mic feedback

[alterboy]

Historically, I have had a ton of problems with wireless microphone feedback at my mobile gigs, what have you guys done to fix this problem?

[jfunke]

Historically, I have had a ton of problems with wireless microphone feedback at my mobile gigs, what have you guys done to fix this problem? And this is the point where I begin to be a jerk and say that DJ's know next to nothing about audio... But wait: I'm a dj.... yikes.


The answer is easy: EQ.

Graphic EQ's are the solution. The feedback you hear is a frequency, represented by a fader on the Graphic EQ. Find the frequency that is misbehaving and cut it.

Feedback surpressors are noisy, and, problematic. Learn your frequencies (and how to spell, unlike myself) and DO NOT let someone con you into a feedback (automatic parametric EQ) surpression devise. They introduce unneccessary noise into the system.

My previous statement:
There is no law that states you need to have any technical expierence to be a jock. So, take what you need to learn <from a technical standpoint, like a FOH engineer>, and couple it with Talent as a jock, and you'll be way ahead of the curve.

Regards,

J. Funke


PS> Shure 58's are great for self-defense and that's about it. Check out the Audix mic (OM series :sleep: ) for a good announcement mic.

[jfunke]

And you can e-mail me as well jfunke@eqsound.com or check out prosoundweb.com ->LAB Lounge for good threads and info

[djmusicman]

the only thing i can say would be do many mic test before everyone arrives, depending on your system, when you talk, try having your mic level higher then your master sound level when you talk, so they will hear you much better.

[DJ GloX]

Ok, I do the audio around at my church. so I know a few things about mics and feedback.
First, I would suggest a mic with a narrow recieving radius. the Shure Beta 568A's seem to work good (the ones with the flat tops). next, mind the distance and position of the mic and the output speaker. Of course, try not to get too close of the speaker, and try to stay out of its direct path. I dont know if any of the DJ mixers have mic gain controls like the ones one a studio mixer. If so, turn the gain down a bit, and push the volume up. (Do this slowly if the mic is currently in use) Well, thats all I have to say..

Gain down
Volume up

[Ohashi]

mostly i would reccomend investing in a graphic eq though. not only will it really help eliminate feedback, but you can tune your system to the room, which can really help a mix. you want to control the environment as much as possible, i've only done 1 gig, and i know this.

[djscrizzle]

Ok, I do the audio around at my church. so I know a few things about mics and feedback.
First, I would suggest a mic with a narrow recieving radius. the Shure Beta 568A's seem to work good (the ones with the flat tops). next, mind the distance and position of the mic and the output speaker. Of course, try not to get too close of the speaker, and try to stay out of its direct path. I dont know if any of the DJ mixers have mic gain controls like the ones one a studio mixer. If so, turn the gain down a bit, and push the volume up. (Do this slowly if the mic is currently in use) Well, thats all I have to say..

Gain down
Volume up
The Tascam XS-4 has a little knob by the mic jack on the rear panel of it. Its labeled ADJ. but its really a gain control. I set that on mine to 3/4 of the way up and just use the mic volume on top to fine adj it to whats needed at the time...

[alterboy]

Thanks for the responses.

I have tried a feedback suppressor, which I still can't quite figure out. :)

I will pick up an equalizer and see how that works.

[JGeffen]

Check out the behringer ultra curve pro 8024. I've used those before in any and all occassions for anything w/ a mic. If feedback occurs, it automatically determines the frequency on which it is happening, and filters it out. Furthermore, it also sets itself up automatically.

[alterboy]

Check out the behringer ultra curve pro 8024. I've used those before in any and all occassions for anything w/ a mic. If feedback occurs, it automatically determines the frequency on which it is happening, and filters it out. Furthermore, it also sets itself up automatically.

I have a Behringer Shark, but I think it is defective. It works great for a sound check and at lower volume, but it seems like just as soon as you are cranking the volume and you are "on", the mic will feedback as if it wasn't even there. It is totally perplexing.

[Ohashi]

i hate to brand bash, but it's Behringer, you pretty much have to expect it. you're going to be facing this feedback problem every time you play out, so invest in some decent equipment. Behringer basically takes a good design and makes it for less money. Gain structure and EQ'ing is your best bet, but if you can't be bothered to figure that stuff out, then invest in a proper feedback destroyer. Maybe something like the DBX AFS224.

good luck

[DJ FatMaster]

I always thought it began with quality equipment, and from that standpoint Im gonna say your going to need Shure or Audio Technica mics which I have had good experiences with...good luck bro


:dj: FAT

[Ohashi]

Shure makes great mics, but you have to assess whether or not you really need quality mics. I don't know if you have a lot of people speaking or anything, but if it's just you saying hello every so often, you don't really need a good mic at all. if you're going to have someone rap over you or something, then get a shure sm 58, that mic has been tested for years, and it still runs strong.

