How to Use a Microphone | Vocal Lessons
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- Watch more How to Sing: Singing Lessons for Beginners videos: www.howcast.com...
Hi I'm Cari Cole. I'm a celebrity vocal coach and artist development expert. And I help artist find their voice, craft their music, and create successful music careers. I've worked with Donald Fagen from Steely Dan, Courtney Love from Hole, I've worked with the band Journey. I'm going to teach you how to be a better singer and performer.
So Im gonna teach you a little bit about using microphones. We're gonna talk about performance microphone- like the microphone I'm using today. This is a line 6 microphone, this is actually a microphone used by American Idol currently. And it is a digital wireless which means it doesn't operate on a bandwidth and it is a sensational mic, it's one of my favorites. Most singers a re a little bit afraid of the microphone in the beginning so they tend to pull back too much, and notice what happens when I do that, it gets thinner and it doesn't have much of a presence. So in the beginning of using a mic, I always teach singers to eat the microphone, almost have their lips on the microphone as I do now, or close by. When you're singing louder, you can pull away a little bit, but don't pull away so far, because then it starts sounding thin. Thats more prevalent on a recording microphone than on a performance microphone. So, eating the microphone, not being afraid of it. And the best way to get good at that is to get a microphone, have a microphone and a stand at home. Use a microphone regularly to sing. If you don't want to bother your neighbors, you can plug that, get an interface and plug that into your computer and wear headphones, and get used to singing on the microphone. A couple of things about it. One, the sweet spot. A couple of things about it. There's a sweet spot in the center of that microphone that's very important. If you're singing like this, you're not gonna get that sweet spot. You need to be in the center of it. But the best way to learn is to get comfortable on it so to use it all the time. Also microphone placement is important. If you're gonna use the piano, you're gonna want that microphone, like when you sit at the piano position your microphone, notice I have it at an angle like this so I can look down at my hands and also at you. Because if you go to the piano and you get it all positioned and everything and then you look down and you're like "Woops" Or, you position it too low, I see a lot of singers do this on stage and they put both hands and they lean on the microphone and look what happens. A beginner student did that in one of my sessions the other day and I had to go up on stage and help her because she didn't know what to do. So when you're sitting at the piano its important to have the microphone positioned correctly so you can straight ahead and look down at your fingers and not be confused and have to move up and down. When I'm playing piano I will keep my mouth on the microphone so I know where I am in space. Now when you're standing up, heres a typical mic position standing up,one of the things you want to be careful of is, especially when you're not used to using the microphone is, if you put weight on it, it tends to do this as your singing and then you're kind of stuck. Either make sure that the mic itself is really tight and don't put weight on it, just put your hands here, and a lot of singer's use just one hand. You also want to get comfortable taking the mic off and don't do it when you're singing, wait for a break, and then take the mic off. Always put your hand on the stand first instead of just grabbing the mic and then make sure that you move the stand so that it doesn't upstage you. Then you want to get really comfortable with where your movements are with where that microphone center. So people start moving in the beginning and pulling the microphone away because they're focused on their movement. For singers that are more seasoned, you'll see them pull the microphone back when they're singing louder. This is when you're more advanced and you know how to control it. But you're really controlling it by what you hear. On stage you have monitors, they're either up above you or on the floor. This is what's feeding your voice back to you so you wanna make sure you have a good monitor level so you can hear yourself or its easy to go off pitch. So these are just a couple of tips for a live microphone but remember you want to get comfortable with it so it doesn't look like you're struggling. The last thing you want to think about is your microphone. You want to be thinking about your music, and what you're singing about, and your audience.
Valuable video. If you're a working musician, or a KJ, or work in live-band karaoke, you know from immeasurable experience how often novice vocalists shy away from singing directly into the mic. And you know it is far more important that they be heard and "misuse" a mic by being too close than backing off and being lost in the mix. Cari is obviously focusing more on the real-world application of live vocal technique more than anything else. I don't know why this isn't more apparent to more people commenting here.
Honestly I'm not sure why people are bitching! This is one of the best 'how to use a mic' videos I've seen that can be shown to students. She's holding the mic right (when she holds it) and it's great advice to keep the mic straight and close to your mouth!
The best 5 min on using a mic I've ever seen or heard!
