| Fitness headset microphones take an awful lot of | | | | then always use one. |
| abuse. We sweat, scream, and spit into them. At the | | | | Always use a neoprene transmitter pouch belt. |
| end of our class when we hit shower that poor mic is | | | | Always remove the windscreen after use. |
| still out there doing another class. We work our mics | | | | Always remove the body pack transmitter from the |
| so hard it borders on abuse. Is it any surprise we have | | | | pouch belt. |
| so many problems with them? But you can help. With | | | | Hang the mic when not in use. Do not coil or kink the |
| a little bit of care you can have of trouble free | | | | cable.Feedback (that squealing or howling sound) |
| performance from your mic system.Most group fitness | | | | occurs when the microphone is too loud, the music is |
| headset microphones for are designed to sit at the | | | | too loud for the microphone or you are too close to |
| side of your face about two finger's width away from | | | | the speakers. In most cases turning the microphone |
| the corner of your mouth, or slightly in front and to the | | | | level down or moving away from the speakers will |
| side of mouth, not directly in front as with most head | | | | stop the howling so just adjust the levels to get the |
| worn singer's microphones. This helps to avoid | | | | right mix of voice over music without the howls. If the |
| amplifying breath noises and blowing spit into the mic | | | | problem persists you may need to reposition your |
| capsule as you teach.If you need to confirm that the | | | | speakers to make sure that they are not 'firing' straight |
| mic is working after you have turned on the | | | | back at you. We also find that better quality speakers |
| transmitter and checked that the mixer and sound | | | | are less prone to feedback.If feedback persists |
| system are all set to go then, whatever you do, | | | | because of the room's architecture (full of mirrors, |
| NEVER blow into the microphone to test it!Blowing | | | | windows, a polished wood floor and brick upper walls) |
| hard into the delicate microphone capsule is the easiest | | | | or your speaker types (ie: some horn tweeters) then |
| way to damage it.A simple "test - one - two" is all you | | | | there are a selection of feedback exterminator |
| need to say and you won't risk being the cause of | | | | devices or 31 band graphic equalizers available as an |
| expensive, unnecessary repairs.After use, always | | | | add-on component that fits between the Wireless |
| remove the foam windscreen from the mic, gently | | | | Microphone Receiver and the Mixer, that will filter out |
| wipe any sweat from the mic, and remove the body | | | | those annoying squeals.When used correctly, headset |
| pack transmitter from your pouch belt. To store the | | | | microphones that were designed for group fitness use |
| system when not in use, hang the headset microphone | | | | will give you many years of trouble free service. Take |
| on a hook 1m(3ft) above a shelf for the transmitter so | | | | care of your fitness microphone and it will take care of |
| that the headset's cable is kept as straight as possible. | | | | you.Kevin Dempsey is a professional audio engineer, |
| Do not coil or kink the cable.A few simple steps: | | | | sound technician and fitness buff. He is President and |
| Don't put the mic capsule directly in front of you | | | | CEO of Fitness AV, The Fitness Audio Visual Experts, |
| mouth. | | | | the leading supplier of sound and video systems to the |
| Never blown into the microphone. | | | | fitness and recreation industry. |
| If your mic was design to use a foam windscreen | | | | |