If you are looking for conference microphone systems (also known as push-to-talk mic, discussion or conferencing systems) and are not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. We know this can be a tricky subject, so we’ve put all the necessary information on one page.
The most common applications for conference microphone systems are:
In plain English, conference mic systems are a type of audio equipment that enable meeting participants to hear and be heard by each other.
Imagine a 20-member city council sitting around a table, with an additional 100 audience members watching. With a group of this size, it is impractical to pass a microphone between speakers. It would slow things down to the point of chaos.
That’s where the conference mic system comes in.
In a typical conferencing setup, each participant has a personal (gooseneck style) microphone unit. This lets them speak to the other attendees and listen to others through a small speaker. The chairman of the meeting has a special unit with controls for volume, mute (to recognize speakers or cut off those whose time has expired), voting features, and so on.
The ultimate goal of conference microphone systems is to bring the efficiency of a small meeting to a larger setting.
Accessibility: Makes it easy for a wider group of speakers to participate in the meeting and allows a larger audience to follow the proceedings (either as passive listeners or after the fact via recordings).
Saves Meeting Time: Eliminates the need for speakers to constantly trade microphones, as each speaker has a personal mic. This stops needless time wasted fumbling with microphones between speakers, (or awkwardly trying to get a mic back from a speaker who has gone on too long). It is always clear who is speaking because each microphone has a light that illuminates when on.
Enables Language Interpretation: With multi-lingual groups, conference microphone systems are often used with simultaneous interpretation equipment. The individual mics allow the floor feed to be sent directly to the interpreter, so that he/she has a clear audio signal to translate.
Improves Meeting Flow: The system’s mute, volume and voting controls allow the Chairman to discreetly control the meeting, recognize participants, and call to order as necessary.
Aesthetics: The sleek and polished appearance of the systems signals professionalism and respect for all participants. By giving each speaker a personal microphone, it also shows a commitment to valuing each person’s voice.
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Key Terms for Understanding Conference Microphone Systems
A few pieces of lingo are essential to understanding these systems:
Chairman / Chairman Unit:
This is the person running the meeting. He/she can recognize speakers,alert them when their time is up, and organize voting. For this reason, the chairman has a special mic called the Chairman Unit with additional features like muting speaker priority to direct the discussion. These push-button features are simple to use and help the speakers focus on working with the group.
Delegate / Delegate Unit: Refers to all other participants in the meeting who are not the chairman. The delegates each have their own microphone, called a Delegate Unit. These units typically have a push-to-talk button, volume control, voting buttons (optional), and a light that illuminates when the mic is live.
Central Control Unit (CCU): This is the central piece of equipment that controls (and powers, if wired) all the individual microphone units. It also mixes the mic feeds, distributes target language feeds, and powers the voting functionality. Some central units also feature built-in recording capability.
Floor Language: The main language spoken by participants at a given time.
Target Language(s): The language in which each delegate hears the speech. It can also be called the translation feed. When the audience is diverse enough to need multiple target languages, this can be provided through multiple interpreters using the same system. The rest of the interpreting process remains exactly the same.
Simultaneous Interpretation: A type of translation where the interpreter listens to the floor feed through headphones while translating orally to the target language in real time. This is a highly demanding job. The interpreter must listen, mentally translate, and speak their translation all at once, with no time to check outside resources. For more information, see our resource page on translation equipment.
Ease Of Use: These systems aim to increase the efficiency of your meeting so the equipment must be easy for participants to use. No use investing in the equipment if participants can’t use it! So it is critical for the controls (volume, push to talk, on/off light) to be instantly understood by users.
Number of Participants: The number of users must be known to select the right number of delegate mic units. Most CCUs can accommodate 80-120 delegate units, so in cases of very large groups, the number of users can affect the number of central control units needed.
Sound and Signal Quality: Older model systems use an analog audio signal, but most modern systems have gone digital for increased audio quality, lighter weight, and more signal processing and recording options.
Venue: Your event location will determine if you need a wired or wireless system. If you are using infrared interpretation gear, it’s also important to maintain a line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver, as IR signals cannot penetrate walls. Other audio equipment (eg recording equipment) that you are using on site can also play a role in this decision.
