👀 Want Your Mic to Sound Bad? Just Hold It Like THIS…

This past Friday night I was running sound for an event, and the artist kept covering the sides of the microphone capsule with his hand while singing.

👉 Result: muffled, muddy vocals.👉 Meanwhile: he’s looking at me, motioning for “more highs” in the mix.

Here’s the truth—there was no EQ trick in the world that could make that mic sound brighter. The problem wasn’t the mixer.

It wasn’t the PA.

It was just how he was holding the mic.

And that’s a tough spot to be in… because if you tell the singer how to hold their mic, you risk sounding jerky or hurting their feelings.

But when this happens at church, it can completely throw off the mix.

So here’s my thought: being a sound tech isn’t just about EQ and faders—it’s also about patience, humility, and learning how to handle these moments without causing conflict.

What would you do in that situation? Would you say something to the vocalist? Drop your thoughts below—I’m curious how you’d handle it.

— Nate

1 comment

Church Sound Crew

skool.com/church-audio-engineers-2670

Your hub for church sound, livestream mixing, and Sunday audio solutions—practical tips, training, and community for church sound teams by NATE Audio.

Leaderboard (30-day)