Shure microphones/Mixing question

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Simpsom3

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I'm new to all this and not very technology-savvy so please bare with me.

I'm looking to purchase a complete music system for practise at home aswell as intimate gigs.

I have done some research and am interested in the Shure SM35 headset mic with a BLX14RE receiver Funksystem (it comes with a transmitter for the mic).

I'm also looking for a good handheld wireless mic and have heard the Shure SM58 is good. I have found one online which I think has a transmitter built in.

My first question is would the blx14re receiver sync with a Shure sm58 mic at the same time as the sm35 headset?

I'm also wanting to add a slight reverb effect on the mics but don't know how. Is this done through a mixer? If anyone knows a good but cheap mixer that would be great as its pretty pointless to buy an expensive one just for a reverb effect. It would be cool if it could do some other cool effects too like delay, autotune etc...

I'm also pretty clueless when it comes to setting up a mixer. How does it connect to a receiver and then to speakers?

Thanks in advance
 
A normal sm58 will not have a built in transmitter. If it does, it will come with the reciever.

Wireless systems are generally sold as a package. Only one mic will work with one reciever at a time.

So, for each wireless mic you want to use, it needs to have its own reciever on its own frequency. (Most systems have a bunch of frequencies they can use, so you can set the mics so they don't interfere with each other).

Reverb or not, you will need some sort of mixer to use both mics at the same time. The mixer is what combines the mic signals and sends them to the speaker. Some have built in effects, but a lot dont.

If you have the headset mic, what is the 58 for? (Why does it need to be wireless) If you can get away with a wired 58, it would save you a few hundred dollars.
 
Farview said:
A normal sm58 will not have a built in transmitter. If it does, it will come with the reciever.

Wireless systems are generally sold as a package. Only one mic will work with one reciever at a time.

So, for each wireless mic you want to use, it needs to have its own reciever on its own frequency. (Most systems have a bunch of frequencies they can use, so you can set the mics so they don't interfere with each other).

Reverb or not, you will need some sort of mixer to use both mics at the same time. The mixer is what combines the mic signals and sends them to the speaker. Some have built in effects, but a lot dont.

If you have the headset mic, what is the 58 for? (Why does it need to be wireless) If you can get away with a wired 58, it would save you a few hundred dollars.
Click to expand...

This is the SM58 I am looking at that says it comes with a transmitter. I'm not sure if its built in or seperate:

Shure BLX2/SM58 Handheld Mic/Transmitter


And this is the SM35 headset with transmitter and receiver. I messaged the seller and he said that a Shure handheld would sync with the receiver, you just need to find the frequency or something?

Shure BLX14RE | SM35 S8 Headset Funksystem | eBay


Do you have any recommendations for a cheap mixer with some good effects (including reverb)?

And the SM35 mic is for performances that include movement/dance etc.. (I also play in a band where the lead singer does routines etc..) and the SM58 is for more intimate acoustic sets, while sat playing an instrument - they will sometimes be used in the same performance.

I suppose a wired SM58 would be ok, just a handheld seems better if the singer wants to move around while holding it. The one I listed above claims it comes with a transmitter and is a decent price?
 
You need to find the package that comes with the mic and reciever. Get a package with both, you can buy the separately, but you run the risk of buying incompatible versions.

The blx series works fine.

It's been so long since I've been in the market for a small mixer, I have no opinions on anything made today.
 
I just looked.again, that 58 will work with that reciever, but you won't be able to use both mics at the same time with only one reciever.
 
The usual signal path is:

mikes > mixer > amp > speakers

sometimes you can get a powered mixer, so the path is

mikes > mixer + amp > speakers

Sometimes you can get powered speakers:

mikes > mixer > amp + speakers

If you use a radio mike, there's an addition:

mike + transmitter > receiver > mixer > amp > speaker

It is common to fin mixers these days with built-in effects, which means they come with reverb.

Alternatively, you can get a separate reverb unit, which takes a signal form the mixer, adds reverb, then sends it back to the mixer.

The BLX2/58 just shows the mike. You need a receiver to go with it. The blx14re looks like the full kit.

You can save yourself a heap of money by not going wireless on the 58. Just get a conventional wired mike.

There are many small mixers around these days . . . look at, for example, yamaha, allen & Heath, behringer and so on. You need to figure out how many channels you want, and what you want to do with the signal once it leaves the mixer
 
Farview said:
I just looked.again, that 58 will work with that reciever, but you won't be able to use both mics at the same time with only one reciever.
Click to expand...

Ok so I don't need to find another package like you said above? I suppose it doesn't matter that the mics won't work at the same time if it will save me some money.
 
gecko zzed said:
The usual signal path is:

mikes > mixer > amp > speakers

sometimes you can get a powered mixer, so the path is

mikes > mixer + amp > speakers

Sometimes you can get powered speakers:

mikes > mixer > amp + speakers

If you use a radio mike, there's an addition:

mike + transmitter > receiver > mixer > amp > speaker

It is common to fin mixers these days with built-in effects, which means they come with reverb.

