How many notch filters should I use per monitor?

Typically 4 to 8 notch filters per monitor mix provide adequate GBF. Beyond 8 filters, the cumulative tonal effect becomes audible. If more filters are needed, improve the physical setup: adjust mic placement, monitor angle, or consider switching to in-ear monitors.

Should I ring out with vocals or instruments?

Ring out with the actual microphone being used, but you do not need a performer. Speaking or humming at normal volume into the mic is sufficient. The feedback frequencies are determined by the acoustic path, not the source material. The microphone excites the room and monitors with broadband energy.

What Q value should notch filters use?

Use Q values between 10 and 30 for feedback notch filters. A Q of 16 at 2 kHz affects only about 125 Hz bandwidth, narrow enough to suppress feedback without audible tonal change. Q values below 5 remove too much musical content and are better suited for tonal shaping than feedback suppression.

Can I ring out monitors during soundcheck?

Yes, ring out before the full band soundcheck while you have individual microphone access. Ring each monitor mix with its primary microphone first, then check stability with all channels open at performance levels. Final adjustments during soundcheck with the full band ensure real-world stability.

What is the minimum acceptable GBF for monitors?

The gain before feedback should be at least 6 dB above the maximum level the performer needs. This provides margin for the performer moving closer to the monitor or singing louder than during soundcheck. For critical applications, 10 dB of margin is preferred.

How many notch filters should I use per monitor?

Typically 4 to 8 notch filters per monitor mix provide adequate GBF. Beyond 8 filters, the cumulative tonal effect becomes audible. If more filters are needed, improve the physical setup: adjust mic placement, monitor angle, or consider switching to in-ear monitors.

Should I ring out with vocals or instruments?

Ring out with the actual microphone being used, but you do not need a performer. Speaking or humming at normal volume into the mic is sufficient. The feedback frequencies are determined by the acoustic path, not the source material. The microphone excites the room and monitors with broadband energy.

What Q value should notch filters use?

Use Q values between 10 and 30 for feedback notch filters. A Q of 16 at 2 kHz affects only about 125 Hz bandwidth, narrow enough to suppress feedback without audible tonal change. Q values below 5 remove too much musical content and are better suited for tonal shaping than feedback suppression.

Can I ring out monitors during soundcheck?

Yes, ring out before the full band soundcheck while you have individual microphone access. Ring each monitor mix with its primary microphone first, then check stability with all channels open at performance levels. Final adjustments during soundcheck with the full band ensure real-world stability.

What is the minimum acceptable GBF for monitors?

The gain before feedback should be at least 6 dB above the maximum level the performer needs. This provides margin for the performer moving closer to the monitor or singing louder than during soundcheck. For critical applications, 10 dB of margin is preferred.

How to Ring Out Stage Monitors

6 steps15-20 min readUpdated 2026-03-20

Quick Answer

Ringing out stage monitors means systematically increasing the monitor mix level until each feedback frequency reveals itself, then applying narrow notch filters to suppress those frequencies. This process maximizes gain before feedback, allowing performers to hear themselves clearly without the system becoming unstable during the show.

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Equipment Needed

✓SonaVyx RTA with spectrograph on phone or tablet
✓Stage monitor speakers (wedge or sidefill)
✓Microphones in performance positions
✓Parametric or graphic EQ on monitor outputs
✓Hearing protection for the engineer

Step-by-Step Guide

Prepare the Stage

Place all microphones in their performance positions on stands at the correct height and angle. Position wedge monitors as they will be during the show, typically 1 to 2 meters from the microphone, angled upward at 30 to 45 degrees. Open only the microphone channel being rung out and mute all others. Ensure the monitor EQ is set flat with no previous notch filters or channel EQ adjustments. Start with all faders at minimum. This ensures each channel is optimized independently before the combined mix adds further complication.

Open SonaVyx RTA

Launch SonaVyx on a phone or tablet positioned near the monitor engineer position. Set RTA mode with 1/12 octave or no smoothing and an FFT size of 4096 or 8192 for good frequency resolution. Enable the spectrograph for visual feedback detection, which shows sustained ringing as persistent bright horizontal lines. The combination of real-time spectrum and spectrograph gives you both the frequency identification and the temporal behavior of developing feedback.

Increase Gain Until First Ring

Slowly raise the aux send or monitor mix level while watching SonaVyx's RTA. Speak or sing into the microphone at the expected performance level to load the system realistically. When the first feedback frequency begins to ring, it appears as a growing peak on the RTA display, typically 15 to 20 dB above the surrounding spectrum. Stop increasing gain immediately. Use SonaVyx's crosshair cursor to identify the exact frequency. Common first-ring frequencies for vocal mics on wedges are 1 to 4 kHz.

Apply Notch Filter

On the monitor system EQ (graphic or parametric), apply a narrow cut at the identified frequency. For parametric EQ, use a Q of 10 to 30 and cut 3 to 6 dB. For graphic EQ, pull down the single fader closest to the feedback frequency. The narrow notch removes just enough energy at that frequency to break the feedback loop without audibly affecting the overall monitor sound. Verify the notch suppressed the ring by checking that the peak has disappeared from the RTA display.

Repeat for Additional Frequencies

Continue increasing gain until the next feedback frequency emerges. Apply another notch filter and repeat. Typically, 4 to 8 frequencies need notching per monitor mix before the gain before feedback is adequate. After each notch, the system can go louder before the next frequency becomes problematic. Track your progress: if you have notched 8 or more frequencies and GBF is still insufficient, the physical setup needs improvement rather than more electronic correction.

Document and Verify

Record all notch filter frequencies and depths in your show notes. Measure the final gain before feedback by bringing the system to the edge of ringing with all notches applied. The GBF should be at least 6 dB above the maximum level the performer will need during the show. Do a final check by speaking into the mic at high level and walking around the monitor coverage area. Store a reference trace in SonaVyx for comparison during the show if issues arise.

Monitor System Optimization

Stage monitor feedback is the most common challenge in live sound. The short distance between the monitor speaker and the microphone creates a high-gain feedback path that limits how loud the monitor can go. Systematic ring-out combined with physical optimization can provide 15 to 25 dB of usable gain before feedback.

Physical Factors

The microphone's polar pattern is the first line of defense. Cardioid microphones reject sound from 180 degrees; supercardioid reject best from about 125 degrees. Position the wedge monitor at the microphone's maximum rejection angle. For cardioid mics, this means placing the wedge directly behind the mic capsule. For supercardioid, angle the wedge approximately 55 degrees off to the side. The difference between optimal and poor placement can be 6 to 10 dB of GBF.

In-Ear Monitors as Alternative

In-ear monitors (IEMs) eliminate the speaker-to-microphone acoustic path entirely, providing essentially unlimited gain before feedback from monitors. The only remaining feedback path is from the main PA to the stage mics, which is much weaker due to the greater distance and directional speaker design. IEMs also reduce stage volume, improving main PA sound quality for the audience. The tradeoff is that performers must adapt to the isolated listening experience and potential cable management challenges.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

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Ringing out with the microphone in hand rather than on the stand, which changes the acoustic coupling during the show

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Applying too-wide notch filters that audibly color the monitor sound, making vocals sound thin or nasal

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Not ringing out each monitor mix independently before combining channels

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Skipping the physical optimization step and relying entirely on electronic correction

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Ringing out at dangerously high volumes without hearing protection

Applicable Standards

Standard	Clause	Relevance
IEC 60268-16	Annex B	Effect of feedback suppression filters on speech transmission quality
AES-2id:2023	Clause 5	Measurement methodology for identifying feedback frequencies

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