Let’s Talk Amplification: How to Make Sure Your Strings are Heard (and Sound Gorgeous!)
So you’ve booked a stunning venue, you’ve chosen your dream string ensemble (hi, that’s us!), and you’re imagining those gorgeous melodies floating through the space as guests arrive, glasses clink, and magic happens…
But here’s the thing: even the most beautiful performance can fall flat if no one can actually hear it.
When it comes to live strings, volume isn’t about blasting people’s ears off — it’s about clarity, warmth, and making sure the music reaches the very last row. If your venue is large, outdoors, full of 200+ guests, you’re on a budget and only want one or two musicians, or has tricky acoustics (hello, glass walls and carpeted floors), then amplification isn’t just a “nice to have” — it’s essential.
Okay, let’s break down what we need to sound our best in these circumstances:
What Amplification Do You Actually Need?
Option 1. Microphones on stands
These are the standard, run-of-the-mill mics that sit in front of our instruments. Like what a guest speaker or singer would use. They work absolutely fine but there’s a chance they will pick up some external noise and they are very visible, so aesthetic wise, if you would want something sleek, keep reading…
Option 2. DPA clip-on microphones
These are our gold standard. They attach directly to our instruments, capturing every note clearly no matter how much we move. The sound is warmer, more natural, and way more reliable for live performance. Bonus, if you’d like the violinist/s to roam at any point (enquire about our Luxe services) we can connect these DPA mics to wireless packs, allowing freedom to walk around without any annoying cables!
…So if you’re hiring a venue with AV included, ask them:
“Do you have DPA clip-on mics (or something similar) for string instruments?”
If the answer is no, we may be able to bring our own for the sound team to hook into their system. Otherwise, we will perform with the first option - mics on stands, no problemo!
We Hear You… But Can We Hear Ourselves? Enter: Foldback Wedges
If the space is particularly large, we’re playing on a stage, or we’re positioned very close to your guests, if would be great if we could get a foldback wedge — that’s a monitor speaker pointed toward us.
Why? Because hearing ourselves is crucial. If we can’t hear each other, we can’t stay in sync, we can’t balance dynamics, and the result is less-than-stellar music — and that’s just not how we roll.
A foldback monitor helps us blend and perform confidently. It’s one of those behind-the-scenes details that makes all the difference.
When Amplification is Absolutely Recommended
Here’s a quick checklist. If any of the following apply to your event, let’s talk sound enhancement:
GUEST COUNT OVER 150
More guests = more noise = music needs to work harder to be heard.
Particularly if you want background music during food and drink service, people mingling and chatting will cover the music so amplification should be considered for larger guest counts.LARGE VENUE OR OUTDOORS
High ceilings, long halls, or outdoor spaces? Amplify. Want the music to travel to all corners of the room? Amplify.
YOU’VE BOOKED A SOLOIST OR STRING DUO
These smaller ensembles produce less natural volume than a string quartet so it could be worth considering adding on an amplification package.
For soloist bookings, we don’t book events longer than 1.5 hours because of the limited sound. With a soloist, you only have the melody line being performed — no harmonies — so we encourage clients to opt for our luxe ‘PA package’ which includes amplification and backing tracks to give that fuller soundscape and a more enjoyable experience for all.MUSICIANS ARE SET FAR AWAY FROM GUESTS
This is when you have a particular vision of where the musicians are to be placed. For example, up on a balcony, stage, or side of the room and not positioned close to your guests. Amplifying is crucial otherwise it will be a visual experience, not an audible one!THERE’S A LOT OF BACKGROUND NOISE
Think fountains, wind, chatter, or city sounds for outdoor gigs.
What You Can Do (and What We Can Help With)
If your venue has an in-house AV team — amazing. We’re happy to chat with them directly to sort out the right mic setup, placement, and monitoring if that’s helpful for you.
If the venue doesn’t offer any sound support, don’t panic — we can discuss hiring a suitable PA package for your event or look at options for an electric string soloist, duo or trio bringing our own sound system as an alternative. This setup is self-sufficient and specially designed for larger events or outdoor gigs. (It also looks sleek and sounds incredible!) Click HERE for some video examples.
We Want to Sound Good For You!
We’re here to make your event feel unforgettable — and part of that means making sure your guests can actually hear and enjoy the music you’ve carefully chosen. Amplification isn’t about being loud. It’s about being heard, clearly and beautifully.
Let’s work together to make that happen.
Need help navigating your venue’s sound setup?
Get in touch and we’ll happily review your floor plan, guest count, and AV options to recommend the best solution (and whether you need it!). Your event deserves music that truly sings.