Acoustic instruments such as drum sets, acoustic guitars, and pianos need a microphone so the other musicians can hear your instrument during an online rehearsal.

For most rehearsals, a simple microphone setup is all you need. You do not need a studio-quality recording setup to participate.

What You’ll Need

• A microphone

• An audio interface (if using an XLR microphone)

• Headphones

• Appropriate microphone and instrument cables

• Your computer with FarPlay

Using a headset? If your headphones have a built-in microphone, you may be able to use that microphone instead of a separate mic. Just make sure your instrument can be heard clearly without clipping or distortion.

Acoustic Drum Set

Drums can be loud, so microphone placement and input level are especially important.

Simple One-Microphone Setup

You do not need to individually mic every drum for an online rehearsal.

1. Connect your microphone to your audio interface.

2. Place the microphone several feet from the drum set rather than directly next to a drum or cymbal.

3. Start with the microphone approximately 3–6 feet from the kit.

4. Connect your audio interface to your computer.

5. Select your audio interface as the input and output device in FarPlay.

6. Play the entire kit, including some of your loudest hits.

7. Adjust the microphone position and input gain until the entire drum set can be heard clearly.

8. Make sure the loudest hits do not clip or distort.

9. Use headphones during the rehearsal.

Tip: If the cymbals are much louder than the drums, try lowering the microphone or moving it farther away from the cymbals.

Using More Than One Microphone

If you already have multiple microphones and an audio interface with multiple inputs, you can use more than one microphone for greater control.

However, a multi-microphone drum setup is not required. A good one-microphone setup is perfectly suitable for rehearsals.

Acoustic Guitar

An acoustic guitar can be picked up with a separate microphone or, in some situations, the microphone built into a headset.

Using a Separate Microphone

1. Connect your microphone to your audio interface.

2. Position the microphone approximately 6–12 inches from the guitar.

3. Start by aiming the microphone toward the area where the neck meets the body, around the 12th fret.

4. Avoid pointing the microphone directly into the sound hole. This can make the guitar sound overly boomy.

5. Connect your audio interface to your computer.

6. Select your audio interface in FarPlay.

7. Play both softly and loudly while adjusting the input gain.

8. Make sure the guitar is clear without clipping or distortion.

9. Use headphones during rehearsal.

Using a Headset Microphone

A headset microphone may be able to pick up both your acoustic guitar and your voice.

Experiment with your position so the microphone can hear the guitar clearly without being too close to the instrument.

Because the same microphone is picking up both your voice and guitar, their levels cannot be adjusted independently.

Have an acoustic-electric guitar? You can also plug the guitar directly into an audio interface instead of using a microphone.

Acoustic Piano

Pianos produce sound across a large area, so the goal is to position the microphone where it can capture a balanced sound rather than placing it extremely close to one section of the instrument.

Upright Piano

1. Connect your microphone to your audio interface.

2. Start with the microphone approximately 1–3 feet from the piano.

3. Position it where it can capture both the lower and higher notes rather than pointing it at only one end of the keyboard.

4. If possible, experiment with placing the microphone near the open top of the piano or a short distance behind the instrument.

5. Play notes across the entire keyboard.

6. Adjust the microphone position and input gain until the piano sounds balanced.

7. Make sure loud chords do not clip or distort.

8. Select your audio interface in FarPlay and use headphones during rehearsal.

Grand Piano

1. Open the piano lid.

2. Position the microphone above the strings, leaving some distance between the microphone and the instrument.

3. Avoid placing the microphone extremely close to one group of strings.

4. Play across the full range of the piano and listen for a balanced sound.

5. Adjust the microphone position and input gain as needed.

6. Make sure loud passages do not clip or distort.

One microphone is completely fine for rehearsals. A stereo or multi-microphone piano setup is not required.

What About My Voice?

For many setups, the microphone used for your instrument may also pick up your voice well enough to communicate during rehearsal.

If you want separate control of your instrument and voice, use two inputs on your audio interface:

Input 1 → Instrument Microphone

Input 2 → Vocal Microphone

This allows your instrument and speaking voice to be adjusted independently.

Always Use Headphones

Headphones are required during online rehearsals.

Without headphones, the sound of the other musicians and backing tracks can come through your speakers and be picked up again by your microphone, creating echo and feedback.

Before Your Rehearsal

Take a minute to test your setup:

• Play some of your quietest and loudest passages.

• Make sure your instrument can be heard clearly.

• Listen for clipping or distortion on loud notes.

• Check that you can hear the other musicians through your headphones.

• Make sure your speaking voice can be heard.

Need Help?

Every instrument, room, and microphone setup is a little different. If you’re unsure about your setup, contact us with your instrument and the equipment you’re using, and we’ll help you find a simple way to get connected.