If there’s one thing to focus on when it comes to your
microphone, it’s positioning. Without the right positioning, the sound will
suffer. What you want to do is get as close to the microphone as you can
without bringing unwanted sounds into the mix. It’s all about ambient noise and
just how much you want your audience to hear (and in most cases you want them
to hear very little).
Of course, how close is too close will depend on the type of
microphone you’re using and its purpose. For example, if it’s a drum
microphone, you want it to be close enough to get the thump and the pounding
but without the distortion. That’s why bass drum microphones usually sit on
special padding. This works to block some of the vibration that would otherwise
cloud the sound and drown out the good stuff. Yet, snare drum mics don’t
require anything like that, those need to get as close to the skin as possible
without touching it.
If you’re a singer then you’ve probably noticed that vocals
can overwhelm a microphone quite easily.
If you have it positioned too close then you are going to get a lot of
pushed air sounds as well as popping noises that can really detract from songs.
With the mic held a little farther away it will be able to catch a fuller, more
pleasing range of sound. Your vocals will be balanced, well rounded, and less
cloudy and low.
If you are looking to have several mics on stage then you
need to consider a whole new kettle of fish. Phasing and cancellation must be
looked at if you want to make sure your show goes off without a hitch. You see,
sound waves can really get in the way of each other and when this happens it
can screw with your overall sound. You will find that the wrong mics are
picking up various sounds and amplifying them too many times while overriding
other essential sounds. That’s just one
more reason why good placement of microphones is key.
Now as to actually doing the placement, that will depend on
the venue’s size, shape and acoustics. Each place you play is different and the
best way to figure out what works best is to run a good sound check, maybe even
a few, before the show.
Mic positioning and placement is the basis to having a
rockin’ show each night. Learning the fundamentals is easy and something anyone
who performs on stage should take the time to do.
