Having the right audio visual equipment plays an important role in differentiating your fitness centre from the rest. It will increase member retention, bring new customers in, and make your gym a more enjoyable place to work.
There are a few things you need to consider before purchasing any AV equipment, however. Here are Fitness Audio’s top 4.
1. Placement and Accessibility
The placement of your audio visual equipment can have a significant impact on the atmosphere of your gym. Properly positioning your speakers around your studio with consideration of room size, ceiling height, and many other factors will maximise the audio potential of your sound system and create a high-quality, clear, and vibrant sound environment that will motivate your members. Because of this, Fitness Audio always recommends you get a professional to set up your audio equipment for you.
You also want to ensure that any wires coming from your speakers are hidden to maximise aesthetics and reduce any tripping hazards.
Lastly, the placement of your sound/lighting controls should also be considered. Ensuring they are positioned somewhere where your Instructors can easily access them will ensure a much smoother group fitness class experience for both your Instructors and your members.
2. Group and Individual Use
If your fitness centre offers group exercise classes as well as a gym floor where members can workout individually, you’ll need to think about having different types of sound systems for each room.
While you can get away with having a simple sound system for your gym floor, you’ll likely need a more complex system that allows for the use of fitness mics in your group exercise rooms.
3. Ease of Use
It’s easy to forget that your Fitness Instructors are fitness experts - not necessarily AV experts. Because of this, you need to ensure that your lighting and sound systems are easy to control and the control panels are easy to use. This way, they can spend more time focussing on delivering an amazing fitness class and less time messing around with the sound and lighting.
4. Member Expectations
Fitness centre expectations are as high as ever these days. Most customers will expect you to have a high-quality sound system, an extensive range of workout equipment, and fun, flashy lights in your group fitness studios. Because of this, you need to ensure all components of your gym meet and exceed these expectations.
When it comes to AV equipment in particular, some things you should think about are the quality of your sound and lighting systems, the distribution of sound and light around your gym, the acoustics of your studio, the soundproofing of separate rooms, and the availability and positioning of screens around your gym to keep your members entertained while they workout.
It can be daunting thinking about all the things you need to consider prior to purchasing your gym’s AV equipment. Fortunately, Fitness Audio is here to help.
Our team of fitness centre AV Professionals will advise you on what you do and do not need in your gym and how you should best go about setting up your sound and lighting systems.
For more information, call us today!
Barre is very much an up-and-coming fitness class. More and more Barre studios are starting to open up and more and more gyms are starting to implement it as a regular class.
This is great news for Barre students, but not necessarily good news for Barre Instructors and Studio Owners. More competition means more chance of losing members to other Barre studios.
In order to avoid this, you need to keep your Barre class competitive so you can maximise member retention and stay in business! Here are some of Fitness Audio’s top tips for levelling-up your Barre class.
Learn to Count Music
Barre is a form of choreography. This means it is all about the music. In order to instruct an effective Barre class, it is therefore important that you learn how to count music. To do this, you need to be able to listen to the beat of the music, match the tempo of your class to the beat, and talk in time to the beat of the music.
This can be tricky at first, but remember that practice makes perfect!
Curate Your Playlist
When it comes to putting together your Barre class playlist, you’ll need to think about whether you want to mix up your tempo or keep it consistent throughout your class. This is entirely up to you and the type of class you want to deliver. Keeping BPM consistent may be a good idea for beginners, but mixing it up can add more variation to your class.
Like most group fitness classes, well-known, popular songs are most effective at boosting motivation in Barre classes.
Get the Most Out of Your Sound
When it comes to group exercise classes, your music is nothing if you don’t have a solid sound system. In order to pump clear, loud, and quality-sounding music in your studio, you need quality speakers spread out throughout your room.
You’ll also want to ensure you can deliver crystal-clear instructions to your class without being overpowered by your music. In order to achieve this, it is beyond worthwhile investing in a fitness microphone and an audio mixer.
Sound equipment can be complicated, especially if your specialty is fitness, not audio. If you need any help with your sound system and microphones, we recommend you give Fitness Audio a call. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and advise you on what audio products you do and do not need.
Music is a powerful tool for an effective workout, a fact that scientists have studied since 1911, when it was found that cyclists pedalled faster with the musical accompaniment of a band. A (much) more recent study found that treadmill runners had 15% more endurance with motivational music, versus running in silence. In fitness classes, race events, and personal workouts, most of us utilise the motivational power of music to keep a consistent pace, coordinate with others, and have a more enjoyable exercise experience.
