Freedomike Tips for Users

By Bill Johnson, CSP a Charter Member of the National Speakers Association

Zip lock freezer bags are a great protector for your three primary components.

If you don't have a carrying case, most shaving kits are just the perfect size. Available at most discount & department store luggage departments.

When packing at the end of engagement, I find it works very nice to gently (avoid tight wrap due to stress on the small wires and connectors) wrap the cord around the transmitter and secure with rubber band. Freedomike mini system owners can contact me for 4" x 7" bubble bags that are wonderful protectors to use along with freezer zip bags.

When practical, use your own new connector cables to meeting place wall plugs. Sound cables in most all venues are older and static/pops are generated by the dust and smoke that has been accumulated. This is particularly true when using professional XLR three prong plugs.

Big hint: We have found a small three way XLR splitter connector that can be an event saver for speakers. Most venues have only two input plugs in the wall for sound. When these are both in use (podium mike and other long cord mike) you need a third for your wireless. This connector allows you to easily add a third input with a quick plug switch.

The new pocket size digital recorders you see advertised on my web site have
totally changed / revolutionized the recording world. The following paragraphs
were written about using audio cassette. With the new inexpensive digital
recorders you can store over twenty hours on one postage stamp size card in
small 3 ounce pocket recorder. These recorders will give a direct feed into
your computer or other hardware to produce high quality cassettes or CD
media. Software that is included is loaded direct into your computer to be
the interface for editing and storing speeches. Call or email me for
further information.

Another "Y" connector can be used from your line output from wireless to feed two tape decks. This is a handy way to make back up tape copy as you speak. A great help in case one tape deck fails. Also, with this idea, we will put a C92 in one deck and C62 in another to catch any overlap when tape turn over is necessary. DAT recorders are very good when longer programs need to be recorded uninterrupted, also great for sharp editing.

We are always asked about tape length and need for turn-over assistance when the tapes are not long enough for your session. Two solutions: Show someone how to do simple tape turnover when it is near the end. They might give you a finger up signal from back of the room when you are nearing the end. This will allow you time to find a smooth "break" point to ask audience for questions or ask them to write down something. That is the que for turn over. My best luck has been just to watch a clock that I have set to just tell the lapsed tape time and I do my own turn over. My deck will be off to the side on a small table, shielded from audience view by books or other material.

There are some newer tape decks that have two decks in one shell. They are not like a portable but yet light weight. I would not hesitate to carry mine in a sports bag on the plane. The advantage is this unit has auto reverse on both internal decks.

I can put in one C62 and another C92, now I am covered when the tape reverses because anything lost by one deck for those three seconds will always be on the other tape.

A wireless microphone system usually has stronger volume than the podium dynamic microphone. Therefore, you may want to find the master volume control on the wall or possibly in a closet at most meeting locations. You can turn the master volume control down slightly to keep your wireless from being too loud which can create squeal or feedback. Most hotel set up people and food captains know how to handle this volume issue if an a-v person is not available. Be aware that most meeting locations use an outside service for all audio visual. Your wireless microphone is their competition due to the high rental prices now charged ($50 to $100 a day).

Stories sometimes come my way about difficulty in union venues. Freedomike owners have all battery operation and are therefore not plugged into the room electrical at all. This can overcome some union objections, since you are only plugging into audio. If you are only using your system for recording you are out of union conflict altogether as you operate completely with batteries.

Be sure to arrive extra early to test your wireless system and do your hook-up. I find that many speakers rely on house people to hook up for them. That is okay, but I recommend you become proficient yourself, since some hotel staff do not have a clue about this kind of equipment. It is simple when you have done a couple of hook ups yourself. When I walk in the room it takes about 50 seconds and I am "on the air" with my wireless. I don't want to wait around or search for help.

Remember, your "on" light will go from bright to a dull glow if battery is marginal. Be sure to carry spare alkalines. Immediately after Christmas Holidays the big battery sales happen. Fresh Alkalines should have a couple of years of shelf life. If you live in a very cold area keep batteries stored inside the home or office. Go to the big mass merchandisers to catch these bargains and buy several to last you a year. Don't forget to put a fresh one in your smoke alarms since they usually use the same 9 volt size.

I am frequently asked about interference with other wireless systems. That has NEVER happened to me in seventeen years and is a very remote possibility. There is a higher possibility of this when using equipment that does not employ the three prong (XLR) connectors out of the system. There are several frequencies assigned for microphones and manufacturers attempt to avoid "stepping on" others frequencies. Lower priced units are not able to focus on their own match with high reliability and are more subject to outside interference. Some of my customers work with another speaker and we have made sure they have different frequencies. In some instances a speaker may want a hand held and lavaliere microphone. In that case they know that both should not be on at the same time on that same frequency.

If you want a "roving" microphone, the most economical way is to use the meeting room hard wired microphone for that second microphone. The perfect scenario is to own two wireless systems and use one for hand held "roving" and your own lavaliere or hand held.

Be sure to keep a few fresh ALKALINE batteries. If you do half or full day sessions, change the battery at break time. (Your battery appreciates the time to rest and you will save some dollars in replacement.) Those of you who have the new mini CR175 receiver should be aware that they are reliable to only 8-10 hours. When convenient, your wall power is more economical. This compact unit was designed to velcro multiple units to the side of a mini-cam for television stations and TVproduction companies. Your transmitter alkaline is good for 12-14 hours.

To reduce risk of loss most find it is best to keep antenna attached to receiver and microphone attached to transmitter. Some owners of the M175 transmitter have not noted that the microphone screws into transmitter base to keep it from pulling out. Just a gentle turn will secure the plug. Please do not twist with pressure.

Please feel free to contact me by email with any wireless or recording related questions, regardless of your own wireless brand. We can also help with LCD/data/video projector questions. Our direct line to engineers in both fields can be helpful.

* References to Freedomike® is a professional quality system owned by over 700 speakers purchased through my firm the past seventeen years. This product is manufactured by a 30 year old American firm, a leader in audio equipment for the broadcast industry. 

Bill Johnson, CSP 1118 E. Orangewood Avenue Phoenix, Az 85020 602-870-3333 Fax 602-997-1676 bjcsp@aol.com www.billjohnson.com