Communication is important! The ability to communicate the message and vision to our attenders and children is one of our highest priorities. Microphones help us accomplish this by amplifying the communicators voice so it can be heard. Microphones are also our most commonly broken piece of equipment. Every year we spend several thousands of dollars repairing and purchasing replacement microphones. It is very important that we take pride in caring for our microphones!
You will find 2 types of microphones in Loop and Konnect; handheld wireless microphones, and headsets (headset and wireless beltpack). Let's discuss the different mic choices and their components.
Handheld microphones, or "Handhelds" are the most common wireless mic on our campuses. There are a few components to be aware of.
Antenna
The antenna is the most fragile component of the handheld microphone. We replace countless handhelds because the antenna is not properly cared for. Here are some actions to avoid when handling or storing the handheld:
- Never hold or handle the microphone by the antenna.
- Never store the microphone in a way that will put pressure on the antenna
- If the antenna feels loose or wobbly, submit a ticket to Central Tech for repair or maintenance
Capsule
The capsule is the component of the microphone that a communicator speaks in to. It is more resilient than the antenna but can still have issues. Issues usually occur after the microphone has been dropped and landed on the capsule. The capsule grill may dent, or the connection between the handle and capsule could be compromised.
There are mic clips installed on the walls in the booths. Please store the handheld microphones in the mic clips. The most common issue we see, is the handheld laid on the counter and it eventually rolls of the counter and hits the floor. Storing the handheld in the provided mic clip will prevent many issues.
Headset microphones are great for communicators who need to have their hands free. We see headsets used more in Konnect than Loop, as Konnect is typically more active and hands on for the leaders. Let's talk about the components.
Headset
The headset has a capsule attached to a flexible microphone boom, a windscreen, 2 ear rests, and a cable that connects to the beltpack transmitter. There are 2 things to be aware of when handling the headset.
- The windscreen is the fuzzy cover that goes over the microphone capsule. This prevents loud plosive noises like your breath, and hard consonances (T, P, B, S, etc.). Please keep the windscreen on the microphone!
- The cable is another fragile piece. It is important to makes sure there are no knots in the cable and that the connector is in good shape and handled with care.
Beltpack Transmitter
The beltpack transmitter has an antenna, power button, mute switch, and a belt clip. Here are a few things to be cautious of:
- Do not let the antenna bend
- Do not sit on the beltpack unit
- Do not carry the pack by the antenna or headset cable
- Do not take the beltpack in the bathroom with you, bad things happen... (yes we are speaking from experience!)
- Disconnect the headset when not in use
Hopefully this article will help you maintain and care for the microphones in LifeKids. If you notice any of the above issues with a microphone, please submit help desk ticket to the Central Tech team.