According to a review published in International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, the motivational power of music lies in four important factors: rhythm response, musicality, cultural impact, and association. Since three of these categories can be highly subjective, this article will focus on the one that’s relatively simple to calculate: rhythm response.
Choosing the Ideal BPM
Rhythm response refers to the pacing of the beat, which has a direct correlation to heart rate when it comes to helping athletes keep pace and stay motivated. 60-100 beats per minute (BPM) is the average resting rate for healthy adults. While working out, individuals experience heart rates that can go as high as 200 BPM.
That being said, it’s important to note that heart rate can differ greatly from one person to another, and determining your ideal heart rate for a warm-up, fat-burning workout, or endurance-building drills is a matter of individual calculation. However, general estimates place a “moderate” exercise level (ideal for aerobic fitness and burning fat) at 130-150 BPM. What’s fascinating is that the majority of popular songs fall within that range, since people gravitate towards beats that pump them up.
Playlists in Group Fitness Classes
When it comes to putting together a motivating playlist for a group exercise class, it’s important to consider popularity as well as BPM. Familiarity with the music that’s being played is just as important in boosting motivation as BPM. Because of this, you should opt for music that is well-known and popular.
If you do run a group fitness class, you’ll also want to ensure you have a quality sound system that compliments your playlist and allows you to instruct your class over the music.
You can view Fitness Audio’s full range of gym sound systems here or contact us for more information!
Online fitness classes are becoming more and more popular. They allow for greater flexibility for both Instructors and attendants and give Group Fitness Instructors a platform to teach without having to splurge on a studio and equipment or work for another gym.
They do, however, present a number of challenges not seen in in-person classes. In order to face these challenges front-on and run a successful online fitness class, here are Fitness Audio’s top tips.
1. Have the Right Lighting
Having the right lighting is paramount when it comes to any type of group fitness class. You need to ensure that your lighting is the right level of brightness so that your class can see you sufficiently. Try to use natural light to the best of your ability. If you are holding your class in the evening or don’t get a lot of natural light in your room, it is worthwhile investing in lighting equipment, such as a ring light.
2. Ensure Your Camera Positioning is Optimal
Where you position your camera makes a huge difference in teaching virtual fitness classes. You need to position it far enough so that your audience can see your full body, however not so far that it will impact the visibility of your workout routine.
The best thing to do is to experiment before your class and mark out the position where you think visibility is optimal. Don’t be afraid to ask your students for feedback on how well they can see you during your class too.
3. Think About Your Audio Setup
Whether you’re teaching an in-person or online group fitness class, having a quality audio setup is of the utmost importance. You need to ensure that your class can hear you clearly and that your music does not overpower your instructions. Because of this, we always recommend Fitness Instructors invest in a wireless headmic and a mixer. This will guarantee crystal-clear audio and give you control over your voice-to-music balance.
4. Consider Your Music Options
Unfortunately, playing music in online fitness classes is not as easy as in face-to-face fitness classes. Your music can sound crackly and low-quality over streaming services, particularly if your attendants don’t have the best speakers on their devices. Because of this, many online Fitness Instructors tell their students to play their own music, or even share playlists with them.
Like with your camera positioning, the best thing to do to tackle this issue is to experiment. Play music over a practice call and see how it sounds when you stream the call from various devices.
5. Keep Your Background Simple
It is particularly important that you keep your background as simple as possible for virtual classes. If someone looks away and then back at the device, you want to be the focal point that catches their eye. Performing in front of a plain wall with minimal furniture/decorations in the background is the way to go.
You also want to minimise external distractions. To do this, avoid teaching in front of or next to any windows and keep pets and children away!
6. Connect with Your Audience
One of the biggest challenges of any type of online class is that it’s not as easy for teachers to connect with their audience. It is important to still try, however. Always greet your students at the start of the class and ask about their days. Also consider giving them an opportunity at the end of the class where they can unmute and talk to you and other attendees. Making the effort to form relationships with your students will improve loyalty to your class and maximise student retention.
7. Smile
Last but not least, smile! It’s the easiest way to win over your audience and set a friendly and positive vibe to your class.
