Also known as wireless microphone, a cordless microphone is a simply microphone that is not connected to its sound recording system by any cable. Rather, the microphone communicates to its sound recording system using radio waves or other wireless technology. Cordless microphones can be divided into two types: the ones used in recording equipment in studio setting, and the ones used as personal communication devices such as computers. We shall talk about both the types of cordless microphone
Different Versions of the Cordless Microphone
The first type of microphones have been used in the recording industry for more than 5 decades now. These microphones communicate with their amplifying or recording equipment using radio waves. Their primary advantage is the freedom of movement that they afford to the speaker or the artist. With the traditional microphone, the artist has to step around and over cables that connect the microphone to the audio system, which can prove awkward most of the times. What is worse, it could prove dangerous at times, with the artist always at the risk of stumbling over the cables while on the stage. These “trip hazards” are completely avoided by the use of wireless microphones.
However, there are some disadvantages to the use of radio microphones. In many stages and studios, there are many places where they microphones will not work properly due to what are called “dead spots”. The user has to be aware of such places so they can avoid going there. Another disadvantage with radio microphones is that one cannot use many of them at the same time and place. This is due to the limited number of radio channels that are available for such equipment. Despite these disadvantages, cordless microphone is ubiquitous throughout the industry due to its obvious advantages. Some top brands in these types of equipment include Sennheiser, Sony, AKG, Shure, Lectrosonics and Samson.
With the advent of the personal computer, and the multimedia capability that came with it, microphones have become a part of personal and work life of many people. Whether you wish to talk to your friend on Skype, or wish to record a video for YouTube, you will need to use a microphone. Not long ago, using a cordless microphone with a personal computer was unheard of. However, with the advent of Bluetooth and other wireless standards, nowadays it is very easy to use them for computers too.
Bluetooth Cordless Microphone
Bluetooth microphones can usually work out of the box; however, some of them may require the installation of drivers to work properly. Their biggest advantage is that they can work seamlessly across devices. For example, if you have a smartphone, you can use the same microphone with your personal computer as well as your smartphone, though not at the same time. Usually, microphones come bundled with earphones or headphones, in which case both the devices will be wireless.
Using a cordless microphone, you can move about the place without feeling tethered to a single place. You also avoid having to handle feet or yards of cable, which can be clunky in its own right. Since there is no difference in quality between a wired microphone, and a cordless one, all other things being equal, a cordless microphone is almost always a better choice among the two.