Microphone in Music Ministry: Technique of Angle

One of the purposes of this site is to provide simple tips to help church musicians in music ministry sound better.   The microphone is probably the easiest place to start, and one with the biggest impact!  Few singers practice or even know about good microphone technique.  Good technique means good sound.  Good sound can translate to good worship.  And it is so simple!

Microphone Angle

Here is a technique that can be really useful in church. 


Often times between songs, choir or band members need to communicate verse changes, intro reminders, etc.  With live microphones these whispered conversations will be anything but discrete.  If the microphone has an ‘Off’ switch, then it is easy to resolve.  But if it doesn’t, the angle of the microphone becomes a handy technique.

All singers know the best position for the microphone is directly in front of the mouth.  But they may not know how quickly most microphones become ‘deaf’ to voices as it is turned, or angled away.  And it doesn't take much of an angle before there is substantial drop off.  In microphone language, the ‘sensitivity pattern’  has substantially less pick-up as it is rotated to the side.  So when you need to communicate that someone’s instrument sorely requires tuning, simply turn the microphone away.

Will this help your music ministry?

I am reminded of a few funny but embarrassing 'mic moments', but I'll save that for a later post.  I'm sure you must have some!  Click on the red 'Comment' link.

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