How to use microphones for Q-Review

Probably the biggest hurdle we’ve encountered so far in the Q-Review project is the disappointment of a really good lecture being delivered that gets played back in absolute silence.

The microphones in the lecture theatre have to be used. They’re often viewed as technology that blends into the background and as such are easily missed. But every mic, including the ‘gooseneck’ microphone attached to the podium has an ‘on’ switch and, of course, an ‘off’ swtich that the presenter before you might have switched.

These microphones are primarily used to aid in voice-projection; they are linked to the speakers in the lecture theatre. But they double-up as recording inputs for Q-Review.

There are easy ways of testing to make sure the microphone that you’re using is turned on:

• When it’s switched on, a light will come in and…
• you can tap the microphone very lightly and you should hear the impact loud-and-clear from the room speakers

I’ve included some (very blurry) photos taken in the Fogg Lecture Theatre in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

Here you can see the ‘gooseneck’ podium microphone. In a bit closer and you can see the ‘on’ switch and the light that’s come on.

Here you can see the other two microphones you can choose to use (note that you could use all three if you chose):

1. A handheld mic that you could carry about or perhaps hand out to the audience for questions
2. An infra-red microphone that you could clip to a shirt pocket or wear around your neck

The handheld mic has an on/off button.

The infrared mic has an on/off button and a volume control.

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