Today I mixed both services at church (which I need to get a website for; I will probably have to do that legwork myself). Anyway, the early morning service went well (the pastor said so), but the later service was tougher.
It seems that the wireless mic reserved for the pastor's use -- and not used in the early morning session -- just can't cut the mustard. It's a single channel/frequency, dipole, VHF unit that I believe to be on the "budget end" the manufacturer's spectrum. Even in line of sight, there are unexplained dropouts, hissing, buzzing and all other kinds of nonsense going on -- during the sermon, when people are already nervous a tech faux paus will disrupt the flow. You can guess the reaction. People turn to look at me like "What are you doing back there?" Nothing! And that's the problem.
There's another interesting aspect of this strange device. When it would drop out and come back, you could hear feedback momentarily. Being that our church recently moved into a new (albeit temporary) location -- more floor space, but eight to 10 foot ceilings -- I noticed these things more prominently than ever. Not to mention that this mic has been in use occasionally over the last couple of years, sometimes exhibiting similar problems. You mean to tell me I've been trying to hack out feedback with the "EQ" on the mic's channel (not a good practice, but changing a philosophy that predates you takes time, effort, and money) and the mic was just making the whole thing up for no apparent reason?
I'm looking for information about dropouts causing feedback and all those tech details just for my knowledge. In the meantime, I'll began the long push for a new wireless system. Then I won't regret leaving my aspirin bottle at home, as I did today.
It seems that the wireless mic reserved for the pastor's use -- and not used in the early morning session -- just can't cut the mustard. It's a single channel/frequency, dipole, VHF unit that I believe to be on the "budget end" the manufacturer's spectrum. Even in line of sight, there are unexplained dropouts, hissing, buzzing and all other kinds of nonsense going on -- during the sermon, when people are already nervous a tech faux paus will disrupt the flow. You can guess the reaction. People turn to look at me like "What are you doing back there?" Nothing! And that's the problem.
There's another interesting aspect of this strange device. When it would drop out and come back, you could hear feedback momentarily. Being that our church recently moved into a new (albeit temporary) location -- more floor space, but eight to 10 foot ceilings -- I noticed these things more prominently than ever. Not to mention that this mic has been in use occasionally over the last couple of years, sometimes exhibiting similar problems. You mean to tell me I've been trying to hack out feedback with the "EQ" on the mic's channel (not a good practice, but changing a philosophy that predates you takes time, effort, and money) and the mic was just making the whole thing up for no apparent reason?
I'm looking for information about dropouts causing feedback and all those tech details just for my knowledge. In the meantime, I'll began the long push for a new wireless system. Then I won't regret leaving my aspirin bottle at home, as I did today.
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