Handheld Microphone article
Handheld Microphone for Beginners: A Complete Guide
How to hold it, where to position it, how to soundcheck and how to avoid feedback: a practical beginner's guide to microphone technique for live vocals.
Using a handheld microphone for the first time involves a few non-obvious adjustments that will make a significant difference to how the performance sounds. The technique is not complicated, but many beginners make the same small errors that introduce feedback, proximity effect or handling noise. Getting the basics right from the start removes those problems and lets you focus on performance.
How to Hold It
With a handheld microphone, hold the body — not the capsule head. Wrapping your hand around the capsule modifies the polar pattern and creates a cavity in front of the capsule that encourages feedback. Hold the cylindrical body firmly but without gripping so hard that handling noise is introduced. The capsule should point toward your mouth, which should be about 3 to 5 centimetres from the top of the head.
Distance and Angle
A dynamic cardioid like the SM58 benefits from close-speaking distance. The proximity effect — increased bass response as the source approaches the capsule — is most pronounced within 5 cm, which gives the sound a fuller, warmer character. Some singers use this intentionally; others prefer to back off slightly to reduce the effect. Experiment with distance during soundcheck rather than relying on fixed habit. Keep the microphone angled toward the mouth rather than below the chin, which causes the voice to project over the capsule rather than into it.
Monitor Positioning and Feedback
The cardioid polar pattern of a typical handheld microphone rejects sound arriving from behind the capsule — which means the monitor wedge should be positioned in front of you, in line with the rejection zone. If you turn around with the microphone still switched on, the capsule will point at the PA and feedback will result. Soundchecking your monitor level before performing prevents the situation where you push the monitor volume upward during a set to compensate for not being able to hear yourself, which is the most common cause of feedback.
Checking Your Level
During soundcheck, speak or sing at full performance volume — not at a lower level. Engineers set levels based on the loudest moments of a performance, and soundchecking quietly leads to a mix that clips when the performance reaches full energy. If the engineer asks for "a level", give them a full-volume phrase or sung line.
A Step-by-Step Starting Guide for Live Vocals
- Check that the microphone is connected (XLR cable seated, or wireless transmitter powered and frequency-matched to the receiver).
- Hold the microphone body in your preferred hand, with the capsule pointing upward at a slight angle toward your mouth.
- During soundcheck, sing or speak at full performance volume so the engineer can set gain, EQ and monitor level accurately.
- Position your floor monitor so that the back of the microphone capsule points directly at the speaker, keeping the monitor in the rejection zone of the polar pattern.
- Ask the engineer to confirm your monitor level is comfortable before the performance begins — do not increase monitor volume during the performance without discussion.
- During performance, maintain a consistent 3 to 5 cm distance from the capsule and avoid cupping the head of the microphone.
The Bottom Line
The right technique will give you a clean, controlled live sound with minimal feedback risk. For a comparison of current models to help you choose the right one, see our handheld microphone buyer's guide.
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