Microphone cables can seriously limit your freedom to move. If you want the option to perform freely, a wireless microphone is your best bet. Setting up a wireless system isn't always simply plug-and-play, but fortunately, most wireless systems come as complete kits including a transmitter and receiver. They're also designed to offer intuitive use no matter who's using it.
Wireless Vocal Microphone Systems Including Receiver
A wireless microphone system consists of a microphone, a transmitter and a receiver. With wireless handheld microphones, the transmitter comes integrated in the housing of the microphone, so unlike wireless lavalier and wireless headset microphones, handhelds usually don't require a separate bodypack transmitter. That said, handheld microphones equipped with an integrated transmitter run on batteries or a built-in battery which makes them a little larger and heavier than the wired vocal microphones. Also, high-end wireless vocal microphones often allow you to swap out the microphone capsule for one with a different sound or pickup pattern.
Professional Wireless Handheld Microphone Systems
We have various affordable and user-friendly systems that include one or two wireless microphones which will be enough to get the job done if you're hosting a small gig. If you have bigger plans, however, we recommend opting for a professional wireless microphone system, where it's important to pick out a system that offers ample bandwidth and transmission power. To make extensive multi-microphone set-ups run smoothly, professional sets usually offer the option to hook everything up via a network cable. This way, you won't have to dial in every receiver separately. The system automatically assigns the channels based on the available frequencies, which in turn can often be scanned using software like the Shure Wireless Workbench app and the Sennheiser Wireless Systems Manager (WSM) app.
Wireless Microphones for Smartphones and Cameras
These days, everyone carries an excellent camera in their pocket: their smartphone. The built-in microphone of your iOS or Android phone is fine for phone calls, but when it comes to podcasts and live-streams captured using a smartphone, you'll want to look for a better microphone. A wireless handheld is perfect for interviews and we certainly have various models designed specifically for mobile devices. Here, the difference compared to standard wireless microphones is that the receiver will come with a Lightning, USB-C or stereo mini-jack port. Not only that, the transmitter and receive are both equipped with a built-in battery for maximum mobility. Want to see more? Go to our range of Wireless Camera Microphones and Android & iOS microphones.
Bluetooth Microphones for Karaoke
Wireless microphones aimed at home entertainment like karaoke generally use Bluetooth, which works fine as long as the distance between the transmitter and receiver isn't bigger than 10 metres and there are no obstacles blocking the transmission. Also, steer clear of WiFi routers since, like Bluetooth, routers also operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency band which could lead to interference.
Turning a Wired XLR Microphone into a Wireless Mic
Got the perfect vocal microphone but it comes with a cable? A snap-on transmitter can help you turn any standard XLR microphone into a wireless XLR microphone. Bear in mind that this solution doesn't work for most condenser microphones because they run on phantom power.
Frequency Asked Questions About Wireless Handheld Microphones
How do wireless microphones work?
Like radios, wireless microphone systems are based on frequency modulation (FM). That means there's always a transmitter and a receiver involved. Nowadays, most wireless microphones come as part of a complete kit, so a matching receiver and transmitter are almost always included.
Which frequency should my wireless microphone system use?
Every wireless microphone operates on a transmission frequency within a specified frequency band. Legally speaking, you can't simply use any radio frequency you'd like since some are frequency ranges are reserved for things like mobile communication or emergency services. For more information about the legal use of radio frequencies per country, head over to our Wireless Microphones and Frequencies info-page.
What's the best wireless microphone?
Before you drop any wireless microphone in your basket, it's important that you know where you'll be using the system so that you can go for the right frequency band. Also, figure out how many wireless microphone systems you're going to need and opt for a system that offers ample bandwidth for all of the microphones you're planning to run. Check out our Wireless Microphone Buyer's Guide for more information.
What's the best wireless microphone for interviews?
Any wireless microphone system that includes a transmitter and a receiver that can both run on batteries is the preferable option for interviews and reports. Browse our range of wireless camera microphones for systems that include receivers that can be mounted directly onto a video camera.
