Is This Thing On? Tossing the Tap

Most of us in music ministry use a simple technique to determine if the microphone and the sound system is ‘On’.  How many times have you seen someone tap on a microphone to see if it and the sound system are working?  It is a simple, quick test. 

But did you know that it could cause damage?

Depending upon the type of microphone it can shorten microphone life, cause quality problems, and promote fidelity loss.  Tapping on the microphone is like punching the internal, sensitive diaphragm.  Try this simple test.  Lift your typical tapping finger next to your ear, and tap the ear canal opening.  You can feel the painful thud deep in your ear.  I find this to be not so pleasant, and so do our microphones.  

So, what to do?  How do we safely test to see if the microphone and sound system are working?  Here is a simple tip.


Of course, it is best to check the microphone and sound system before service or during practice.  If this is the case see the previous post on “Testing1-2-3“.

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That Annoying and Embarrassing Feedback

What music ministry hasn’t experienced that annoying thing called feedback?  By feedback, I mean the high pitched noise or low pitched hum that occasionally arises from a hyper-sensitive sound system.  It is annoying at best and in church it is distractingly embarrassing.  Where it comes from and what causes it  depend upon a number of factors, but the bottom line effect is the same, it is annoying!  What is the most frequent cause? 

In my experience, and likely yours, it is simple.  It is pointing the microphone in the wrong direction.

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Which Microphone Is Best for You?

This post will be most helpful to the singers in music ministry and is a continuation of our series on "Getting to Know Your Microphone."

Ever notice that your voice sounds different when using different microphones?  One makes your voice muffled and flat while another, tinny.

Different mics response to your voice differently.  This is by design and is simply a reflection of the fact that there is no perfect mic for all occasions and uses.

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Wedding Woes and "Din Dingers"

I’ve written earlier about feedback, the high pitched noise or low pitched hum that occasionally arises from a hyper-sensitive sound system.  It inevitably and inconveniently arises its ugly head against us in music ministry who have a sound system, but no one overseeing it.  I’ve mentioned some ways to address possible feedback root causes and quick fixes, and here are a couple more, including a wedding story!

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Unfolding "Testing 1-2-3"

This post is a continuation of our series on "Getting to Know Your Microphone."
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Ever hear that in the old movies? “Testing 1-2-3, Testing 1-2-3”. Or maybe you’ve heard some sound guys saying that repeatedly into every single microphone they could find. Why did they do that?



Well, this can be very practical for us as church musicians since this simple little phrase, uttered into a live microphone will provide volumes of information on the sound system.   How?

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Microphone Technique for Church Singers: Cozy Up to the Mic!

Hope you had a wonderful and blessed Easter!  This post is a continuation of the music ministry tip of "Getting to Know Your Microphone."  

One of the most common mistakes I see in churches is the distance between the mouth and the microphone.  Often it is too far.  During the rush of gathering up, setting up, and rehearsal, the microphones are lost in the shuffle.  As long as they are there and turned on, that’s good enough, right?  Probably not.  If the distance is more than a few inches, the broadcast voice will sound distant, if at all.  The natural reaction is then to turn up the knobs on the sound system, quickly resulting in the dreaded feedback!

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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. 

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