The use of wireless with acoustic instruments such as woodwinds, brass and strings is becoming more common. Because the instruments are acoustic, a microphone or special type of pickup is needed. Microphones used with musical instruments, particularly with brass, must be specially designed to accommodate the very high levels that are present. Audio-Technica offers musical instrument microphones, the ATM35cW and PRO35xcW, for this purpose. Generally speaking, the standard miniature microphones ordinarily used with wireless transmitters will seriously overload if used for high-SPL instruments.
Several companies offer specialized pickups for various kinds of acoustic instruments.
Many different kinds of transducers are used in these devices, each with different output levels and load requirements. For the most part, however, they either have an output roughly similar to that of a microphone or to that of a guitar pickup. Pickups that require external power will not work directly with Audio-Technica transmitters unless they have their own battery supply. Pickup manufacturers should be able to advise regarding their output level and load impedance requirements. Setting Up a System with Instruments Correctly setting up and adjusting a wireless system is essential to success in applications with instruments.