Close mic'd

Definition

When a microphone is positioned between 2 cm and about 30 cm from an instrument, it is said to be close mic’d.

Close mic’ing helps to reduce problems with leakage from other instruments nearby, but can lead to other problems related to sound level and the proximity effect. It can also mean that performers may hit the microphone or that the microphone will also pick up the sounds of the instrument being played (keys on a flute moving, for example).

As with all microphone techniques, the potential problems have to be weighed up against the benefits.