Recommend me a live dynamic vocal mic, please (NMD P2).

[marqueemoon]

I’ve been using my decades-old SM57 for practice just because it works and is paid for, but I've always felt like it lacked clarity and was prone to feedback. Well, last night my drummer had his Beta 57A and suggested trying it. While there wasn't significantly more gain available before feedback it was a LOT more clear. Not sure if my 57 is just not at its best anymore or just isn't the right mic for me, but either way getting a new vocal mic just jumped to the top of the list, especially now that it's no longer weird to bring one's one vocal mic to a club.

I'm a pretty quiet singer and don't have a lot of natural edge to my voice, so I can really use all the help I can get getting up over the band.

I’m not expecting miracles out of a mic, but here's what I'm looking for in order of priority:

- tight pattern/good feedback rejection
- handles plosives well
- proximity effect that isn't overly boomy, or at - - least comes on smoothly
- a little bump in the upper mids
- ideally, under $150

Right now the Audix OM5 is looking like a good option. It seems slightly harsh in the demos I've checked out, but that could be a feature not a bug in a rock band situation.

I'd certainly be willing to go cheaper though.

[JSett]

I've carried around the ubiquitous Shure SM58 forever. Every soundperson knows it, good feedback rejection if you position it right. The 57a is a supercardiod and has a weird bump in the null that can make it a little more sensitive to positioning. A good visual is this:



...so you can see that a loud floor monitor is a bigger problem for a 57a/58a (that are almost the same pattern)

My go-to alternative for more delicate voices has been the Sennheiser e835. I've heard great things about the Telefunken M80 but they're spendy and good things about the Heil PR-35.

[marqueemoon]

Thanks. I’ve checked out quite a few demos, and while I love the sound of the Telefunken M80 it is really not great with plosives, so between that and the cost it’s off the list.

[JSett]

Thanks. I’ve checked out quite a few demos, and while I love the sound of the Telefunken M80 it is really not great with plosives, so between that and the cost it’s off the list.

Yeah, I read the same thing which is one thing that's stopped me trying one for myself (my singing tends to be kinda loud and semi-shouty so there's plosives galore)

There's always the EV RE20 but it's a big mic for live use.

[marqueemoon]

Thanks. I’ve checked out quite a few demos, and while I love the sound of the Telefunken M80 it is really not great with plosives, so between that and the cost it’s off the list.

Yeah, I read the same thing which is one thing that's stopped me trying one for myself (my singing tends to be kinda loud and semi-shouty so there's plosives galore)

There's always the EV RE20 but it's a big mic for live use.

I’m a quiet singer generally, so when plosives happen it can sound like a damn gunshot.

I actually have an RE20, but yeah it a bit awkward, and also heavy to the point I wouldn’t trust it on the sketchy stands at some venues.

[Embenny]

I’m a quiet singer generally, so when plosives happen it can sound like a damn gunshot.

I actually have an RE20, but yeah it a bit awkward, and also heavy to the point I wouldn’t trust it on the sketchy stands at some venues.

An SM58 will perform extremely similarly to a 57, but with better handling of plosives simply because of its windscreen. I'm not sure you'll find anything that will outperform it at that price point.

[marqueemoon]

I’m a quiet singer generally, so when plosives happen it can sound like a damn gunshot.

I actually have an RE20, but yeah it a bit awkward, and also heavy to the point I wouldn’t trust it on the sketchy stands at some venues.

An SM58 will perform extremely similarly to a 57, but with better handling of plosives simply because of its windscreen. I'm not sure you'll find anything that will outperform it at that price point.

We’re continuing to mask up at practice which means having a pop filter on my face.

To me that narrows the difference between a 57 and 58, as does throwing a foam windscreen on the 57 which I’ve also done at various times.

I’ve sung through many a 58 in my life and want to try something else.

[DeathJag]

Those Audix handheld mics are very crisp, I like them for vocals more than a 57 or 58, but that Beta 57A is clearer than the Audix. More midrange and upper midrange for sure. For me it sounds like shit. I have such a weird voice that I've actually only found one mic that doesn't make me sound like a whiny little shit, and it's a super expensive Schoeps condenser haha!

I have about five or six sm57s, and each one sounds slightly different. The older ones definitely sound dull. So it seems that model can get dull overtime. The oldest one sounds like total lo-fi garage. Maybe just a brand new 57 would do the job, if you already like your voice through it?

[marqueemoon]

Those Audix handheld mics are very crisp, I like them for vocals more than a 57 or 58, but that Beta 57A is clearer than the Audix. More midrange and upper midrange for sure. For me it sounds like shit. I have such a weird voice that I've actually only found one mic that doesn't make me sound like a whiny little shit, and it's a super expensive Schoeps condenser haha!

I have about five or six sm57s, and each one sounds slightly different. The older ones definitely sound dull. So it seems that model can get dull overtime. The oldest one sounds like total lo-fi garage. Maybe just a brand new 57 would do the job, if you already like your voice through it?

Interesting to hear that the Beta 57A is clearer than the Audix stuff.

I think you’re right about the 57 getting dull. I used this one at home recently on some demos (with a “good” preamp and a pop filter). Sounded a bit dull in the top end. Must be why I still like this one on snare and guitar cabs.

[Larry Mal]

I'm not going to be able to offer any good advice, but I'm curious why the Beta series Shure isn't being considered?

They are pretty different microphones, with different magnets, output, and polar patterns from the SM series stuff.

If you were liking a Beta 57, maybe consider another of those or a Beta 58. Get one used, it's certainly not going to break the bank of anything, and you'll always have a useful microphone around.

[marqueemoon]

I'm not going to be able to offer any good advice, but I'm curious why the Beta series Shure isn't being considered?

They are pretty different microphones, with different magnets, output, and polar patterns from the SM series stuff.

If you were liking a Beta 57, maybe consider another of those or a Beta 58. Get one used, it's certainly not going to break the bank of anything, and you'll always have a useful microphone around.

Shure makes good stuff, and the Beta 57A and 58A are definitely in the running. I just also want to hear some other suggestions.

[OffYourFace]

Get the Audix. They have best rejection but you need to be on it like basically just have your lips touch it the whole time you're singing. They always cut through better than any Shure IME. Obv it depends on the singer, everyone is different.

The OM5 is the one we use. My bandmate also uses a VoiceLive 3 and that mic works & sounds better with FX as well, especially AT.

[GreenKnee]

I've had both a Shure 58A and Sennheiser e 835 for 12 - 15 years now and I like them both. I'd recommend the E835 if you're wanting to try something new, the 58A (to my ears) is just a bit better than a 58 but the e 835 seems a bit more alive. Interesting what Johnny posted with the patterns: I didn't realise the 58A would pick up monitors, bit of a daft design really unless they're tailored to the more in-ear crowd?
I've been very impressed with my e 835 and e 906 from Sennheiser, they're my go to mics for vocals and guitar.

[Dok]

You could get like 4-5 of these. Great mics, as is everything EV. I like them better than the sm58. https://www.guitarcenter.com/Electro-Vo ... cal-Mic.gc

[Domm]

my band is very loud and we have had success with this Sennheiser model.https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... dheld.html