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Choosing a Vocal Microphone.
- Thread starter pshep68
- Start date
s0c9
Supporting Member
I have to disagree.. you're wasting $$ when buying entry level gear like that, because you'll be buying another before long.
No offense intended, but If you walk up to me (when I'm running sound) and show me your PG58, I'm chuckling inside, thinking "knucklehead"!
Because, for $40 more you can buy any number of REAL industry standard mics - SM57, SM58 and so on.
Over the years, I've learnt that you get what you pay for in music gear.. cheap is simply.. well.. CHEAP!
If you factor in markups on gear like that.. that is at best a $30 mic !!
Yes, budgets are always a factor in any purchase decision, but save up the extra and buy a real mic.
Sorry that's my bad
I didn't read the advert properly and agree with getting SM and not a PG
You can still though getbthe real deal second hand for under $100 as you point out
I didn't read the advert properly and agree with getting SM and not a PG
You can still though getbthe real deal second hand for under $100 as you point out
s0c9
Supporting Member
NP... yes, some great SM deals out there.. but beware of the Chinese knock-offs if you buy from evilBay..
Nothing wrong with a 58. I use an e835 because I have a pretty quiet voice and the Sennheiser has a little more presence (and GBF, I believe). Works for me, but again - no one will ever look at you funny for using a 58.
I worked with a couple of touring acts that used the 835's and also the 735's.
I had no issues with getting good clean crisp sound quick and easy.
great mics.
For general ease of use with regard to sound techs, the SM 58 is a working standard and has a rather uncolored tonal response making it easy to EQ.
I use an EV ND967 because it tends to accentuate lower tones and that suits my voice well.
There are quite a few good choices for the vocal range and harmony profile you mentioned.
The best bet is to get to a music store that has a wide selection and try out as many as you can. That way you can get a better idea of what will work best for not just the application but also YOU in particular.
I use an EV ND967 because it tends to accentuate lower tones and that suits my voice well.
There are quite a few good choices for the vocal range and harmony profile you mentioned.
The best bet is to get to a music store that has a wide selection and try out as many as you can. That way you can get a better idea of what will work best for not just the application but also YOU in particular.
I like my Blue 100i Encore.
It is not omni-directional, therefore it tends to shut out extraneous sound more.
This is the 100i...not the 100. There is a difference.
I also have the Shure 57 and 58. They're good too.
But I always end up EQ'ing any mic I buy....just because of my singing tone...which is sort of muddy and bland..so I invariably have to "crisp" it up.
It is not omni-directional, therefore it tends to shut out extraneous sound more.
This is the 100i...not the 100. There is a difference.
I also have the Shure 57 and 58. They're good too.
But I always end up EQ'ing any mic I buy....just because of my singing tone...which is sort of muddy and bland..so I invariably have to "crisp" it up.
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You don't care about my opinion. And you don't care about the other BASS PLAYERS on this forum's opinions.
Here is some reading you can do.
The Best Live Vocal Mics - $79 to $1000 | Gearank
Here is some reading you can do.
The Best Live Vocal Mics - $79 to $1000 | Gearank
That may be true, but:
That seems to not be true, as he asked here. And given that many here do more than just play bass, it seems a legit question to ask! Seeking alternative advice from a website sponsored by a retailer certainly isn't objective....
Personally, I like either the Beta, or an Audix OM-5. I especially like the Audix for male vocals.
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Ouch! Either you know something about pshep68 I don't or it would seem your having a tough day. In either case, hope thing improve. On the other hand, good link. A lot to digest if you know nothin about mikes, but if your going to drop $300.....
Actually it is pretty objective by the retailer (SW), seems all they've done is assemble material available on line from the manufacturers and put it in one place for their customers.
Personally I've had reliability problems with Audix, specifically at the connector. Sounds good but I wouldn't take it to tough environments (or lend it to Roger Daltry
).
Advice? Nobody needs advice on vocal mics. What you need is information. I chose that particular link because it pits the mics against each other head to head, and uses all the same criteria to explain them.
The EV, the Sennheiser and the Blue are well liked across the industry; I particularly like the Audio-Technica for my own purposes; the point is, a bunch of bass players just shouted the "conventional" wisdom that the Beta is a good bet, when they only say that because that's the one they're familiar with. I use a ton of Shure because that's what mediocre sound guys have the best chance of getting passable sound out of, but to pretend it's some industry standard is absurd.
Rather than spout my opinions, I shared valuable information, and gave the OP a chance to read some specs, frequency responses, polar patterns, and pros and cons. What I posted was EXTREMELY objective, so you are wrong in the quote above. My post was the most objective post in the entire thread. Again, while I prefer the Audio-Technica, I won't even pretend that it is what the OP should buy or use; or anyone should. It works great for me, but you aren't me, and neither is the OP.
The reason I mention bass players is that so very very few bass players are lead singers. And the prime customer for vocal mics are lead singers. Bass players and mediocre sound people SWEAR by the SM58, and to be fair, it is a very good mic. I wanted the OP to have the chance to decide for himself just HOW good it is. My OPINION is that I don't want one; won't ever buy one; and if I were doing sound for hire, wouldn't put one in front of any lead singers, just because I believe the industry has moved beyond that.
Again, my OPINION is of less merit than the information I have provided.
Yes, yes they do. Just like they need advice on basses, amps, cables, pedals, band names, gigs, problem members....well, you get the idea.
So, they come to a group of experienced musicians and ask questions. And get some pretty good answers! The article? Largely anonymous reviewers opinions on the mics (isn't that what we're doing here) sprinkled with tech data gleaned from corporate websites. Good data, but doesn't seem to invalidate the opinions expressed here.
Back to the mic discussion!
How would you feel if, at every show, a sound person told you you had to play a P-Bass through an Ampeg rig? It's the industry standard; it's the only sound I know how to eq; I try as hard as I can to make every bass player sound the same.
That's exactly what lead singers hear about the 58. A singer has a SOUND. I have quite a number of different mics. If I am supplying them to vocalists, I use the Sennheiser for someone who needs a "hotter" mic; I have an EV condenser mic I use for someone who is novice enough that they are probably not going to be great with mic dynamics; I have various criteria I use to decide which mic for which situation, just like you may have multiple basses with multiple pickup configurations; setups or string types.
My only purpose or agenda on this thread is to remind everyone that a 58 is not the end-all be-all of mics. It is a workhorse; it is favored by sound people; it is rugged. That is all true. But there may be a much better mic for your voice; your vocal style; your needs, and the best way to find out is to read, because you don't always get to put mics head to head. If you DO get the chance to put mics head to head, by all means do so!
There are some pretty good answers on this thread. But there are some terrible answers on this thread. Experienced musicians who are not lead singers have more opinion than they warrant. I am an experienced musician, and I wouldn't tell you what kind of strings to use on your electric guitar. I'm not an expert, and my knowledge is limited. Putting mics in front of singers? TONS of experience; however I am not pretending my opinion of which mic is best is worth caring about, because it only matters for ME.
I provided ONE of the many links you can find by googling "best vocal mic." I recommend anyone looking for a mic largely disregard most of the suggestions on this thread, and do some real research.
As for the rest of the discussion; have fun.
You are correct....except for all these other referrals, everyone told the OP to get a 58.
You are correct....except for all these other referrals, everyone told the OP to get a 58.
You have a perpetual habit of reading qualified statements as absolute statements. You appear to be responding to someone else other than me. I did not say "everyone told the OP to get a 58." I cannot be more clear that I did NOT say that. You are trolling me now. And apparently, going to some trouble to do so. Please get over this crush.
