Vocal Mic -

Re: Vocal Mic -

The way musicians come and go in bands wouldn't it be just as foolish to try to specifically match a mic to any given vocalist knowing they could split at any time?

So then, any suggestions for a neutral flat response mic
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

Brian Murphy said:
The way musicians come and go in bands wouldn't it be just as foolish to try to specifically match a mic to any given vocalist knowing they could split at any time?

So then, any suggestions for a neutral flat response mic
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I have a wide variety of mikes, based on the idea that finding a mike that suits the voice would let me have a good sound with very little eq. However, testing lots of mikes for every performer that steps forward isn't allways possible or practical, so I have more or less ended up with using only my favorite set of four identical condensers. If I were to go mikeshopping again, and I will at some time, I'll be looking for simply the best mike in terms of handling noise, breathing and plosive immunity and ruggedness while still having the detail and low distortion of a condenser. Frequency response can be tailored, those other caracteristics not so much.
Yeah I know, plenty of mikes like that if you pay 500+

How much do you want to pay, there are good mikes in every price range.
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

John Chiara said:
Having matching mics would make more sense if you were considering a very neutral, flat response mic. Then you could do what you need to do when you mix, make each voice sound as good as it can in context. To assume all voices will benefit from the same mic seems silly to me... Especially with all the affordable options.
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That makes sense. I have quite a few different types of "vocal" mics in my locker. I tend to buy them in sets of 4-8 if the deal is right. There are some that I have only one of due to cost or very specialized response.

With me it's been more a matter of having a lot of choices rather than looking for one or two mics that will be "magic" for everyone. Having one or two dozen different vocal mics to choose from is kind of cool.......
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

Dick Rees said:
That makes sense. I have quite a few different types of "vocal" mics in my locker. I tend to buy them in sets of 4-8 if the deal is right. There are some that I have only one of due to cost or very specialized response.

With me it's been more a matter of having a lot of choices rather than looking for one or two mics that will be "magic" for everyone. Having one or two dozen different vocal mics to choose from is kind of cool.......
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Vocal mics are the kind of thing I tend to buy a half-dozen of. SM-86, C-535, M69, PR22, SM-58. 90% of my work is one-offs, so consistency (particularly in pattern) is more of an asset than finding a perfect match for each voice... there's no time for that.
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

I liked the 935 until it was I who had to make it sound good - could not get rid of the icepick with EQ and de-esser. 835 - OK. 767a - OK. OM3 and 7 - OK. Never used PL80a - seems to have less proximity effect than most in a quick test. PR22 picks up everything in the room (as do the VX10, KMS105, KSM9, and AE5400).
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

From cheap to expensive dynamics

AKG Perception Live P5 - not shabby for the price
Sennheiser 835 - works, but not a favourite, lacks definition
Audio Technica ATM410 - probably the best in the pricerange, beats SM58 hands down
AKG D5 - can't really fault it but not a favourite
Shure SM58 - the hammer, the monkey wrench, never leave home without it
Shure Beta 58 - not much wrong with this mike, sound better than the SM most of the time, but the 58-ishness is there if you don't like it
AKG D7 - hypercardio, this one works for a loud stage if the singer keeps the same distance all the time and you eq for it
Sennheiser E945 - A seriously good mike that I can't really fault in any way
Audio Technica AE4100 - now we're talking, or singing.
Audio Technica AE6100 - hypercardio, I could live with only owning this mike.

If the cheaper LE versions of AE4100/6100 sounds and handles the same, then definite winners in the Beta 58 pricerange.

Condensers:

AKG LC - for anyone that can control their plosives, this mike really sounds good, my preferred female mike - has survived being dropped, have got a bunch of them
SE H1 - an extra grille and even better handling characteristics and this one is a definite winner for any vocals. You could take it to the studio and not be ashamed, but watch the plosives and handling on stage, and don't drop it (haven't tried).
AKG C5 - nothing really wrong with this one
Shure SM86 - Can't really fault this one either
Audio Technica AE5400 - serious stuff, never actually used or owned, just A/B'd against C5
Sennheiser 965 - agiain just A/B'd against C5, toss up between this and the AT, would probably go with the AT

If I were to buy four budget mikes; Audio Technica ATM410
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

Brian Murphy said:
The way musicians come and go in bands wouldn't it be just as foolish to try to specifically match a mic to any given vocalist knowing they could split at any time?
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See, I've never understood why singers don't own their own microphones. All the other musicians own their instruments, and it's not like a vocal mic is all that expensive compared to the other instruments.
And the choice of microphone has a large impact on how the singer will sound and can perform.

