Feedback Howl Fixing: Emergency Response and Prevention

Feedback howl demands immediate response—the unmistakable screech or sustained tone that drowns out everything else. Quick action minimizes embarrassment and audience discomfort. Understanding both emergency response and prevention enables confident handling of feedback situations.

Immediate Response Steps

Pull down the master fader first if the source is unclear. This stops the feedback instantly while preserving individual channel settings.

If the source is known, pull down that specific channel fader instead of the master. This affects only the problem channel while the rest of the mix continues.

Muting the problem channel provides instant silence without changing fader positions. The mute button should be the quickest-access control.

Reduce monitor sends for the problem channel. Feedback usually enters through stage monitors; cutting monitor send often addresses the source.

Identifying the Source

Sustained feedback indicates a closed loop between a speaker and microphone. Trace which microphone is picking up which speaker.

Mute channels systematically until feedback stops. The last-muted channel before feedback stopped is the culprit.

Visual observation helps—watch which performers are near their wedges, which microphones point toward speakers.

The tone of the feedback suggests frequency. Low rumble indicates low-frequency feedback; piercing screech indicates high frequencies.

Frequency Identification

Experience helps identify feedback frequencies by ear. 400 Hz sounds hollow and boxy; 1 kHz sounds nasal; 4 kHz sounds harsh and piercing.

Real-time analyzers on digital mixers or apps show which frequency is feeding back. The visual display confirms ear-based identification.

Graphic EQ shows which frequency to cut. Make a narrow cut and verify feedback stops without excessive tonal change.

Quick EQ Correction

Cut the feedback frequency by 3-6 dB on the graphic EQ affecting the problem output (usually the monitor output).

Narrow cuts affect less of the overall sound while addressing the specific problem frequency.

If cutting one frequency does not help, the feedback may jump to an adjacent frequency. Multiple cuts may be necessary.

Excessive cutting degrades sound quality. If many cuts seem necessary, the fundamental setup has problems beyond what EQ can solve.

Prevention Strategies

Ringing out monitors before soundcheck identifies feedback frequencies in advance. Cut those frequencies before performers take the stage.

Microphone-to-monitor positioning affects feedback potential. Position wedges in microphone rejection zones; position microphones away from speaker coverage patterns.

Lower monitor levels reduce feedback risk. Start conservative; add level only as performers request and feedback stability allows.

High-pass filtering removes low-frequency content that contributes to feedback. Filter non-bass sources aggressively.

During-Performance Prevention

Monitor the sound for signs of approaching feedback. A sustained ringing quality indicates a frequency approaching threshold.

Reduce levels proactively when approaching feedback territory. Preventing feedback is easier than fixing it.

Watch performers’ movements relative to microphones and monitors. Someone standing closer to their wedge increases feedback risk.

When Performers Contribute

Performers cupping handheld microphone grilles compromise the polar pattern, increasing feedback susceptibility. Educating performers about proper technique helps.

Performers positioning themselves directly between microphone and wedge create feedback opportunities. Gentle guidance about positioning helps.

Volume requests that exceed what the system can handle without feedback require honest conversation. More level may not be possible.

Special Feedback Types

Low-frequency feedback sounds like rumble or a building tone. Often involves kick drum microphone or bass cabinet proximity to subwoofers.

Mid-frequency feedback creates honking or hollow-sounding tones. Common with vocal microphones and floor wedges.

High-frequency feedback creates piercing screech. Often from overheads, condensers, or monitors with hot tweeters.

Post-Incident Analysis

After solving immediate feedback, analyze what caused it. Changed microphone position? Higher monitor request? Different performer technique?

Note the feedback frequency and the solution applied. This information helps with future shows in the same venue or with the same performers.

Consider whether the fundamental setup contributed to the problem. Improved placement or level management may prevent recurrence.

Equipment Factors

Microphone polar patterns affect feedback susceptibility. Supercardioid patterns offer tighter rejection than standard cardioid.

Monitor speaker quality affects feedback behavior. Quality speakers with tight pattern control reject feedback better than cheap alternatives.

Graphic EQ on monitor outputs provides feedback control capability. Systems without monitor EQ have fewer options.

Automatic feedback suppressors detect and notch feedback frequencies. These provide safety-net protection but work best when combined with proper setup.