Mics?

In certain situations they expect you to have a wireless microphone or 2. Some will ask if you have one. It's a great tool to have when needed. It depends on the situation you're in, type of event you're doing and what the client wants.

Let me I highly recommend you get and use a wireless microphone. As Sawdust said, you don't want wires all over the place leaving people having to step over wires, getting tangled up in the wires and risking someone getting hurt by tripping over a wire and falling. Now if you can't for the time being afford a wireless microphone then do what you have to do. Now as soon as you can afford to get one, I say get one.

Also for certain events it makes you look more professional. In some cases it's necessary because you don't want someone having to walk around having to maneuver around a cord.

SemiRetired DJ said:

My thought is, why not just go back to wired?

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I always have a wireless set up, but that gets used for toasts and speakers. The mic I use personally is hard wired to my system. But I'm not a wander around the room kind of MC unless I really need to be in most cases. But there are certainly strong wireless solutions on the market if you want to work that way.

I'd rather find the gear to fit your style than change your style to fit the gear.

Albatross said:

I always have a wireless set up, but that gets used for toasts and speakers. The mic I use personally is hard wired to my system. But I'm not a wander around the room kind of MC unless I really need to be in most cases. But there are certainly strong wireless solutions on the market if you want to work that way.

I'd rather find the gear to fit your style than change your style to fit the gear.

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For toasts, I ditched the wireless several years ago. I put up that Shure 55 for toasts. They love it and no more of bridesmaids sticking the mic at the belly button or them walking in front of my speakers.

I say it's a tool to use when needed. Scouts model, be prepared. You never know when it will come in handy. Then you can't use what you don't have.

Used to never scan
Now have to scan for clearest channel every show
It's getting crowded

Like many of you, I only use the wireless for toasts and speeches.
My wired mic sits on a short gooseneck, mounted to my rack.
But I do scan for a clear channel every gig.
(mainly because I am never in the same neighborhood)

Wireless all the way. Buy once, cry once and you won't have dropouts, even several hundred feet in a crowded RF environment. If I can get away with it here in LA, anyone can as I am dealing with very limited channels.

QLXD or ULXD. Done.

Last night's wedding:

My gtd in the 500 something range, alto stealth in the 500 range, donners (x2) for lighting, and preacher brought an audio technica wireless headset-up - so that's a LOT of wireless stuff going on - zero issues. And no fiddleing to get any of it working either.

The only issue I ever have is the occasional LOS with the alto setup, particularly if it's in another room. I've used it the last 2 weekend's weddings due to where they put me and teh layout of the room...dance floor in the middle and me off in some corner.

The GTD mics are the cheap ones...I like they way they sound myself, but a groomsman sung the first dance song, first time someone singing on them, and it sounded pretty good.

rickryan.com said:

For toasts, I ditched the wireless several years ago. I put up that Shure 55 for toasts. They love it and no more of bridesmaids sticking the mic at the belly button or them walking in front of my speakers.

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I think this is the way to go for social occasions because not only do you have more control over mic position, but also mic type and style. On the client side it makes a very clear point of focus and formal visual presentation which is often lacking when people become too comfortable or lazy with a wireless.

Setup that cable and mic before people arrive so we're not dragging a cable behind us. Treat it like a podium that is either already in place or need only be moved a few feet into position when needed.

Have a separate mic to use from the DJ position, leaving the other one for toasts or presenters. You can even incorporate the toast mic into your music program by letting a guest make their own dedication as you play their request.

That being said, I have to run multiple wireless for corporate events so, inventory and frequency allocation aren't my issue - but neither is the half mile of cable at those events (some of it 10 gauge) so, the thought of 50, 100, or even 200 feet of mic cable to coil at the end of a DJ gig doesn't phase me at all.

TES3S said:

Wireless all the way. Buy once, cry once and you won't have dropouts, even several hundred feet in a crowded RF environment. If I can get away with it here in LA, anyone can as I am dealing with very limited channels.

QLXD or ULXD. Done.

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I don't recommend ULXD for a DJ. You'll be paying for network interoperability that you'll never use.

For DJs with premium events and clientele QLXD is a better choice, but only if wireless is critical to your performance style. Even a used QLXD will run about $800 (New $1,400) . This is not a mic you want to be handing to drunk adults or a 13 year bat-mitzvah girl doing her Miley Cyrus sing-a-long.

Pick the mic based on the nature of the use. If reliability is critical to getting paid, then spend accordingly. If not, then spend only as much as your intended use requires. For a DJ that never leaves his booth, wireless is wholly unnecessary so, start with that and assess each variation of what's required. Up to 30Ft a PGX or BLX would work perfectly fine, ULX or SLX analog after that, etc.

I don't recommend GLX or any of the similar mics. They are toys that are easily broken and because users typically over-extend themselves in application, when they fail they will will fail in a big conspicuous way. Also, these mics don't sound good at all - and if you think they do - it's time to get a better mixer or better speakers because the mic is not the thing shaping your sound.

Proformance said:

I don't recommend ULXD for a DJ. You'll be paying for network interoperability that you'll never use.

For DJs with premium events and clientele QLXD is a better choice, but only if wireless is critical to your performance style. Even a used QLXD will run about $800 (New $1,400) . This is not a mic you want to be handing to drunk adults or a 13 year bat-mitzvah girl doing her Miley Cyrus sing-a-long.

Pick the mic based on the nature of the use. If reliability is critical to getting paid, then spend accordingly. If not, then spend only as much as your intended use requires. For a DJ that never leaves his booth, wireless is wholly unnecessary so, start with that and assess each variation of what's required. Up to 30Ft a PGX or BLX would work perfectly fine, ULX or SLX analog after that, etc.

I don't recommend GLX or any of the similar mics. They are toys that are easily broken and because users typically over-extend themselves in application, when they fail they will will fail in a big conspicuous way. Also, these mics don't sound good at all - and if you think they do - it's time to get a better mixer or better speakers because the mic is not the thing shaping your sound.

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I totally disagree with buying gear based on what someone is willing to pay you. I say buy quality gear that will get the job done right, That will work well for many years and sound great. It's not about how well a job you do but the gear you use counts as well. Even though when someone compliments you they are also without realizing it complimenting you on the gear you're using to do the event.

Just charge the amount that you do and don't base the price on the gear you use. The thing is to buy serious professional quality gear so that the quality of your show isn't suffering. Thus in turn that can help with other people highly reccommending you to do aan event or someone at the event you're doing wanting to see if you're available to do an event for them or someone else they know. Of course it helps if you know what music to play at the event and when to play what as well. That comes as you gain experience. Just like knowing what gear to buy takes experience. Now my experience is if you're just getting started in most cases you're going to make mistakes in terms of the gear you buy. Just learn from your mistakes and improve on things as you keep moving forward if you plan on staying in business doing this.