How Mackie Feedback Eliminator Stops Mic Feedback in Its Tracks

The first time you encounter mic feedback, you will probably think to yourself: "Wow, that is literally the worst sound I have ever heard. How do I make it stop immediately?" And you won’t be alone. Microphone feedback is one of the absolute worst things that can happen with a live sound system. If you’re the performer, it hurts your ears. If you’re in the crowd, it ruins your experience. If you’re a live sound professional, it makes you look like an amateur.

That’s the whole reason Mackie invented Feedback Eliminator, the magic button on your Thump loudspeaker that stops mic feedback instantly. Feedback Eliminator is incredibly simple and effective. Under the hood, it’s actually quite technologically impressive.

Read on for a little more about that horrific squeal coming from your speakers, why it’s happening, and how Mackie fixed it with Feedback Eliminator.

What Is Microphone Feedback?

Microphone feedback, also known as a “feedback loop,” is a loud noise that happens when a microphone picks up the sound from a speaker the microphone is connected to. (Most commonly when the mic is pointed at the speaker.) The mic “feeds” the sound from the speaker “back” into the same speaker, which gets picked up by the mic again, feeds back again, etc. The sound gets amplified each time, over and over, louder and louder. It can get seriously, ear-splittingly loud. Make no mistake: you do not want mic feedback.

Dealing With Mic Feedback the Old-Fashioned Way

There are some basic feedback prevention measures that almost everybody follows. Most people know not to literally put a mic up against the PA speaker. Plus, most live performers use dynamic stage mics like the EM-89D, which are less sensitive to sounds they aren’t pointed at. But microphone feedback absolutely still happens — if you don’t have a Thump loudspeaker with Feedback Eliminator, at least. And if you don’t have Feedback Eliminator, you’ll have to fix your microphone feedback using a few inconvenient, old-fashioned methods.

You Need to Turn Speaker Down (Not Ideal)

The immediate response to mic feedback is to turn down the speaker. Turn it off, if you need to. This will get things under control until you figure out the problem. If you try slowly bringing the speaker volume back up, you can find what volume will be loud enough to cause the feedback. If you can get loud enough for the audience without passing the feedback point, you may be fine. But what if you want to crank it up? Try the next option, if possible.

You Need to Rearrange the Mics and Speakers (Not Always Possible)

Ideally, you would be able to arrange your mics and speakers so that they don’t feed back into each other. But unfortunately, you can’t always position your speakers and mics exactly where you want them. If you’ve done shows at small and medium-sized venues, you know that space is at a premium. That goes double for mobile DJs who have to perform just about anywhere. And even if you’re lucky enough to get things set up perfectly, there’s one other variable…

You Need the Performer to Have Mic Discipline (Impossible)

With careful placement and volume levels, you may be able to set up a feedback-free PA system. You may think: "This won’t feed back unless someone literally points the mic at the speaker. That will never happen." But wedding DJs and live sound pros know that anything can happen at a live event. When a best man gives his toast at a wedding, it may be his first time speaking into a microphone. At a local show, the singer may be inexperienced, and get flippant with where they point the mic. (Experienced singers have been known to do this, too.)

How Feedback Eliminator Silences Mic Feedback for Good

Mackie is all about making it easy to get world-class sound. One obstacle we saw was mic feedback, that terrible menace that haunts our stages. We were tired of the ear-splitting screech, and tired of the compromises that come with trying to avoid it. So, we created Feedback Eliminator, an innovative feature of Mackie Thump loudspeakers. When turned on, Feedback Eliminator automatically prevents feedback at the press of a button.

It’s actually pretty nifty how we do it.

Always Scanning Your Signal

When the Feedback Eliminator button is turned on, the Mackie loudspeaker will constantly scan the signal coming from the microphone channel. If there’s no feedback, it won’t do anything. But if mic feedback appears, the system will recognize the trademark screeching sound. And not only that, but it will notice what specific frequency range is feeding back.

Then, the Feedback Eliminator will do something about it.

Applies Up to Six Filters

Feedback Eliminator applies an audio filter to the specific frequency range that is feeding back through the microphone. By using a precise filter in this way, it reduces the feedback while keeping the rest of your signal intact. This ability can be a lifesaver at a live event. Say a band is in the middle of a song and the mic starts feeding back — Feedback Eliminator will identify the frequency and tamp down the feedback, while the band is able to keep performing. It’s much less intrusive than shutting the speaker off or cutting the mic!

Oh, and one more thing: Feedback Eliminator can do this process with six filters. Meaning it can identify up to six different frequency ranges that are feeding back and filter them all separately.

Deepens Filters as Needed

Mackie always strives for clear, impactful sound. We want to leave the signal as unadulterated as possible. Sometimes, microphone feedback is relatively minor, and only requires a slight filter to shut it down. In those cases, we wouldn’t want Feedback Eliminator filtering more than necessary. So, Feedback Eliminator applies the filter in three steps, stopping when the feedback is addressed. That way, your signal is only as filtered as it needs to be.

Go With Mackie and Say Goodbye to That Awful Squeal

Getting exceptional live sound shouldn’t be hard. But the laws of physics sometimes get in the way, and we deal with issues like microphone feedback. We can’t change the laws of physics, so we did the next best thing: we put Feedback Eliminator into our industry-leading Thump loudspeakers. And the best part is, when you turn on Feedback Eliminator, you can worry less about feedback and more about getting the best sound possible. Eventually, it will become a distant memory. Mic feedback will become a thing of the past.

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