If you need assistance with getting the right sound equipment for your online exercise class, get in touch with Fitness Audio today. We will be able to advise you on what products are worthwhile and which ones you won’t need.
Storing your fitness microphone properly is critical in preventing damages and avoiding equipment loss - particularly when you're on the move.
With many Exercise Instructors choosing to use their own headmic to teach their classes, having a good storage container where you can put your microphone when travelling to and from the gym is a must!
Because of this, Fitness Audio has designed a Microphone Case specifically for this purpose. With a hard and durable outer-case, a zipper and plenty of space inside, you can store your fitness mic, spare windscreens and Aeromic Pouchbelt safely.
With 8 ventilation holes, the Fitness Audio Mic Case can store and dry-out your mic simultaneously while you move around. This prevents moisture build-up that can result from storing sweaty headmics insufficiently and reduces the likelihood of sweat-related microphone damages from occurring.
The Mic Case is designed to hold any of our microphones - the Aeromic, Cyclemic, EMic and Fitness Mic, as well as other types of headmics.
Don't let your microphone get around sweaty and unprotected - get your Fitness Audio Headmic Case today!
Great sound and lighting are critical to the indoor cycling experience, yet the devil is in the detail – and those details can sometimes be overlooked. John Penhallow of Fitness Audio shares five tips to maximise the impact of the AV in your cycling studio.
1. Do a ‘Clap Test’
Go into the space you’re planning to use for your cycling studio and simply clap your hands together. The objective here is to listen to what comes back; if you hear too much sound bouncing back, you’ll need to reduce the room’s r everb time, which will mean looking at ways to deaden or dry out the sound.
Start with the floor: you can get great rubber tiles made from recycled tyres these days, which not only absorb sound but are easy to clean. On the walls, while mirrors can be us ed behind the Spin Instructor’s position, resist the urge to put them all the way down the wall: they reflect sound and therefore increase the risk of mic feedback. Consider using sound - absorbing panels mounted on the walls or hung from high ceilings, too, to further ‘dry out’ the reverb time.
2. Loudspeaker Etiquette
Out of consideration for any neighbours, your loudspeakers should be hung where the sound – and especially bass frequencies – don’t travel up - or downstairs through structural supports or solid outer walls.
If you’re lucky enough to have a hung ceiling, ask the Installer to provide hanging horizontal brackets that can be tilted down, so the sound can be directed straight at your class participants.
Two x 25cm two - way powered or passive speakers should be enough to cover 20 bikes in a squash court - sized room. Go to four speakers if the room is big enough for 40 bikes, but hang the second pair halfway down the room, facing the back, rather than in the rear corners. Putting speakers in all four corners of the studio, all firing sound at the Fitness Instructor, reduces the maximum voice level (volume) the mic can operate at before feedback starts – and we all know how awful that sounds!
3. Get the Right Mic For the Job
Instructing a cycling class is one of the sweatiest jobs around, and sweat is a mortal enemy for many microphones. Cheap, poor - quality microphones will not last more than a couple of months in a spin studio environment.
Meanwhile, the right mic makes for a happy Instructor , which makes for a happy class, which makes for a happy business!
Our Cyclemic was created specifically with Cycle Instructors in mind. Its unique J - curve design drains the sweat away from the frame and the mic’s important features. Because of this, we o ffer a two - year warranty against ‘death by sweat’ for our Cyclemics!
Our wireless mic systems are also all equipped with our exclusive sweat - protected circuit board. This will prevent sweat from entering your mic system’s electronics and damaging them.
4. One Stream of Sound
The role of an audio mixer is to blend the Spin Instructor’s voice over the music they are playing. This ensures that all spin class attendees can hear the Instructor clearly and follow all instructions with ease.
A problem many F itness Studios experience is purchasing an old hi - fi system that has no dedicated microphone inputs or volume control. This makes it impossible to control the voice - to - music audio ratio and as a result, many Instructors find themselves needing to scream ov er the music to be heard.
Another mistake is buying a modern system that connects various speakers via Bluetooth. While there is an “Aux Input” available for a wireless mic system and you can mix it with the music, there is an unfortunate delay applied t o the mic input too. This is because the main speaker has to send the mix to the slave speakers wirelessly. These audio delays can be very disruptive for Fitness Instructors and class attendees alike.
