If you have been a techie at a church for more then five minutes, you know that in a lot of ways the tech guy/team is the unsung hero of the weekend service. We are the Marines of the church world, the first ones in and the last ones out. In the same way, I think the intercom is the unsung hero of the tech equipment world. Let's be honest, just the fact that you need/have an intercom separates production from PROduction.
If you have a large stash of headsets, there is always a coveted headset: one that sounds better, or has the side tone set just right, or still has the padding on it rather than the gaff tape. Headset selection is really a very personal thing. There are a lot of variables that affect the decision. There are, however, two things you always want out of your headsets: for them to be comfortable and for them to work. Clear-Com's new CC-300 goes way beyond that. There are a lot of little features that make the design on this headset really smart, and it is really comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
SMART DESIGN
The designers at Clear-Com should really take a bow on this one because the design is great. The ear cup has a left/right pivot as well as an up/down pivot, giving it a lot more flexibility and fit than other headsets. It also has the right amount of tension to not be uncomfortable, but enough to keep it in place. However, the real standout feature is the articulating high-quality dynamic hypercardioid boom mic. The mic is very flexible, allowing precise positioning, and it sounds clear.
In the house of worship we know mics, and we know that one of the most important features on a mic is the ability to mute it. This mic has a genius feature to auto mute when it's moved out of talking position. Yeah, you read that right, the auto mute is engaged by just rotating the mic up, which most of us do out of instinct when we aren't talking into it. Once the mic gets up to your eyes it simply shuts off. Video directors are really going to like this feature, because you can easily and quickly address the people around you without communicating to everyone. A perfect use for this is if you need to talk to your presentation person, you can quickly mute yourself and your camera ops don't have to listen to the dialog that doesn't apply to them.
Another great application for this feature is one I had the displeasure of experiencing during the review: if you have a cold and have to cough, you don't have to go searching for the button on the body pack. Just rotate the mic out of the way and no one will hear you. Also, if you are using an integrated com and signal carrier on your cameras, this headset is great for camera ops, because you don't have to rely on the user to search for an inconveniently located talk button.
EASE OF REPAIR
The intercom is one of those pieces of gear that, once you get it in and working, you don't really think about it again until it breaks. As with most pieces of technology, the part most prone to breakage is the cable. This is fine because the repairs don't typically require more than a soldering iron, some heat shrink and pinout diagram. The headset itself is very well built, it has a nice solid feel, but in the event that you have to repair or replace the cable, it's not a problem.
The CC-300 is designed so that the cabling and connector type can be adapted quickly to any application. The headset is supplied with a standard four-pin female XLR connector; however, users can order cables with different XLR connector choices and appropriate pinouts. To change the cable in the field, simply disconnect the cable from the headset and exchange the cable with a standard Phillips screwdriver. No solder or heat shrink is necessary, making this an easy process to repair and replace a damaged cable on the fly. This is great way to ensure your headsets are compatible with your current and/or future intercom systems. The ability to alter or repair easily is a great little piece of future proofing, which is always a great selling point in the house of worship.
I never really thought of a headset as a difference-maker in the grand scheme of live production, but when you think about it, the intercom is one of the most used pieces of gear in your inventory. When you consider the fact that you have to wear it, and usually you have to wear it for long periods of time, it makes the intercom headset too important to not be a great piece of gear.
In all my years in live production, the intercom headset has tended to be uncomfortable and clunky, but the CC-300 is the first headset that I ever really liked. Add to that the price point of $290 and it's a small investment with a very good return.
