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Post by mulmany on May 6, 2017 9:56:50 GMT -6
I know we have some seasoned live sound guys on here.
What are your favorite vocal mics for stage use? Looking for good sensitivity and smooth hi frequency response. They can be stage/studio crossover mics as well, m88 etc... can be dynamic or condenser.
Currently using sm58, AKG D5/D7, AT ATM610, Sennheiser 835.
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Post by donr on May 6, 2017 11:11:54 GMT -6
I'm currently using the Miktek PM9 dynamic, which is working really well for my voice. Previously, I've used Blue enCore 100, Audix OM5, and of course, Shure SM58.
Disclosure, I didn't pay for any of them, and the band endorsed Shure and Audix at different times.
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Post by ChaseUTB on May 6, 2017 11:30:58 GMT -6
This may sound weird but an Re20 or a Sennheiser md421 has worked wonders before on stage for live singing/ recording except the md421 is awkward to sing into on stage for some. However the md421 is an amazing drum mic that can be used on various placements on the kit IME... it features a bass roll off or proximity effect filter that can remove LF buildup in studio or live setting.. Off topic: .Speaking of Miktek... I think they are great mics for the price! I have used CV4 / CV3 / C7 / C7e / C1 with great results. I still want a CV4...then I want to take take my Thiersch Blue Line M7 and install it into the CV4.. I hope its plug n play and I don't have to change the circuit or electronics to accommodate the Thiersch.. ( I hope not that's more expense ) ... Johnkenn did you ever try Blue Line in your CV4? The original capsule had some zing in the 9-10khz IME/ IMO , I think the Blue Line would take this mic into Flea territory |
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Post by thehightenor on May 6, 2017 11:57:36 GMT -6
Beyer M88.
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on May 6, 2017 12:19:12 GMT -6
Shure beta 87, especially if using wedges. Are there better fits for specific voices , god yes, but the beta 87 is like a U87 for the stage, always useable!
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Post by michaelcleary on May 6, 2017 12:29:31 GMT -6
E935. Good top end without being spikey.
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Post by Johnkenn on May 6, 2017 13:13:31 GMT -6
This may sound weird but an Re20 or a Sennheiser md421 has worked wonders before on stage for live singing/ recording except the md421 is awkward to sing into on stage for some. However the md421 is an amazing drum mic that can be used on various placements on the kit IME... it features a bass roll off or proximity effect filter that can remove LF buildup in studio or live setting.. Off topic: .Speaking of Miktek... I think they are great mics for the price! I have used CV4 / CV3 / C7 / C7e / C1 with great results. I still want a CV4...then I want to take take my Thiersch Blue Line M7 and install it into the CV4.. I hope its plug n play and I don't have to change the circuit or electronics to accommodate the Thiersch.. ( I hope not that's more expense ) ... Johnkenn did you ever try Blue Line in your CV4? The original capsule had some zing in the 9-10khz IME/ IMO , I think the Blue Line would take this mic into Flea territory I didn't...The Blueline sounds great...but I could also get it to be strident in the upper mids. The no-longer-banned Tony C put a Blueline in my U47 build and it was a beautiful mic. Really beautiful in the top end - honestly, sounded more like an old C12 if you ask me. |
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Post by Johnkenn on May 6, 2017 13:15:21 GMT -6
Also, some people have great success with the stock CV4. They are great designs. To me, more deep baritone singers sounded great on them...and people that don't push a lot of air. I still could hear some of that ringy top in the Sweetwater shootout, though.
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Post by jcoutu1 on May 6, 2017 14:00:32 GMT -6
In my venue, I'm generally happy with the 58's since most singers are used to them and comfortable with them. I also use D5's and a PR35 often. The D5's seem pretty reasonable top to bottom, not too heavy, not too bright. Nice balance. The PR35 has hotter output and some legit proximity effect, but can be great on reedy voices.
