How to Use a Microphone to Record Music
Use microphones properly to enable your audience to hear a performance the way you intend.
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Instructions
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1
Test the microphone levels and sound system before a live performance.
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Set the microphone level as high as possible without distorting (exceeding 100 VU or going into the red on a recording meter) or causing feedback.
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3
Sing directly into a cardioid microphone. Maintain the same distance from the microphone throughout a song.
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4
Choose the same model of microphone for all singers in a group.
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5
Use a windscreen to prevent unwanted sounds ("p" sounds making an unpleasant popping noise) and hissing ("s" sounds making a sibilant, hissing noise).
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Keep microphones away from speakers to avoid feedback.
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Employ omnidirectional microphones for recording instruments in a studio, and place them equidistant from the sources you want to pick up.
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Place two omnidirectional microphones perpendicular to each other to record a performance without vocals.
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Use microphones recommended by manufacturers for specific instruments.
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Place unidirectional and cardioid microphones close to the sound source of acoustic instruments (for example, the hole in a guitar or the opening of a horn).
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Follow the instructions in your manual to determine how close the microphone should be to the source. Test the microphone on your sound system or make a brief recording to determine the best distance.
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Tips & Warnings
Make an inexpensive windscreen by cutting a piece out of a Nerf ball and placing it over the microphone.
Visit the Related Sites to learn about critical distance for professional uses.
Avoid touching a microphone attached to a stand.
Avoid moving your hand while using a handheld microphone. Remember that anything touching the microphone will make a loud, unpleasant noise.
