Best Practices For Vocal Mics On Stage

Don’t Drop the Mic

Let’s first address something that has become a phrase in popular culture in recent years: “Drop the mic.” It’s been used in advertising, movies, etc., but the idea is ridiculous, just ask any sound engineer.

Its origins are probably based in rap competitions where dropping the mic was a symbolic way of announcing you have defeated your challenger. But given that dropping a microphone from a height of about 5 feet to a hard stage, would not only cause damage to the microphone physically but would also be a nightmare for a sound engineer. The impact could send a large transient spike through a sound system that could damage speakers and ears! This has escalated to people aggressively throwing microphones down.

If you spent your own hard-earned money on a quality dynamic microphone you know you’re going to be spending at least $100 on replacing a microphone should it break. So, whether the microphone is your own or not, never drop or throw a microphone down. It’s a sure way to break it. 

Proper Microphone Handling

If you are a lead singer who holds the microphone while performing, there are a few important things to know. Despite having seen famous singers hold microphones a certain way, it should be noted there are many bad habits to avoid. Never cup your hand over or around the top of the microphone. If you’re using a dynamic microphone that has a round metal windscreen ball, you may have seen people place their hand around that ball when holding the microphone. Whether you think this looks cool or not, it causes a nightmare for controlling feedback and degrades clarity of sound. By wrapping your hand around the windscreen, you are limiting the way sound disperses across the microphone’s element. In essence, you are trapping sound within that ball windscreen which will cause a buildup of certain frequencies that impacts clarity and causes feedback. No amount of EQ will restore sound quality when the windscreen ball is held like this. Hold the microphone properly with your hand on the handle area. This will allow for proper function as designed. 

Don’t Eat The Microphone

Once again you may have seen famous musicians place the microphone very close to their mouth or even inside as they sing. This can cause the same issue as gripping the microphone windscreen. Placing your face too close to the microphone can cause sound to bounce back into the microphone which can cause feedback and loss of clarity. Sometimes the gain is set too high on a vocal mic which can cause feedback issues when your face is too close to the microphone. Learning how to use a proper distance can not only eliminate feedback, but it can also help in your performance where the distance from the microphone can help physically create a better blend of vocals. We are talking about the “proximity effect” where the closer you are to the microphone; the louder the low frequencies become. It is often the case where one vocal is the lead and the other band members are backing vocals. If a backing vocalist is physically closer to the microphone compared to the lead singer, then the proximity effect will make mixing these vocals difficult. The proximity effect will introduce a “hefty” sounding backing vocal that won’t easily mix with a thinner sounding lead vocal. This is especially a challenge when the lead vocalist is female, and the backing vocalists are male. The male voice inherently has more low frequencies and backing away from the microphone can help balance and blend the voices organically. 

Clean And Care For Your Microphones

Most dynamic microphones have a layer of foam on the inside of the ball windscreen. This is something that should be cleaned on a regular basis. Mouth moisture can accumulate on the foam and cause mold and health issues. Using a cotton swab soaked with isopropyl alcohol or even an alcohol-based mouthwash can be used to clean and sanitize the ball windscreen. Most ball windscreens can be removed for cleaning. Even if you are the only person using the microphone, it is a good idea to clean it on a regular basis.

In conclusion, you should clean and maintain your microphones to keep them operating at their best. Don't treat them badly by tossing or dropping them onto the stage. Never hold the microphone incorrectly or tamper with its design. Moreover, maintain the appropriate distance from the microphone. When used in tandem, these suggestions will extend the life of your microphone and enhance on-stage sound quality.

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