Should You Switch to a Wireless Mic?

If you’ve spent any significant amount of time on stage, you’ve become accustomed to tripping over cables. Most stages are strewn with various cables, and backstage can be an epic rat’s nest.

Vocalists who stand at the mic and croon may not mind – after all, they’re not moving around. Singers who like to use the whole stage, though, tend to tangle up. Some singers even love to get into the audience and venture all around the room – not really possible with a wired mic.

So, is it time for you to go wireless?

Reasons to go wireless

It may be obvious why a performer would want to switch to a wireless mic. First off, removing even one cable from a stage can work wonders for maneuverability.

Second, you can wander anywhere you want to go with a wireless mic, so long as you don’t induce feedback by standing directly in front of a speaker. This means dancing around, leaving the stage, even interacting with the audience, are all easy, with no tangling.

Finally, wireless just looks cool. It’s what all the big acts do, and it does lend the stage a sleek, professional look.

Wireless concerns

For some, switching to a wireless mic is a no brainer. For others, there are some valid concerns. First of all, sound quality. Some wireless mics are just not built well.

Second, interference. Inferior wireless systems can pick up interference and other signals, meaning they’re susceptible to noise and unwanted material – like local radio.

Next, range is a valid concern. If the receiver and transmitter have to be too far apart, it could mean dropouts at crucial times. General reliability is also a concern for many performers, who fear a wireless mic may not keep working during a show.

Finally, some performers just have an attachment to their particular mic. It’s that special, worn-in dynamic they’ve used for years, or that old-school look, or something intangible about “MY mic”. This may be the number one concern for many performers, especially if they’ve got a unique voice and only certain mics capture them right. After all, it can take a long time to find just the right microphone – replacing it with something else just to go wireless may not even be an option.

A new way

There’s one obvious solution to that last and most daunting concern. Instead of going with a dedicated wireless microphone, you could opt for a wireless transmitter/receiver system such as Carvin Audio’s WM5 Wireless Microphone System.

In this scenario, you’ll still use your favorite mic. All you’re really replacing is the cable. The system is really simple. Plug the transmitter into your handheld and the receiver into an input on the board. It’s got a 200-foot range, rugged construction, low noise, and peak limiting. Plus, it utilizes the 5 GHz band, which is far less crowded than the 2 GHz band, meaning less chance for interference. 

The WM5 has a 4-hour battery life – plenty for any show. And here’s the coolest part: USB charging. No more hunting for AA’s!

At the end of the day, some performers will always prefer to stick to wired mics. But if you want to get rid of the mess and give yourself some room to roam – and you don’t want to give up that tried and true mic – the Carvin Audio WM5 Wireless Microphone System is for you.

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