Alternatively, you can get a separate reverb unit, which takes a signal form the mixer, adds reverb, then sends it back to the mixer.

The BLX2/58 just shows the mike. You need a receiver to go with it. The blx14re looks like the full kit.

You can save yourself a heap of money by not going wireless on the 58. Just get a conventional wired mike.

There are many small mixers around these days . . . look at, for example, yamaha, allen & Heath, behringer and so on. You need to figure out how many channels you want, and what you want to do with the signal once it leaves the mixer
Click to expand...

So I need to get an amp too? Are they cheap? (sorry, I told you I'm new to all this) What exactly does an amp do?

The guy above me and the seller on ebay both say the SM58 will work with the receiver in the SM35 package (the BLX14RE receiver) ?

I have found a wired SM58 for £80 buts its not that much cheaper than the wireless one with a transmitter (£120)
 
If you don't need to use both at the same time ever, you can do that. If you want both at the same time, you will need another receiver.

The amp will depend on the speakers. If you get passive speakers, you will need a separate amp. If you get active speakers, the amp is built in.

The amplifier takes the line level signal from the mixer and turns it into a speaker level signal.

There is a bunch of different ways to put this sort of thing together. How you choose will depend on the type of venues you will be playing, your budget, quality required, and transportation concerns.
 
Farview said:
If you don't need to use both at the same time ever, you can do that. If you want both at the same time, you will need another receiver.

The amp will depend on the speakers. If you get passive speakers, you will need a separate amp. If you get active speakers, the amp is built in.

The amplifier takes the line level signal from the mixer and turns it into a speaker level signal.

There is a bunch of different ways to put this sort of thing together. How you choose will depend on the type of venues you will be playing, your budget, quality required, and transportation concerns.
Click to expand...

Ok I will just buy the wireless one and not use both mics at the same time.

Sorry for more questions but speakers is another thing I'm looking into buying. Would you reccomend buying active speakers with a built in amp? That sounds more straight forward.

This may be a stupid question but how does the mixer connect to the amp/speaker? With a signal or a wire?
 
Powered speakers are generally easier to deal.with.

The mixer is connected to the powered speaker (or amp) with a mic cable. Sometimes with a 1/4 trs cable, depending on what connector the output of the mixer uses.

So, in this scenario, you.will need the wireless reciever, a short xlr mic cable to plug the reciever into the mixer input, a long xlr mic cable to plug the output of the mixer into the powered speaker. (And a power cord for the speaker)
 
Radio mics (as they are commonly called here) are bit of a nightmare to buy and A) get a decent sounding system, i.e. no drop outs and B) staying legal!

It seems they shuffle the usable frequencies in UK/EU on about a 5 year cycle so you need expert advice form someone currently working in the industry IN YOUR COUNTRY.

But the mic is only half your larnin' just setting up and getting good results from a wired mic. mixer, amp and speakers takes a bit of time and skill. Acoustic Feedback (Google it) is your main problem (and is made even more difficult if you are prancing about with a headset on).

So, with the GREATEST respect to the guys here, pop over to Sound On Sound | Recording Techniques | Audio Technology | Music Production | Computer Music | Video Media and put your question to them. There are several guys there who have been running shows since Adam was a lad and know all the legals and pitfalls to wireless mic systems.

I am assuming you are UK because the link was in our moola!

Dave.
 
He is correct. That is the reason why a lot of bands will rent wireless locally when touring europe. Too many different rules to sift through.

The ones who don't rent get the top of the line versions with the most possible frequencies to pick from.

Not sure what your local rules are, but a few years back in america, the changed the legal frequency band, which effectively made all of your equipment illegal overnight.
 
Simpsom3 - are you in the UK? I assume so, so be careful the German sourced system is on the same frequency band?

Personally, I wonder if you're making this a bit complicated. Wireless is great for when you can't use cables, but it's unreliable, eats batteries and having only one receiver is a real pain. What if the headset needs less bass, and the handheld needs more? You have to switch off one, then turn on the other, in that sequence, otherwise all sorts of nasty noises will be heard. Having two receivers means you just unmute, or push a fader - nice and simple. This is a bit of a bodge. two transmitters, one receiver, a mixer (for one input) and a pair of powered speakers?
 
It would only be practical to have one receiver if you simply picked a mic to use for the whole show. Turning one off to use the other one is just a disaster waiting to happen.
 
Simpsom3 said:
This may be a stupid question but how does the mixer connect to the amp/speaker? With a signal or a wire?
Click to expand...

If you connect a powered speaker to a mixer, you usually do so with a cable. In fact, it is the same type of cable that you would use to connect a mike to a mixer.

Before you buy anything, you need to take a trip to a music store and ask someone there how this stuff works and what is needed.

Radio mikes are expensive, and I have a feeling you think they can do more than they actually can.
 
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