The solution to both these problems is to build your own sound system. Start with a mixer, and then get your speakers, fitness microphones, receiver, and anything else you may need for your class. It’s important you invest in a good - quality mixer, such as our Aeromix 2+2SR or our brand new Aeromix 3+5LS.
R egardless of which mixer you go for, you should make sure that it has separate Bass and Treble Controls for both the Mic Input and the Music or Line Inputs. Any mixer that has only one set of tone controls will produce uneven and poorly - sounding audio.
O ur Aeromix Mixers have separate tone controls and the Master Volume control is hidden away on the back. This way, Instructors can set and forget the sound system and focus on delivering an A+ spin class. Our new 3+5LS Mixer also has 3 additional features. A digital output for live streaming classes, a built in Limiter to hold the sound at a pre - set level, and a special input for Virtual Cycling Class soundtracks. This ensures that your clients can’t alter the volume of your sound without consulting a staff member first.
5. LED Lighting - Creates the Atmosphere
So, you have great sound in your studio, but something is missing. The atmosphere isn’t quite right.
It’s time to take a look at your lighting: cold white fluorescent strip lights across the ceil ing are guaranteed to kill the mood!
Instead, you should opt for dynamic, colour - changing LED strip lighting. If possible, get a lighting system that is programmable, and allows you to play pre - set light shows that move with the rhythm of your music.
Th is will create an engaging, motivational atmosphere that will leave your customers wanting more and looking forward to their next visit!
For more information on enhancing the AV in your spin studio, get in touch with Fitness Audio today!
At Fitness Audio, we always recommend Fitness Instructors choose wireless mic systems when it comes to teaching their classes. Read on to find out our top three reasons why!
1. Safer
With fewer cables, comes fewer accidents. Traditional microphone systems require much more cabling than wireless systems. This can be a tripping hazard, particularly in a fitness class environment.
Using a wireless microphone system is therefore the safer option for Group Exercise Instructors and members alike.
2. Greater Flexibility
Using a wireless mic system also allows for far greater flexibility. Fitness Instructors aren’t restricted to certain areas and can hence move around their class more freely and have greater flexibility to teach in different locations.
Fewer wires also grants Instructors greater mobility. This is particularly helpful in group fitness classes as Fitness Trainers are able to demonstrate all exercises without having their movement restricted by cables.
3. More Reliable Sound
Lastly, wireless mic systems also offer more reliable sound. As there are fewer cables and connections, there is less opportunity for damage to occur. This allows for more reliable audio and a much lower chance of sound complications from occurring.
For all your fitness microphone needs, get in contact with Fitness Audio today. Our extensive range of wireless mic packages will guarantee that we have the perfect audio solution for your fitness class!
Boxing class is becoming an increasingly popular workout for many people around the world. Because of this, more and more gyms are beginning to offer Boxing as one of their core group fitness classes and more and more Fitness Instructors are gaining Boxing qualifications.
This means that if you run or teach a Boxing class, now is the prime time to take it to the next level. Failure to do so may cost you your clients and even your business.
Fortunately, Fitness Audio is here to help you keep your Boxing class competitive and maximise member retention. Read on to find out more!
Amp Up Your Atmosphere
A quick and easy way of taking your Boxing class to the next level is to revamp your Boxing studio’s environment.
Installing a quality sound system and a vibrant lighting system can go a long way in boosting your clients’ motivation levels and providing them with a quality and effective workout experience.
A pumping sound system and immersive lighting install will also differentiate your studio from competitors. All Boxing centres have Boxing equipment and Boxing Instructors, but few have state of the art sound installs and dynamic, colour-changing lights. Having them in your gym will therefore give your Boxing studio a competitive edge, maximise member retention, and attract new clients!
For custom-designed and installed gym sound and lighting, get in touch with Fitness Audio today!
Make Your Class a Fun Experience
Making sure your clients not only have an effective workout, but also have fun in your Boxing class is also a must. Remembering names, getting to know your clients, and helping them get to know each other goes a long way in creating a more personal and comfortable experience for both you and your students.
Don’t be afraid to joke around either. This will make you seem much more approachable and make your members much more comfortable in your Boxing class, particularly if they are beginners.
If members feel comfortable in and enjoy coming to your Boxing classes, they will be much more likely to stay and encourage their friends and family to join them!
Don’t Stop Learning!
