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
• 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