I'm actually not a fan of the Sennheiser at my venue, but have liked them at other venues. My room has some peaks in the highs and the Senny's can get a bit too bitey.
I've only used both the Neumann handheld KMS105 and Telefunken M80 once each, but they were great with their respective vocalists. The 105 had the best detail of any handheld that I've used and the M80 just fit the voice like a glove. I actually just grabbed an M80, but haven't added it to the rotation yet.
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Post by mulmany on May 6, 2017 15:43:42 GMT -6
In my venue, I'm generally happy with the 58's since most singers are used to them and comfortable with them. I also use D5's and a PR35 often. The D5's seem pretty reasonable top to bottom, not too heavy, not too bright. Nice balance. The PR35 has hotter output and some legit proximity effect, but can be great on reedy voices. I'm actually not a fan of the Sennheiser at my venue, but have liked them at other venues. My room has some peaks in the highs and the Senny's can get a bit too bitey. I've only used both the Neumann handheld KMS105 and Telefunken M80 once each, but they were great with their respective vocalists. The 105 had the best detail of any handheld that I've used and the M80 just fit the voice like a glove. I actually just grabbed an M80, but haven't added it to the rotation yet. Does the PR35 have good reach? It seems that the D5 output just drops off drastically further then 3". Trying to get a KSM105 result without the price tag. ericn, Do the Beta87's sound as peaky as their frequency plots look? I used one ages ago and don't remember. |
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Post by maq3396 on May 6, 2017 16:13:39 GMT -6
The 58 beta is a very forgiving microphone. We have five of them as part of our setup and they work well for a variety of singers of both sexes.
Definitely would not describe as peaky.
Their only shortcoming, and it really is not the mics fault, is that weak singers struggle with getting enough gain out of it...not so sure that any mic is better
Correction...originally posted 87 beta. My goof
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Post by jcoutu1 on May 6, 2017 16:23:55 GMT -6
In my venue, I'm generally happy with the 58's since most singers are used to them and comfortable with them. I also use D5's and a PR35 often. The D5's seem pretty reasonable top to bottom, not too heavy, not too bright. Nice balance. The PR35 has hotter output and some legit proximity effect, but can be great on reedy voices. I'm actually not a fan of the Sennheiser at my venue, but have liked them at other venues. My room has some peaks in the highs and the Senny's can get a bit too bitey. I've only used both the Neumann handheld KMS105 and Telefunken M80 once each, but they were great with their respective vocalists. The 105 had the best detail of any handheld that I've used and the M80 just fit the voice like a glove. I actually just grabbed an M80, but haven't added it to the rotation yet. Does the PR35 have good reach? It seems that the D5 output just drops off drastically further then 3". Trying to get a KSM105 result without the price tag. ericn, Do the Beta87's sound as peaky as their frequency plots look? I used one ages ago and don't remember. When you find a mic with nice reach for a fair price, let me know. The PR35 is probably worse than average in that regard because of the proximity boost. It blows my mind when we have a singer that wants a 58, has been touring for 30 years, has a few grammys on his mantle, but doesn't understand that when he pulls 10 inches off the mic it's an issue. |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on May 6, 2017 17:15:40 GMT -6
In my venue, I'm generally happy with the 58's since most singers are used to them and comfortable with them. I also use D5's and a PR35 often. The D5's seem pretty reasonable top to bottom, not too heavy, not too bright. Nice balance. The PR35 has hotter output and some legit proximity effect, but can be great on reedy voices. I'm actually not a fan of the Sennheiser at my venue, but have liked them at other venues. My room has some peaks in the highs and the Senny's can get a bit too bitey. I've only used both the Neumann handheld KMS105 and Telefunken M80 once each, but they were great with their respective vocalists. The 105 had the best detail of any handheld that I've used and the M80 just fit the voice like a glove. I actually just grabbed an M80, but haven't added it to the rotation yet. Does the PR35 have good reach? It seems that the D5 output just drops off drastically further then 3". Trying to get a KSM105 result without the price tag. ericn, Do the Beta87's sound as peaky as their frequency plots look? I used one ages ago and don't remember. It can be pesky on some voices but for the most part I think the Response is part of its ability to avoid feedback ! I would sell Beta 87s by simply taking the live mic and sticking it in the horn of a live wedge! The live mic for Tony Benett for ages! If it didn't need phantom I would buy a few for the kids school for its idiot proofness! In fact I have begged Shure , AT & Senn to build a Dynamic that is as hard to f' up and make Howl at $129 street just for the education market ! The EV N/D series are pretty good, but the stupid rubber handle that everybody loses makes these a no! |
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Post by ericn on May 6, 2017 17:21:32 GMT -6
The old ugly poorly built AKG D190 and well built D1000/1200 are often a secrete weapon, Many who I have loaned them to fight very hard to keep them !