Advanced Features: Conference Microphone systems are becoming more advanced with special features, so consider whether you will need:
We partner with Listen Technologies to offer the highest quality systems on the market. The systems we offer come in two flavors: wireless and wired. Here’s an overview of the two systems:
Wired Conference Mic Systems
Key Points
Setup, Operation and Maintenance
The system is extremely easy to set up and use. A digital CAT5 cable carries signals between the CCU and the mic units. Delegates press a button to begin speaking, and a light appears for the chairman and the delegate to show the delegate’s desired to talk. Chairman Unit includes a button to allow discussion, granting permission for a delegate to speak to the group. Ongoing maintenance of devices is minimal; and they are simple to clean.
Technical Notes
Wireless Conference Mic Systems
Key Points
Setup, Operation and Maintenance
The wireless conference mic system eliminates the need for complex mixers, sound systems, and cables. Simply ensure that the delegate and chairman units are charged (approx. 90 minutes) and power up the CCU to begin operation. Devices have feedback reduction technology that simplifies on-site operation.
Technical Notes
Li-Ion batteries operate over 28 hours continuous use on a full battery charge.Monitor charge and battery life with LED status indicator. Battery charging time is approx. 90 minutes.
Listen Technologies: TEHQ is an authorized dealer for this leading global supplier of professional audio equipment. Visit their website for full details on their product line, technical specs, and service offerings.
Meeting Professionals International: A top international organization for meeting and conference planning pros. Visit their website for info on local chapters, professional development opportunities, and other events.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Relacart.
Audio Technica’s Mic Selection Guide: A useful guide to the different types of microphone (eg condenser, unidirectional, etc) and the pros and cons of each.
Questions? Need A System Quote?
If any other questions arise that are not addressed here, or want to discuss a custom package to meet your organization’s needs please call me toll free at:
(877) 817-
or :
Hi – I’m Will and I started this company to help you find the best simultaneous translation / interpretation equipment for your organization.
If you need a sales quote, are looking for an audio product you don’t see on the site, or have any other questions just drop me a line.
I usually respond within 30 minutes during business hours (EST).
Call: (877) 817
Or :
Note: All equipment we sell is for interpretation using a LIVE human interpreter/translator. There is nothing that I know of that exists now that is able to produce a good quality audio translation without a human interpreter.
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There are different kinds of microphones in the market for conferences or presentations; some are designed to connect to a wireless bodypack and some such as the push to talk ones require a control unit. For this article, we've made a selection of the best devices currently available for each setting, as well as a brief description of each one with its features and highlights. Hopefully, this article will help you decide which microphone is the most appropriate one for your needs. Let's get started.
The Enersound MIC-400 is a professional miniature ear set microphone designed to work together with most wireless transmitters. It is ideal for speech and any application requiring minimal visibility such as conferences and speeches, it can connect to most bodypacks due to its multiple versions with different plugs. Its outstanding voice clarity, and comfortable over-the-ear design, makes it the ideal choice for live sound amplification, corporate events, houses of worship, audiovisual presentations, theaters, among other applications. Its detachable cable allows for easy replacement on site.
The DU-300 Delegate Unit enables participants to engage in a discussion by speaking through a microphone. It can be activated or deactivated by pressing the microphone ON/OFF push-button. Participants can listen to the discussion through the internal loudspeaker or the external headphone. When the microphone is active, an LED ring lights up to visually indicate the microphone ON status. Delegate units can be connected to one another or to a chairman unit through the attached single cable. The last microphone unit in the series is connected to the control unit to complete the loop.
The CH-300 Chairman Unit features a “priority button,” which enables the chairperson to control the discussion by temporarily or permanently overriding and deactivating all active delegate units.
The DU-300 and CU-300 microphone units must be used together with the Enersound CU-300 system Control Unit, which together make up the Enersound CS-300 Conference System. This is a highly flexible and customizable system expandable for up to 150 units.
Buy CS-300 Conference Microphone System
Audio-Technica’s Series handheld microphone is a very affordable, high-quality 10-channel frequency-agile UHF wireless system. Some of the applications include MI/live performance, fixed installation, public address, A/V rental houses and places of worship. Other features in the second generation include two available frequency bands, switchable antenna power, optional ATW-CHG2 two-bay recharging station to recharge NiMH batteries in two ATW-T220a handheld transmitters and/or ATW-T210a UniPak® transmitters in any combination.