[TheLostProphet]

I will pick up an equalizer and see how that works.

Money bags...?

[DJSAL]

its a matter of tweaking it and doing soundchecks. I usually set the gain to about 6 oclock on the Mic receiver, and about 5 oclock on my mixer, and dont go directly in front or too close to the drivers in your speakers.

[LunchieTey]

I've got an ultracurve 8024(it's 3 years old and i've only had to replace the lithium memory bettery and thats it) and the feedback destroyer works perfectly well(I guess I just know how to use it). Recently a stupid drunk clown,grabbed my shure PG58 and switched it on directly in front of 125+db of midrange speaker,the 6 bands of feedback destroyer(set to search/auto) continually killed the many feedback tones that crept in,and gave me enuff time to run back and pull the gain down(damn dj groupies got my attention! :hbanana: ) if it wasn't there,i'd be replacing expensive NEO compression drivers.As far as noise,this piece of equipment makes less than my crown amp.
Another time I had to run the system at an isolated old pub(100+yrs old) and the(town generator!) power caused a nice 50hz hum through the subs,the feedback destroyer pulled a 1/60th octave -24db cut and it went away.Didn't notice any change in sound(apart from no more hum)
It also has a nice auto EQ function and an RTA which both work very well-I also use it to test new speaker systems I build.
Speaker/mic placement will help heaps too,aim them away from the mics!

[JGeffen]

yep, I can confirm LunchieTay 240%. I really like that machine, and it's worked for me and the company I worked for. If anything, it's Behringer's saving grace.

[kmix]

has anyone used the behringer deq2496 to kill feed back and if so how well did it work?

[Monomer]

PS> Shure 58's are great for self-defense and that's about it. Check out the Audix mic (OM series :sleep: ) for a good announcement mic.


58's are an industery standered.


somemore info to backup your claims?

[Ohashi]

i'm actually having a little problem with the gain on a Shure 58 mic i'm using. the gain is at 7 o clock and it's still really quiet i don't know why...

and yes the fader is up.

my guess is that it's just an old mic, i'll try replacing it tomorrow to see what's up, but i may be overlooking something. Monomer?

[DJ GloX]

oh, are you talking about the reciever? I'm talking about a mixer.

[Monomer]

i'm actually having a little problem with the gain on a Shure 58 mic i'm using. the gain is at 7 o clock and it's still really quiet i don't know why...

and yes the fader is up.

my guess is that it's just an old mic, i'll try replacing it tomorrow to see what's up, but i may be overlooking something. Monomer?


you running a decent pre-amp?

[Ohashi]

not running any pre-amps on any of the mics there. I think it might be the channel, hopefully i'll test it tomorrow.

haven't gotten into major troubleshooting yet, but for all other mics on the board, the gain is set at 12 and it's much louder than the output on that channel, and it's even from farther away. i could test the cable, i've already tried the mic, and it does it for others too.

EDIT: it was the channel, Behringer sucks.

[canadabass]

ok my 2 cents here .
like others are saying it all will start with a good mic!!!!!!
i have setup wireless mics from $18 to $1800 and let me say $169 is about where decent starts.
problem with most entry lever wireess is just that ...entry level.
you need a mic that is uni directional meaning if you lay it on the floor in the middle of a crowd and cue that channel on the mixer and listen in your headphones you really will not hear anything .
but if you speak directly into it you got sound.
now that you have a good mic you move on to eq settings.
6.3 feedsback easy so start there but even more important is where are you standing???
mosts mics feedback when they are right infront of your speakers even if you eq them .
but as you know when you fill a room with 300 people sound changes .
what i mean is it may feedback with you and 3 guys in the room but not later .
as others were saying here also keep your mic eq on the mixer flat as a high end spike there will also cause feedback.
i did monitors for 5 years indoors and out then did foh and thats schooling you cant get from readin .
keep playing around and look at what other dj's are using for stuff and it will all come toghether .
OR forget the mic at home like me one time and just mix.

shayne

[DjMixEm]

I have Problems at the Night Club I work at but Not in My studio. Why would that be, Same equipment is used. 2x Numark Axis 9's and a Numark Mixer. Only different Gear Used is the Clubs P.A.

[LunchieTey]

Well most clubs do try and flood the dancefloor area with sound. From where you are using the mic,do you have a big pair of monitors pointing at you? What about a plethora of flown cabs pointing all over the joint? Clubs are always louder than you think too,you need a very narrow pickup pattern(supercardoid) and need to speak quite loudly with low gain in a lot of them.
Also many clubs have quite reflective brick/concrete interiors and with all of those sound sources bouncing off walls it's not at all surprising you're getting feedback at the club.
Try wrapping your hand around the ball of the mic and hold it close to your mouth,only upping the gain when you speak. Might help a little :)

[davidjones@a2zm]

i would go with the feedback-killer product. and i also believe people underate the mic screen. it stops alot of potential problems.