Do you know singers whose singing is too loud, overdriven, distorted, muffled, or getting feedback? Here are some mic handling tips to make sure that singer isn't YOU.
It's Not an Ice Cream Cone
Never hold the mic vertically like an ice cream cone. If you sing like this, your voice will travel over the mic and across the grille. This position will barely pick up the sound in a clear way. Instead hold it horizontal (at 1 to 2 fists distance away) with the head of the microphone facing your mouth.
Avoiding Plosives
Place the mic slightly off-axis to your mouth... not directly in front of it. This helps avoid plosives and other unwanted noise. Plosives are the breath sounds that come when saying P and B.
Dynamic Mics
Dynamic mics often benefit from closer placement (5-15cm/ approx 2-6 inches)
Dynamic mics often benefit from closer placement (5-15cm/ approx 2-6 inches)
Condenser Mics
Condenser mics should be placed further away (10-20cm/ approx 4-8 inches).
Condenser mics should be placed further away (10-20cm/ approx 4-8 inches).
Know your Levels
The best thing to do is make sure that you have proper levels with how loud your voice is and how much the mic is picking you up. We can hear this best through a monitor which is any device that is playing what the mic is picking up from your voice back to you.