How to prevent microphone handling noise? Sennheiser ew1 845 wireless.

[Bruce Watson]

[Victor Osaka] “I’ve searched high and low for a solution to eliminating or suppressing the noise I get from audience members handling the mics.”

Perhaps because you’re using a mic that’s not designed for the duty you are using it for? Why are the mics being passed around, why are they hypers, has the audience had any microphone training?

The general use case for handing a random person a mic for them to speak into is an omni reporter’s stick mic. Typically an EV RE50N/D-B in North America or a Sennheiser MD 42 in most of Europe. These mics are omnis (much less handling noise), have internal suspension systems (even less handling noise), sound great, are amazingly sturdy, and as dynamic mics are low sensitivity (low audience noise, and no need for phantom power). The added bonus with an omni is that having the talent go way out of pattern doesn’t much matter and doesn’t require much if any repair in post.

The problems with non-omni mics is that the talent usually has no idea how to use them, so they don’t hold them in the right location (proximity effect, out of pattern), don’t keep them in the same location (variable proximity effect, going out of pattern simply by twisting the mic), and don’t address them properly in the first place. Then there’s the problem of holding the mic in one place while they turn their head every which way (going wildly in and out of pattern). Way too much work in post, and usually a sub par result.

Finally, if you can get away with using a cable you’ll save yourself a bunch of money and a bunch of trouble. No wireless system can sound as good as a $20 USD XLR cable, wireless is way more expensive, and wireless is way less reliable.