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Microphone Basics
Microphone Position
The VHF-3000 is ideal for close-up vocals and can be held in the hand or mounted on a mic stand. The most
common applications and placement techniques are listed below. Keep in mind that microphone technique is largely a
matter of personal taste, and there is no one “correct” microphone position.
Proximity Effect
When the sound source is less than ¼” from the microphone, the microphone boosts bass frequencies (by 6 to 10
dB at 100 Hz), creating a warmer and richer bass sound than when farther away. This effect, known as proximity
effect, happens only in unidirectional dynamic microphones like the VHF-3000.
Feedback
Feedback occurs when the amplified sound from any loudspeaker reenters the sound system through any open
microphone and is repeatedly amplified. Most commonly, feedback is caused by the following conditions: placing
loudspeakers too close to microphones, having too many open active microphones, boosting tone controls
indiscriminately (mainly treble) and performing in areas with high ratios of room surfaces that have hard and reflective
surfaces such as glass, marble and wood. What to do if feedback occurs before the sound system is loud enough?
• Request that the talker speak louder into the microphone.
• Reduce the distance from the talker to the microphone. Each time this distance is halved, the sound system output
will increase by 6dB.
• Reduce the number of open microphones.
• Move the loudspeaker farther away from the microphone. Each time this distance is doubled, the sound system
output can be increased by 6dB.
• Move the loudspeaker closer to the listener.
• Use an equalizer/feedback reducer to cut the frequency bands in which the feedback occurs.
MICROPHONE PLACEMENT & TONE QUALITY
Lead & Backup Vocals
Lips should be less than 3” from or even touching the windscreen on an axis to the microphone. Doing this creates a
robust sound, emphasizes bass and provides maximum isolation from other sources.
Speech
When giving a speech or simply speaking, place the microphone 4” to 10” away from the mouth, just above nose
height for a natural sound with reduced bass. You can also place the microphone 8” to 16” away from the mouth,
slightly off to one side, for a more “distant” sound with highly reduced bass and minimal “s” sounds.
