For churches seeking the best audio experience, in using podium mics, it might be time for an update.
Considering the various choices of microphones available, among the two most common alternatives: lavalier or headset microphones.
A lavalier microphone is a small microphone capsule typically attached to a speaker’s clothing, often along a shirt collar. Among the varieties available are wireless and wired models.
For headset microphones, they are typically secured over one or two ears. Being close to the sound source (a speaker’s mouth) allows them to move freely while the mic provides consistent sound.
As with any choice tied to deciding on a piece of equipment, variables exist that can guide that final decision.
Among the most important aspects are PA positioning and expertise within your audio tech team. For example, if the team is mostly volunteers, asking them to expertly eliminate frequencies to limit feedback, may be problematic. In addition, depending on speaker placement in the worship space, feedback concerns can result in a narrowing of your choices. Especially if your space is featuring floor monitors, where an omnidirectional lavalier would probably cause an array of headaches.
Upon also understanding the challenges within your environment, it may very well dictate selecting an omnidirectional or cardioid microphone. With an omnidirectional microphone, it will pick up sound from its surroundings equally. For a cardioid mic, they’re designed to reject sound from the capsule’s rear, along with some sound from its sides.
And then there’s the most logical variable: cost. Not all lavalier mics are created equal, and the same holds true for headworn mics. Expecting the same performance from a $50 lavalier, as achieved by a $300 model, for example, will most certainly disappoint. Even when the two models are from the same manufacturer.
Accounting For Taste
When deciding on either a headworn or lavalier microphone, the captured sound quality should be an overriding factor – but it’s hardly the only factor.
As noted by Debbie Keough, production manager for Water of Life Community Church in Fontana, California, from her experience, “When it comes to the ladies, it’s difficult to wear their favorite earrings and a headset. In that special case, (lavaliers) work really well.”
Nathan Williams, former executive director of technology for Victory Church in Atlanta agreed on an appearance benefit. “A lavalier will be more inconspicuous; you don’t notice it as much,” he said.
In a similar fashion, Golden Preciado, training and house of worship specialist for QSC added, “someone may prefer what it looks like in a picture.”
To satisfactorily implement lavaliers, though, optimal placement must consistently be factored in. “I recently did a corporate event, where everyone wore lavaliers,” noted Preciado. “I was in charge of mic’ing up the presenters. The front of house engineer would listen for optimal placement. In terms of their clothing (and clipping the lavalier), I had to make it work.”
On the choice of either a headset mic or a lavalier for a church, Keough, Williams and Preciado were in agreement. Each suggested a headset mic as the better choice. Kirk Denson, production development director at Willow Creek Community Church in Aurora, Illinois, also was on board, adding, “headset mics are the way to go these days.”
Nonetheless, if your church opts for lavaliers, a few lavalier models were highlighted as quality performers.
“Among the Shure lavalier mics, one stands out,” explained Keough. “There is the MX183 (the omnidirectional version), and the MX185 (the cardioid one).” Keough also touted DPA, for its lavaliers built around its 4060 CORE capsule. “They’re expensive, but they’re really good in quality,” she added.
In Most Cases, Headset Mics Prove Better Option
Given the option of a headset mic or a lavalier, what made their preference so one-sided? Among the benefits of a headset mic, explained Denson, is “getting the mic as close to the cheek.” In so doing, “you can avoid popping p’s and wind noise.”
Much of how that’s achieved, Denson added, “with a headworn mic, the mic follows their head.”
Because of the mic’s close proximity to the source, Keough explained a headset mic offers additional flexibility. Using an omnidirectional lavalier, she said, “will pick up a lot of ambient sound.” With an omnidirectional headset, “it’ll be closer to the mouth, getting a more direct sound.”
An audio engineer with expertise can bridge the gap somewhat, but that requires having someone like that on your team. “You can raise the direct source, and minimize the ambient noise,” said Williams, but expecting that of a volunteer can be a rather high bar.
Even with headset mics, optimal placement should be accounted for. “It’s important to adjust the boom,” explained Preciado. “Men with short beards make more noise. You need to angle the boom out from the hair and angle the boom’s end back in toward the mouth.”
Among the headset mic models lauded by Denson and Preciado, were two by DPA. “At Willow Creek, we used the DPA 4088 or 4488,” said Denson. “You can get each color coordinated, to one’s skin tone.”
Aside from DPA, they cited another brand and model that’s been a staple for over a decade, the Countryman E6. If concerned about the headset mic shifting too much when moving, Keough recommended the more secure two ear-loop Countryman H6.
Another headset mic suggested by Keough, THOR’s Hammer SE line. “They make a very decent headset, if you need to keep to a lower budget,” she noted.
Choosing the Right Fit, Omnidirectional or Cardioid
Upon choosing whether to upgrade with a headset mic or lavalier, another decision must be made. Whether to go with an omnidirectional or cardioid microphone.
Having a good understanding of your space and what you want the microphone to accomplish will go a long way toward making that selection.
Based on how much space you have on stage will play a role. “If you have more spacing from the speakers, omnidirectional is fine,” said Williams. “If you don’t have much space between the PA (and the mic), a cardioid would be well advised.”
If doing a livestream of your service, and you want the live feed to sound more like being in the room, an additional audience mic would make sense. If such an item isn’t something in the plans for now, choosing an omnidirectional mic on stage would help. With such a mic, it will pick up some ambient crowd noise, providing some of that “being there” feeling.
If the space’s PA system is configured where its sound largely avoids the stage, “you can get away with an assortment of mics. Your PA’s positioning will determine a lot of your choice,” added Keough.
Another key factor when choosing cardioid over omnidirectional, noted Williams, is avoiding cringe-inducing microphone feedback.
“Typically, with a lavalier, it’ll be an omnidirectional, and tends to have feedback faster than a headset mic,” he said.
What other equipment will be on stage with the pastor’s headset mic? Taking that into account is significant. “You don’t want an omnidirectional if you’re running floor monitors, and are folding in the pastor’s mic on stage,” Denson noted. “Otherwise, you’ll be fighting feedback at that point.”
As Keough explained, “it will be really difficult to combat feedback (with an omnidirectional), if your PA is covering where the speaker is presenting.”
Can’t Decide? Can a Headset Mic and Lavaliers be Used Together?
Recognizing the advantages and disadvantages of a headset mic and lavalier, being locked into one type shouldn’t be a given.
As described by Williams, “If you can use a headset, I would use it. If the organization has the financial backing to purchase enough headsets for each speaker, that would be ideal.” At the same time, he acknowledged, “if finances are an issue, a combination of headsets and lavaliers is acceptable.”
Running such a mic combination, though, Preciado cautioned again that it would require a skilled audio engineer to work with. “You will hear a difference between the headset mic and the lavalier mic. It will be up to the sound engineer to match them,” she said. “Most volunteer sound people haven’t had the sound training to work on that.”
If your team has that expertise, there are various tools featured on many audio mixing consoles, improving the overall sound. Among them include an auto mixer, also known as a Dugan mixer, that a tech team member can use. With working knowledge of such tools, many of the issues that can arise from mixed-use setups can be significantly rectified.
Andres Caamano is a writer and editor with nearly 20 years’ experience, including over four years bringing attention to the latest news in audio, video, and lighting technology for houses of worship.
