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J
James35188254icgi
Participant
September 13, 2024
Question

Multi microphone setup feedback issue baked into recording

  • September 13, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 1196 views

Hello, 

 

I did my first oral history interview using 3 microphones run through a Mackie mixer output to a Zoom H5 recorder. I used two SM-58 and a SENNHEISER MKE 600 SHOTGUN using the phantom power switch of the mixer. I will say that I am not a professional sound engineer but have had some experience in the past. I tested all the gear out ahead of time as well but did not expect to get feedback. I am also just learning Audition. My hunch is that the feedback might have been caused by the reflective surfaces but that is all it is at this point. No speakers were setup so that can be ruled out as culprit. 

 

The interviewee was captured on the left channel (Sennheiser) and the two interviewers (SM-58s) were captured on the right channel. We recorded it in a library with no sound dampening. The microphones were set on a wood table with their windscreens. I set the gain on the Zoom recorder to 8 to achieve about a -12 db level. The output of the mixer was set to 0 and the microphones at near 0. The feedback crept in a three occasions. I have tried to determine which microphone was feeding back but haven't been able to. I did mute one of the SM-58's when the person wasn't asking questions. 

 

I have listened back through the recordings and used the Spectral frequency display to identify where the feedback occurs. I'm afraid the feedback might be baked into the recording and I will not be able to either remove or lessen the impact. It happens during questions being asked. 

 

Questions for the group: 

Has anyone experienced something like this?

Is there a work around to reduce/eliminate the feedback in Audition? 

Advice on work arounds for future recordings?

 

Many thanks, 
Jim DaMico 

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

E
emmrecs
Legend
September 14, 2024

Is this really Feedback, which creates a "howling" sound, ir is it actually Crosstalk where one (more distant) mic picks up the same audio as another (intended to pick up the person speaking), often with a delay so causing an "echo" effect?

SteveG_AudioMasters_
Community Expert
SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
Community Expert
September 14, 2024

We could perhaps be a little more specific about this if you could provide us with a sample of the results...

J
James35188254icgiAuthor
Participant
September 16, 2024

Thanks everyone! It sounds more like a howling than echo.

 

SteveG, I made clips of  the first "Feedback" on both channels.

 

These were the settings on the Mackie (phantom power on, levels set to Unity)

Mic 1: Pan Left, Gain = -20db, Low cut filter on

Mic 2: Pan Right, Gain = 30

Mic 3: Pan Right, Mic Gain = 30 

Main mix = Unity

The interviewee is isolated on channel 01 and the interviewers are on the channel 02. I did keep the microphones open throughout to ensure I captured the dialogue between the three people. 

 

I hope this information and clips helps to troubleshoot this issue. 

 

Many thanks, 

Jim

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