Lastly, great Boxing Instructors never stop learning! Learning and practising different techniques, strength and conditioning exercises, and speed and agility training will equip you with the knowledge and capability to teach your students more and teach them better. It also gives you the opportunity to try and test different exercises and techniques to figure out what works and what does not before you take them to your Boxing class.
For more information on levelling up your Boxing class, talk to Fitness Audio today!
Growing your exercise class can be a constant battle. Here are three top tips from group fitness experts, Les Mills Asia Pacific.
Step 1. Ask other teachers to promote your timeslot
Once you’ve gotten to know the rest of the team, ask them to mention your class to their members. “I remember asking a bunch of fellow Instructors to help me out and let their participants know about a class I was teaching that historically didn’t have high attendance,” says BODYBALANCE® Instructor Carina Smith. “The response from members was: “What? I had no idea this class was offered!” It’s great to get the word out ourselves, but you don’t see ALL the members, so recruit Instructors to help you get the word out to as many people as possible.”
It’s also a great idea to connect with the personal trainers at your gym and share the benefits of the classes you teach. They may have clients for whom adding in your class can complement the sessions they’re doing with the personal trainer.
Step 2. Promote your classes on social media
When asked about the biggest benefit of social media for Instructors, Les Mills Program Director Rachael Newsham is unequivocal: “Filling your classes. When you post on social media, you automatically reach a wider audience and you can keep people updated with when you’re doing covers, telling them what tracks you’re going to teach... it’s a way to keep the conversation going outside of class, and helps your members feel more connected to you. And at the end of the day, we all want to feel connected.”
Step 3. Learn names and focus on connection
Les Mills Ambassador, Reagan Kang says his ability to connect is the reason people keep coming back to his classes. “I focus on making people feel like they’re the only person in the room. I learn names and I try to talk to everyone in the room to make them feel connected so that the next hour is just you, me, the music and the workout. I want them to forget everything else that’s going on in their lives so we can just focus on what we’re doing. Then, when they leave the class, they feel a lot better about themselves.”
Lizzie Broome agrees: “Talk to your members before class and get their names. At the end, try to address them by their names and ask them how the class went. The chances of them returning is greater when you connect with people on a first name basis. If you see them in the gym, say ‘hi’ to them and ask them if you’ll see them in class that week.”
Article courtesy of Les Mills Asia Pacific.
When it comes to group exercise classes, it is an absolute necessity that attendants are able to hear the Fitness Instructor’s instructions. Not being able to hear clearly makes it very difficult to follow along and have a positive workout experience.
It is for this reason, having a high-quality headmic for your Instructors is a must! Here is some information to help you choose the right fitness microphone for your class.
Wireless Headset Microphone Systems
Wireless headset mics are the ideal choice for Fitness Teachers. They don’t restrict movement, allowing for better mobility and freedom to demonstrate all exercises as required. They also offer great voice projection with less feedback than lapel mics.
These types of microphones work through the use of a transmitter. This is a device that captures the audio going into your microphone and transfers it to your speakers. There are two different types of mic transmitter systems that Exercise Instructors can choose between.
Bodypack Transmitters
As the name implies, this transmitter is in a bodypack (or battery pack) that can be worn on the body or in an Aeromic Pouchbelt. Bodypack transmitters are the ideal choice for Fitness Instructors as they have minimal contact with sweat, particularly when placed in a mic belt. Our Fitness Audio SM716 transmitters are also sweat protected by a lacquer coating on the circuit board inside. This maximises sweat protection, greatly reducing the chances of damage occurring to your transmitter.
Headset Transmitters
Headset transmitters can be clipped on to the microphone frame and worn on the headset mic. The cables-less design makes these transmitters very popular amongst Fitness Instructors. However, as they are worn on the head, they are not as well protected from sweat. For this reason, our Fitness Audio MT-U8 Mini Tx transmitters have additional sweat-protection measures. Like our bodypack transmitters, our headset transmitters are made with a sweat-resistant lacquer coating over the circuit. We also supply these transmitters with ‘Yoga Wraps’, a flat piece of neoprene with Velcro fixings that wraps around the transmitters as its first line of sweat defence.
Maintenance Tips
Regardless of which transmitter type you choose, it is important you take good care of it in order to maximise its lifespan and effectiveness. Here are some tips for maintaining your microphone and transmitter.
- As wear-and-tear occurs most commonly at the connectors (where the mic plugs into the transmitter), regular cleaning using DeoxIT cleaner and greasing using eGloop around the panel plug goes a long way!
