When a singer has a quiet / soft voice, I'll increase the mic volume before they sing. But whether there's a tiny amount of reverb or (usually) none, as soon as they start to sing over a track, there's 'mic feedback'.
I've tried reducing EQ (if any) on the backing track (and the track volume too) but the feedback is still "there".
If I reduce the mic volume, then you can't hear the singer! LOL!
Only happens on the odd occasion, i.e. with singers with 'quiet voices', but you'll appreciate that this is most upsetting for the singer, knocks their confidence, horrible experience, etc.

For others, where do you place your singers in relation to speakers - appreciate that work area can vary, but just wondering if I'm doing anything different that I shouldn't be?!

Suggestions / advice please!

i try in small venues to try and put them behind the line of the speakers or the speakers more forward than the singer if that makes sense . i also make sure they are holding the mic close to there mouths and not miles away

Cheers Rob.

Some singers stay rooted to one spot (see below) others may use the stage area while performing (which to date has not been a major problem, except for the odd singer with a quiet voice) but generally, the singers are in-line with the speakers.



It's a little difficult to manoeuvre the speakers given the 'layout'. They have to be placed on the stage in this venue.
Sadly, there's no rehersal time. The singers turn up with their music and it's press the button. Nine times out of ten, everything is fine. It's just those quiet voices that seem to be causing big problems!

I have never used the Bose poles ...but I would guess they have a very wide dispersal pattern .
With conventional speakers in set ups like the one in your picture I angle each speaker outwards ..Pointing to the sides of the room... just a few degrees can really help with conventional speakers ... it may work with the Bose ones.

Quiet singers are a pain.. from a feedback point of view and I get feedback too when I try to turn up really quiet singers .... Behringer used to make a item called the shark feedback destroyer , yes it helped stop feedback but the sound quality wasn't as good so you swapped one problem for another from what i have read in the past but this may be a better one

shark clicky This is less than £80 so is worth a try

Cheers

Hi Dan, like rob said the speaker placement and the wide angle dispertion that the bose may have wont help. What mics are you using? i use sm58's and have never really had an issue unless i have a very very quiet singer.

Shure

I agree the speaker type and placement is probably the problem, they need to be much farther forward, provide the singer with a floor wedge if necessary. Maybe turn the backing track down so the vocal projects higher in the mix?

I don't let other people/singers use my gear. I've had plenty of bands ask if they can. The answer is always no

There might be the odd singer who is experienced with a wedge but I wonder if really necessary?
Because it's a judged contest with many singers and not a solo act, unfortunately, there's no opportunity or more to the point "time" to balance each individual with their supplied track. I can adjust the gain on tracks before play and have managed to cope pretty well with each singer...bar the one or two people with really quiet voices, but am unsure if practical to add a wedge?

I'll see if I can change the speaker set-up. The hall can hold up to 250 but there's only been around 150 max per night so will need output (without blasting the audience).
Have a powered wedge, so will take along and see if it does the trick.



That's your choice of course Rob, but not the question I asked!