Best microphone setup for an audience using a MacBook
October 14, 2016 12:05 PM Subscribe
I will be running a quiz in a room with no PA system. I have a MacBook Pro and a reasonable bluetooth speaker - will a combination of that and simple USB microphone broadcast my voice to the far reaches of the room?
It's not a huge room, and I'm not expecting more than 5 or 6 teams of 6 people. I'm picturing that I can buy a USB microphone, plug it into the laptop and by activating the link with bluetooth speaker I can use it in the middle of the room to help my voice reach that little bit further. Will a microphone meant for use with applications like Skype play through the laptop speakers in the way I want? What's my ideal setup?
It's not a huge room, and I'm not expecting more than 5 or 6 teams of 6 people. I'm picturing that I can buy a USB microphone, plug it into the laptop and by activating the link with bluetooth speaker I can use it in the middle of the room to help my voice reach that little bit further. Will a microphone meant for use with applications like Skype play through the laptop speakers in the way I want? What's my ideal setup?
Response by poster: Probably about 20m by 10m. 30 people at tables would fill it.
posted by jontyjago at 12:55 PM on October 14, 2016
posted by jontyjago at 12:55 PM on October 14, 2016
Unless your bluetooth speaker is the size of a PA speaker, it's not going to be enough for that large a room. You without the speaker might actually be louder.
posted by zippy at 1:17 PM on October 14, 2016
posted by zippy at 1:17 PM on October 14, 2016
You're better off renting a small PA and microphone.
posted by SansPoint at 1:39 PM on October 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by SansPoint at 1:39 PM on October 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
30 people can make a lot of racket, and more if they're drinking.
This won't be any help, seconding Sanspoint that you should look into renting a mic and small powered speaker like a JBL eon or an ElectroVoice zlx.
posted by soundguy99 at 1:55 PM on October 14, 2016
This won't be any help, seconding Sanspoint that you should look into renting a mic and small powered speaker like a JBL eon or an ElectroVoice zlx.
posted by soundguy99 at 1:55 PM on October 14, 2016
Bluetooth's latency makes it unsuitable for this application. You don't want the echo effect it will cause. Rent a small PA and mic.
posted by infinitewindow at 9:21 PM on October 14, 2016
posted by infinitewindow at 9:21 PM on October 14, 2016
How loud is your bluetooth speaker? If there is any lag or latency then you'll have some issues but USB microphones will do a decent job, and they've come a long way as you can see here. That said, a PA system may be simpler and reduce the chance of a delay which could be very offputting if you're doing the talking.
posted by Beno27 at 3:34 PM on June 26, 2017
posted by Beno27 at 3:34 PM on June 26, 2017
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posted by rhizome at 12:14 PM on October 14, 2016