INK 13: A dozen things to know about microphone use

{01} Everyone does it
•    Most community leaders will be called upon to use a microphone at some time
•    Knowing a few key facts about microphones can make the experience painless
{02} Microphones Differ Greatly
•    Microphones differ in many different ways
•    The most important difference concerns the direction from which microphones receive sound
•    There are two main types: omni-directional microphones and uni-directional
{03} Omni Vs Uni
•    Omni – receives voices from two or more directions.
•    Uni – receives voice from one direction
•    Most Public Address microphones are Uni-directional
{04} Why use Uni-Directional?
•    Uni-directional less likely to feed-back when loud-speakers are in the same room
{05} Speaking into a Uni-Directional Mike
•    Speak really close to the microphone
•    Tone & volume is lost the further you move away from mike
•    But don’t speak too loud >>> Distortion
•    Keep a constant distance between your mouth and the mike
{06} Keep the mike beside or behind the loud speaker
•    Ensure you don’t have the mike directly in front of the loud-speaker – leads to feedback squeal
{07} Don’t “cup” the microphone
•    Don’t “cup” the microphone or place hands around the “head” – causes feedback
{08} How To Test a Microphone
•    Never blow or tap a microphone to test it – destroys fragile diaphragm – remember paper test
•    Speak words e.g. “check” or “testing”, which also test the tone of the “s” sound
{09} When to replace batteries for a cordless mike
•    The sign that a microphone battery is dying is intermittent operation, static and distorted sound
•    Change the battery or batteries imediately
{10} Microphone etiquette
•    Remember the mike picks up everything you say – even your whispers
•    Always assume the mike is on – be respectful of others in the room
{11} Preserving Microphones
•    Avoid tapping and blowing
•    Avoid placing a mike on a sloped table or bench – use a cradle if you have one
•    Remove batteries after use (cordless microphones)
{12} Why Use A Mike at All? (if you have a loud voice)
•    Even if you can speak loudly, it can be advisable to use public address support
•    It minimizes strained vocal cords
•    It saves you raising your voice – your register can be kept at a normal level
•    A PA voice may be more easily distinguished by those who are hard of hearing