Xvive U8

Most acoustic guitars that turn up to a gig have no pickup, and the usual answer is a microphone on a stand in front of the player with a request not to move. The Xvive U8 solves both at once: a clamp grips the side of the guitar without touching the top, the condenser microphone sits over the soundhole on a flexible gooseneck, and the signal travels by radio to the receiver plugged into the desk.

The guitarist can stand up, walk towards the guests or move during the ceremony without the sound changing, because the microphone moves with the instrument. The gooseneck swivels and the capsule detaches, so it goes where each guitar actually sounds best rather than where the stand happens to reach.

It runs on 2.4 GHz with six selectable channels, 24-bit audio and up to 27 metres of range. The battery gives around five hours and fast-charges in two and a half over USB. It comes with a case, the clamp and a windscreen, which matters if the ceremony is outdoors by the sea. We hire it for weddings, ceremonies and acoustic gigs across Costa Blanca South.