live vocal condenser

[Pughbert]

Ive been looking into getting a condenser for my live vocals. But know, and hear very little about posibilitys. Anyone got any suggestions?

and while im on the matter, can anyone tell me what mic Fran Healy (Travis)is using live?

Cheers

[wilkee]

Senn E865--- Good general purpose vocal Mic. A bit neutral for some.

AKG C900---- Works well on some voices needs work on Bass EQ with others. Great on female voices.

There are many others I have not tried of these I would love to hear the Rode S1.

Tony

[noisedude]

I would like to add the Audio Technica AE3300 - not particularly well-known but certainly gives you that detailed 'condenser sound'. Get ready to use your pads and HPFs though!!!

My experience of the E865 is that it is a little too 'nothingy' for me. It's clearly a really good mic, but the E845 does more favours to most of the vocalists I work with.

[Lanny Cox]

At my school we've used an AKG 535 a lot for singers that want a live condenser.. it usually sounds pretty good on most voices.

[AGCurry]

Shure Beta 87.

[xstatic]

Shure beta 87 and Neumann 105

[fernandoesmaron]

Sontronics STC-5 could be a choice too.

[boingoman]

If you ever find some old Shure SM85s, snag them.

Like the Beta 87, but much smoother-sounding.

[giraffe]

if you don't have a good stage set up, a condencer is ill-advised

whare i've seen them used they are often (not always but often) more trouble in feedback then they are worth.

[savageblues]

Whats the Neumann model that you see Celine Dion and Norah Jones working on stage often? Is that the 105? Sure seems to work well with their voices (although Celine could break glass with any mic).

[boingoman]

Originally Posted by giraffe

if you don't have a good stage set up, a condencer is ill-advised

whare i've seen them used they are often (not always but often) more trouble in feedback then they are worth.

They can be trouble in some places for sure.

Loud band+small stage+low ceilings= potential nightmare, plus usually a ton of cymbal bleed.

And you will want decent monitor EQ no matter what.

[treymonfauntre]

the nuemann 105 is the only live vocal mic thats astounded me

[xstatic]

Several companies seem to have some pretty nice handheld vocal condensors out now. The Shure may or may not sound as good. However, it is time tested and as rugged as they come. The Neumann 105 (the only handheld stage condensor by neumann) still sits pretty easily at the top of the pack as far as I am concerned. The differences don't seem to be wuite as much if you test just the mic, but once you add monitors and put it in a mix, it just seems to stay more open and natural sounding. It really is a pretty awesome (if not spendy) live mic.

[boingoman]

Originally Posted by xstatic

It really is a pretty awesome (if not spendy) live mic.

Yes, it is. Some of the best (or at least most fun) money I have spent on my rig.

I've had people say "Boy, it's kind of trebly" and I have to tell them they are just not used to hearing someone's voice the way it is supposed to be, instead of being passed through a 58.

[ljmaxx]

AKG 535 EB gets my vote.

[Cave Dweller]

i find the akg 535 REALLY sensitive to plosives. it sounds great except for that. which is really a shame, because it usually just sits in my mic kit, waiting to be used

[noisedude]

Originally Posted by boingoman

I've had people say "Boy, it's kind of trebly" and I have to tell them they are just not used to hearing someone's voice the way it is supposed to be, instead of being passed through a 58.

Spot on! People just don't seem to know that you don't have to have muffled vocals ... I bet you some of the mics around now will stand the durability test of time too, and if not, who cares, they're all so much cheaper now than they were anyway!