ICEinLAVA's Domain

Several decades ago (yup, it's been that long), wireless was a magical, mysterious and expensive world. Interference from truckers on CB, low flying planes and HAM radio operators was commonly feared and occasionally humorous. Forget all that, sort of...

It's true that wireless technology has become far superior in the last few years and that offshore manufacturing costs have given us some remarkable features for very few dollars. Still, there are some general issues that can make wireless audio less than a perfect investment. Having said that, the benefits still make it an irresistible upgrade to any sanctuary.

The downside in general terms is frequency saturation. With the FCC's decisions regarding DTV and some other issues, we should have ended up with more available channels in the frequency ranges we would need and prefer for wireless transmitters. However, in the not so distant future, we may find that the boondoggle of FCC regulations may in fact limit the available airwaves. This has much to do with requirements for TV to transmit both digital and analog signals for digital television, thus using twice the number of channels. And on and on and on... It will be interesting to see how this plays out, as the FCC may plan to dedicate a couple regional TV stations just for wireless use. This may or may not be useful for up to maybe a dozen wireless systems in a church or other types of fixed location use. In the meantime, always check with the FCC's Web site [ www.fcc.gov ] and/or the manufacturer to plan your frequencies around local TV channels to avoid interference (in both directions).

Oh yes, I believe there are upsides to wireless. Here we go:

In several recent renovations, cutting concrete to get a larger snake from stage to FOH was not an option, at least not a time- or cost-effective one. By adding eight wireless mics, the system requirement problem was solved for a few bucks less and with much less time spent. Of course, in this type of case, where antenna distribution was utilized, you have to consider using properly matched passive splitters and not just "T" connectors. Saving a couple dollars here will almost guarantee poor results.

If you've ever played in a salsa band, you know it's similar to some of the worship team set-ups I've seen: 12 performers on an 8- by 8-foot platform with four vocalists standing on the floor in front of you. We all love to be close to our brothers and sisters, but without the hassle of tripping over a gaggle of cables! Typically, inexpensive wireless vocal mics and wireless body packs for instruments can go a long way towards making the stage look good and a bit more flexible during performance. It's what the pros do.

I've written in the past about many churches that start out having services in movie theaters, the park and just about anyplace they can find. For most of them, getting things set up and then torn back down in a timely manner is nothing short of a weekly miracle. Eliminating a main stage snake (and having wireless personal monitors) cuts typical times at least in half! Rolling in a couple racks is sure better than rolling out a couple hundred feet of cable!

As I mentioned earlier, quality is up and price is down on many wireless systems. Of course, more features means more money. Fixed frequency wireless mics can be had for cheap, but you may simply find them lacking when you need more than one system. Frequency-agile systems cost a bit more, but $400 to $800 can buy you significant audio quality. Some systems do an excellent job of UHF frequency agility and come packaged as "combos" with both handheld and body packs or lavalier mics. If you are willing to step up to digitally encrypted transmissions and a host of other features, plan to spend more, but the difference is hassle-free professional audio.

So unplug and untangle yourself. Wireless is great, although remember to buy plenty of quality nine-volt batteries!Although most manufacturers will promise somewhere between six and 12 hours of use, be realistic about the cost of batteries and the cost of "dead air." A great job for a volunteer might be "battery management" before every service. Remember to turn those handhelds off when not in use!

Remember too that antennas don't like to be too close to each other or metal shielding of any kind. Aligning all those antennae nicely inside the metal rack may make you feel better, but don't be surprised if you get cross-talk or surprise "muting." It's best to have free space and "line of sight" to the stage when you can.

Almost every time I sell a decent wireless system to a previously hard-wired client, they want more. Even with the difficulties of planning separate frequencies and sorting out the cool features among brands, you will be tempted to faithfully become a RF user. Remember I said that and buy good equipment with frequency agile abilities.

The other plan you should consider is to pony up a few hundred dollars and get a lavalier that works. You don't need to spend thousands, but if your whole system costs $99, what exactly do you think you'll get? Properly placed lavs don't have to sound tinny or hollow or create horrific "feedback before gain" issues. Television and theatre techs have this figured out and hide mics on costumes that would never be allowed in church! I never name brands in this column, but trust me, there are a few mics that work well even for the most timid-voiced presenters or vocalists.