This is the final email in this 3-part series about stopping feedback in your sound system.
Tip #1 revealed the fastest way to stop feedback.
Tip #2 showed you how to effectively prevent feedback
And this week we dig into a very powerful way to reduce feedback and make your sound quality better in the process.
Feedback Tip #3...
Tip #1 revealed the fastest way to stop feedback.
Tip #2 showed you how to effectively prevent feedback
And this week we dig into a very powerful way to reduce feedback and make your sound quality better in the process.
Feedback Tip #3...
EQ IT!
If you have feedback and you can’t turn it down or move it, EQ it.
It’s amazing what you can pull off with a little finesse on the equalizer. Even a basic High/Mid/Low EQ with sweepable mids on the console can be a huge asset for stopping feedback when you hear it.
But be careful!
Try to make incremental and modest adjustments to your channel EQ when using it for feedback. A little bit can go a long way, and it will definitely impact the overall tonal quality of the audio source you are adjusting.
Here’s something else you may not have known:
Feedback is often a lower frequency than you might suspect.
We may think that the fundamental feedback frequency is very high at first (e.g. 4,000 Hz or 4 kHz), but often the root feedback frequency is much lower (e.g. 630 Hz).
When applying EQ for feedback, start with low-mid frequencies around 400 Hz and work your way up.
The acoustic energy on the stage or platform can often build up in the lower frequency range. As the energy in this range increases and builds on stage, it can cause a low frequency feedback loop.
This type of feedback loop potential can often be reduced by engaging the “low cut filter” (or “high pass filter”) on the microphone input channel of the mixing console.
One of the most convenient and fastest ways to eliminate feedback is by using the sweepable mid EQ on an analog console or the parametric EQ on a digital console.
Here is an easy and effective feedback solution:
Sweepable Mid or Parametric EQ tips for Feedback
Properly adjusting the EQ settings can even allow you to raise the overall level of certain channels in your mix.
Just be careful! Turning everything up will likely cause many of the same feedback problems you had to begin with before the adjustments you just made.
Assess each microphone and input channel on its own before adjusting an entire mix level.
So there you have it! We’ve just learned three of the most important tips to help you stop and prevent feedback at church.
Again, those tips are:
#1 Turn it down!
#2 Move it!
#3 EQ it!
There are many more tips listed in my free “Worship Distractions” and “Feedback Killer Battle Plan” reports that you may have downloaded. If you haven’t received those yet, you can sign up to receive both of them here.
I hope this short series has helped you get even better sound at your church!
If you have feedback and you can’t turn it down or move it, EQ it.
It’s amazing what you can pull off with a little finesse on the equalizer. Even a basic High/Mid/Low EQ with sweepable mids on the console can be a huge asset for stopping feedback when you hear it.
But be careful!
Try to make incremental and modest adjustments to your channel EQ when using it for feedback. A little bit can go a long way, and it will definitely impact the overall tonal quality of the audio source you are adjusting.
Here’s something else you may not have known:
Feedback is often a lower frequency than you might suspect.
We may think that the fundamental feedback frequency is very high at first (e.g. 4,000 Hz or 4 kHz), but often the root feedback frequency is much lower (e.g. 630 Hz).
When applying EQ for feedback, start with low-mid frequencies around 400 Hz and work your way up.
The acoustic energy on the stage or platform can often build up in the lower frequency range. As the energy in this range increases and builds on stage, it can cause a low frequency feedback loop.
This type of feedback loop potential can often be reduced by engaging the “low cut filter” (or “high pass filter”) on the microphone input channel of the mixing console.
One of the most convenient and fastest ways to eliminate feedback is by using the sweepable mid EQ on an analog console or the parametric EQ on a digital console.
Here is an easy and effective feedback solution:
Sweepable Mid or Parametric EQ tips for Feedback
- Set the level control of the EQ to about -6dB or even -9dB if necessary
- Sweep the frequency control slowly across the entire frequency spectrum available
- Listen for changes in the tone of the source you are monitoring and note when the feedback frequencies are diminished
- Adjust the frequency level control back to about -3dB if possible to ensure that maximum tone quality is available from the source in the main mix
- Repeat as needed for multiple microphone channels
Properly adjusting the EQ settings can even allow you to raise the overall level of certain channels in your mix.
Just be careful! Turning everything up will likely cause many of the same feedback problems you had to begin with before the adjustments you just made.
Assess each microphone and input channel on its own before adjusting an entire mix level.
So there you have it! We’ve just learned three of the most important tips to help you stop and prevent feedback at church.
Again, those tips are:
#1 Turn it down!
#2 Move it!
#3 EQ it!
There are many more tips listed in my free “Worship Distractions” and “Feedback Killer Battle Plan” reports that you may have downloaded. If you haven’t received those yet, you can sign up to receive both of them here.
I hope this short series has helped you get even better sound at your church!
Find out how to really get great sound at church and take your skills to the next level.
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