- As the microphone output degrades gradually as a result of moisture clogging, the best practice is to change the windscreen with every user. This will prolong your microphone’s lifespan and help maintain better hygiene practices in your gym.
- Hanging your fitness mic and transmitter out to dry between classes is also highly recommended, particularly if you are using a headset transmitter. This will reduce damages caused by moisture clogging from occurring.
At Fitness Audio, we specialise in AV equipment specifically designed for gyms and Fitness Centres. This means that unlike other general AV providers, we need to take sweat into consideration when we design and manufacture our products.
In order to tackle this challenge, we have come up with numerous ways to keep our products safe from sweat. This way, Fitness Instructors can enjoy peace of mind knowing that their microphones and transmitters will last! Here’s how.
Carbon Collar
Our Aeromics and Cyclemics are both made with our specially designed Carbon Collars. These collars are acoustically transparent and protect the mesh in front of the mic capsule from getting clogged or wet from spit or sweat.
Waterproof Capsule
Your microphone’s capsule is exposed to the most moisture, whether it’s spit or sweat. Because of this, we manufacture our microphones with waterproof capsules in order to reduce the chances of moisture or clogging related damages occurring to your fitness mic.
Sealed, Reinforced Frames
All our microphone frames are sealed and reinforced to further prevent sweat from getting inside. All connectors are also sweat protected as this is where moisture damage most commonly occurs.
Corrosion-Resistant Lacquer
Like headmics, mic transmitters can also be damaged by sweat. Because of this, we add a corrosion-resistant lacquer to the circuit boards of our transmitters to prevent sweat damage.
Our fitness microphone systems have been dubbed ‘the best bet against sweat’ and are built to last! However, there are some things you can do to further protect your audio equipment from sweat damage. This includes:
- Always storing your bodypack transmitter in a quality, neoprene mic belt, such as an Aeromic Pouchbelt.
- Hanging your microphone and transmitter out to dry in a well-ventilated area between classes.
- Cleaning out the connection plug with DeoxIT cleaner and greasing with eGloop Sweat Protection Paste regularly.
Right now, Yoga is more popular than ever. More and more people are getting into Yoga and more and more Yoga studios are opening up. Because of this, it is critical to look into ways to improve your Yoga class. Doing so will keep your class competitive and prevent other Yoga studios from snatching up your clients.
Fortunately, Fitness Audio is here to help with three easy ways you can level-up your Yoga class.
Explain Everything Clearly
Most Yoga Instructors are well-trained on how to explain each pose and direct their students into those poses. What’s also important is explaining the importance of each pose. Giving a quick explanation of what each pose does and what it improves (whether it’s core strength, posture, flexibility, etc) goes a long way in creating a more positive Yoga class experience. Your students will come out of each class feeling as though they had an effective Yoga session and learnt something new along the way.
Whether you’re explaining how to get into a pose or what a pose does, making sure your class can hear you clearly is an absolute necessity. Fitness Audio recommends all Group Fitness Instructors, including Yoga Instructors, invest in a quality fitness microphone so they can be heard by all their students.
Even though Yoga is a more quiet, less-intense fitness class, a solid microphone and sound system can go a long way!
Use Music to Your Advantage
Playing calming, meditative music will also improve the experience your students have in your Yoga class. Researching Yoga music and curating a playlist for your class will boost the ambience of your Yoga class’s environment and set a more relaxing vibe.
Once again, you want to ensure you have the right sound equipment that will allow you to play clear, quality-sounding music and talk to your class simultaneously.
Whether your Yoga class is indoors or outdoors, Fitness Audio has the perfect sound system for you. Click here to view our full range of gym sound systems.
Connect With Your Members
Last but not least, you want to make an effort to connect with your members. Simply remembering names, sticking around before and after your class to chat to your students, and facilitating conversation between them goes a long way in adding a personal touch to your Yoga class.
This will reinforce your students’ loyalty to your class and prevent them from wanting to change to other Yoga studios.
For more information on levelling-up your Yoga class, contact Fitness Audio today!
Contrary to popular belief, cleaning your fitness mic with alcohol, gym wipes, disinfectants, or UV lights is not the best method, and can actually be harmful to your wireless mic electronics.
Fortunately, there are other ways you can keep your headmic clean and germ-free.
