Can I use a parabolic mic with a P.A. system?

We get contacted regularly by customers that want to connect our parabolic microphone products to a public address (PA) system.  Typically they want to capture performers on a stage for their PA system but they don’t have enough wireless mics for each performer, or they can’t put enough stationery mic on or above the stage to capture all the performers.  

This brings about the question, can I use a parabolic mic with a P.A. system?

The answer is: yes and no.  You can use a parabolic microphone with a public address (PA) system but avoiding feedback will be a significant challenge in most situations due to the parabolic mic’s high sensitivity.

A parabolic microphone is a specialized type of microphone that uses a parabolic reflector to collect and focus sound waves onto a microphone element, which converts the sound waves into an electrical signal. This makes it highly directional, allowing it to pick up sound from a specific direction while reducing noise from other directions.  It can also provide a great amount of amplification.  Parabolic microphones can allow a normal conversation to be heard from several hundred feet away.  (If you aren’t familiar with parabolic microphones check our article “How Parabolic Microphones Work”.)

To use a parabolic microphone with a PA system, you will need to connect the microphone to a mixer or amplifier that is part of the PA system. This can typically be done using a standard XLR cable. Once the microphone is connected, you can adjust the volume and other settings on the mixer or amplifier as needed to get the desired sound quality.

To avoid feedback, be sure to locate the front face of the parabolic dish so it is not parallel to any flat surfaces and it will be less likely to capture reflected sounds.  It will be very helpful to use a feedback suppression system.  These systems automatically reduce the levels (gain, or amplification) of the PA system when feedback is first detected.  These systems react faster than a human can, making it a great tool to avoid the dreaded squeal of a feedback loop.

It’s worth noting that parabolic microphones are often used in situations where it is important to capture sound from a distance, such as outdoor events, sporting events, and wildlife observation. More traditional microphones (on a stand, hand held, or headworn) are typically used for close-up sound reinforcement, such as vocals in a live music performance, or with PA systems.

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