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J
James35188254icgi
Participant
September 13, 2024
Question

Multi microphone setup feedback issue baked into recording

  • September 13, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 1203 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 23, 2024

How were you monitoring this recording? There's definitely something that sounds like feedback there, certainly, but it sounds very local to the mic. You weren't by any chance using a headset, were you?


Hi Steve, I was using standard headphones. What I think happened is a combination of a few things with the context that even though I tested the setup on multiple occasions, I am still in the learning stages of using the above combination:

 

  • The gain was too hot on the all the microphones. 
  • I used the phantom power on the mixing board instead of opearting off a battery
  • The shotgun mic stand was bumped or a loud throat clearing may have caused the feedback
  • The interviewee did occassionaly hit the table while making a point

 

Not being an audio engineer, I am not entirely sure how these factor into causing feedback. I did another run through with the board and microphones and now have standard recording levels to use and a better understanding of the controls. Going forward, I plan to add additional boom microphone stands and eliminate the table. 


Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge. 

 

Jim

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