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Feedback

By Joe Shambro, About.com

Definition: Feedback is among the most annoying things to happen in live sound; however, it can also be beneficial in studio situations.

Feedback occurs when certain frequency ranges are re-amplified from an amplifier through the device's pickup, be it a microphone or instrument amp.

Killing feedback in a live sound situation is always a battle, especially with vocal microphones and on-stage monitors. Reducing certain frequencies in master EQ settings almost always is necessary (especially around 1kHz). In a studio situation, feedback can help give an interesting (and sometimes desirable) tone to a guitar sound.
Examples: "There's a lot of feedback from the vocal monitor."

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