Also the AKG 535, it was the Neuman KM105 of its day,
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Post by johneppstein on May 6, 2017 21:40:15 GMT -6
The 58 beta is a very forgiving microphone. We have five of them as part of our setup and they work well for a variety of singers of both sexes. Definitely would not describe as peaky. Their only shortcoming, and it really is not the mics fault, is that weak singers struggle with getting enough gain out of it...not so sure that any mic is better Correction...originally posted 87 beta. My goof I beg to differ. The Beta 58 has a REALLY nasty spikiness in the presence range that not only hurts my ears but also causes feedback problems - at least on the smaller stages with inadequate EQ where I usually encounter them.. (OTOH some people might like it because the spikiness makes it seem to "cut through - when it's not feeding back.) I'm not a big SM58 fan but faced with a choice between an SM and a Beta I always choose the SM. I'm pretty much convinced that the reason people choose the Beta is the higher output - people will genrally think the louder source sounds better. Have not used the Beta 87, but since it's an electret, not a neodymium dynamic it might not have the same problem. I have 3 Shure SM85s, whicvh appear to be a similar mic that aren't bad, although I don't really use them much. |
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Post by johneppstein on May 6, 2017 22:03:05 GMT -6
My personal stage vocal mic is the Beyer M88. Great mic, smooth response, hypercardioid pattern with very good reach (the only time I've had a problem is when I'm stuck with a musician with a severe "More MEEEE!" problem), excellent gain before feeedback, choice of vocalists like David Bowie and Phil Collins (neither of whom do I sound even remotely like), as well as many, many others, judging by what I see in live performance videos. The Beyer M69 is also a very good mic, I've used them quite a bit and it was the vocal mic of choice when I was working for Bill Graham's FM Productions.
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Post by ragan on May 6, 2017 22:21:42 GMT -6
The 58 beta is a very forgiving microphone. We have five of them as part of our setup and they work well for a variety of singers of both sexes. Definitely would not describe as peaky. Their only shortcoming, and it really is not the mics fault, is that weak singers struggle with getting enough gain out of it...not so sure that any mic is better Correction...originally posted 87 beta. My goof I beg to differ. The Beta 58 has a REALLY nasty spikiness in the presence range that not only hurts my ears but also causes feedback problems - at least on the smaller stages with inadequate EQ where I usually encounter them.. (OTOH some people might like it because the spikiness makes it seem to "cut through - when it's not feeding back.) I'm not a big SM58 fan but faced with a choice between an SM and a Beta I always choose the SM. I'm pretty much convinced that the reason people choose the Beta is the higher output - people will genrally think the louder source sounds better. Have not used the Beta 87, but since it's an electret, not a neodymium dynamic it might not have the same problem. I have 3 Shure SM85s, whicvh appear to be a similar mic that aren't bad, although I don't really use them much. I know you (and others, to be fair) don't like the Beta58. It's funny, I assumed it was brighter/peakier from comments like these. I put them both (58/Beta58) up and blind AB'd them on several things. The Beta 58 sounded exactly less harsh and less peaky than the SM58. Over and over. I love the Beta58. I like the regular old 58 too. I like the way they feel to sing through. Sweet spot is large and yet they're good with feedback/rejection/wedges. They just feel good to sing through in my opinion. For condensers, I like the AT5400. It's meaty but detailed. |
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Post by reddirt on May 7, 2017 1:28:04 GMT -6
FWIW, for me, my favourite is a very good version of the 50 yr old Shure 548. very little proximity effect compared with the 58s so can be worked on and off with consistent tone. They are a bit more susceptible to 'plosives but if you know how to work them they are great and the mid stands apart without being peaky, mind you it has to be a primo example and they are hard to find. I had my best one stolen recently, the one i'm using now is 85% as good and really a bit edgy and no better than anything else but I'm a creature of habit.