The single best option is to use your own personal headset microphone, windscreens and pouch/mic belts (if your system has a body pack transmitter), and follow the tips below for cleaning and storage.
Headset Microphone Cleaning and Storage
To keep your fitness mic clean, wipe it off with a dry cloth after each use. Clean the connector out with Deoxit Cleaner every now and then to remove any build-ups and prevent microphone crackling.
Avoid using disinfectants such as Lysol and Isopropyl Alcohol as they may degrade the plastic coating on some headset mic boom arms and headbands. If disinfectant gets into the mic element, it can ruin it permanently.
When it comes to storage, the best place to store your headmic is in a headset mic case. If you don’t have one, use a tupperware type container with a lid. Poke holes in the lid so air can circulate and let the mic dry out between uses.
Our new Fitness Audio mic cases are designed to store and protect all our mics. They even include a handy accessory holder for your windsocks, transmitters, and other small mic accessories.
Mic Windscreen Cleaning
Every Exercise Instructor should use their own windscreens even if they are sharing microphones. Replace your mic windscreen every few classes and hand wash them gently in warm water. After washing, thoroughly rinse your windscreens and let air dry.
Mic Belt Cleaning
Like windscreens, each Fitness Instructor should use their own mic belt. To clean your mic belt, gently hand wash it in warm water, rinse thoroughly, and let air dry.
Belt/Body Pack Transmitter Cleaning
To keep your audio transmitter clean, wipe it down after each use with a dry cloth. Use Deoxit Cleaner every now and then to clean your transmitter and remove build-ups and use our eGloop for added corrosion protection.
Following these tips will keep your wireless mic equipment clean and prevent sweat and moisture damage from occurring.
One of the most common audio issues many Fitness Instructors and Group Exercise Directors have to deal with is microphone feedback on their wireless mic systems. Although this is an annoying thing to have to deal with, it is usually fairly easy to resolve.
What is Microphone Feedback?
Microphone feedback refers to the squealing or whale-like sound you get when a microphone picks itself up through the speakers. When this occurs, it feeds the sound back into the speakers, making a loop.
This can be disruptive to your group fitness class and cause you to lose members. Because of this, it is important that Fitness Teachers understand not only why mic feedback occurs, but also how to stop it.
How to Prevent Microphone Feedback?
There are a few easy fixes Exercise Instructors can implement to stop mic feedback. Firstly, try turning down the trim or gain control on your wireless microphone transmitter. If that doesn’t work, rearrange the speakers in your fitness studio so that they are not pointing back at the Instructor. Also for the sake of your sound quality, make sure your speakers are not positioned in the four corners of your exercise room! Finally, if you’re still experiencing feedback, try adjusting your equaliser on your fitness mixer controls to minimise the group of sounds (bass or treble) that is giving you issues.
If neither of these things work, give Fitness Audio a call! Our audio experts are always happy to help.
P.S. if your wireless mic system is cutting in and out, making popping sounds, or you hear static, it's probably not microphone feedback, but we can usually help with that, too.
Whether you’re an experienced Virtual Fitness Instructor or you’re new to the game, it is paramount that you have the right tools.
Streaming your fitness classes isn’t always easy and there are a multitude of complications that can arise, so ensuring you have the right equipment to prevent them will give you the best shot at running a successful online fitness class.
Here are Fitness Audio's top 3 tools that every Virtual Fitness Instructor needs.
1. An Audio Mixer
If you want nice, clear sound, a quality audio mixer is going to be important.
Having one that can accommodate a microphone and speakers at a minimum will give you the best shot at ensuring you are delivering crystal-clear audio to your fitness class.
A quality mixer will also help ensure that your music does not overpower your voice. This way your class will be able to hear you clearly and listen to your pumping playlist while they workout.
2. A Microphone
Investing in a solid fitness mic is a must!
There’s nothing more disappointing than attending a virtual fitness class where you can’t even hear the Fitness Instructor.
Having a good-quality fitness microphone that won’t restrict your movements will ensure that your class can hear you clearly and follow along easily. It will also prevent that awful crackling noise that often occurs when using poor-quality mics.
3. Our Advice
Although setting up your streaming equipment may seem fairly straightforward, professional advice always helps!
Whether you encounter an audio issue or you simply want advice on what equipment would be best for your virtual class, Fitness Audio is always here to help.
Contact our team here!
