Q: I’m the singer in a band, and I’m having problems with the monitors feeding back into my microphone on stage. Any suggestions?
A: Without more details, it is tough to give a specific answer to your question. There are many, many potential reasons why you might be having feedback problems. However, here are a few common reasons for you to consider:
- Too much stage volume requiring excessive monitor volume
- Nearby walls or ceilings causing reflections into the mic
- Poor or no feedback-reducing EQ on the monitor signal
- Poor microphone technique (keep the “null” in the mic’s polar pattern pointed at the monitor)
Beyond this, there are lots of other possibilities. For example, are you placing the monitor properly for your mic’s polar pattern? If you have a cardioid mic, the null is at 180 degrees, so place the monitor directly behind the mic. But with a mic with a hypercardioid or supercardioid pattern, you may get better results placing the monitor(s) slightly off to one side, as there are multiple nulls that are slightly off the 180 degree axis.
You might also consider purchasing a feedback eliminator/suppressor, which can be used to automatically find and control frequencies that are causing feedback problems.
We recommend contacting your Sweetwater Sales Engineer. He or she will be happy to discuss the specifics of your situation with you and to recommend appropriate solutions.