Cheers, Ross
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Post by M57 on May 7, 2017 6:23:41 GMT -6
My personal stage vocal mic is the Beyer M88. Great mic, smooth response, hypercardioid pattern with very good reach (the only time I've had a problem is when I'm stuck with a musician with a severe "More MEEEE!" problem), excellent gain before feeedback, choice of vocalists like David Bowie and Phil Collins (neither of whom do I sound even remotely like), as well as many, many others, judging by what I see in live performance videos. The Beyer M69 is also a very good mic, I've used them quite a bit and it was the vocal mic of choice when I was working for Bill Graham's FM Productions. I have an M69 that I tried and discounted as a vocal mic - It was too soft and dark for my baritone voice and just didn't cut through, but I can see where it might be a good choice for an edgy powerful singer with a strong upper range. When jcoutu came an played drums on a track of mine in my studio a year or so ago, we put it under the snare and it delivered a really nice thick snap. |
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Post by Ward on May 7, 2017 8:39:55 GMT -6
Telefunken M80. AKG C535. Neumann 105, EV NDM 76/86
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Post by massivemastering on May 7, 2017 9:51:46 GMT -6
If I could only use one type, SM58 (just because it's reasonably good on everything and everyone is familiar with it). That said, Beyer M88 on some, Telefunken M80 (sounds very open and condensor-ish), 105... Meh, I'm not adding anything here.
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Post by johneppstein on May 7, 2017 14:54:26 GMT -6
My personal stage vocal mic is the Beyer M88. Great mic, smooth response, hypercardioid pattern with very good reach (the only time I've had a problem is when I'm stuck with a musician with a severe "More MEEEE!" problem), excellent gain before feeedback, choice of vocalists like David Bowie and Phil Collins (neither of whom do I sound even remotely like), as well as many, many others, judging by what I see in live performance videos. The Beyer M69 is also a very good mic, I've used them quite a bit and it was the vocal mic of choice when I was working for Bill Graham's FM Productions. I have an M69 that I tried and discounted as a vocal mic - It was too soft and dark for my baritone voice and just didn't cut through, but I can see where it might be a good choice for an edgy powerful singer with a strong upper range. When jcoutu came an played drums on a track of mine in my studio a year or so ago, we put it under the snare and it delivered a really nice thick snap. I'm not sure if it would be a particularly good mic for a baritone. It did great on Ann Wilson and we didn't have any trouble with it on The Commodores, which might indicate that it could be. I used them a lot when I was working clubs back then, the only real problem being that the pre-TG versions were somewhat fragile when dropped and I had to keep repairing the plastic phase plug in front of the diaphragm. The TGs have fixed this. For a baritone I'd probably lean toward the M88. |
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Post by mulmany on May 7, 2017 19:07:32 GMT -6
Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Now I just need to audition them all on my regular people I do FOH for.
Have any thoughts on the SM86? Or the telefunken m81?
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Post by Dr. Loudness on May 10, 2017 14:12:31 GMT -6
Neumann kms105
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Post by yotonic on May 11, 2017 0:59:56 GMT -6
MBHO MBD 219 SC Dynamic Hypercardioid Handheld
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