alternative to SM58 for live vocals.

[jkhuri44]

Gday guys,

just wondering if any live sound guys have had an experiences with any alternatives to an SM58?

i find its a bit too honky for my voice....i use an EV flat face design at band prac which is pretty cool, sounds alot clearer...but looking for any other suggestions....

obviously, feedback is a problem with mics with too much top? but...anyone who knows of a mic which manages to walk the line in regards to this, i'd love to know.

Cheers!

[Kurt]

Beta58, some of the Senniheosers sound great, don't know which models to look for though.

[jkhuri44]

Beta58, some of the Senniheosers sound great, don't know which models to look for though.

is the beta 58 much different to the normal 1?

[Gian]

Gday guys,

just wondering if any live sound guys have had an experiences with any alternatives to an SM58?

I use an EV510, its a condenser.
http://www.electrovoice.com/products/94.html

looks nice, sounds nice. Needs phantom power though.

It would be helpful if you could try before you buy, huh?

[jkhuri44]

Gian,

the extended tops on a condensor dont give u problems live??

[Linear]

Try a Beyerdynamic M69. Great vocal mic.

Chris

[Brent]

What kind of stage volumes are we talking?
What kind of venues - stage sizes/with without drum risers?
What kind of P.A.'s and foldback generally?
Do you project or are you a mumbler?
What general register is your singing?
Do you need your foldback really loud and/or do you have feedback problems with a 58?

Brent Punshon

[Kurt]

They're brighter and higher output, I'd change all my 58's for betas but I can't afford it. My band's singer just bought himself a Rode M1, sounds good at practice but haven't tried it live yet.

A mate who worked at a music shop (and ran a PA) swears by the cheapo Ashton vocal mics, he also liked the EV Cobalt 9.

Beta58, some of the Senniheosers sound great, don't know which models to look for though.

is the beta 58 much different to the normal 1?

[Gian]

Gian,

the extended tops on a condensor dont give u problems live??

I use (wired) in ears - that probably makes a difference.

However, I did see a (jazz) big band using the RE510 on most instruments and the main (male) vocalist used one without a problem

[Chris H]

The SE H1 vocal condenser is worth a try. I have one and use it often for live work. It does a great job and it got me out of trouble last week when the Beta 58 just was not doing the job on a particular voice. In fact on many voices i don't like the Beta 58 at all. For a dynamic mic then the Heil PR 20 is a great mic, but don't get the old stock as on more recent ones, they did some work on the design to reduce handling noise.

[jkhuri44]

What kind of stage volumes are we talking?
What kind of venues - stage sizes/with without drum risers?
What kind of P.A.'s and foldback generally?
Do you project or are you a mumbler?
What general register is your singing?
Do you need your foldback really loud and/or do you have feedback problems with a 58?

Brent Punshon

brent, i've never sang live yet, this is all in the rehearsal room (Sonic Factory in Belmore). The venues i assume would be different all the time...so, i guess looking for a mic that will work well in as many places as possible.

Some of the lyrics are quiet...therefore i suppose im a bit of a mumbler at times, then some parts are real loud...my range is tenor . . so i guess im looking for something that makes me sound bassier than what a 58 does...also something which sounds good with ur mouth jammed rihgt up against it.

cant get a 58 loud enough without feedback, the EV's im using at rehearsal are much better, but just a bit too forward in the low mids for my voice.

i know this is pretty much a "try til ur happy" kinda question..but some experienced heads' opinions never hurt!

[musikwerks]

If it gets loud on your stage Jamil, you don't want to be using a condenser. The extra top end is not a problem if your PA/Monitor guy is on top of things and the system is eq'd well, but they're far more susceptible to external stage noise than a dynamic in my experience.

i use Beta 58's all the time, for live and live recordings, no issues. I have a friend who uses Audio Technical live almost exclusively but I have never used them myself. I would suggest staying with the dynamic mic.

[jkhuri44]

I will say that an SM58 or Beta58 is quite easy to get loud in foldback before feedback.

i should clarify that the 58 i suppose is loud enough, its just not clear enough, thus making it sound a bit shy, or quiet.

[Futureman]

cant get a 58 loud enough without feedback,

Wow, I'm surprised by that.. In my experience, the beta 58 is the most forgiving mic in a live situation.

Regards
Mike

[jkhuri44]

futureman, i mean just the regular 58. not the beta.

[Futureman]

my bad.

[musikwerks]

A standard 58 should give you gobs of gain without feedback if the system is ok.... maybe check your 58 out... could be a counterfeit?

But like was said earlier, depends if you project or mumble. Singers that don't give me enough sound to be useful and then complain that they can't hear themselves get my specially patented "suck" mix.

[Kurt]

Shit, if you own the patent I probably owe you licensing fees!

A standard 58 should give you gobs of gain without feedback if the system is ok.... maybe check your 58 out... could be a counterfeit?

But like was said earlier, depends if you project or mumble. Singers that don't give me enough sound to be useful and then complain that they can't hear themselves get my specially patented "suck" mix.

[Martin]

I find the M1 to be quite a well behaved mic, doesn't sound as bitey as a Beta 58 - so maybe thats good

i'm a baritone so prefer something that makes me sound brighter than i am (ha ha)

if i'm using it on my own PA, i'll use the M1
if someone ELSE is mixing, Beta 58 all the way - and they can deal with it

thats coming from the singer side not the sound guy

[Dangerous C]

Audix OM-7. Best gain before feedback of any dynamic vocal mic out there.
As mentioned earlier, the Beta 58A is a great mic too.

[Adam Dempsey]

Beta58, some of the Senniheosers sound great, don't know which models to look for though.

After much testing, a new personal fav of mine is the sennheiser e835 dynamic. Has a presence lift (in a nice way) and minimal boxiness if used right up close. You may well find simply far less need to EQ vocals in a live situation. Can be got for less than $180.

[jkhuri44]

After much testing, a new personal fav of mine is the sennheiser e835 dynamic. Has a presence lift (in a nice way) and minimal boxiness if used right up close. You may well find simply far less need to EQ vocals in a live situation. Can be got for less than $180.

this , very important!! will check out for sure man

thanks for the recommendation!

[Kurt]

That's probably the ones I've seen. A couple of guys have used them at gigs I've done, sound good, pretty cheap.

Beta58, some of the Senniheosers sound great, don't know which models to look for though.

After much testing, a new personal fav of mine is the sennheiser e835 dynamic. Has a presence lift (in a nice way) and minimal boxiness if used right up close. You may well find simply far less need to EQ vocals in a live situation. Can be got for less than $180.

[Chris H]

I have found the sennheiser e835 to sound a bit hard edged for my liking. There is a particular sound i preferr to avoid in quite a lot of live gear and examples are the older AKG D 3800 dynamic mics, many of the cheaper Yamaha desks, and many mics with the neodymium magnet. It's that hard ringy 2k ish?? metallic sound, and the e 825 has a hint of it. As soon as i replace it with a mic of my liking "that" sound disappears.