Rode HS1-P Headset Microphone (Pink)

Comments about Rode HS1-P Headset Microphone (Pink):

This is a 5 star product for many applications, but it falls down in the key purpose for headset microphones - use for sound reinforcement / public address in live presentations.Two issues:===Problem # 1) Fidgety adjustment and fitting that requires tools and experience. You must read the instructions on this mic because tweaking all the various fitting adjustments is critical. Another reviewer gave the mic a 5 star rating for use by a pastor, and I would not contest that rating.Realize that this mic works best when precisely fitted and adjusted for a single individual, and will be much less successful if used by multiple people, where constant changes in adjustments would be required to match head size, ears, jaw line, and boom distance from ear to edge of mouth. These adjustments are critical to the successful use of this mic.Also, consider the disposition of your speaker or performer. If you are working with corporate executives, there will be many who will not tolerate or cooperate with the amount of fitting and finesse this mic requires. In the heat of the moment, getting your performer wired up before taking stage in an auditorium, do you have time, and can your talent deal with the distraction, of going through a mechanical setup process at least as involved as fitting a pair of prescription eye glasses?Fitting this mic requires more personal contact than you may be accustomed or comfortable with. Rigging lavaliere mics is always a bit touchy, especially running cables through ladies clothes, but be sure you are comfortable handing people's ears and touching their face, because that is required with this micFortunately, the company president of my client is good natured, but after using this mic several times, I am not satisfied. He uses it to speak in an all day seminar, and the mic does not stay in place (the earpiece opposite the mic boom hops off his ear but winds up gripping his neck below the ear).===Problem # 2) Performance - specifically freedom from feedback in live events. Of course, this will vary greatly depending on the acoustics of your venue, so my experience will not apply to all. But, in my estimation, the only reason to use a headset mic is when the situation demands it, and the specific situation that demands this type mic design is applications where higher levels of amplified sound are needed.This directly relates to the inverse square law, the theory being that placing the mic closer to the point source of sound (the speaker's mouth) will produce much louder sound volume using far less gain at the amplifier stage.Unfortunately, this is not my experience. I have experienced only modest improvements in avoiding ringing that precedes feedback. Overall, the amplified volume levels I have been able to achieve with the Rode HS1-P Headset Microphone are not appreciably greater than what I was formerly able to do using a Sennheiser MKE 2 lavaliere.===Bottom line: the Rode HS1-P did not solve my problem. It does not help that my audience demographic is older middle age, perhaps a bit hard of hearing, and everybody wants more volume. My presenter accepted the intrusion of this earset boom mic, and self-consciously joked to the audience about looking like the "ShamWow guy" (Offer "Vince" Shlomi, aka Vince Offer). But the mic did not achieve the desired results.I am ambivalent about the 3 star rating, because this is a quality product, and I really like the Micon concept. In retrospect after purchase, I do not think this mic is suitable for multiple use, but should be considered for dedicated applications only, custom fitted to a single individual.I acknowledge that designing a mic of this type for live sound reinforcement is a difficult task. If your intended application is different than mine, the Rode HS1-P may be the perfect choice. In production audio, as opposed to sound reinforcement, the vast majority of advice you will receive is that an omni directional lavaliere is the only way to go, and that cardioid pickup patterns should be avoided in miniaturized microphones. (This because a lavaliere generally does not track changes in head position, in which case use of a cardioid lavaliere would result in constant tonal changes.) But on earset boom mics used for live sound, I would think again. Since the boom is able to precisely orient the mic in relation to the sound source, a cardioid may make all the difference in achieving desired levels without risking feedback.I am looking at the Countryman E6i to replace the Rode HS1-P. Even with a cardioid, you should consider how you will use the mic. Countryman has different mic capsules that adjust between cardioid and hypercardioid, and also adapt the mic for use in performance situations where floor monitors (wedges) might be present, by presenting a null directed towards the floor. The E6i is considerably more expensive than this HS1-P, but it is also much less fidgety to fit to different users, and the directional pickup might be a major advantage in applications such as mine. Countryman's interchangeable cables also make the E6 mic adaptable to multiple wireless connectors and also wired XLR configurations, comparable to the Rode Micon system of adapters.BTW - I learned that my presenter spent $8,000 on a hearing aid, promptly lost, then $1,750 to get an insured replacement. This shows what audio is worth to one person, and takes the edge off me spending $x00 on a quality microphone to deliver good sound to hundreds of people.

Comments about Rode HS1-P Headset Microphone (Pink):

I have never used a Rode microphone before. I have heard of them. Mostly in studio and broadcast situations. I have never heard of them being used in a live setting. I thought I would give it a try. When I received the microphone, I hooked it up and to my surprise, I didn't have to do any eq'ing to it what so ever. It was awesome! My pastor absolutely loves it.

Comments about Rode HS1-P Headset Microphone (Pink):

This is my second HS1-P headset. They are great for video where the talent is moving around. The mic to mouth distance remains constant and no post production audio correction is needed.

The MiCon adapter connection is easy to break, be careful when you remove the mic wire, the housing on the adapter can come with it, breaking the internal wire in the adapter. Rode was quick to send a replacement. A little crazy glue on the ring can end this problem forever.

I have all but given up on wireless in our primary shooting location because of an airport and a radio station. This mic, connected to a Tascam DR-07MkII makes wireless unnecessary. This powers off any of the Tascam digital recorders.