You might have seen it across social media or in real life: David Feng uses what seems to be a huge microphone. Here’s why.
各位可能已經看過社交網站或實際生活中，馮琰使用一個巨型話筒。這是爲何…
Precision audio
精準音訊
The microphone’s foam cover is intentionally designed to be so massive so that David can use it with the lips almost touching it, without loss of audible quality. Plosives (th, p, s, d, t) are blotted out by the thick foam cover, and more precise pronunciation details — such as fourteen over fourty — can be conveyed clearly. This is especially so for language training sessions.
之所以話筒海面罩如此之大，即爲提高音訊質素。一些聲音，如「吱」、「吃」、「詩」等，如話筒並無厚大海綿罩而用戶嘴部過度近於話筒頂部，發聲時可能會引致出現雜音甚至於刺耳雜聲。足夠大的海綿罩，即保證馮琰在講話中 (以語言課程尤甚) 爲追求最準確發生可將嘴唇似乎貼近海面罩，而發聲時不會發出雜音。例如在講述外語關鍵詞發音近似之時 (如英文中 fourteen 與 fourty 之間差別)，可以更加清楚地講出。
Damage control
防止破壞設備
The sheer size of the foam cover is thick enough to absorb unintended bumps to the microphone. Usually, a second foam cover is in use to “balance” and keep the mic relatively stable when not in use. High-end microphones can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of Swiss francs. A big enough foam cover shields it and avoids an unpleasant surprise when it comes to the pocketbook.
如此之大的話筒海綿罩可以防止設備突然倒下時遭受損失。一般而言，爲更好防止摔下，會在不使用之時，於話筒另一端再加海綿罩。一些話筒價格甚高，可接近幾千甚至於幾萬港元。足夠大的海綿罩，即對話筒起到保護作用。
Sanitation and germ control
清潔防菌
Yes, you read that right. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, David has travelled with his own individual foam cover to use on the mic, and removed them and disinfected or otherwise cleaned them regularly. During the pandemic, a Covid cluster at a Korean KTV centre sparked a major virus infection cluster — which could be linked back to a microphone at the venue. By actually cleaning up after himself, nasty health-related surprises can be avoided — as much as possible.
確實如此!… 由 2019 冠狀病毒疫情爆發以來，馮琰即親自攜帶自己的話筒海綿罩，帶上話筒上，使用完畢後自行取下，並回家進行清晰。這是因爲，疫情期間，韓國一波病毒感染即由未及時清潔 KTV 話筒爆發並引發傳染。因自己的話筒海綿罩並不與他人共享，因此可以避免或減少細菌或是病毒傳染風險。
And last but not least…
還有…
Pictures of David Feng carrying a microphone with an enormous foam cover have spread to every part of the Web to the extent it is almost like a cult object — and have been featured in news reports, too. So, if you want a real David Feng event, just look at what mic he is using…
馮琰使用帶有巨型海綿罩之話筒圖像已擴散至全網各地，甚至於進入新聞報導，似如「個人品牌化」。因此，如果想參加「真」馮琰活動，請看下話筒…
For especially audio programmes, but even in real-life events, David wants you to hear him clearly — without the unfortunate plosives or unintended smooching on clothing. Humans tend to be far pickier in terms of audio than video. (See, he did media studies for a reason!) Plus, don’t you feel the sight of such an enormous microphone — well, keeps your attention glued? (As some members of the audience have remarked…)
PS: The “urban legend” that the bigger foam cover purportedly shielded profanity uttered into the mic is — yes, just that…
對於音訊節目尤甚，但同樣對於線下活動，馮琰希望各位能聽清他的每句話 — 而不遭受刺耳雜音或下意識話筒與衣服碰噌噪音。在傳播學方面課程他曾學過，人類對於音訊要求高於對視訊質素要求。此外，有些受眾亦曾說，「巨型話筒」總是讓人「盯着」新奇…
PS: 所謂「巨型海綿罩是爲防止謾罵」尚屬傳言，不必當真!