Why You Should Never Cup a Microphone

Have you ever sat through a live performance, concert, or even karaoke night and come away noticing some singers or speakers who, strangely, seemed to be wrapping their hands around the top of the mic? This is where people cup the mic, and it’s not something that seems all that harmful until you try it, cupping the mic can harm sound quality and overall performance.

In this blog, we will learn why you should never cup a microphone, the impact it has on sound, and how to use the mic technique to get the best sound quality. For performers, podcasters, or gamers, this simple rule will help you achieve professional quality sound each and every time.

What Does "Cupping the Mic" Mean?

If you Cupping the mic, it won't be pulled away from the source. Singers, screamers, and public speakers do this out of habit or to produce some kind of distinctive effect. But by doing so, someone cupping the microphone and blocking the sound pickup pattern interferes with the sound quality and can introduce things like feedback, muddying the signal, and losing clarity.

While it may look "cool" or intense, cupping the mic is one of the quickest ways to ruin the sound quality in any setting. Here’s why:

Why Is Mic Cupping Bad?

Why is Mic Cupping Bad? Microphones aren’t random in their shape and design—microphones have been designed to capture sound from particular directions and frequencies. When a performer cups the microphone, it disrupts its frequency response and pickup pattern, leading to numerous issues:

1. Distorted Sound Quality:

   In a good setting, when you put your hands around the microphone, you are doing exactly that; you are blocking the mic from working properly. Your voice picks up muffled and distorted sounds instead of picking it up clearly.

2. Increased Feedback:

   When cupping the mic, loud high-pitched feedback occurs that interrupts the performance. That’s because the covering of the microphone triggers sound waves to bounce back into the microphone cups’ capsule, resulting in a feedback loop of the speakers with the microphone.

3. Loss of Clarity and Dynamics:

   When cupped, it gives up its natural ability to capture dynamic changes in your voice. Instead of having crisp, clear audio, you end up producing a muddy, indistinct sound that makes listening to you difficult for your audience to hear what you are saying or singing.

4. Poor Directionality:

   Cardioid mics, for instance (or any mic that is designed to capture sound in a certain direction, in other words, from the front), tend to catch sound from a lot of microphones. Due to someone cupping the microphone, the mic picks up sound from every direction and you get a mess of unwanted background noise and mangled vocals.

Why Do Some Singers Cup the Microphone?

There are a lot of singers and screamers who seem to think that cupping the mic gives you a 'cooler' sound or amplifies their voice in an unusual way. While a cupping mic can be used to make a lot of sounds in metal and hardcore music, it comes at a cost of sound clarity and overall performance quality.

Some artists may choose to mic cup as a stylistic choice, but for the most part, cupping the microphone in a mic cup does more bad than good. Because if what you’re after is high-quality sound, it’s a habit you should avoid altogether.

What Happens When You Cup the Microphone?

The design of a microphone determines how well sound is propagated when appropriately held. And not all mics are the same, most mics are directional — meaning they will listen in on certain angles but won’t hear anything that’s coming in from other directions. Cupping the microphone alters this natural pickup pattern and forces the mic to work in ways it wasn’t intended.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what happens when you cup a microphone:

• The Frequency Response Changes:

  Every microphone has its own frequency response and thus is picking up certain frequencies better than others. When you have your hand around the mic and take a sip of hot tea from your flask, the frequency response changes the level of the picked-up frequencies, with more of the low frequencies (bass), and less of the high frequencies (treble).

• Reduced Output:

  If a cupped microphone sounds quieter, it’s because it can’t hear so well. Instinctually, singers and speakers may speak or sing, even louder to compensate, resulting in more strain and more distortion.

• Feedback Is Amplified:

  By making the Cupping mic less directional, more sound will beat into the microphone from the speakers. The result is that dreaded screeching feedback that kills off the listening experience for both live and recorded events.

Proper Microphone Technique: How to Hold a Mic Correctly

To avoid the pitfalls of cupping the mic, you should always practice proper microphone handling techniques. Here's how:

1. Hold the Mic at the Base:

   Place your hand on the lower part of the microphone handle. This means that the microphone’s head remains open, as sound is picked up clearly without distortions.

2. Maintain a Consistent Distance:

   The best pickup is to have the mic about 2-3 inches from your mouth. If you get too close it will sound boomy or distorted, too far away and you will be hard to hear.

3. Angle the Mic Properly:

   Point the microphone in your direction, but at a slight angle so that you’re not picking up any plosive sounds (like "p" or "b") the microphone isn’t realizing are your mouth making sounds.

4. Use a Pop Filter or Foam Cover:

   Foam for microphone cups can help reduce harsh sounds, especially in close vocal settings. Also helpful in blocking out the "pop" noises made by strong consonants is a pop filter.

Why Do Screamers Cup the Mic?

Cupping the mic is a way screamers also like to pull their crazy voice and these techniques work in some music genres, like hardcore and metal. They can muff the mike to make a guttural sound that’s more aggressive. This works nicely in their style, but it still damages the audio quality and can throw feedback into the mix which makes it difficult for the sound engineer to control.

But better ways of doing this, which don't sacrifice sound quality, exist. Proper mic technique and mic attachments like vocal distortion pedals can help get you the sound you want and sound close to that without the downsides of cupping the mic.

Cupping mic might sound like the harmless avatar to cool to in a few contexts and while it might be cool, it’s one of the most egregious mistakes you can make when striving for the best audio quality. Whatever the situation – whether it’s you are on stage, recording a podcast, or gaming with friends – you can’t perform without proper microphone technique and with clear, crisp sound.

For superior audio gear, including microphones and attachments to enhance your sound quality, check out our Gaming Microphone Kit on TickTrend. Don’t let bad mic technique get in the way of your performance—get the right tools and sound your best!

FAQs

• Why do some singers put their hands and "cup" the microphone?

Some singers and performers believe cupping the microphone adds a unique sound or amplifies their voice in a particular way. However, this technique negatively affects sound quality and increases feedback.

• Why do screamers cup the mic?

Screamers in metal and hardcore music cup the mic to create a more distorted and aggressive vocal sound. While it works for their genre, it still damages overall sound clarity and introduces feedback.

• What is cupping the frequency response of a mic?

When you cup a microphone, you change its frequency response, making it pick up more low-end (bass) and less high-end (treble). This results in a muddied sound that lacks clarity.

• Why do singers put their lips on the microphone?

Singers sometimes place their lips on the microphone to amplify their voice and reduce external noise. However, this technique can introduce plosive sounds, which can be mitigated by using a foam for microphone or a pop filter.