When it comes to reducing feedback in a small room, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Maybe you’re used to practicing in a larger space, but when you show up for a gig, you find the room is half the size.
Understanding what’s going on is half the battle. With that in mind, let’s look at how to stop mic feedback in a small room.
Pinpoint Problematic Frequencies
Well, that’s strange. Last time you played a gig, it was a high pitch squeal that was the problem. This time it’s a hoot or howl. What’s going on?
Any time you get that high squeal or a hoot or howl, knowing which is the problem frequency can help you pinpoint your issue. Different feedback sounds are based on different problematic frequencies. Detecting those frequency ranges can help you tackle the problem.
So, if you’ve got a weird howl going on, it can usually be found in the 250 to 500 Hz range. Make sure to cut down on those frequencies a bit to see what happens. If the vocalist gets feedback, usually, the problem is around 1kHz. Got a screech that’s blowing out your ears? It’s probably frequencies between 2kHz-4kHz.
Just try experimenting by cutting down on those frequencies to see if you get better results. If you’ve looked at your levels, and tried pinpointing problematic frequencies and it’s not correcting the problem, there are a few other things to check for.
Let’s Talk Mics for Reducing Feedback in a Small Room
The next thing you can do to reduce feedback in a small room is to check the position and location of the mic. Where is it located? Did you check the angle of your mic? How far away is it from the sound source? Make sure your mics are behind and away from the main speakers.
Are you using a directional mic or an omnidirectional mic? What type of polar pattern does it have? Is it cardioid, super-cardioid, or hyper-cardioid? Depending on the type of pickup pattern of the mics, their location on the stage can vary, also, the positioning of the monitors. Make sure to read our post of the best microphones for live performance by clicking the link.
Do you have more mics in the room that aren’t in use? Turn those bad boys off. How’s your channel gain? Is it too high? Try adjusting the gain to get enough volume without feedback.
These are all basic things you can check when you’re trying to reduce feedback. But, the microphone isn’t the only issue you need to watch for. In this case, it’s a good place to start.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as the volume being too loud. Turn it down and see if it helps the problem.
Another helpful way for stopping feedback in a small room is by using a microphone isolation shield. Although they are primarily designed to be used in home studios, they can also be repurposed for isolating sensitive microphones in small areas.
READ: What Causes Microphone Feedback and How to Stop It
Check the Acoustics of The room
Are you still having an issue with too much feedback? Here’s another place to look, when you’re dealing with feedback in a small room. Glance around. What surfaces could the sound be bouncing off?
If you have flat and hard surfaces without any dampening material such as carpet, sound vibrations can hit the surface and bounce back, producing an echoey sound that increases the risk of feedback to happen. If possible, try dampening the walls with curtains and the floors with carpet.
Another way of dealing with a room with bad acoustics is to use acoustic absorbing materials on the walls. These materials will absorb sound, significantly reducing feedback. Acoustic materials tend to be expensive.
I have found a video online that will help you make your own acoustic pads to help reduce echo in a small room, and the bast thing it’s very cheap to make. You only have to spend a few dollars.
Other Ways to Deal with Mic Feedback in a Small Room
One way to get a hold of the heavy squeal is to equalize the channel signals. Look for lower frequencies. When it comes to the heavy whistle that we all hate, the mic is picking up sounds from the monitors or speakers and sending it back. It becomes a nasty loop that sets your ears on fire.
Here are a couple of ways to avoid this. First, make sure your mic and speakers aren’t too close. Oh, on a side note, if you have the money, be sure to invest in a higher-quality monitor, because good quality monitors have a flat response. That helps a lot in reducing feedback. It’s one investment you won’t regret.
Make sure your speakers are placed behind your mic—in the opposite direction. Another tip worth trying is to put your monitors on the floor instead of elevating them. Or better yet, try in-ear monitoring if you can.
Have regular speakers? Try monitors, as they offer a flat frequency response you can get better results.
A Few Final Tips on Dealing with Mic Feedback in a Small Room
Learn to work with your equalizer. Make sure your set up is good. Get quality equipment, and oh yeah…consider getting a feedback eliminator. You can add it to the source, and let it help you work things out. What it does is basically use filter bands that measure what’s happening. It helps suppress the audio feedback for you. It just may be the easier option if all else fails.