Mic Technique

Besides improving your actual singing, you need to know how to use a microphone correctly — and yes, there are improper ways to do it. Here are four habits that make your voice sound its best through the PA and make your sound tech’s job easy.

1. Don’t eat the mic

Don’t kiss or press your lips to the mic. Beyond being gross for the next singer, it causes the proximity effect — exaggerated, over-amplified bass frequencies. Your sound tech can fight that with a high-pass filter, but you can make it easy on everyone by keeping the right distance.

The proper distance for the most natural, organic capture of your voice is two finger lengths away from the windscreen.

Why avoid the extra low end? Mud. The 180–240 Hz range of any instrument is where muddy, cluttered, undefined sound lives — the “Charlie Brown grownup” sound. Two finger lengths keeps you out of it.

2. Don’t avoid the mic

The opposite mistake: holding the mic down at your chest or way out at arm’s length. That gives your sound tech nothing to work with — all it picks up is the room, the wall behind you, and the drums in the corner. Bad input means bad output through the PA. Stay at those two finger lengths so you capture your voice, not everything around you.

3. Regulate your own volume

Keep your level consistent from start to finish by managing distance:

• Singing quietly? Bring the mic a bit closer.
• About to belt a huge note? Pull the mic back to protect everyone’s ears.

A compressor can help, but self-regulating with distance gives a stable, consistent level and makes your sound tech’s job easy.

4. Don’t cup the mic

Rare in worship, but you’ll see it in some hip bands (and from rappers). Cupping the head of the mic changes the frequency response of the capsule, alters how your voice sounds, and can cause feedback. Keep your hand back on the body of the mic, nice and firm — it’s not an ice cream cone.

Aim for the capsule

Picture the capsule sitting dead center in the back of the mic head — that’s your target. Don’t sing over it or above it. Sing into the target, two finger lengths back, and you’ll give a clear, natural capture.

Application

• Measure two finger lengths against your mic this week and practice holding that distance until it’s automatic — especially if you’re a longtime “mic-eater.”
• During your next song, consciously pull back on big notes and lean in on quiet ones to keep a steady level for your sound tech.
• Watch your team (and yourself) for the avoid-the-mic and cupping habits — coach them toward singing into the capsule at the right distance.