Poll: Do you use semi-open headsets when doing simultaneous interpreting?
Autor vlákna: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
PRACOVNÍK SERVERU
Nov 28, 2025

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you use semi-open headsets when doing simultaneous interpreting?".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugalsko
Local time: 17:33
Člen (2007)
angličtina -> portugalština
+ ...
Not applicable Nov 28, 2025

I am not an interpreter. As a "frequent flyer" on Proz, I believe that most Proz members are translators. Please correct me if I am wrong...

Claudio Machado Junior
 
Maria Laura Curzi
Maria Laura Curzi  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 13:33
angličtina -> španělština
+ ...
Other - Whatever they provide me with Nov 28, 2025

I only do on-site interpreting, not virtual. That means I don't have professional equipment, so I usually use whatever equipment the organizer of the event provides.

To me, a booth is far more important than the type of headset, because a booth helps much more to reduce the level of noise than the headset.


Daryo
 
Daryo
Daryo
Local time: 17:33
srbština -> angličtina
+ ...
Irrelevant Nov 30, 2025

Maria Laura Curzi wrote:

I only do on-site interpreting, not virtual. That means I don't have professional equipment, so I usually use whatever equipment the organizer of the event provides.

To me, a booth is far more important than the type of headset, because a booth helps much more to reduce the level of noise than the headset.


Yes, for simultaneous interpreting a well sound-proofed booth is a must. And conference participants who don't forget to press the ON button on the mike in front of them when they speak ...

OTOH for consecutive interpreting all you need is pen and paper and your own shorthand system for making notes.

Never heard before of semi-open headsets. So I checked what it is. NEVER saw them used in conference centres equipped for simultaneous interpreting, and I very much doubt they ever will.

EVEN if you're doing 'remote **simultaneous** interpreting' from your home, a semi-open headsets i.e. a headset 'leaking sound in the environment' does not sound like a good idea - the recipient of the interpreted speech wants to hear what you have to say without your mike picking up the original speech as background noise.

The kind of question you would expect from someone too afraid to get anywhere near water asking about equipment for SCUBA diving...


Maria Laura Curzi
 


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Poll: Do you use semi-open headsets when doing simultaneous interpreting?






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