D'Addario PW-IRMM-01(Mic Mute Infrared Mic Sensor) experiences?

[BEADist]

Forum member @Pep brought this device to my attention and it seems perfect for 'my' singing drummer (she uses distortion on her vocals, so extra problematic regarding feedback). I am curious if someone has real life experience with one of these?

🎤 Daddario PW-IRMM-01 Micro Mute Sensor

Micro Mute Sensor Automatically mutes the microphone when it is not in use, Removes unwanted feedback, stage and background noise from the mix, Ideal for various different situations such as gigs, theatre productions and speeches, Can detect...

www.thomann.de

(ps. drummer is using a Shure SM58 Beta, so not much gain to be had with a 'better' microphone, I think)

Thank you!

 

[Pep]

Our guitar player was the first to use it in another band where everyone had one and there was absolutely no feedback or bleed from the mics.

 

[BEADist]

Thnx Pep!

One video mentions you need to be close to the mic 1 beat before starting to sing because the device needs that time to un-mute. Any experience with missing a bit of vocals because of this?

 

[Pep]

The answer is yes because it is a proximity sensor. It takes about .5 seconds to pickup your presence. He said it was the first time he used it and he found it very easy to adapt to. One set and he had it down.

 

[Pep]

I used mine subbing in a different band where I played bass the entire night and sang background on two tunes. No problem at all. You merely move into position and the light comes on.

 

[Jack]

I've used optogates on my vocal mic for years, they're great for backing vocals and I can highly recommend.

 

[BEADist]

I have been looking at the Optogate PB-05M also. At the moment they are at the same price as the D'Addario.

Optogate PB-05 M

Automatic Microphone Switch with Optical Distance Sensor (-42 dB) Milled aluminium housing, Distance range adjustable between 15 and 100 cm, Connections 1 x XLR female connector, 1 x XLR male connector, Requires 48 V phantom power, Dimensions (L x...

www.thomannmusic.com

For my drummer I think the D'Addario is a slightly better fit because the 'active angle' seems a bit wider and because the detect-distance can be set without a micro-screwdriver.

On the other hand, the Optogates are from the original designer, so I tend to support that company.

 

[Jack]

I'm sure either would work, interesting that the d'addario doesn't need the screwdriver but I find that I haven't moved mine since about gig three because I always sing the same way. I can certainly see why the wider angle would be useful if you're drumming. The one thing I will say is to be wary of any with plastic housing. I'm very gentle with my gear and a plastic Monacor optogate is about the only piece of gig kit I ever broke. I thought I'd buy the cheaper one first to see if the concept was any good and it was, but it broke after about five gigs. Thankfully Thomann were good about sending me a new one but now I've got a plastic one that I don't dare use.


I tried to find a photo of mine in situ but it's actually a testament to how unobtrusive they are because you can barely see it.

 

[BEADist]

The one thing I will say is to be wary of any with plastic housing. I'm very gentle with my gear and a plastic Monacor optogate is about the only piece of gig kit I ever broke.

Yes, thanks for the warning. The one with the metal housing costs only 8 dollars more. That seems money well spend.

(I would expect only the housing material to be different, but I just noticed, on the Thomann website you can see the plastic version has an included Philips screwdriver. The metal version does not have an included screwdriver and requiers a flathead screwdriver).

 

[Jack]

Wow, they have halved in price since I bought mine for £165 back in the day. Not often that happens. I remember weighing up the extra £90 or so to upgrade to the metal one instead. Safe to say I wouldn't have stressed if the upgrade was $8!

 

[dave64o]

I've been using the D'Addario for a couple of months in rehearsals and gigs and it's worked exactly as advertised. I sing backup/harmonies and usually sing lead on one or two songs per set. I would have occasional feedback issues prior to buying it, especially in places where we had a very tight stage set up and it was tough to place monitors, but have had none since from my mic.

As has already been said, the only "issue" is that you need to make sure you get to the mic a little bit early so the sensor can detect you and close the circuit. But that's easily learned, and is a good practice anyway even without the sensor.

 

[Geri O]

As for singing drummers, I recently tried the SE V7 vocal mic and it seems to improve the gain-before-feedback problem with drum vocal mics somewhat. It's cheap enough to try.

In 30 some-odd years of pro audio, the V7 vocal mic is the first vocal mic I felt was a worthy replacement to the SM58. I didn't replace my own 58s, but I added the equal number of V7s.

Abd last weekend, the country music artist (who we thought had gone another direction without us, but he insists that isn't the case) came is this Saturday with a wireless system (didn't see the brand) with a V7 capsule. Sounded very good, was able to get the ridiculous vocal level in his monitors easily. Seems like a win.

We use some kind of opto mic mutes at our church for the MDs. Not sure what kind, they all like using them. I did hear talk of trying the D'Addario units sometime soon.

 

[BEADist]

Thanks for the suggestion! The SE V7 is 100 euro's, indeed quite affordable. Recently I invested 180 euro's in a Shure SM58 Beta though, so I am not willing to spend money on another mic just yet.

Is the SE V7 a known mic amongst sound engineers do you know perhaps? I can imagine a sound engineer not being very enthusiastic when showing up with a singing-drummer-with-a-distortion-box. With a Shure SM58 Beta at least they know we took the effort to bring a decent mic is my thought.

As for singing drummers, I recently tried the SE V7 vocal mic and it seems to improve the gain-before-feedback problem with drum vocal mics somewhat. It's cheap enough to try.

In 30 some-odd years of pro audio, the V7 vocal mic is the first vocal mic I felt was a worthy replacement to the SM58. I didn't replace my own 58s, but I added the equal number of V7s.

Abd last weekend, the country music artist (who we thought had gone another direction without us, but he insists that isn't the case) came is this Saturday with a wireless system (didn't see the brand) with a V7 capsule. Sounded very good, was able to get the ridiculous vocal level in his monitors easily. Seems like a win.

We use some kind of opto mic mutes at our church for the MDs. Not sure what kind, they all like using them. I did hear talk of trying the D'Addario units sometime soon.

 

[TomB]

Thanks for the suggestion! The SE V7 is 100 euro's, indeed quite affordable. Recently I invested 180 euro's in a Shure SM58 Beta though, so I am not willing to spend money on another mic just yet.

Is the SE V7 a known mic amongst sound engineers do you know perhaps? I can imagine a sound engineer not being very enthusiastic when showing up with a singing-drummer-with-a-distortion-box. With a Shure SM58 Beta at least they know we took the effort to bring a decent mic is my thought.

SE V7’s seem to be catching on IME. They do mix well with 58’s. My only observation is that they need a tad more gain to compete, but no resulting feedback issues.

 

[Geri O]

Thanks for the suggestion! The SE V7 is 100 euro's, indeed quite affordable. Recently I invested 180 euro's in a Shure SM58 Beta though, so I am not willing to spend money on another mic just yet.

Is the SE V7 a known mic amongst sound engineers do you know perhaps? I can imagine a sound engineer not being very enthusiastic when showing up with a singing-drummer-with-a-distortion-box. With a Shure SM58 Beta at least they know we took the effort to bring a decent mic is my thought.

We are seeing bands show up with their own
SE V7 vocal mics. They’ve been out for a few years and have become pretty well known.

All that said, you won’t go wrong with that 58. Not by a long shot! ….