How to Mic a Panel Discussion

Getting audio right can make or break a panel. The trick isn’t just “more microphones”; it’s choosing the right type for your speakers, room, and budget—and keeping the setup simple enough that it runs smoothly without a full-time technician.

Sportfish Jeremy wade presenting, Berkshire

The three common options

Handheld wireless mics
Great for most live panels if used correctly. A handheld encourages clear, close-miking (good gain before feedback), and it’s easy to pass to another panellist if you’re sharing. Modern handhelds are robust, familiar, and forgiving in lively rooms.

Lapel (lavalier) mics
Best for filming and broadcast-style capture, as they keep hands free and stay consistent on camera. Live, they can be trickier: placement is fiddly, clothing noise is a risk, and nervous speakers often lean back, whisper, or cover the capsule—reducing clarity and increasing feedback risk.

Push-to-talk (PTT) table mics
Cost-effective and tidy when you have a top table. Each mic sits on the desk; a button activates it. They’re simple to use and excellent for voice reinforcement in quieter rooms. The trade-offs: you’ll need a table (which changes the stage look and uses space), and the aesthetic is more “meeting” than “fireside chat”.

Presenter using Lapel at Lectern - Oxfordshire Air-Tanker

Quick chooser: which mic for which panel?

Budget & staffing: keeping costs under control

• Share microphones sensibly. For a 4–6 person panel, two handhelds can work well if you plan the flow (e.g., pass left to right). This cuts wireless channels, batteries, and setup time.

• Reduce the need for an onsite tech. A simplified input list (e.g., 2–3 handhelds + basic mixer with auto-mix) can run with light support. Handhelds are easier for non-technical moderators to manage than lapels.

• Avoid lapel spares unless filming demands it. Lapels often require a technician to rig, set gain, and chase rustle/feedback during Q&A. If you don’t need the on-camera look, handhelds typically save tech time.

• PTT for fixed top tables. They’re affordable and intuitive; you can use built-in logic or an auto-mixer to keep active mics under control without riding faders all event.

Pro tip: If you’re not hiring an onsite engineer, ask for auto-mixing on the mixer or PTT system. It automatically opens the mic that’s speaking and ducks the rest, helping clarity and reducing feedback risk.

Stage with set - product launch and update Guildford Orla Kiely

Pros and cons in detail

Handheld wireless mics

Pros

• Best live intelligibility; mic naturally held close to the mouth

• Easy to share across panellists; minimal rigging time

• Fewer feedback issues in reflective rooms

• Works with standing or seated formats

Cons

• Visual presence is obvious on stage and on camera

• Requires mic discipline (don’t drift the mic to the lap!)

Best for: Most live panels, tight schedules, shared-mic budgets.

Set, stage, led screen and branding. Royal Mid-surrey golf club

Lapel (lavalier) mics

Pros

• Unobtrusive on camera; hands-free

• Consistent position when fitted well

• Great if panellists stand, gesture, or handle notes

Cons

• More prone to clothing noise and feedback in PA systems

• Nervous speakers fidget, touch, or cover the capsule

• Slower to rig; usually needs a tech to manage gain and EQ

Best for: Filming/livestreams where the look matters more than raw PA gain.

Jeremy Wade Panel Discussion with Press To Talk mics (PTT)

Push-to-talk (PTT) table mics

Pros

• Cost-effective; clear “on/off” control for each seat

• Clean stage cabling on a top table

• Works well with auto-mixing for low-touch operation

Cons

• Requires a table (changes the stage design and uses space)

• More “board meeting” look than “fireside chat”

• Not suitable for stool seating or casual setups

Best for: AGMs, boardrooms, council chambers, and formal desks.

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Layout & logistics that keep audio happy

• Stage plan first. Decide whether you’ll have a table. If not, PTT is out.

• Speaker briefing. One minute to show how to hold a handheld (thumb to chin) saves the whole show.

• Audience Q&A. Add one roaming handheld for questions; it avoids people shouting from the back.

• Spare batteries. Always. Swap at the halfway point for longer sessions.

• Monitors. If the panel can’t hear themselves, they’ll shout or drift—add a small front-fill or foldback.

The bottom line

• Handhelds are great for live sound and easy operation—particularly with shared-mic setups that keep budgets tidy.

• Lapels are the filming favourite but can be unforgiving live, especially with nervous speakers or loud rooms.

• PTT is cost-effective and simple when a top table fits the plan, but it will influence your stage look and space.

If you’d like help choosing the right setup for your event, we can recommend a package that fits the room, format, and budget

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