On Stage Miking Tips and Techniques

Whether you're a band taking care of its own PA or someone running sound for a club, one of the most important issues you'll have to deal with when setting up the stage is where to put the microphones.

The number of mics you have to work with plays a big part in your strategy. Obviously, if there are only a couple of mics and there are singers in the group, they get first dibs. Guitar and bass players come next. With electrics you'll need one dedicated mic for each of the amps. Keyboards are a little more flexible. They may go straight to a DI (direct in) box, it depends on the set-up.

The big question you have to settle is what to do with the drums. Drums are naturally pretty loud, so they don't necessarily have to be miked in every situation. Especially if you're playing in a small venue. Other instruments may or may not need microphones, it depends on their natural amplification. Use a mic for anything you can't hear enough of on it's own.

Assuming there are enough mics to go around, here are some tips on how to best place and use microphones for a live stage performance:
Lead Vocal

Either handheld or on a stand, wired or wireless, arrange the microphone with the windscreen almost touching the singer's lips, or just a few inches away, to minimize feedback and leakage from other instruments on stage.

Backup Vocals

Ideally, you want one mic per singer for more control of the individual vocal volumes. If this isn't possible, try using a mic that has a wider pickup pattern so that if two or three singers come at the mic from different sides, they'll still be heard.
Acoustic guitar

Many acoustic guitars today have built-in pickups to either amplify the sound or go direct through the mixing board. If the guitar you're dealing with doesn't have a pickup, aim the mic as close as possible directly at the bridge, not the sound hole. This will help avoid a "boomy" bass sound.

Electric guitar or electric bass

There are a lot of options for miking a guitar or bass amp, depending on the sound you prefer. Use a mic stand with a boom attachment to try a variety of mic techniques. Here are a few ideas:
If you're miking a piano, try turning the mic (on a boom stand) horizontal about 8" away from the hammers and about a foot above the middle strings with the lid off or at full stick. This will give a natural, well-balanced sound. To get a brighter sound, move the mic closer to the treble (higher) strings. Aiming the mic (or mics) directly at the sound holes produces a thinner, harder sound which is sometimes preferred for rock music.
On an upright piano, try placing the mic just over the open top, above the treble strings. This is a good natural sound if you're using a single mic. A better approach is to use two mics, one above the bass and one above the treble strings for a "stereo" effect. Another single mic technique is to remove the front panel of the piano and place the mic several inches away from the hammers around the middle of the keyboard. This will produce a brighter sound which also picks up the player's hammer attack.
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Miking Drums 1
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Miking Drums 2
Like almost everything else that has to do with music, there is no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to mic placement. There's only what works for you and what you think sounds good. Experiment with different microphones and different set-ups until you hear what you like. After all, it's your sound.

If you're wondering, "so... how do I mic my ... ?", We couldn't put everything in this article, but we have a lot of detailed information on other instruments on our website. Go to www.shure.com or click here to download a copy of Shure's free educational publication, Mic Techniques for Sound Reinforcement (386 KB).
Also in This Issue:

Live Performance, Part I

Product Spotlight