The update of the analog wireless microphone systems of Latin American temples has not yet taken off, the vast majority still use analog systems.
by Eric Spata*
When upgrading audio equipment in a temple, a fundamental component that deserves careful consideration is the microphone system. Having the right microphones will allow parishioners to clearly hear every word the pastor utters and every note in the choir.
Wireless systems give speakers greater freedom of mobility, while eliminating the tangle of cables and greatly reducing assembly time for various church events. Temples that are already enjoying the benefits of wireless microphones are almost certainly using analog systems. However, when these churches decide to upgrade their equipment, there are many reasons to take the step towards a digital solution.
In Latin America, no modifications are yet being made to the UHF band used by analog microphones. However, in the coming years it is inevitable that this situation will change, and this type of band in the region will be significantly reduced as governments make room for wireless broadband services such as 4G.
Consequently, analog systems used by places of worship will become obsolete or have very restricted use. For churches that are in the process of upgrading their audio system it is sensible to invest in solutions that stand the test of the future, so that they are not affected by these restrictions. To achieve this, they must look for digital wireless systems that use the DECT communication protocol, operating in a frequency range of 1.92 GHz to 1.93 GHz.
The DECT is a personal communication space that is used without a license and is therefore protected. This guarantees churches peace of mind that their digital microphones will not be harmed by changes to the UHF band and that they will work for many years to come. However, that doesn't mean places of worship should send these analog systems into the trash can. There are many advantages to using both analog and digital wireless systems, until they can access broadband.
Analog microphones provide better audio bandwidth for singers and performers, while digital microphones are ideal for speeches. By purchasing a digital system for the pastor and other speakers, a temple can release more analog frequencies for musicians, allowing them to install the maximum number of microphones without interference.
In addition, for the convenience of church staff who are not technical specialists, digital microphones automatically switch frequencies when interference is detected. Analog microphones must be recalibrated manually, making them more appropriate for interpreters advised by experienced sound engineers.
When buying a wireless digital microphone system, there are several aspects that temples should take into account. To achieve crisp sound, they must look for solutions that offer HD audio and immunity from interference from other wireless electronic devices that will most likely be found among the congregation. In addition, the system should offer different types of microphones that can be mixed and are compatible, in order to cover a wide range of applications and adapt to the individual preferences of different users.
It is also important to consider the size of the church and how many microphones will have to be used. Digital systems are available for places of worship of any size, from very small churches to large churches with infrastructure to make transmissions.
For temples, investing in a system of digital wireless microphones allows the use of a technology that stands the test of the future and complements the analog solutions that are already being implemented in these places. And by finding the right features, they can ensure suitable, high-quality sound for any application.
*Eric Spata is director of global technical services at Revolabs, a leading provider of wireless unified communications products. To contact him, you can write to him at the following email [email protected].
