Potential need for a vocal mic upcoming. Suggestions?

[Mike Caldwell]

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.

If you were closer by I would lend you one to try.

They do have a lower output so if you try one you will need to bump the input trim up a little.

 

[Aloe]

Get an OM-6 to try, I feel they have less mid range "quack" for lack of a better term than the OM-5.

they're both very voiced mics, opposed to om-2 or 3.

a 6 feels to me a bit scooped and has extra in lows. the 5 is the opposite of it: it has high mids and highs emphased (ala Sehnheisers).

this said, different singers have different preferences. our singer prefers a 6 over 5 (or Sehns), but some might the way around.

frankly my favourite of the bunch is the 3: it has some warmth and refined sounding (opposed to a flatter 2), but still flat enough to be universal.

 

[Bonecat]

We use a mix of SM58, Beta 58, and Beta 87 mics for vocals. The 87 has been a winner for our female lead singer, who is a soprano. This really is a rabbit hole. We tried some entry level SE mics and didn’t care for them. The newer SE products are also solid. Bottom line, there’s a reason the SM58 is so popular - it’s not expensive, it’s a known commodity in the industry, and it’s almost indestructible.

 

[Bullitt5135]

That extra clarity in the low end really swayed me. This made me listen to some other demos, thruth be told I didn't hear much difference between about 8 different mics. But this demo was more thorough with that low register thing he did. I decided on the sEV7 mostly because of this. My voice is a baritone and that low end could make a difference.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and insight.

Wise choice.

 

[amper]

Is there any reason to go with something different than what's around $100 at a local shop or GC?

Many, many reasons.

Unlike many other people, I do not believe there is any reason to use the Shure SM series microphones when the vastly superior Shure Beta series has been available for decades, already. Do not bother with an SM58, and go straight to the Beta 58A for $190 USD as the baseline vocal mic. There are others just as good (Sennheiser evolution series e945 would be my other pick), but you cannot go wrong with the Shure Beta series. Even better than the Beta 58A dynamic is the Beta 87A condenser, which is a pretty dramatic improvement over the Beta 58A, but is $290 USD and requires phantom power.

 

[4Mal]

My absolute favorite vocal mic is the Audix VX-5. About $250. Handheld condenser. Excellent feedback rejection with a wedge setat 45 degrees relative to the capsule. It has the largest sweetspot I have ever experienced. I have sung on a lot of mics. The VX-5 has been my goto for many uears now. The singimg members lf my band all use the VX-5.

My next is the Audix OM-6 about $225. The Om-6 is a transformer based mic and it brings a little body go a fairly thin voice like mine. The Audix OM-5 is kind of the SM-58 killer. I recall it being around $150. It has a similar presence peak. Husky voices do well with it.

Audix OM 5's and 6's and VX mics are made in Oregon. Their support is excellent.

My least favorite is a NEW SM-58. Shure QC isn't what it used to be. New SM-58's are great for driving nails and that's about it. I have 3 vintage 58's that are great.

I'm not a Shure Brothers hater. I use their PSM300 IEM rig. It is excellent! The 58 is a price point mic. Guitar Center and Sweetwater do tonnage ... You sorta have to ask, if a 58 was a $100 mic 25 years ago and it is today; given that the price of materials has increased - how is the price point still the same. Answer: country of origin and reducing quality... You can buy a better hammer at Home Depot cheaper...

 

[Parzival]

The 58 is a decent mix and I used one for years. When I wanted to upgrade I first tried a Beta 58 that my drummer had and it was pretty good. But then I sang at rehearsal on one of my lead singer’s Sennheisers and she said I sounded way better on that mic. I agreed and ended up getting the e935. It makes me sound better than I actually do. It also handles EQ and effects at the mixer a lot better. Just a touch of EQ and reverb and it really comes to life.