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[Ed Hall]

I have a speaker that wants a Countryman E6 headset mic. It’s in a challenging boomy environment. I’ve only used the omni elements on the Countryman line. Will I hear a difference with a directional element, more than some EQ to correct? More so than is necessary to keep the omni form feeding back.


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[brian maddox]

I have a speaker that wants a Countryman E6 headset mic. It’s in a challenging boomy environment. I’ve only used the omni elements on the Countryman line. Will I hear a difference with a directional element, more than some EQ to correct? More so than is necessary to keep the omni form feeding back.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A Countryman E6 vs some other brand of headset is going to sound different, but I assume you're aware of that.

Directional headset elements will have some proximity effect, so expect more inherent low end vs a omni element.

You will probably get a couple more dB of gain before feedback, but not as much as you would expect.

Mic position is EXTREMELY important if you use a directional element. You need to get it into the right position to avoid plosives. You MUST use a windscreen, so you have to be very aware of facial hair. And you HAVE TO  make sure that the element will not move during the presentation as the frequency response of the mic will change significantly if the element moves even the tiniest bit.

In general, unless I NEED the extra GBF [which again isn't much] and I have absolute control over mic positioning I strongly prefer an omni element.

[Tim McCulloch]

Preach it, Brother Maddox.

Ed, the voice level at the mic capsule is probably 12dB-20dB greater with the omni E6, properly placed, compared to most lavaliere mics.  It's our friend the inverse square law.  Face-worn mics come with their own unique sound that you may find annoying or you may find it controllable and besides, it still sounds better than feedback or inaudibility.

Placement is the key, even with omni capsules, but the omni are more forgiving of minor placement changes.  Directional capsules will sound very different when they move just a few millimeters.

[Helge A Bentsen]

It’s a video from DPA, but the physics apply to any brand.
Gives a nice comparison between omnis and directional mics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtq7zxI8Obk

[Ed Hall]

This is why I come here when I have a question. Informed opinions!

Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience.

[Philipp Diesenreiter]

I would always prefer directional headsets to omni ones in a live setting. Especially in boomy, reverby rooms.

While placement is important, I still get a better sound and more gain before feedback with a badly placed directional DPA than with an omni DPA.

And I witnessed several times, that engineers had to order directional headsets on a whim, because they couldn't get the desired level in the room with omnis.

[ProSoundWeb Community]