How to Get the Most Out Of Any Microphone

  Vocals are a key component of most songs. What this means is that you need to really invest in the type of microphone that you will be using for recording your music or for live performances. It is generally believed that the price of a microphone will automatically reflect the sound quality. An expensive microphone equals to great music and a cheap mic means poor quality sound. While this is true to an extent, that doesn't mean that an economical mic can't sound great. It all depends on how you use it. Below, we take a look at a few key tips to help you get the most out of any microphone.    

Location Matters

Consider carefully the location where you will be doing your recording whether it is indoors or outdoors. The same microphone will perform differently in different locations. The first thing that you need to do before using your mic is to listen to the actual tone of the pace as the singer sings. For example, a room with hard surfaces will cause sound reflection which will then affect the final sound. You can try using the mic on different positions in the same room until you find one that works best for you. The other trick is to cover the sharp surfaces with reflection filters. Try using blankets or duvets for much cheaper do it yourself reflection filters.  

Mic Placement

The mic position; where you place your mic can affect the sound that you are trying to capture in a big way. Microphones have a specific position (sweet spot) where their pickup is favorable to the source material. Finding this spot maybe the most important thing you will do as a musician as it is not always found automatically. Placing the microphone somewhere above the singer is one of the tricks to achieving a balanced clear tone.      

Don't Neglect The Microphone Stand

Mic Stands; it is hard to believe just how much a simple mic stand affects the quality of your tone and overall performance. You can get a good affordable stand quite easily so do not compromise on the quality of the microphone stand that you decide to use. A good stand will make a cheap microphone sound very expensive while a bad stand can make the most expensive of microphones come out as the cheapest there is.  

Use Gain Wisely

The gain structure of a system is a very important especially when you have several electronics and audio equipment being used together. It is important to capture the vocals without clipping or having too much noise which is usually the main problems when using cheap mics and preamps. Try quiet areas and the loud areas differently to enable you to set different gain levels. This helps to ensure that no piece comes out more loudly than the others. Unless that is how you want it to be.  

There's Not Replacement For A Good Performance

The performance of the vocalist; we have already talked about the vocals being what we listen to in music. I have also talked about how you need to listen to the vocalist performing even before you set the position of the mic and the location where recording is to be done. So, how do you ensure you get the most out of a vocalist? How do you ensure your vocalist makes your mic sound like it is was worth a million dollars? I will tell you how. One, you need to let the singers relax. Next, allow your vocalists to hear themselves out, Let them hear how they are singing to allow them to control their pitch better.  

Final Thoughts ...

These are just a few of the things you can do to enhance the sound and performance of your microphone whether it is cheap or expensive. Whichever way or place you are intending to use your microphone, be it indoors or outdoors, home recording or as a mic for other instruments, these tips and tricks are sure to make your music sound great to our ears.    

Your Turn to Sound Off!

What are some other handy tips that can make any mic sound better?

Let us know in the comment section below!

   

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