Noise Cancellation in Wireless Microphones

Introduction

How much noise does a wireless microphone pick up? How can you reduce or eliminate unwanted background noise?

Wireless microphones are great tools for capturing audio from events such as vlogs, conferences, seminars, lectures, interviews, podcasts, etc. They allow us to capture sound without having to worry about cables or wires.

This article will discuss the basics of noise cancellation in wireless microphones. We’ll look at some of the common types of technologies used and how they work.

How Does Noise Cancellation Work in Microphones?

So how does noise cancellation work in microphones? It’s a pretty complex concept but we’ll try our best to make it easy to grasp.

Noise cancellation works by capturing background noise, reversing the audio signal to generate “anti-noise” and adding it to your audio output. When the “anti-noise” signal reaches your ears, it eliminates the actual background noise. The concept, which dates back to the 1930s, is surprisingly straightforward, but it’s harder to implement than it seems.

To create “anti-noise”, your microphones use a technique called “phase inversion”. This occurs when two waves are “in-phase” when they are lined up with each other, matching up their peaks and troughs, resulting in a larger wave when added together (louder sound).

When one of the waves is delayed by exactly one-half wavelength, the troughs match up with the peaks of the other.

As a result of one wave’s positive pressure acting against the other’s negative pressure and vice versa, the two waves are said to be “out of phase” and subtract from one another. It’s like attempting to add and subtract one. You’re now down to zero.

With this technology present in the mic, noise-canceling microphones use two elements to completely deliver noise-free audio: a mic to capture the sound and a speaker to play it back. The principle is the same as noise-canceling headphones—by reproducing the sound of the environment back at itself, it essentially cancels it out.

This is done by filtering out the ambient noise before it reaches the microphone, so that only your voice is recorded. And because the speaker is playing back the sound at the same volume as it was captured, there’s no echo or feedback.

Different Types of Noise Cancellation

When you’re looking for a noise-canceling microphone, there are three different types of noise cancellation you’ll come across: active, passive, and adaptive

1. Active noise canceling

Active noise canceling is the most effective type of noise cancellation and it works by using sensors to detect sound waves. Once it’s detected, the microphone creates its own sound waves that are 180 degrees out of phase with the original sound wave. This effectively cancels out the noise.

2. Passive noise canceling

Passive noise canceling is less effective than active noise canceling, but it’s still better than not having any noise cancellation at all. It works by using thick materials like foam or rubber to block out sound.

3. Adaptive noise canceling 

Adaptive noise cancellation adjusts to your surroundings automatically using microphones or speakers. This is a more sophisticated type of active noise cancellation in which the level of noise cancellation is digitally adjusted to the environment.

How to Choose the Right Noise-Canceling Microphone

So, how do you choose the right noise-canceling microphone? Well, there are a few factors to consider.

First, you need to decide what type of environment the microphone will be used in. If you’re looking for something to use in an office or home setting, then you’ll want to consider a model that has a built-in noise canceling function.

But if you need something for use in a noisier environment, like a park or beach, then you’ll need to go for a model that has active noise canceling. This type of microphone uses an external power supply to cancel out background noise.

Another thing to keep in mind is the price. As with anything, you get what you pay for. So, make sure to set your budget before you start shopping.

And finally, don’t forget to think about the features. Make sure the microphone has everything you need, like a mute button, a headphone jack, and adjustable volume.

A very powerful wireless microphone to consider when buying a wireless mic is the Hollyland Lark M1. The mic comes with the noise cancellation technology and automatic feedback cancellation that delivers great audio output even in noisy environments. The Lark M1 is compact and it can be used in any setting whether for vlogging, podcasts, or professional use. 

Conclusion

Noise-canceling microphones, particularly those with active noise cancellation, could be useful in a variety of situations. Numerous improvements in the active noise cancellation technology have been made in recent years, and more producers are producing wireless microphones that are not only compact but also effectively block out noise.

Wireless noise-canceling microphones like the Hollyland Lark M1 are a great option for users looking for a compact lavalier mic that can be used in different environments.