Feedback at higher volume

[gerardsound]

Good reply Chet. Hope we can help some members here!

[ST - Pro]

Hi gerardsound,

Welcome to the Bose Portable PA Community.

Thanks for chiming in.

ST

[gerardsound]

Sure, hopefully I can shed some positive light on issues, and I also can learn some meaningful things! 

[ChetDude]

PS: Also don't forget microphones installed in instruments.

Our biggest feedback problems are not usually our 3 vocal + 1 conga microphones but the microphones installed in our 2 acoustic guitars!

We play one enclosed, smaller space once a week where since I'm closest to the Bose L1S, I have to be very careful about where my guitar is pointing.

[Funkifized]

I think the AKG c 535 EB may have been the problem. After better setting of gain, we can get up to about 8 without feedback (and this is in a smaller apartment). 

However, there is however a ferocious Buzz when turned up. Maybe a cable? Or maybe the fact that we've got two mics each into their own vocal processor, keyboard, and drum machine going into the Mackie mixer, into L1?

[ST - Pro]

Hi Funkifized,

Thanks for coming back to tell us how you've managed to improve the feedback problem.

The AKG C535 EB is a beautiful microphone. It's one of my favourites. However, the polar pattern is cardioid and it can be difficult to manage on a live stage.  I replaced it with the Neumann KMS 105 (another great microphone), that is much easier to manage in a live setting because it has a tighter supercardioid polar pattern.  I kept the AKG for lower volume applications and other singers.

Ferocious buzz

Please check out these articles:

Ground Loop

Audio System Noise

ST

[Funkifized]

gerardsound posted:

Some recommended mics not to use are Shure SM 58, Beta 87. 

Why the SM58? Shouldn't the unidirectional mic avoid the most feedback?

[ChetDude]

It's not just the polar pattern.  The SM58 is a supercardioid microphone but has an unfortunate frequency response curve that is more prone to feedback than other microphones we can use.

I also use a KMS105 and it's much less likely to feedback than an SM58.  In fact, my issue is more with the omnidirectional microphone mounted in my guitar than my vocal mic. 

[ChetDude]

Sorry: KMS105 - tighter pattern with flatter frequency response...

[rogueacoustic]

The SM58 is not a supercardioid mic. Straight up cardioid.