Microphone Recommendation?

BigDaddyRob · #1 09-27-2010, 01:25 PM

Application: Male vocalist, soft singer in tenor range. Somewhat breathy vocal characteristics. Need good isolation.

Currently looking at a Shure SM87A, Beta87A, and Beta87C. But I can't tell the difference between them.

Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

VisualShock · #2 09-27-2010, 02:13 PM

Try the sennhieser e945. I think they're great mics, and they have a nice high range, to achieve crystal clarity in vocals.

If you're looking for something spitproof I'd recomend an sm58 though

peterwsmith · #3 09-27-2010, 02:20 PM

Our singer uses a Beta87A. A lot of soundmen question hm when he shows up with it, but then they hear how clear his vocals sound through it they shut up pretty quick.

tangentmusic · #4 09-27-2010, 02:21 PM

MK1 · #5 09-27-2010, 02:36 PM

It depends on the singer. If he has good mic technique and stays on the mic then I would say go with the Beta 58 it has a tighter polar pattern than the SM58 and sound men won't look at it likes it's from another planet. But if your singer moves all over the place then I would say just go with an SM58. Condensors aren't ideal for a noisy stage at a small club, you'll get a lot of bleed through. Plus most sound guys probably won't even let you use anything unless it's a 58. I've tried to use a Rode M1 which is a much nicer mic than the 58 and a Beta 87 and both times the sound guy told me he only likes to use his mics because he knows how they sound.

T-Bird · #6 09-27-2010, 11:41 PM

Hi.

Is the rest of the sound system or the recording setup good enough to get the most out of the better mic? Better than the "industry standard" SM58 I mean.

Does the audience appreciate the "better vocals"? Compared with SM58?

Does the sound engineer You use pay enough attention to the details to EQ and your overall tone to be able to use the better mic?

Are You willing to take the bigger hit if someone breaks or steals the "better" mic?

If You answer any of those questions with yes, then any of those mics you listed will get you great vocals. If You're not sure, a lesser one will do the job better. IME/IMHO only of course.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against good or great mics. It just pains me to see 'em used in places or with systems that could use any old SM57 or SM58, Betas included.

Those two are industry standards for a reason. The first (for me anyway) is that they all sound about the same, and take the EQ about the same. Different vintages have differences obviously, but even those are subtle, so no surprises in the soundcheck, or during the gig. That also means those mics are easy to replace if necessary, every store has 'em in stock.
The second reason is reliability. The only time I've seen one to break was when a pissed off singer of a lame band had a fit when they didn't win a certain award threw the mic down from the stage and it broke in two. It still worked, but required quite a bit gaffa tape to get us through that gig (7 bands to go after that IIRC).

Regards
Sam

fokof · #7 09-28-2010, 09:08 AM

If the other mentioned option are too expensive , the AKG D5 is a good/ non expensive alternative to a SM58 that has better/crisper high end IME.
Usually found new under 100$

http://www.akg.com/site/products/pow...nguage,EN.html

Munjibunga · #8 09-29-2010, 02:28 AM

You might want to try a Beta 58. Whatever you decide, if you buy a Shure mic, the only place to buy it is Northern Sound and Light. You have to call them to get the price, but you won't believe it when you do. PM me for a couple examples.

Bufalo · #9 09-29-2010, 05:47 AM

After hating life with SM58's, I moved to Sennheiser and never looked back. I've had an e835, now use an e945, both have been excellent. The Senn's have sounded more articulate, less harsh, and more full to me in any situation with the most basic to the most elaborate PA systems. Better feedback rejection on cramped, loud stages, too. After having used both, I'm convinced that the only reason the 58 is the standard is that people are afraid to try anything else.

Dantreige · #10 09-29-2010, 06:37 PM

I have used a sennheiser E855 for about ten years. I never have feedback problems on my side of the stage, but the other singers using sm57/58's sure do.

I do not think the e855 is being made anymore. Maybe someone with better knowledge then me can give you teh new model that replaced it.

Can't go wrong with Sennheiser.

