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Potential need for a vocal mic upcoming. Suggestions?

#11
Gopherbassist said:
Probably lead vocals, I don't know yet.
Click to expand...
Well OK. I'm just trying to suggest that a female soprano who's singing opera over a nu metal band on a super loud stage might have different microphone requirements from a baritone accompanying himself to an acoustic guitar at a buskers night.

Whatever you do don't get an sm58. They sound ok but technology has moved on somewhat in the 60 years since it was released. I wouldn't suggest a typewriter or a horse drawn cart either. Or at least if you do decide to go that route then buy it from somewhere proper, lots of fakes out there.

The e845 mentioned above is a great mic. I've never used the SE in the video, but I have an SE ldc that's fantastic.
 
#13
Rode NT series mics are very decent vocal mics and pretty inexpensive. I bought an NT2 for about $125 a few months back...here's one for $145.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Sound on Sound Review:

Rode NT2

Just when you thought all the bargain mics came from the former Eastern Bloc countries, the Australians turn up a bargain of their own. Paul White decides whether it's as good as their wine or merely as good as Neighbours.
www.soundonsound.com www.soundonsound.com
 
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#14
timmus said:
Rode NT series mics are very decent vocal mics and pretty inexpensive. I bought an NT2 for about $125 a few months back...here's one for $145.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Sound on Sound Review:

Rode NT2

Just when you thought all the bargain mics came from the former Eastern Bloc countries, the Australians turn up a bargain of their own. Paul White decides whether it's as good as their wine or merely as good as Neighbours.
www.soundonsound.com www.soundonsound.com
Click to expand...
For stage use?
 
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#15
for a $100 that's a whole Audix OM-3 from Amazon. IME worth it over an OM-2, but YMMV.

not sure if your shop has something better or worse in this range.

mics are very subjective, when you try a Sehn vs Shure vs Audix, only you can tell which suits better for you and if a $200 mic is worth over a $100 one. a cardioid or hypercardioid dynamic mic from a reputable manufacturer will do it
 
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#16
The SeV7 is a good mic, I have a few.
Others to look at....
Audix OM6
Audix OM7 (sounds good, by design you need to be just about lips on the mic)
Audio Technica AE4100
Audio Technica AE6100
AKG C535
Earthworks SR117
SeV7
Sennheiser E945
Shure SM86
Shure Beta 87c
Shure Beta 58
Shure Beta 57
Shure SM58

Of all of those guess the one I use the least.......

If at all possible I try to use the same vocal for all the vocals.
As for what mics I grab out of the case or take with me, it;s depends on the kind of show and general type
of vocals I'll be working with.....unless there is a mic request or the band is carrying their own. I have requested a mic change
a few times if the band mic or mics has a glaring issue or in one case they were all fake SM58's and sounded like ass on my PA!

I'll also a factor for mic consideration is how it works in the room and on the stage it's used on, it may be the best sounding mic in the world
on your voice.....or instrument but if it doesn't work on the stage, with the stage monitors or the room and with the PA it may be time to try another
mic.
 
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#17
Gopherbassist said:
Is there any reason to go with something different than what's around $100 at a local shop or GC? Will be taking it to rehersals and potentially small gigs.

Also will probably need some ear plugs. Suggestions there appreciated as well.
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Totally depends upon your voice. The Shure SM58 is typically $109 in most places and an excellent mic. The SM56 Beta is considered a better mic (and more expensive), but my voice sounds better through the original SM58 than the Beta version. However, be aware that the SM58 does not have a very hot signal. I was playing in a band where everyone else was using a Sennheiser mic and they were all much louder than me with levels set the same. I would leave the levels as-is and turn the gain on my channel up just a little bit and then I would be just as loud.

I finally took the dive and bought myself a Sennheiser e-935 mic. I bought it instead of the e-945 because the super cardiod pattern of the e-945 does not reject sounds from directly behind you nearly as well. I settled on that Sennheiser not only because I didn't have to bump the gain on the board but because it actually picks up the nuances of my voice much better than the SM58 does.

So it really depends on your voice and you'll need to sing through them to figure out if you want to spend more than the price of an SM58 for a different mic. the Sennheiser e-935 mics are typically around $200. I was gigging all the time and it was worth it for me, but not everybody's voice sounds better on the Sennheiser. You just have to sing through to see what fits your voice.
 
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#18
Gopherbassist said:
I just need something entry level and reliable.
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Some years ago, I heard/read a few good things about the products from Audix. When I eventually spotted an OM-2 at a local shop, I grabbed it for just in case. It's worked great for me for several years and it even earned a solid nod from a sound man here and there along the way. When I eventually came across a nice deal on an OM-5, I added that to my stash and that one has also been terrific.

I absolutely can't say that my mic's are any better or worse than other options out there, but for my needs singing backups and an occasional lead, my Audix mic's have given me really nice bang for my buck and they've also been 100% reliable. I trust them and if I go shopping for any more mic's in the near future, this brand will get my first look.
 
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#20
Mike Caldwell said:
Audix OM7 (sounds good, by design you need to be just about lips on the mic)
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So, this sounds like it would be good for feedback rejection in challenging environments. I find myself doing some gigs in clubs that definitely fit this description (small, loud crowd, tight stage, so-so pa). Do you have any other suggestions for this situation? Should I be looking for a mic with a certain pattern? I’m using a beta 57 currently, and it sounds good, but chasing feedback with eq is tiring, and I’m interested in trying something different in the couple of venues we play where this is a problem.

Edit: unlike the OP, I can afford to spend 200$+ if need be.
 
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