Speak and Be Heard
Whenever the need arises for any kind of audio amplification, it’ll also involve using a microphone.
Whether the system you’ll be talking into is permanently installed in the room or portable, you’ll need to decide whether a handheld or hands-free microphone best suits your presentation needs. If the situation is such that you’ll need to understand more about the individual functions, read our series how PA systems work. If however all you need to do is talk into the mic, know there are a couple of different choices.
Microphones come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Selecting between one versus another can simply be a matter of comfort or aesthetics and ensuring they are able to communicate properly with whichever speaker you are utilizing is of utmost importance. Califone offers portable speakers such as the PresentationPro™ and those in the PowerPro™ line of speakers that have 16 different UHF channels to choose from for wireless operation. If you’re the type of person who is more at ease holding a microphone in hand while talking, then a handheld wireless microphone may be best for you (read more about how to use a wireless mic). Its built-in transmitter allows for 16 channels that can be set to the same channel on a UHF speaker.
Hands-free mics used with the beltpack transmitter (M319 not shown) from left to right: CM319, OE319, NM319, HBM319, LM319
Are you more of a hands-free presenter? No problem. There are five, lightweight hands-free microphone options that you can tailor to your desired comfort. The catch is that each of the hands-free microphones must be connected to a beltpack transmitter, which is the device that communicates with a UHF speaker through 16 UHF channels. Do you feel more relaxed having a headset microphone or a clip-on lapel microphone? Regardless of which you select, whether it’s an over ear, neck or collar microphone, using these will provide you with the comfort and flexibility throughout your presentation so you can remain calm, feel confident, project your voice and be focused on the content of your speech.
Learning how to use each of these microphones correctly in conjunction with a UHF PA system is simple. With the different microphone styles available, it is a cinch to match the handheld or the beltpack transmitter to the same UHF channel on a PA system and carry on with your presentation, speaking out to the crowd effortlessly and successfully.
