Finding the right mic that works with a particular vocalist can often make a huge difference in the sound of your show. Different makes and models of handheld mics can vary greatly in sound, and what works for one singer may not work for another. Besides the sound of the capsule itself, there are other factors to consider, such as the polar pattern and how that works with stage monitor selection and placement. And almost equally important is the mic’s on/off axis response, particularly if your vocalist tends to move around a lot while singing.
To download a copy of the Feb. 2013 FOH Buyers Guide, CLICK HERE. So you finally select just the right handheld. Once upon a time, bringing a wireless rig into the picture meant selecting from a few mic transmitter offerings from that manufacturer, which often solved the “what’s best for me?” issue. However, a growing number of wireless companies are offering interchangeable capsule options in their higher-end systems. These can open the door for nearly endless combinations of mic/transmitter pairings, from both the manufacturer itself and sometimes, third-party suppliers as well.
Unfortunately, there is no universal standard for interchangeable mic capsules, although the 1.25-inch/28-thread screw-on mounts used by Shure have been adopted by a number of companies. Yet, even so, incompatibility issues may arise, particularly with voltage requirements of various condenser capsules or when trying to interface with an older system, so it’s best to check with your manufacturer before you experiment with a mix/match system. Also various companies — such as Ambient (ambient.de) and Rat Sound (ratsoundsales.com) — also market adapters for interconnecting capsules and transmitter bodies from different makers.
That said, the options — whether within your own wireless supplier’s offerings or adding in third party products — are many, making the creation of a custom “dream” system a reality. In checking out the market, we uncovered plenty of possibilities, and present this selection of some of the available capsules on the market that might work with your rig.
