears. Both types feature a small microphone capsule on a boom that positions the microphone element close to the speaker's mouth.