TimmyP · #11 09-29-2010, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bird

......I have nothing against good or great mics. It just pains me to see 'em used in places or with systems that could use any old SM57 or SM58, Betas included.

It pains me to see someone use an SM or Beta 57 or 58 when there are so many better sounding affordable mics available.

JimmyM · #12 09-29-2010, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyP

It pains me to see someone use an SM or Beta 57 or 58 when there are so many better sounding affordable mics available.

like...? if they're out there, i haven't found them. i've found more expensive mics that sound a bit better, but there's always something about them that turns me off in comparison to a good old 58. in their price range, i certainly haven't found any as good.

TimmyP · #13 09-29-2010, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

like...? if they're out there, i haven't found them. i've found more expensive mics that sound a bit better, but there's always something about them that turns me off in comparison to a good old 58. in their price range, i certainly haven't found any as good.

OM3, OM6, OM7, E835, E935, N/D767a, N/D967, PL80, D5, SM86,......

**Ryan L.** · #14 09-29-2010, 11:08 PM

I agree with Jimmy. Sure, there are probably better mics out there than a Beta58, but I haven't found much of anything that works better for me in its price range.

I recently picked up 2 more of them for the two guitar players in my band, and haven't regretted it one bit. Better clarity than the SM58s they were using.

Dan55 · #15 09-30-2010, 11:25 AM

Anyone have any experience with the Heil PR20? Around the same price range as the Shure offerings.
http://www.heilsound.com/pro/products/pr.php

Dan

JimmyM · #16 09-30-2010, 11:57 AM

the only heil vocal mic i've tried is the pr35 and it sounds absolutely wonderful. but my mic technique can be a little sloppy sometimes and with the heil you have to be dead on it for it to work well, so that was what ultimately prevented me from getting one.

FunkMetalBass · #17 09-30-2010, 12:01 PM

I've heard good things about Heil's microphones. My vocals would best be described as baritone, and I've read that the PR30 is a great mic that competes with the SM87.

Never tried the PR20, but with the decent reviews, it's something worth checking into.

rockstarbassist · #18 10-01-2010, 08:53 AM

We've been using my Heil PR40 on everything- bass cab, guitar cabs, vox...

Sounds awesome across the board thus far.

4Mal · #19 10-02-2010, 07:17 PM

Sm - 57 with the Shure windscreen is a fabulous vocal mic for me. My standard vocal is the Senn 421. I put that, the 57/Shure screen combo, a 58, a Beta 58 and a Senn 835 on stands and just went back and forth singing. The two best by far with the 57 & Shure windscreen and the 421. The 421 was better by a lot.

Your description of "Male vocalist, soft singer in tenor range. Somewhat breathy vocal characteristics. Need good isolation". Is pretty much me except I can also have a bit of an edge. I appreciate mic's that have a little boundary effect for me to work with.

I'm a fixed position singer in that I'm also playing so handling noise is not an issue for me - not that either the 421 or 57 are bad ...

Good condition 421's pull $225 to $250 on eBay. IMO - it's a real value for that ... I did a 'reverse auction' on the Portland Cl and was offered a few at $200 so I snagged one of those ...

Ubersheist · #20 10-03-2010, 02:00 AM

I'm a fan of the good ol' SM58, but not because I think it's the best. Mostly because it's usually the only mic that just about all the 'sound guys' out there know about at 95% of the clubs that we play at. It's all they know, and they have no idea how to do a frequency sweep, and all other mics seem to to throw them.

We always have better mics around. I have a Beta 87a (got it on a deal, and I don't know any different), and our singer has a Beta 87c. However, most clubs we play at have gorillas running "sound," and have never seen a condenser mic and don't know what that 48v button is for. I can't tell you how many times that we've had problems with them even when we bring our own phantom power supplies, and then have to just go get our SM58s because they have the gain structure all jacked up or they have it precisely eq'ed to the microphones that they're used to at the exclusion of any other microphones, or a small host of other reasons.

In any event, if you buy them used off of craigslist or somewhere else like that, be VERY cautious of fakes. There's a ton of them out there for every mic, and they can be very convincing.