How do i avoid feedback on my radio mic

[soundmaster mobile disco]

I have just bought myself a shure sm 58 radio mic,The only problem is that
1) there is no volume control on the power unit
2)i get a lot of feedback if my mixer control is up to high.(i feel that to get the right volume my mixer volume has to be up a bit higher that it is.When i speak i feel that its not loud enough so i turn up the volume slider and wham loud squeeling sound.

I currently use the jack to jack lead that it came supplied with.If i change to a balanced cable would that make any difference?

[sleah]

At the risk of sounding like I'm giving egg sucking lessons........
Are you talking right up to the mic? Not like a singer who will sing around 6-12 inches from the mic.
Do you pull down the music level when you speak? Or are you trying to speak over (and therefore compete with) the music?

Personally I'm not one for having my voice blasting accross the music, but peg back the music fader, or let autofade do it's work on my 'decent' mixer. (BTW Numark autofade is useless)
I've found it very rare indeed to have feedback problems, my mic is a Beyer thats basically the same as an SM58.
Sadly some cheap mixers have poor quality mic channels (DJ battle type mixers come to mind) which somehow can cause feedback.

To sum up, you're going to have to sacrifice music volume when speaking.
(why didn't I just say that in the first place?:D)

[soundmaster mobile disco]

Mixer used is the Kam 1000
Speakers used are the Peavey115

[CRAZY K]

Mixer used is the Kam 1000
Speakers used are the Peavey115

Most points have been covered--although last week when I worked with Steve we were in a smallish room in the corner and I had a bit of feedback until Steve pointed one speaker away from my me--I work in FRONT of the speakers.

After that it was ok.

You shouldnt get feedback BEHIND the speakers though.

Was the room size shape, height of ceiling etc maybe your problem as well?

I use a JTS Radio Mike.

CRAZY K

[TonyB]

Make sure you talk into the top of the mic, i.e hold it horizontally, not vertically like an ice cream cone and talk across the top. (the picture at http://www.rath.ca/Misc/Worship&Sound/How_To_Use_A_Vocal_Mic.shtml explains what I mean better).

Also hold the mic as close to your mouth as possible.

[CRAZY K]

Make sure you talk into the top of the mic, i.e hold it horizontally, not vertically like an ice cream cone and talk across the top. (the picture at http://www.rath.ca/Misc/Worship&Sound/How_To_Use_A_Vocal_Mic.shtml explains what I mean better).

Also hold the mic as close to your mouth as possible.

BIT LATE NOW BUT--
Buy the right mic for your voice. Go to the music equipment store and try a selection of vocal mics. Select the one most suited to your voice. When trying each mic, make sure the amplifier you are singing or speaking through has its EQ set flat (i.e., no extra treble, bass, reverb, etc.) so that you can be sure you are hearing the real differences between each mic.

Interesting site--didnt see anything on headset radio mikes which is a nightmare area all of its own:eek: :eek: :eek:

CRAZY K

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I have just bought myself a shure sm 58 radio mic,The only problem is that
1) there is no volume control on the power unit


Have you got a link? I have always had gain control on the receivers on SM58s.

[sleah]

BIT LATE NOW BUT--
Buy the right mic for your voice. Go to the music equipment store and try a selection of vocal mics. Select the one most suited to your voice. When trying each mic, make sure the amplifier you are singing or speaking through has its EQ set flat (i.e., no extra treble, bass, reverb, etc.) so that you can be sure you are hearing the real differences between each mic.

Interesting site--didnt see anything on headset radio mikes which is a nightmare area all of its own:eek: :eek: :eek:

CRAZY K

Bob on there Crazy:D That's why I chose the Beyer, I think I sound horrible through an SM58, even though they are the same on paper.

I've got a headset:p :p Sennheiser E100 series, so it's as good as you can get for our application, without spending silly money.
Yup, it certainly is a nightmare all of it's own. You can't have it as close as you would a hand-held.
Also not quite as hands-free as you'd imagine. When you're not speaking, you have to be quick on the mute button (stuffed completely if you don't have one:eek: ) OR shut up and don't breath whilst the mic chanel is still open.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

Ok i got a special order made up.What i have is the sm58 handheld radio mic with the pg24 diversity reciever.How is it that it always sounds fine when you test it out in the shop and different on your own system?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Ok i got a special order made up.What i have is the sm58 handheld radio mic with the pg24 diversity reciever.How is it that it always sounds fine when you test it out in the shop and different on your own system?

Are you sure there's no gain on the front or back?

[theoloyla]

Mixer used is the Kam 1000
Speakers used are the Peavey115
I had a KAM mixer for a while and I found the microphone eq controls very poor. I battled hard to det a good vocal sound and did suffer with feedback and eventually changed it. The Numark was better and the Citronic I now use is better still but the best vocal mixer was my old Cloud Buckingham with good 3 band eq and a parametric presence. Boy did that make my voice sound good!

[CRAZY K]

Bob on there Crazy:D That's why I chose the Beyer, I think I sound horrible through an SM58, even though they are the same on paper.

I've got a headset:p :p Sennheiser E100 series, so it's as good as you can get for our application, without spending silly money.
Yup, it certainly is a nightmare all of it's own. You can't have it as close as you would a hand-held.
Also not quite as hands-free as you'd imagine. When you're not speaking, you have to be quick on the mute button (stuffed completely if you don't have one:eek: ) OR shut up and don't breath whilst the mic chanel is still open.

To be fair you probably need to spend silly money to get a really top sound on headsets.

Ive tried JTS and Shure--not impressed.

I bought a Gemini on the strength of testing one that belonged to a Line Dance Caller I know and that is no better.

I tried Clives Sennheiser on a gig and that sounded fine-- it was going through the Bose L1 system so unlikely to perform the same through my system--and expensive naturally.

As Alan Jackson the Country singer says--Work in progress:D

CRAZY K

[spin mobile disco]

I have found its the mid range that feeds back the most on DJ mic channels. Probably caused by the fact it only has high and low trim controls on most mixers. I routed through a full channel trim control dropped the mid and now have no problem even talking over the music at very high volumes.
Mind you some venue's are a nightmare whatever you do on the eq. Especially glass conservatories with hard floors.

[djsteve10]

Have you got a link? I have always had gain control on the receivers on SM58s.

Its only the Beta 58 series what don't have gain control on the recievers.