Microphone advice

[Renaissance]

This is going to be the year I put some effort into singing. As such, I would like to maybe take some lessons and purchase my own microphone.

My initial thought was to just go industry standard and purchase a 58 but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask the TB brain trust.

I do not have a strong voice and my range lies towards the lower end - maybe baritone or tenor. I doubt I'll ever get into lead vocals so I'm not looking to spend a ton on a mic tailored to the nuances of my voice.

Is there a microphone out there better suited to help me?

 

[AGCurry]

Yes, there are many microphones better than the SM58. But, unless you luck out on a used one (and there's nothing wrong with that), you'll likely have to spend more money.

Sennheiser, Electrovoice, Beyerdynamic ... just to name a few brands. For your purposes, do not bother with condenser or ribbon microphones; you want a plain old moving-coil dynamic. In something new, I think the Sennheiser e835 or EV ND76 would probably work fine for you... both around $100.

 

[Renaissance]

Yes, there are many microphones better than the SM58. But, unless you luck out on a used one (and there's nothing wrong with that), you'll likely have to spend more money.

Sennheiser, Electrovoice, Beyerdynamic ... just to name a few brands. For your purposes, do not bother with condenser or ribbon microphones; you want a plain old moving-coil dynamic. In something new, I think the Sennheiser e835 or EV ND76 would probably work fine for you... both around $100.

Thank you for responding.

Are you saying the Senn or EV would be a better choice possibly or just additional options in that price range?

 

[Renaissance]

Oh, I should add this is for live use.

 

[eriky4003]

I'd second the EV ND76. IMHO, a better mic than an SM58. That or a beta 58.

 

[musicman7722]

I use Senn. e835s for my band and bands I mix.

 

[Wasnex]

This is going to be the year I put some effort into singing. As such, I would like to maybe take some lessons and purchase my own microphone.

My initial thought was to just go industry standard and purchase a 58 but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask the TB brain trust.

I do not have a strong voice and my range lies towards the lower end - maybe baritone or tenor. I doubt I'll ever get into lead vocals so I'm not looking to spend a ton on a mic tailored to the nuances of my voice.

Is there a microphone out there better suited to help me?

What are the other singers using? It's generally easier to tune out feedback if the vocalist are all using the same model of mic. At the very least, try one of their mics and see how it works with your voice.

 

[AGCurry]

Thank you for responding.

Are you saying the Senn or EV would be a better choice possibly or just additional options in that price range?

I believe the Senn and EV are better choices in your price range. The world does not need more SM58s.

 

[Renaissance]

What are the other singers using? It's generally easier to tune out feedback if the vocalist are all using the same model of mic. At the very least, try one of their mics and see how it works with your voice.

We're using 58s across the board. I sing some now and have been using a 58. I would prefer to provide and maintain my own mic. If a 58 is the answer, so be it. With my untrained and inexperienced voice I was just looking for any advantage newer products or technology may give me.

 

[Wasnex]

We're using 58s across the board. I sing some now and have been using a 58. I would prefer to provide and maintain my own mic. If a 58 is the answer, so be it. With my untrained and inexperienced voice I was just looking for any advantage newer products or technology may give me.

There are definitely better mics than SM58, but if the band is pushing the system to the limit, adding a different model can cause problems. The issue is each mic will be prone to feeding back at different frequencies. If every one uses the same type of mic, they all tend to feed back at the same frequencies, so less EQ is required to control feedback. Adding a different model of mic introduces a different combination of frequencies that are prone to feeding back.

An SM58 tends to be very easy and forgiving for inexperienced vocalists to work with, but they don't have the best gain before feedback characteristics as they have a cardioid polar pattern. Ideally everyone would use a mic with a tighter polar pattern. However a tighter polar pattern typically requires you have to sing really to the mic capsule and there is more proximity effect, so the audio tech will need to dial down the lows more.

Both the E835 and ND76 are cardioid mics just like the SM58, so sort of a lateral step instead of a huge step up. Which model would be best depends on the nature of your voice. However since the rest of the band is using SM58s, I would strongly consider getting your own SM58.

If you really want to find the mic that works best for your voice, the best thing to do is find a store where you can actually audition some mics. One model of mic may sound awesome on one singer and awful on the next.

 

[monkeyland]

If you have never owned a mic just get a 58. Here are my reasons

You will have it for the rest of your life
It plays nicely on small stages ie: doesn't pick up much cymbal wash
If you go to another venue and want to use your own mic in order to avoid germs you will likely not get any pushback from the house sound person

After all of these years the 58 is rarely the perfect tool for the job, but it will always do the job.

 

[musicman7722]

I can't disagree with @monkeyland.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

We have all now switched to Beta 58As. A much better version, higher output, better tone capability, and still not that costly. And of course the Shure reputation. The mic even has a heavier windscreen than the regular 58.

They are well worth that added few bucks.
BETA® 58A - Dynamic Vocal Microphone

 

[RustyAxe]

I've been using SM58's for years, and for $100 you really can't go wrong. Contrary to a previous post, I'd say there are many mics that are different than the SM58, but not necessarily better. The venerable SM57, with a screen is a good choice, too, and it's slight bump around 4Khz works well with many voices, otherwise it's like the SM58. At times I've used EVs, AKG, Sennheiser, Audix, AT, Blue ... and others. In the $100 range they're all pretty good. Don't overthink it, buy a decent mic, and get to those lessons. A mic is only as good as what you put into it.

 

[monkeyland]

We have all now switched to Beta 58As. A much better version, higher output, better tone capability, and still not that costly. And of course the Shure reputation. The mic even has a heavier windscreen than the regular 58.

They are well worth that added few bucks.
BETA® 58A - Dynamic Vocal Microphone

Different strokes but I really don't like beta58, especially a stage full of them. They tend to pick up a ton of cymbal wash and their high mid bump makes that bleed particularly unpleasant. I would greatly prefer a stage full of beta87 over beta58 because the bleed on the 87 is more musically pleasant.

 

[sawzalot]

For live use I'd actually buy two mics, an SM58 and a Beta 58. Use the SM58 at gigs where you have a wedge directly in front of you and the Bets 58 where you have wedges at an angle to your position. The SM58 rejects feedback better directly behind it and will pick up sound easier from wedges at an angle. The Beta is the reverse Also the Beta is hotter than the SM58, but you have a narrower field in front of it where it's that hot. They're both relatively cheap vs other mics and you'll cover more situations with both.

 

[Matty Koff]

If you scour craigslist or other used gear sites, or even facebook groups.. you might be able to find you a used SM58 for $50 or less. At that price.. you'll recover from it in a week or two and have something to work with while you shop around the higher priced market.

My two sm57's and my sm58 I found used for $50 a piece. No regrets. There if I need them.

I've heard people tell stories of using them as hammers and taking lots of abuse, and while I'd never go that far - thing can serve you for life, even as a backup.

 

[roller]

+1 on the Shure SM58. They're proven, bulletproof and fairly available used.

The Shure SM57 is another fine choice... only difference in the 57 and the 58 is the grill, 57 originally designed for instruments... 58 designed for vocals.

But don't let that stop you from picking up a 57. It was this guy's live vocal mic of choice for decades...

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I use a Shure Beta 58A myself and I like it.

 

[Danny O Danny]

I'm a big fan of Audix mics. Used them for years. I have some OM5 vocal mics that I've used since the early 2000's and they've held up very well and, to my ear, sound better than Shure mics. Really well-built mics, and reasonably priced. Recently I purchased an HT2 headset mic, which sounds great and is comfortable to wear.