Buy Audiotechnica Handheld Mic
The Enersound MIC-500 is a professional miniature headset microphone designed to work together with body pack wireless transmitters. It is ideal for speech and any application requiring minimal visibility and improved gain before feedback over lavalier microphones. Its outstanding voice clarity and comfortable design make it the ideal choice for live sound amplification, corporate events, houses of worship, audiovisual presentations, among other applications.
Available configurations:
The ADN-W D1 wireless delegate unit offers excellent speech intelligibility and ease of use. Powered by the exchangeable ADN-W BA battery pack, the unit offers more than 20 hours operating time. The delegate unit features a microphone key that functions either as an on/off switch or as a request-to-speak button. The unit is equipped with a high-performance broadband twin loudspeaker system for decentralized sound reinforcement. A screw-on microphone socket is provided to connect a super-cardioid ADN-W MIC gooseneck microphone (available in different lengths and frequency responses). These microphones require a ADN CU1 Control Unit to work as a system.
The ADN-W C1 wireless chairman unit features a Next key to grant speaking privileges and a Priority key to deactivate all active conference units.
The ADN-W D1 and ADN-W CI are part of the Sennheiser ADN Wireless Conference System. There is also a wired option.
The LAV-100 is a professional, metallic, lapel clip microphone with excellent audio quality, and a small, exquisite metal collar clip. It comes with a 4 ft (1.2 m) cord to connect to body pack transmitters. Its black aluminum body and metal clip make this a very durable and elegant microphone. The LAV-100 capsule has a directional pattern so that it can best respond to sound from the front, while rejecting sound that arrives from other directions. It is the best choice for speakers who need to disguise the use of a microphone. Unlike traditional handheld microphones, the LAV-100 can be attached to a person’s clothing. Each LAV-100 microphone comes with a windscreen.
Available configurations:
Raise your voice. High flexibility for those willing to go a step further. XS WIRELESS grows with your demands by offering an intuitive LCD display for more manual options and 12 compatible channels in a stable UHF band, withstanding tougher live stage conditions. The XS WIRELESS VOCAL SET is an easy to use all-in-one wireless system for singers and presenters.
The XSW 2 series has a handheld microphone version as well as a bodypack version to connect a wired microphone.
TeamConnect Wireless (TC-W) is the first wireless professional audio solution for remote conferencing with up to 24 people in unequipped rooms and seamless integration of smart devices. TeamConnect Wireless by Sennheiser is the first, go-anywhere, wireless audio-conferencing solution offering incredible ease of use. Anyone can set up a professionally sounding conference in any room or table arrangement. Comprising of four stylish, wirelessly connected satellite units, TeamConnect Wireless can enable conferences for up to 24 people, offering NFC assisted Bluetooth pairing for use with smart devices. Wired connections are also possible via USB and jack cable for high flexibility.
additional callers to be added with ease
transporting and charging of the four satellites
Audio-Technica's System 9 is a four-channel frequency-agile wireless system designed to provide rock-solid performance along with easy setup and clear, natural sound quality. Featuring sleek, stackable, contemporary styling, System 9 is available in handheld, headworn, guitar, lavalier and body-pack configurations. The system offers four compatible user-switchable VHF channels (169.505, 170.245, 171.045, and 171.905 MHz).
The ATW-R900 is a non-diversity, single-channel receiver with advanced dipole antenna design for extended operating range, which improves operation by providing a ground element in addition to the usual signal element. The ATW-R900 also offers volume control along with AF Peak, RF and Power indicator lights.
The System 9 series has a handheld microphone version as well as a bodypack version to connect a wired microphone.
Raise your voice. Go for XS WIRELESS 1 and rely on a solid wireless transmission with up to 10 compatible channels in a stable UHF band. The XS WIRELESS 1 VOCAL SET is an easy to use all-in-one wireless system for singers and presenters, excellent for live sound.
The set includes an intuitive stationary receiver for quick setup and hassle-free handling, as well as a vocal microphone and microphone clamp or a compact bodypack transmitter and a robust instrument cable.
All of these microphones are available for purchase in our storefront at www.conferencemicrophones.com with fast FREE shipping within the USA. If you have any questions or need assistance in choosing a microphone, we have multiple contact channels where we are ready to assist you. You can call us at -737-, send us an at or request a chat with a live representative.
For more Conference Desk Microphoneinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.