I think Cari is sharing her most valuable experience with us. Just don't mix up singing a song with singing a rock! The rock singers will abuse the microphone to get another dimension of sound effects. They hold the microphone differently, such as the T-Rex, Super Cup, and the Cradle Grip. Holding Microphone like this will get cancellation and distortion for sure because your body is electrically charged. The sensitive microphones will pick up the charged particles from your hand and fingers and affect the sound output. After all, rock singing is just the side dish, the main dish is the act itself! If you are serious about singing, hold the microphone with your finger tips on the lower part of the handle; don't hold too close to the mess/head of the microphone. When you are on stage, "eat" your microphone just as Cari told you! Enjoy your singing.
thanks for these reminders.
ive performed quite a few times and neva in my life have i been happy with the monitor levels. or the front pa levels. so my advice to singers is to control who ever is controlling the sound level of both monitor and front speasker level. alot of sound engineers are very casual about mic levels so i have realised i have to control the sound man !!
For the people learning to sing .One of the most important things about singing is your Breathing. you do not have to scream at the top of your lungs to sing or get the sound your looking for infact this can seriously damage your vocals .proper breathing is the key . Try to keep your lungs full of are at all times. Every time you u can get a short breath take it . try to be conservative on your breathing do not blow it all out one note . Ps buy a mic with phantom power if your machine Has it
This was helpful. I thought it was bad technique to sing too closely into the mic. So I'm glad it's actually encouraged, because I found it sounds great to do it. 😄
Great video. I had a problem one place I was playing because the people running the place didn't have very good monitor speakers, and I couldn't hear myself properly. I recorded the gig, and it SUCKED. Off key, etc. and I do know how to sing on key ... but hard when you can't hear properly! Those monitors are important, especially in a noisy venue.
I remember, many years ago, I was singing with my group, we did 3 songs in an 800 people theater. I thought it was great (I was the lead singer), we gave it all!. A few days after, we heard the recording, I was awful, totally out of tune. Then I learned that you have to use monitors.
This method is great for people who whisper or haven’t a powerful voice notice she’s just talking If you are using your lungs you’ll have to be farther away to keep from distorting the diaphragm
I'm LOVING this series! All of the videos are extremely useful. Thank you so much!
If you have a very powerful voice then you don't really want to eat the microphone, you need to stand back from the microphone. I started singing from the age of 4 years old so have been singing a long time. I have a powerful voice but some people don't have that power so need to be closer to the microphone. You also have to be careful that when close to the mic that the "P"s and "V"s don't sound like pops. So I agree with 2-3 inches away from the mic is right.
Ironically, she is a little sharp on the “s” and “t’s” in this audio mix.
All good advice though.
I'm singing In the talent show and my voice projects a little different when I'm on a mic. Especially in my notes where I'm in my head voice or falsetto
This helped me in my talent show becuz i wasnt going to hold the mic but I decided to the day bfor so I watched your video. now i know where the mics sweetspot is.
I won my talent show. thanx xxoo Reagan
Well, this are general recommendations. There is no proper way actually because environments and styles of performance are very different. I've been singing for quite some time and still learn something new .. Thank you for the video and tips, I got something new today thanks to you. Great advice!
You will not get distortion when you "eat" your microphone! That happens only to those "cheap" microphones! Even my cheapest Shure Beta 87A won't have that problem. Rode S1 is my favourite handheld. With a Blue Quad XLR cable, this US$329 S1 is even better than my Shure KSM-9 and Neumann KMS 105. Sorry, I don't use wireless microphones because they are not good for studio recording. My favourite studio microphone is an ADK Z-MOD-67 which is modified to sound as good or better than the discontinued Neumann U-67. My ADK C414 XL-II is close to it when I changed from a Telefunken STMC-5 XLR cable to a Studio Projects SPC-203X. Of course, you won't get the same details and elegant crystal sound of the ADK.
Mayra I have been a musician for many years it takes a lot of time and practice to master the guitar. I wouldn't want to discourage u from learning but if you want quick results for singing I suggest tracks u can have a recording studio make or run an add . most musicians I have met are more than happy to help And some wouldn't charge a thing. do learn to play always a + Keep in mind solid band is foundation your singing is only going to b as good as your band.
Thank you 🙏🏻 What I need - mic placement over playing piano
This is fabulous. Note: at 1:00 - I prefer to tell folks not to eat but to "kiss the mic" to be heard well.
Subscribed .....thank you so much .....
I have been so wrong all my life ......far away .....never knew how to use the microphone ......
That's very helpful.
