Ever found yourself in a noisy recording situation and heard that ear-piercing screech? That's what we commonly refer to as "microphone howling." It acts like a wild beast, constantly threatening our audio quality. But why does the microphone howl? Let's delve into this bothersome issue.
In simple terms, microphone howling happens because the audio signal picked up by the microphone gets fed back into the mic itself, creating a closed loop. This continuous amplification of the sound signal eventually results in a sharp howl. This occurrence is termed "positive feedback" in the realm of audio engineering.
How does microphone howling actually happen? Several primary reasons exist. One is the proximity of the microphone to the speaker. When the space between them is less than 17 centimeters, it can induce howling. The reason being, the audio signal travels from the speaker to the microphone and gets looped back into the speaker, thus forming a closed loop of sound. Omnidirectional microphones are particularly prone to howling since they lack directional sound reception. However, cardioid, supercardioid, and other directional mics don’t howl as easily because their sound reception is targeted.
Another common cause is high volume levels in the recording environment. The increased volume strengthens the audio signal feedback, thereby raising the chances of howling. So, how can one avoid microphone howling? Here are some practical tips: adjust the distance between the mic and the speaker, ensuring they are at least 17 centimeters apart; opt for directional microphones—utilize cardioid, supercardioid, and similar directional mics to minimize sound signal feedback; and maintain moderate volume levels in the recording area to prevent excessive noise from high volumes. Tackling microphone howling requires addressing it from multiple angles. By understanding its causes and implementing appropriate measures, it's entirely possible to prevent this issue.
