How To Choose Microphones For Church PA Systems

When choosing the best microphones and wireless microphones for church sound systems, you need to think about what you’re going to be using them for. Obviously, you need to be able to move around freely, but if you’re one of the lucky, talented people who can sing, you’ll want a microphone that can handle spoken word as well as your vocals whilst your band backs you up. There’s a few little aspects you need to keep in mind when choosing your church microphone: will you be singing AND talking? Will you be just talking? Is there a band or are you just using a PA system with a backing track? If you get the wrong style of microphone for your set up, the results can be disastrous, resulting in unwanted feedback, limiting your movement around the stage and a myriad of different problems. Often the best option for church PA sound systems is a wireless microphone, most likely a lavalier mic, headset mic or handheld condenser microphone.

Lavalier/lapel microphone – a lavalier microphone clips on to your shirt or clothes and is best for hands free operation. Ideally used for speaking only as they tend to feed back when there is a live band playing. Headset microphones – headset microphones sit over the ear, with the receiver close to your mouth. As they are closer to the sound source (your mouth) they are ideal for spoken word and singing – especially with a live band. Hand held microphone - a hand held wireless microphone is a great all-rounder, however not as convenient as the hands free option.

There are a few key things you need to think about when choosing your microphone for your church PA system, so before rushing out and purchasing microphones, think about the following:

• How many people will be speaking?
• Will I be using more than one microphone?
• Do I need a hands-free mic?
• Do I need to buy a license for my wireless microphone?
• Will I be singing?
• Am I just speaking?
• Will I be speaking over live music?
• Will I be singing with live music or over pre-recorded music?

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the things you should think about when choosing your microphone, but if in doubt, feel free to call our expert PA team for free, no obligation advice on the best set up for your needs on 0151 448 2089. To make things a little easier, we’ve put together a little checklist to help you understand the type of microphone you might need.

OPTION 1: NO BACKING BAND – JUST SPEAKING

If you’re only going to be using a microphone for spoken word and sermons, without the use of a live backing band we feel the best microphones for church systems are the lavalier / lapel mics or a headset microphone. Each option will keep your hands free and can be controlled via the mixer as well as your body pack that will fit on your belt or on the back of your clothes. If you’re using pre-recorded music, feedback won’t be too much of a problem as the PA system will easily be able to mix your voice and any music playing through the PA from an MP3 player or CD player. If you want to be able to speak and be heard clearly without holding on to a microphone, a lavalier mic is the best option. Alternatively, you may find a headset mic is more comfortable. Best mic:

• Lavalier microphones with wireless receiver
• Headset microphones

Click here to see a selection of the best lavalier and headset microphones for churches in our our PMT Guide to Creating The Best Church Sound Systems.

If you will be speaking over a live backing band, you’ll need the right microphone for the job. Unfortunately, lavalier mics are likely to suffer from feedback as they have to work harder to amplify your voice when they’re competing with a backing band. As they’re further away from the sound source (your mouth) the sound engineer will have to turn a lav mic up which will likely cause feedback. In this occasion, a headset microphones are the best option for a church with live music as they handle vocals better and they won’t pick up as much noise around them and suffer from feedback. A great option if you want the freedom to move around stage and you don’t want to hold on to a mic. Best mic:

• • Headset microphones

Click here to see a selection of the best headset microphones for churches in our our PMT Guide to Creating The Best Church Sound Systems.

If you have the gift of being able to sing and you’ll be joining in with the band in between speaking you have a couple of options here, as there are two microphones ideal for this set up. You have the choice of either a headset microphone or a handheld wireless mic. A wireless headset microphone can handle everything from spoken word to singing, so we’d definitely recommend a wireless headset microphone rather than a lapel microphone if you’re going to join in with a backing band. However, some singers prefer to hold on to a microphone when singing. If you want to hold on to a mic, but you also want to be able to move freely around the room and across the stage, a handheld wireless microphone system is a great option in this instance. Best mic:

• Wireless headset mics
• Wireless handheld mics

Click here to see a selection of the best handheld microphones for churches in our our PMT Guide to Creating The Best Church Sound Systems.

If your Church or House of Worship is lucky enough to have a choir performing, you’ll need specialised microphones to ensure that each voice is represented accurately and your congregation feels the full effect. To achieve the best sound possible, it takes more than just picking out any choir microphone and placing it in the ceiling, but an assessment of the best area to place it in and taking into account the acoustic of the room. Best mic: 

• Hanging choir mic
• Overheard choir mics

Need help? Call us today on 0151 448 2089 to discuss the best wireless microphone systems and best mics for church and houses of worship or call in to your local PMT Store and speak to one of our Church PA system experts. Choosing the right microphones for your church PA system may seem a little daunting at first, so let our team of PA experts help you get the right option for your needs. At your local PMT store, our team are on hand to help talk you through your options whether you need a small church sound system or a larger set up. Simply call in today for free, no obligation advice and let us find the right microphones and PA sound systems for your church. We supply complete installed live sound solutions for halls, venues and churches and will ensure you make the right choice for your congregation. Check out our PMT Guide to Creating The Best Church Sound Systems for more info on audio mixers, and PA speakers for church.