Thanks great advice about eating the microphone it really helps me sing louder and more confident 😀
thankyou for your advice i just bought my daughter a shure sm58 and i heard the differences i thought the mic was bad
For a live performance she is so correct. There are a lot of inexperienced vocalist and vocalist/studio/engineers wannabes that disagree with this but fact remains if you want good up front vocals before feedback eat that microphone. If you want to subtly seduce it in the studio that is great but when dealing with a large room and acoustics EAT IT!
I got a microphone stand clip from piano and I really like to sing.
uhm.. "and it is a digital wireless which means it doesn't operate on a bandwidth..". what does that really mean? Ofcourse it has to use bandwidth?
I laughed when she said that as well. I think these work on 900 MHz
I think she was referencing "bandwidth" to refer to "analog" transmission of sound. It's not transmitting a wave pattern but a digital datastream instead.
"digital wireliess..." is completely irrelevant for the topic of this video.
What matters is it's a stage vocal microphone. It has a cardioid rejection pattern to prevent it from feeding back or picking up other sound sources. This is why it's important to generally keep the screen close to your lips and to point it directly into your mouth. If you fail to do both, your voice becomes thinner and you can have other problems.
Very useful. Thank you.
Thanks for this video. It is a great resource for good mic use which is a vital element in producing good live sound.
"Ive worked with Courtney Love" Well shit...
Thanks, great info.
thank you I love it
That's a lot of good information
Thanks a bunch!
Thank you for the lesson 🙏👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you very much ! Your right I do have problems with breathing when i'm singing for some reason . thanks for taking the time to watch me . By the way do you know Bette ? We met a long time ago. Just wondering about that ? Take care,
i was here to learn how to sing and then i was omg she is so pretty i have two words
illegal beauty
this video is very helpful I enjoy watching your videos and I like to see more of them
If you know how to play an instrument and want to make an instrumental . I would suggest a keyboard that records but is going to be a task if you do not what notes sound good together. I would suggest you learn cord progressions on a keyboard or stick to karaoke track or have someone do it for u. The music can be matched to your voice any Good musician can do this by ear.
Thank you
I have to disagree with this, you are peaking the microphone when you "eat" it. You loose resonance in your natural voice sound. You should be a few inches back and use a low gain and up the volume on your mixer. What's the point of a good mic if you aren't going to use it fully.
I agree, even in this video "ssss" sounds and "explosives" dont sound great
"So IN THE BEGINNING of using a mic, I always teach singers to eat the microphone..."
You should listen a little bit more carefully to understand the content properly before you judge someone.
Sounds like she's clipping every time she tries to eat the mic. Not sure if that's an error with the volume controls or if she is doing it wrong.
take a deep breath try singing the verse without taking a breath and touch your atoms apple make sure its not moving if it is moving up and down you are trying to form the note with your voice doing this keeps u from using your diaphragm if this is the case you u could try holding one single note for as long as you can then when u feel your out of breath push the note a little longer you should feel your diaphragm do this exercise daily u should get immediate results
Good tips 🎼
Thank you Cari for a helpful video! I have earned my living with live sound since 1974, tried most things, and what you say here, and how you explain it, is how it is, spot on!
well, what if you want the natural sound of your voice moving thru ait before it gets to the mic. if im touching the mic, theres is no airspace traveled before my voice hits the mic , do you think this has relevance ?
True expert
thank you for your tips
What a fantastic lady Cari Cole is. An excellent explanation on using a mic correctly. Thanks for your help.
great video....should i use one all the time, or when im learning?
What if you dont know how to play an instrument? What other tools can I use to record my songs and make my own instrumental?
Hi, thanks for the nice video.
I have a query that should I put cloth cover on the mic while singing? I mean I have seen black spongy cover on the mic, should I remove it while singing because it blocks the vision. Why the spongy cover is given?
I am pleased with this series. :)
Never, unless you are in a wind storm. The mic has one built inside.
I guess im asking the wrong place but does someone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account..?
I was stupid lost my account password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me.
@King Camdyn instablaster =)
I am trying to hold one note for a long time .. But I struggle in E, F & G ... lol
Thank you for your time :)
There are a few tips I missed in this video.
- Dont hold a microphone direktly behind the capsule. This changes the polar pattern to omnisphere and can cause feedback.
- Microphones are different. Find your mic that highlights your voice.
- Like the aproximation effect shows, the sound of a mic is related to angle, pointing and distance.
