Fix Up,
Look Sharp

Getting a good sound on stage from your hired "foldback" or "monitor" speakers is the key to a great performance. If the performers can't hear themselves properly, the whole event can suffer.

Most monitor problems, especially high-pitched squealing (feedback), are caused by a combination of volume and placement. Here’s a simple guide to fixing bad monitor sound.

Problem 1: High-Pitched Squealing (Feedback)

This is the most common and most annoying monitor issue. It's caused when a microphone picks up the sound from the speaker, sends it back through the mixer, and out the speaker again in an endless, shrieking loop.

How to Fix It:

1. Check Microphone Position (The #1 Cause):
   • Never point a microphone directly at a monitor speaker. This is a guaranteed way to cause feedback.
   • Make sure the back of the microphone is pointed towards the speaker. Most vocal mics are designed to "reject" sound from the rear, which helps prevent feedback.
   • If a performer walks in front of the main PA speakers with their mic, it will also cause feedback.
2. Turn Down the "Monitor Send" Knob:
   • On your mixer, each channel has a set of "AUX" or "MON" (Monitor) knobs. These control how much of that channel is sent to the monitor speaker.
   • Find the channel that's feeding back (e.g., "Vocal 1").
   • Slowly turn the "AUX 1" (or "MON 1") knob for that channel down until the squeal stops. You may only need to turn it down a tiny bit.
3. Turn Down the Stage Volume:
   • Feedback is often a symptom of the entire stage being too loud. If the guitar amps are cranked up, the vocalist will ask for more volume in their monitor. This creates a "volume war" that always ends in feedback.
   • The Solution: Turn the other instruments (like guitar amps) on stage down first. This allows you to run the vocals in the monitor at a lower, cleaner level.

Problem 2: The Mix is "Muddy" or Unclear

This happens when the performer can't hear their own voice or instrument clearly, even if the monitor is loud.

How to Fix It:

1. "Less is More" in the Monitor Mix:
   • A common mistake is trying to put every instrument into the monitor speakers. This just creates a messy, confusing sound.
   • The Solution: Ask the performers what they absolutely need to hear to stay in time and in tune.
   • A good starting point for a singer is: "A lot of my voice, a little bit of guitar/keyboard for chords, and a little bit of kick drum/bass for timing."
   • Start by turning all the "AUX/MON" knobs for that monitor mix to zero, then only add back the essential elements.
2. Use the EQ (Equaliser):
   • If the sound is "boomy" or "muddy," you can use the channel EQ (Bass/Mid/Treble knobs) to clean it up.
   • The Solution: On the main vocal channel, try turning the BASS (or LOW) knob down slightly. This will remove the muddy "boom" from the voice and help it cut through the mix without you having to turn it up.
   • For the main "AUX Send" master (if your mixer has one), you can also use its EQ to cut low frequencies. This cleans up the entire monitor mix at once.
3. Check Speaker Placement:
   • A monitor speaker on the floor should be angled up directly at the performer's head, not at their knees or at the wall behind them.
   • Make sure the speaker isn't hidden behind a guitar amp, where it's just vibrating the stage and not being heard.

By starting with good placement and only adding what's necessary to the mix, you can avoid feedback and give your performers a clear, clean sound that will lead to a much better event.