[HANASHIR:1604] Re: Vocal testing

[Carol Leon <cbleon...>]

I decided to reply publically because others may be interested in 
learning more about using a wireless headset, too.  I've used them for 
about 5 years.  So do most aerobics teachers.  I use mine at all my 
schools, where I'm usually teaching music in an echoey social hall, in a 
community center, and even for my Sunday morning music classe in the 
sanctuary where the acoustics are good but the microphone gives me more 
presence.  Some of my students are as young as 2 years old, so I can't 
always wait for quiet, especially at the start of the year when it's not 
unusual for one to be crying for his mommy.  Oh, and I use it at Tot 
Shabbat, too.  People get used to the Madonna/McDonald's appearance 
pretty quickly.

Mine is an Audio-Technica, which sells for under $400.  The headset is 
wired to a small battery-powered transmitter (which has an 
on/off/standby switch) and is the size of a wallet; the transmitter 
hooks onto a belt or waistband or can fit in a pocket.  I put the 
receiver somewhere else in the room.  It can be quite a distance away if 
you run it through a mixer that's close at hand to control volume, or 
you can do without a mixer and simply run the receiver directly into a 
speaker/amp. (I've got 2 different units, one a bit more portable than 
the other and each costing maybe $350-400.  Ask if you want more 
details).  Of course, if you're in a building with a built-in sound 
system, it's possible to run the receiver into the building's speaker 
system.

It seems I'm often talking or singing over the din of taped music or 
guitar or rhythm instruments or tots themselves.  Also, I've 
successfully done outdoor sing-alongs and whole-school end-of-year 
programs.  I rarely get to sit, as I do a lot of movement with music.  
Or if I'm sitting, it's generally right on the floor.  With the headset, 
I know I can always be heard without straining.  I used to use a 
lavalier system (designed to hook onto a lapel) but it wasn't as 
effective because my voice doesn't come out of my shirt!  Our synagogue 
supplements the lecturn microphones with lavaliers so the rabbis can be 
more mobile, but I really prefer the headset despite its appearance.  I 
may try my headset songleading at a service next month so I can also 
step away from my lecturn and be heard.

Quality -- it's quite good and natural-sounding.  In some rooms, I get 
occasional annoying pops probably due to some sound wave interference, 
but that's unusual.  It sounded absolutely perfect when I did music on 
the stage of a local college and used my headset with their sound 
system.  Just keep the battery fresh or you start to sound "blurry."

Any more questions? -- Carol



>Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 12:59:53
>To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>From: Rachelle Mingail Shubert <shubert (at) total(dot)net>
>Subject: [HANASHIR:1598] Re: Vocal testing
>Reply-To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>
>Carol,
>
>I am interested in knowing more about your wireless headset.  I teach
>children every day and won't sing until everyone is quiet.  This helps, 
but
>the singing in the positions I have to get into while moving or sitting 
on
>a teeny chair do lead to hoarseness eventually. I use a p.a. for my
>concerts, much to big to schlepp to a class.   Can you tell me what 
kind
>you use and what kind of quality it gives you?  You can reply privately 
if
>you like.
>
>Rachelle
>
>shubert (at) total(dot)net
>
>
>
>Rachelle Mingail Shubert
>
>CONCERTS 
>    CLASSES 
>         CONSULTING
>
>shubert (at) total(dot)net
>


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