Tips For Using Wireless Live On Stage

Going wireless can be fun and liberating if you’ve ever found a cable to be very cumbersome and restraining. However, not every gig needs to go fully wireless. It can often be dependent on the size of the stage and other factors. A small stage that doesn’t allow for a lot of movement by the performers may not benefit from wireless as the performers are stuck standing in one place. But if you are a singer or guitar player who likes to jump around or dance around, a wireless rig would suit you wonderfully. Let’s take a look at best practices and how to prepare for using wireless at your gig.

Wireless Do’s and Don’ts

If you’re a singer and guitar player who puts your microphone on the stand while performing you might benefit from a wireless transmitter for your guitar but since the microphone doesn’t move there’s really no need for a wireless mic unless you’re trying to do away with all cables. This author uses two guitar transmitters as I am constantly switching between guitar and bass in the trio I play with. Since the instruments are always plugged in, I found cables to be constantly tangled. Wireless solves this problem but you have to take a few things into consideration before employing wireless. 

Here are some considerations to take into account before using wireless at a gig.

Before going to a gig always check your wireless for any interference during a rehearsal. If one or more band members is utilizing wireless, you really need to check your wireless together at rehearsal before the gig. You want to make sure that everyone is on separate wireless channels/frequencies. It helps to communicate with band members about wireless before coming together for rehearsal. It can save a lot of time especially if you are new to your equipment and you don’t know how to change a wireless channel/frequency. One member should make a smart phone text document with every band member listed with their wireless frequency. Once you have everybody on separate frequencies you can rehearse and listen for any interference or wireless drop out. If you experience any issues change the channel/frequency of the wireless unit experiencing the issue.

If you’ve checked everything out in rehearsal you can bring your wireless to the gig but always bring a backup cable just in case. Always be prepared. Modern wireless for guitar and microphones is reliant on 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies. These happen to be the same frequencies utilized by Wi-Fi.

You might have worked out all of the wireless separation for your band during rehearsal but when you arrive at a venue, their wireless Wi-Fi router might cause some interference. There’s no way for you to know this ahead of time. This is why it is very important to bring a cable as a backup.

If the venue has a dedicated sound engineer running the stage, ask that person ahead of time about wireless frequencies. Many digital mixers in use today utilize Wi-Fi for remote tablet or smart phone app control. It’s very important that the sound system Wi-Fi take precedent over the band wireless. If the house engineer requests no wireless be used by the band without consent, this rule should be followed. Sound system interference caused by the band would ensure the band would never be booked at the venue again.

If you experience issues early on during your first set change to a cable. I personally have a spare wireless transmitter and receiver in my gig bag. So I could quickly switch to another if needed. And then the cable is my ultimate back up should I encounter interference. Busy areas such as main street clubs, bars, and breweries are often clustered in an area with various other businesses such as restaurants. They all often offer Wi-Fi to their customers. Keep this in mind as you are attempting to use wireless in a very wireless frequency congested area. It is typical for one wireless rig to encounter problems while the rest of the band is fine. Unfortunately, it is just the luck of the draw when it comes to overlapping frequencies.

If you’re using a wireless microphone system such as Carvin’s UX1200MC, you should also have a microphone with the cable ready to go just in case you have issues with interference or low battery. And speaking of batteries if your wireless is rechargeable it is recommended to charge your wireless the night before the gig. If you charge a week before the gig you may not have 100% battery available.

Another great tip is to charge your wireless and double check after an hour or so that the wireless cables are secure, and nothing has come loose. In fact, after the recommended charge time has elapsed, I always unplug and then reconnect the wireless to the charge cables to ensure a full charge. I might be superstitious but the last thing I want is for my wireless to lose power in the middle of a gig.

If your wireless utilizes removable alkaline batteries it is always advised to replace your batteries before each gig and carry spares. if you use rechargeable batteries in place of alkaline batteries, make sure you have charged those batteries and carry spares as if they were alkaline. Also, it is a good idea to label or keep track of the age of your replaceable rechargeable batteries. They do have a limited lifespan and may not be able to last an entire gig after a couple of years. This is all dependent on how often you recharge the batteries and if they have sat uncharged for long periods. Check reviews and musician forums online for best choices of batteries for wireless.

To recap, always check your wireless batteries and charge just prior to a gig. Always check the frequencies with your bandmates before the gig. And, expect to encounter possible interference from Wi-Fi out in the world. It would be advantageous for you to make sure you have memorized how to change a wireless channel on your own rig so you can quickly and easily remedy an interference issue during a gig. We musicians often set our wireless and then forget the procedure as it’s something we don’t do very often. It can be a lifesaver if you keep the user manual in a gig bag or have it as a photo or PDF file on your mobile phone. Being prepared is the best way to alleviate potential problems before they happen and being prepared with a remedy can ensure a successful gig.

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