-And if you can't sing, there are other ways to use a condenser mic:
th-cam.com/video/uK02RvIXIIc/w-d-xo.html
so awesome-- love your style and to follow techniques and illustrations
I'm gonna grow a stache to use as feelers :D
brilliant video
Thanks I used my own while you where doing it
I use CAD,Sure and Sennheiser Mics now.I make sure to use a pop filter though
can u please tell about singing in condenser microphone!??
Thank you ...
Hi can you list some microphone names that are good for eating the microphone?
thanks a lot !
You need to address the issue of popping, especially since you advocate getting really close to the mike. I noticed some breath sounds and small pops when you were talking.
High Pass Filter
Justin Morales
No that's on the signal (electronic processing) side. Breath problems have to be prevented by mechanical means - usually with a pop-filter.
ZigSputnik This is about live performances. A video about the use of a microphone for recording would be a different story. Live you need headroom for monitoring without feedback which makes it better to deal with proximity-effects with compressors, limiters and filters.
I wish I could find someone to do it for me. I have always wanted to learn how to play a guitar... :)
thank you soo much your the best ;)
I love your videos. Great help.:)
Thank you!!! ,,...
hate not having good monitors. I'm in ATX! live musical capital of the "world"? why can't I get good monitor levels... agh!!! playing a lot of shows where I can't hear myself sing.. very frustrating!!! :) not cool
Get 'in ear' monitors specially fitted for your own ears. They beat the speaker floor or wall mounted ones.
which microphone brand i should be buy for my music practice i want to use with computer and also please i need information for video camera which brand will be good, for make my own video thanks.
My eldest daughter spent ten years supervising the Matsushita Kogyo Denki factories in the Philippines, so I can tell you: the bosses, Mr. & Mrs Matsushita are lovely people. smart, decent, and honorable. The workers do good work.
And if the product is ever a screw-up, they'll take it back, fix it, trade it up, or whatever the right thing is.
All I know about their products is everything of theirs that I've ever owned has been good value for money. So think Panasonic, Matsushita, Technics Ginza, HMV.
No, I'm not getting paid for this: this is straight out.
-dlj.
thank you. very helpful:)
thanks for a great advice
it is best to not learn for those that dont know what they are talking about. She was wrong from the start. you NEVER hold the mic that close to your mouth.
sfox09 For recording or on a silent stage (everyone on IEM) you don't have to keep mics so close, but with any use of traditional stage monitors you have to put the mics close if you want to both be able to hear yourself and avoid feedback.
this is my favourite video to watch and very helpful for me
Your video is tagged to the one I just uploaded today. I need to get used to using a mic. I had a big mic problem in my last video playing at the restaurant Saturday night. Do you think it's possible to suddenly sing the 2nd verse so loud & raspy that I shorted the mic out or broke it? I don't think so. I think what happened to me is the KJ turned the mic down on me. It was so bogus. I'm playing my acoustic bass guitar & singing w/ the mic on a stand, & the guy switched mics while I'm singing.
Hi there!! What brand type and model mic “stand” are you using on the video please?
If I use a wireless mic, how would I have an interface? I don't understand.
thanks this really helped ! :D
Thanks.these suggestions r helpful for me
thank you for your tips of how to use a microphone
you are very helpful and I love that about you and I think you are awesome
its just awsam...love you couch...
awesomeee
Hi recently bought a Crown CM311A, headworn mic, but it takes my breathing noise, and also while I sing it hears as I am blowing wind. Please anybody how do I correct it.
Get pop up filter
Get pop up filter
put it by the corner of your mouth or down by your chin pointing up at your mouth
Don’t use it, get a real good standard mic 🎤🎤🎤🎤
Helloooo Proximity Effect!
thank you for your helpful tips
My friend is a vocal coach and often wears a special tee shirt. It says " Don't cup the mike"
where are her speakers that project her voice???
How is the microphone insert?
Gopdeep did it help ?
And remind your students of the 'proximity" effect...the closer you are to the mic, the more bass you'll get. Much like Cayenne pepper, use to flavor your voice, but don't overuse it. : )
Very nice lessons, thanks !!!!
idk what's wrong with me because when I sing without mic or any device, everyone appreciates me but as I use my mic or phone its world war 3 and 4 together , any advice?
+Knight King for singing live you have to EQ it and add a little effects into your mic or else it sound so dry.
Excellent advice!
Great!! Thank you.
Informative :))
I have the microphone touching my mouth when singing because it makes it much louder for me
What microphone name ?
May I ask what model is this microphone.
Thank you.
I know it is made by Line 6
It's a v-75 line 6 mic wireless
1pilotsteve Thank you very much for your information. Have a great day.