The Mic Is Part of Your Instrument
Many singers are trained to project their voice without amplification. When you add a microphone, everything changes. The mic picks up nuances your unamplified voice would never project — and it amplifies problems just as readily as strengths.
Distance and Dynamics
The most important microphone technique is controlling your distance from the mic based on your volume:
- Loud passages — pull the mic slightly away to avoid distortion
- Soft passages — bring the mic closer to maintain presence
- Belting — angle the mic slightly downward to reduce harshness
The Proximity Effect
Most microphones exhibit "proximity effect" — the closer you are, the more bass frequencies are emphasized. This can be used creatively (a warm, intimate sound on ballads) or avoided (pull back for clarity on fast passages).
Handling Noise
Hold the mic firmly but not tightly. Avoid gripping the capsule (the round top) — this causes feedback and muddies your sound. Hold the body of the mic and keep your hand still.
Feedback Prevention
Feedback (that horrible squeal) happens when the mic picks up the sound from the speakers and creates a loop. To prevent it:
- Don't point the mic at the speakers
- Stay in front of the speaker line
- Work with your sound engineer on gain levels
Practice with a Mic
If you're planning to perform with amplification, practice with a microphone. The skills don't transfer automatically from unamplified singing.
Our Bellevue instructors incorporate microphone technique into lessons for students who are preparing for performance.