How To Eliminate Audio Feedback At Events

This one is for all the aspiring sound engineers out there! 

Feedback. The tiniest thing can cost you the event. The good news? It’s predictable, preventable and with the right equipment, sometimes entirely avoidable. 

Here’s how we keep things clean and squeal free on event day and eliminate audio feedback.

First, what actually is feedback?

The Oxford English Dictionary describes Feedback as:

“Acoustics and Electronics. A process in which the amplified sound from a loudspeaker is picked up, typically by a microphone, and relayed back to the driving amplifier; the augmented or distorted sound generated by such a process.”

This meaning output from a speaker is picked up by a microphone, re amplified and picked up again. Creating a continuous loop that eventually (very quickly) becomes that horrible screech.

So the deal is, try and break the loop before it begins.

Placement of Your Speakers

DON’T POINT THE SPEAKERS AT THE MICROPHONES is the main takeaway from this. Place speakers in front of your performers and funnily enough, angle them towards the audience. You’d be surprised at how many upgrades we’ve done where the old kit was facing completely the wrong way. 

Keep in mind reflective surfaces such as walls and glass. If your speaker is angled parallel with a wall, eventually that sound will bounce back into the microphone and create the loop again.

Small changes can make a huge difference. Speaker placement and angle does most of the heavy lifting before you even reach the desk.

Position Of The Microphone

Poor microphone handling can re introduce feedback quicker than you think. Once again, keep microphones pointed away from speakers (obviously). Most presenters and performers aren’t focused on audio, they’re focused on their content or their nerves. One of the biggest issues is distance, holding the microphone too far from the mouth. As well as headsets, performers like to mess with them into the position they think is correct, no matter how many times you tell them not to touch it. 

The fix isn’t complicated, it’s just communication. Before anyone steps on stage, just 30 seconds of their time could be incredibly beneficial. A quick briefing on how to hold their microphone, and where to point it. Simple.

Ring Out The System (And Use EQ Intentionally)

Ringing out your system basically means pushing the mic up until it starts to feed back, and taking out those frequencies with EQ. Do that a few times and you end up with a system that can get nice and loud, without screaming at your audience. 

EQ can be your best friend, but don’t over do it. Make small tweaks, little changes can go a long way. Too much EQ ends up with a thin and weird sounding audio. If you feel like you’re fighting feedback with tons of EQ it’s usually a sign something else (like speaker placement) needs adjusting.

Final Thoughts

Eliminating feedback isn’t about one trick, it’s a combination of a smart set up and good habits. Get your speaker placement right. Take the time to ring out the system. Use EQ with intention. From there, everything else becomes easier.

Speak To The Team Today!