Headworn and lavalier mics continue to gain popularity in applications that go well beyond the typical — i.e., a CEO giving a welcome address at an industrial or corporate presentation or freeing a minister from the pulpit mic for invocations using a wireless system. With the rise of quality in modern miniature capsules, some of these transducers are capable of delivering performance specs that meet or exceed those of a hardwired handheld. At the same time, capsules have gotten smaller, offering near-invisibility from just a few feet away.
Certainly both lavalier and headworn style mics have their advantages and disadvantages. The headworn mic definitely gets the capsule in closer, offering greater gain simply as a function of closer distance from the subject’s mouth, which also reduces the chance of losing some articulation and intelligibility versus a “traditional” lapel placement of a lavalier design. All that is fine and good, but there are definitely occasions and/or subjects where a headworn mic is not the right choice, either through what is simply the aesthetics of the situation or personal preferences of the subject: Believe it or not, some people just do not like having microphones attached to their face, no matter how compact. Fortunately in such instances, there are some other well-known workable alternatives, such as attaching the mic capsule to the wearer’s hat (or perhaps a wig in a theatrical production).
There are also applications where a lavalier just won’t work, such as miking someone in a lightweight fabric t-shirt (which may not support even the light mass of a pin-on/clip-on miniature mic without drooping) or a subject who is shirtless — and attaching a lavalier is… well, problematic at best. Another issue that arises with the bare-chested individual comes from the reality of where-do-you-hide-the-cable?
A New Approach
Taking an entirely novel approach to human mic placement is the new d:screet Necklace Microphone from DPA Microphones. The company is no stranger to ultra-miniature, high-quality condenser mics, with its d:fine headset and earset mics and d:screet models (the latter intended for uses such as instrument and lavalier miking). All are based on variations of DPA’s 0.21- inch diameter condenser capsules that are barely a half-inch long.
The d:screet Necklace mic begins with DPA’s 4061 omni capsule, which is permanently mounted in the center of a smooth tube that forms a collar-style necklace, with the cable exiting 180-degrees on the opposite rear side of the unit. After exiting, the 43-inch cable (and 0.06-inch in diameter) terminates with a DPA MicroDot connector. The latter is gold-plated and securely screws onto any of the dozens of mating adapters that interface with pro wireless body/beltpacks from more than a dozen manufacturers.
Getting Started
When ordering a d:screet Necklace, you’ll need to specify what model of wireless you have. I requested a mic with a 4-pin mini-XLR (TA4-F) adapter for operation with most Shure wireless rigs — in this case, a QLX-D1 bodypack from a Shure QLX-D digital wireless system. Alternatively, DPA also offers an optional MicroDot adapter terminating in a standard (full-size) XLR-M for hard-wired applications with standard phantom power. Either way, the DPA MicroDot-to-your-system adapter is an additional charge (about $93) beyond the basic mic price.
At the rear of the mic (near the cable exit) is an ingenious silver-colored, jewelry-style clasp that securely fastens the two ends of the circle together. The pieces attach via an easy twist-lock motion. This is supplemented by two strong, yet tiny magnets that link the two ends. So chances of the two ends disconnecting is unlikely, yet it’s simple to fasten. The cable can exit either straight up (say, to go over the rear edge of a shirt collar) or drop straight down the subject’s back.
The d:screet Necklace mic is offered in black, white and brown and in lengths of either 20.9 or 18.3 inches, with the larger size designed to fit most men and the smaller model for women and children. Other than choosing a small or large model, there is no adjustment available.
The performance of the 4061 capsule is well known. It’s designed to offer a 6 mV/Pa sensitivity that matches most wireless beltpack inputs. EIN rating is approximately 26 dB(A) — well above the 15 dB(A) noise of, say DPA’s 4006A — but quite good for an ultra-miniature capsule.
The frequency response is fairly flat — if you’re expecting anything like an SM58-style presence boost, you wont find it here. However, DPA does offer attachable grid caps that shape the upper end response. A “Soft Boost” cap with gently sloped +3 dB peak centered near 15k Hz is optional; a “High Boost” cap, with a +10 dB boost centered around 12k Hz, is included. The polar response remains consistently omnidirectional to the 13kHz range, so no problems there if performers/subjects rotate their heads slightly into- or off-axis from the mic. Whether on male or female voices, the d:screet Necklace provided clear and natural reproduction, where what goes in pretty much equaled the mic’s output.
In all cases, with the capsule well away from the performer’s mouth, breath noise and plosives were not an issue, nor was cable handling noise. I did have a occasional issues with wind noise, when used outdoors. However, DPA does offer optional foam windscreens in several colors.
Overall, the d:screet Necklace is a useful solution in many problem situations, whether used outdoors at a beach event or even to bring the mic closer to a church minister as an alternative to a standard lavalier. In fact, the black version is nearly invisible around a clerical collar. In a theater or similar setting, the mic could be disguised with some added bling — hopefully not too much — to make it resemble jewelry. But importantly, the mic can be quickly and easily placed by untrained personnel with consistent, predictable results, while offering top-notch audio results.
At a Glance
New Slant on Bodypack Miking
DPA offers a versatile alternative to the lavalier microphone, with fast, flexible and repeatable results.
DPA d:screet Necklace Microphone
PROS: Fast, easy and consistent placements; brings capsule closer than traditional lavaliers; wide, smooth response and detailed vocal reproduction.
CONS: Size is non-adjustable; can be susceptible to outdoor wind noise.
Price: $649 (MicroDot adapter is extra)
Manufacturer: DPA Microphones
More Info: www.dpamicrophones.com
