3 Simple Tips For Using A Microphone

So, you’ve written a wedding speech or a toast for the company holiday party. Now it’s time to make sure everyone can hear you! Here are three simple tips to make sure your speech goes according to plan.

1. Proper Mic Technique

This part seems obvious, but many speeches are ruined simply because the person making the speech doesn’t know how to hold the mic.

See the diagram. Gary’s got that mic nice and close to his mouth. As a general rule, keep the mic around 2-6 inches from your mouth. Direct the microphone grill towards your mouth, but slightly off-center.

If you hold the mic too far below your mouth, or move it around while you speak, the audience will not be able to hear you. This is due to poor mic technique, there is very little a sound person can do to improve the situation when the user has poor mic technique.

2. Project Your Voice

Keep your chin up and project your voice towards your audience. Raising your chin will open up your diaphragm which helps you get the most out of your voice. If you’re a quiet talker, speak louder than you usually do, and it is imperative that you keep that mic close to your mouth. Otherwise, your guests will not be able to hear you. The sound person can only turn up the volume so much before it causes feedback.

3. Podium Placement & Avoiding Mic Feedback

Feedback is that ear-piercing noise that you sometimes hear at concerts or during a speech. You may think it’s the sound person making a mistake, but often it is caused by user error.

Feedback is caused when the mic is pointed towards a speaker, or when the mic volume has to be turned up too much—usually due to poor mic technique.

If the person making the speech isn’t holding the mic properly, the sound person will need to turn up the volume, the louder you turn up the volume the more susceptible the system is to feedback. Every system can feedback, and it’s a fine balance getting the system loud enough to hear without causing feedback.

Good mic technique will help ensure good audio.

When making your plans, do not put the podium too close to the sound system. The closer the mic is to the sound system, the more difficult it becomes to get the system loud enough without causing feedback. Make sure your podium is at least 20 feet away from your sound system, if not more.

Summary

It would be great if a clear speech was only a question of having your sound person turn up the volume. However, the nature of sound and acoustics means that it is a team effort to get good quality sound. A DJ or sound person can only do so much. Follow these simple tips to do your part. Hold the mic close to your mouth, project your voice, and avoid getting too close to the speakers! If you follow these simple tips your speech should come out loud and clear.

Greg Goa is the owner of Market Sound Entertainment, a DJ company based in Edmonton, Alberta. Together with his team they have built one of the most reputable DJ companies in Alberta.

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