Of course, there's also the hygiene issues with sharing microphones...
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

No one has mentioned it yet, but the Telefunken M80 is one of my favorite mics. Formerly, my favorite was the OM5, but the M80 has proven to be just as useful in many situations.

I also have a pair of the M80 heads for Shure wireless, and they are my favorite between the SM86 and SM58 that I also have.

I'm not a fan of the e935 at all, seems to have a quality that I just can't EQ out, though it could also be the VRX rig that I always use them on.
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

Rob Timmerman said:
See, I've never understood why singers don't own their own microphones. All the other musicians own their instruments, and it's not like a vocal mic is all that expensive compared to the other instruments.
And the choice of microphone has a large impact on how the singer will sound and can perform.

Of course, there's also the hygiene issues with sharing microphones...
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Musos owning their own mics is great, as long as they don't get Behringer or similar just because they're inexpensive. And they have a tech with a great ear on the other end of the wire to help know what fits their voice well, and helps their voice fit the overall music style. It's just time, money, and pre-planning!
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

Silas Pradetto said:
No one has mentioned it yet, but the Telefunken M80 is one of my favorite mics. Formerly, my favorite was the OM5, but the M80 has proven to be just as useful in many situations.

I also have a pair of the M80 heads for Shure wireless, and they are my favorite between the SM86 and SM58 that I also have.

I'm not a fan of the e935 at all, seems to have a quality that I just can't EQ out, though it could also be the VRX rig that I always use them on.
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When it is right the M80 rocks. Problem is it is often not right for many. They now make the M81 that I think has less high end lift. Only mic I never dislike is the PL35. The EV PL80a is solid, and I do like the PL84 condensor ehich I did get a bunch of those for $27 each a while back. Great recording mic for brass and woodwinds as well.
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

Brian, will these be vocal mics for a rock band or just vocalists doing barbershop or do-wop?

If light duty high quality vocals are needed look at some of the vocal condensers like the Audix VX-5 or Rode s1. I haven't actually used the CAD C195 but the price seems attractive and most other CAD products function well.
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

Tim,

Rock based with a Jazz flavor but NOT loud. More for a listening audience, kind of an eclectic mix. Acoustic electric....think Steely Dan, Bruce Cockburn, Allman Bros. type music on Acoustic Guitar, with Bass or Cello, Keys, Percussion, and one other instrument.... possibly an oboe-clarinet-sax-pedal steel or violin etc with 3-4 vocals. Stage volume will not be loud.
 
Re: Vocal Mic -

For this description I would use 4 Audix VX-10 because that what I have matching in the case. The high price tag makes me not recommend them to you to buy. (mine were all purchased used) I had Audix put in the L/O (low output) modification on a couple after finding out they overload the console with loud gospel singers.

Then there is the Heil PR35... closest mic i have to a condenser that is dynamic. When it works it awesome. When it don't... it's back to the Beta58a

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Re: Vocal Mic -

Brian Murphy said:
Thank you for the responses so far. It seem a number of you like the Heil PR35 however it's more than $100 over the price of a Beta 58.
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It is more than $100 better than a beta58 though.....

Here's the PR35 for $230 each. Heil PR35 Professional Microphone

Considering the impact a good mic makes, I don't understand why people ever want to cheap out on their mic choices. You'd be further ahead with some great mics and a cheap console than vice versa. Mics are incredibly cheap if you consider things based on how much difference they make in sound quality. We spend tons on all of the electronic bits when the mics and the speakers are where it counts most.....

I did a festival last weekend and used OM7's on some acts, and PR35's on others. The gain before feedback was not that much worse with the 35 than the OM7, and that says a lot. Plenty capable of getting face melting loud monitor levels with a bit of monitor eq if you need to. There was a significant difference in quality though, the PR35 was a lot better than the OM7. It picks up a bit of bleed but not terribly so, and the bleed actually sounds good, unlike many mics.
 
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Re: Vocal Mic -

Rob Timmerman said:
See, I've never understood why singers don't own their own microphones. All the other musicians own their instruments, and it's not like a vocal mic is all that expensive compared to the other instruments.
And the choice of microphone has a large impact on how the singer will sound and can perform.

Of course, there's also the hygiene issues with sharing microphones...
Click to expand...

I have actually seen more singers carrying mics in the last while.... this is great except when you get the ones who insist on using their 1982 Radio Shack mic instead of the professional level one you have already set up and rung out.

Did a show last week (guitar/vocal duo), one of the 2 was carrying a Beta58, the other used a provided PR35. After the show, he asked why his partner's mic sounded so much better...... the difference was not subtle, the 35 sounded really great and the B58 was "good". Of course YMMV.
 
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