The Best Microphone for Preaching
What is the best microphone for preaching?
I once preached a sermon that I thought was one of my best yet. But then I watched the recording.
I was horrified!
My mic popped and hissed throughout the entire message. It was distracting and embarrassing.
Has this ever happened to you?
A great sermon can be spoiled by a bad microphone.
- Feedback
- Popping sounds
- It’s so loud that it hurts people’s ears.
- It’s so quiet that people cannot hear you.
- The mic stops working and you are dead in the water.
When a mic is good, you shouldn’t notice. Your voice is clear.
But when a mic is bad, it distracts the audience and derails the sermon.
So what is the best microphone to help you preach with clarity while limiting distractions?
Here are your options…
Podium, Handheld, Lapel, or Headset?
Podium
It can be good for situations where multiple people will speak from a podium—such as a funeral or commencement ceremony.
However, it is often visible in front of the preacher. It chains the pastor to the podium because sound decreases the further away they move. And if the pastor is not staying in the same spot, head pointing towards the microphone, the sound level fluctuates.
If you want a more academic or traditional feel to your sermon, and you preach directly from a manuscript, this mic may be your preference. If so, I hear the Shure MX418D is a good choice.
Otherwise, I recommend choosing a different option.
Handheld
A handheld microphone offers flexibility for the pastor to have some control over their volume by holding the mic closer to their mouth or further away.
If a pastor likes to shout or whisper they can hold the mic further or closer for the desired effect.
Sound techs, however, often do not like handheld microphones because the pastor has too much control!
The tech may have trouble maintaining a steady volume level. If the pastor is holding it too far away, the tech will have to boost the level and risk feedback.
Handheld microphones also limit your gestures since one hand is always tied to the mic.
Although I do not prefer it for preaching, I love this microphone for other people on stage—vocalists, announcements, offering talks, communion talk, reading Scripture, or being interviewed.
It is an easy mic for people to understand, pass around, and feel comfortable with.
I recommend starting with the Shure PG58 and the dual BLX288 receiver. Shure is one of the best, most trusted brands in the business.
Lapel
You may notice that a lot of TV talk shows use this style of microphone. Why not churches?
Unfortunately, lavalier mics are not ideal for large speaking environments.
They are much easier to control in a television studio than in a live, on-stage environment like a church or concert.
Most churches have moved on from lapel mics because it is difficult to get the sound level right without feedback or excess room noise.
If you prefer a lapel mic, I have heard nice things about the Sennheiser system. But I would caution you to do your homework and make sure that this is the right microphone for you (and your speaking environment) before making the investment.
Headset
Sound techs like them because they offer clearer, fuller, and more controlled sound since they are positioned near the pastor’s mouth.
Pastors like them because their hands are free, they are wireless to move around the stage, and they deliver quality sound.
My only problem with a headset mic is that I move a lot. If not fit properly, the mic can wiggle and fall off my ear, drift from my mouth, or get too close to my face.
If not positioned correctly, you can still get feedback or plosives (the sound from air caused making “p” sounds). That is why I recommend getting one that fits over both ears (as pictured here).
If you want a top-of-the-line headset microphone, I like the Countryman H6. If you need something a bit more affordable, the Shure MX153 may be worth a look.
Note: When it comes to sound equipment you often get what you pay for. A cheaper microphone, even if it sounds alright, may not last as long as a quality mic. If you can, I suggest saving and investing in a quality mic.
These are the microphones I have either use or have been recommended by people I trust.
What microphone do you use for preaching?
I used to only use a Countryman headset, but the mic that I used is also utilized by several other ministry leaders and gets bent every which way. After so much use and abuse, no matter how many times I try to get it to stay on my head, it wanders off. Nearly a year ago, I migrated back to a handheld mic, and now I prefer it. While it can sometimes be cumbersome, it also helps me come across more real and less rehearsed. It helps me connect better with the audience, and helps me engage the audience. I may go back a headset at some point, but for now I feel like the handheld helps me engage better than the rest.
Hey Matt, thanks for your input. I can absolutely see how sharing a headset mic with multiple communicators can be hard. I’ve experienced the same problem before. Handhelds are better for sharing.
i’m using thw shure mx153 is works perfectly for preaching.
I have had some recent “bad luck” with Countrymen. I have had cables go bad rather quick and now my earset just went out (in the beginning of service). Bad night, but wanted to know if maybe these issues could be related to neglect or if Countrymen can be this delicate. I don’t keep the pastors mic, the pastor keeps his mic on him. Any thoughts? I reached out to a big church and they said they use a lapel mic, I was very surprised.
Its look unique, it can be use for concert, its elegant. Very useful advice in this particular post! It is the little changes that make the most important changes.Thanks for sharing!
shure blx288/pg58
Hey thanks for the article. I am teacher looking for a headset mic. The ones you recommend are omnidirectional which are not suitable for teaching for two reasons. 1) The room is smaller so I get screeching every time I go near the amplifier. 2) The class could get loud (It’s an elementary school) and the mic picks up the room noise and amplifies it. So, do you know of a similar headset (with a boom, no earpiece and also goes around the head) that is unidirectional ? Thanks
Hi Pro Preacher…
I’m looking for the best street preaching setup.
1) mic
+
2) speaker
Rechargeable long battery life or easy to swap
very portable
handles feedback
( Something better than a Bose S1 pro)
Thanks in advance
I was actually searching for wireless Mike info to be used in a church and found Lapel and headset interesting. Your tips seem to be helpful, thanks.
I was actually searching for WIreless mike to be used in a church, and I found Lapel and Headset type interesting. Your tips seem to be helpful, thanks
nice
A man says that Lapel will be great. Is it true? Should I go for it?