Karaoke Forums

Any suggestions, other than tape, for covering up mic switches during a show?

Open up the mic and bypass the switch (eg. solder a link across the contacts) so that operation of the switch has no effect.

EDIT: Another option, instead of using tape, a short length of heat-shrink tubing slipped over the mic barrel and then shrunk around the switch with a little hot air.

Agree with going in and rewiring to bypass the switch, or make it look gawdy & put a piece of tape around it. Or simply buy mics without switches to begin with.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Don't buy a mic like that in the first place.

Maybe you can trade it to someone who thinks they want a switch -- perhaps a home karaoke user.

Another possibility is a thick, small rubber band.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I have never had a problem with the ON/OFF switches on my Mics (both Wired and wireless). I actually like having the switch, especially for my wireless Mics (because it saves on the battery usage).

Where is your switch? On the side of the Mic or the bottom? If it's on the side, a thin piece of duct tape around the the whole circumference should work. If it's on the bottom, you may have to re-wire (as already suggested).

I've been toying with the idea of modifying one of those fancy microphone sleeves they make for wireless mics... Anybody ever tried that?

I use the Shure SM58s which has a recessed button, which have to hold down for it work. I never really have a problem with singers messing with... except on rare occasions.

As far as battery use goes, I use rechargeable batteries so I just leave them on all night. I've been using the same six batteries for over a year now (3 mics), without any problems.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I Believe he's talking wired mics, not wireless.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Every quality mic with a switch (like my Sennheiser) I've run across has a way to lock the switch on the "On" position, which is what I do.

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Dave's not here.

. +20



Wireless Shure's also have a lockout feature. When you first turn them on, hold the button down until the LED flashes rapidly. Then the button is locked out and won't function until you pull the batteries. It stopped all accidental muting at my shows. Amazing what you learn by actually reading the manual.

Nice BAzza! I always say "R.T.F.B."

For those plastic-barreled mics with plastic switches, one remedy is to use a match or lighter to melt the switch to the barrel, fusing them together and thereby making the switch immobile.

For wired mics, I have to agree with the poster who said don't use mics like that for karaoke. That's just really stupid.

Wireless, the Sennheiser ew100 series are inexpensive and it is hard to accidentally shut them off, AND the base unit has LCD indicators for pilot (signal) and mute, so you can know by looking at the receiver if the mic is on or off.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

Thanks to all of your input, particularly to Murray C whose idea may just have given me a spark as to what might work best for me - do what he suggested using a SOLDERING IRON! Maybe?

Wouldn't superglue work without accidently melting a hole in your mic? It is all too final for me. If I had a switch problem I would just go for the tape. If done nicely, it almost looks like part of the mic. I think our friends even used different colors on theirs so they know which is which.

I still go by the addage if you don't want a switch on your mic, don't buy a mic with a switch!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Hmmm. I never heard of that ADAGE.

But I am familiar with buyer's remorse. And you mean to say that you never bought a piece of equipment or even a CDG that you subsequently found lacking and EVENTUALLY regretted purchasing?

Or how about an appliance, or a car?

Yep, either returned it, or replaced them.

Can't honestly say I have bought either without extensive research and not knowing what I wanted in either.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I started out with a small budget and bought Shure PG-58s. They haven't died yet and they still sound great, but yeah they have a switch. So do I use my funds to replace them with SM-58s or do I buy more music? So far I keep buying the music because I can't hear enough difference in the sound to make me do it. It may be there, but when I look at the specs I find...

Frequency Response...

SM-58 50 to 15,000 Hz

PG-58 60 to 15,000 Hz

No difference in the high frequency end and still has the nice warm sound. Now I guess if some super deep bass came in and sang something incredibly low as part of a gospel or country piece or something it could happen, but so far I haven't had anybody come in with the desire and ability to sing down that low on karaoke night.

The deepest note on "Friends in Low Places" is something like an E3 and 50 hz will get you down to G1.

I understand completely and your thoughts pretty much match my sentiments. The switches were "fine" when I bought, them; they don't work for me today!

I guess I am just more discerning than other posters because I have purchased things that I have enjoyed for years and then found "problems" with. And sometimes you don't recognize the "problems" until you try something else. And some people, it seems, regularly find "problems" with what they have as an excuse to purchase the "latest and greatest" version of whatever it is!

Or, sometimes our preferences simply change. My wife used to drive stick shift, but was disappointed when one of the cars I recently purchased had one. Unknown to me, she had grown tired of stick when she owned her last car with one! Shame on her for changing her tastes and no longer enjoying the car that she owned with the stick!