If I have a lower singing voice, is the SM58 bad news?

[dmcl]

Hi all,

Looking for some advice on a live-use dynamic mic suitable for my particular application. I've done some searching, but can't find many answers, so I'm hoping your experience can help.

I'm playing singer/songwriter/folk stuff on a nylon string guitar. My voice tends to hover in the low-midrange area, and I worry that using the standard SM58 will emphasize those frequencies, which, along with the nylon string guitar, will make the whole thing sound like mud.

Any ideas? Am I wrong in my thinking? Over thinking, maybe? Is there a better mic given my situation? Or is this just an issue of proper mixing?

I'll most often be running the guitar and vocals through an Ultrasound amp.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Dave

 

[Lt. Bob]

well ......I don't much like a SM58 for anything except micing guitar cabs. That's my personal taste but I don't care for 'em.

EDIT you said live use.
I like EV mics for live work ..... great feedback rejection and a wide freq response making them brighter than a 58

 

[moresound]

Hey Dave looking for the right microphone for ones voice can be a tedious job and you may have to audition many microphones till you find the right one.

Do let me suggest the EV 767 think you'll like it.

 

[moresound]

well ......I don't much like a SM58 for anything except micing guitar cabs. That's my personal taste but I don't care for 'em.

EDIT you said live use.
I like EV mics for live work ..... great feedback rejection and a wide freq response making them brighter than a 58

HA so funny I was searching the threads to find a quote from you Lt. ~ that when we talked that guy into getting the 767.
At this rate I believe that a job offer from EV will be headed our way!

 

[mixsit]

EV's mmm good (...as many others of naturally.

Let's look at live (or not..) low end/mud. Most all directional mics boost low end up close (a side effect of their design), so they are voiced (rolled off) to sound ok up' close to compensate. On top of that a pa may also be eq'd.
Down side is if you then work off the mic it goes thin on you -no longer doing it's proximity effect boost.
Then there are mics like the RE15, 16, 20 and such that start flatter and don't boost' as you get up on them. I've found this can be really cool if you want to keep clarity and articulation in the low registers and don't happen to like hearing that mud and over done low end you can get in a lot of pa/club situations.
Downside here is in a mixed pa/stage set for the tones of 58's and such –you can end up the 'thin one.

But in your situation if you're doing your own mics, or you have control, you can play it either way. Check out some mics to see how they feel and sound and if they're the typical style, dialing in for your comfortable tone can work just fine and just be aware of the proximity effect variable. The 'RE's do add a very nice option though especially in situations where you want to use expanded working distances. Vocal –yes! Acoustic guitars and such- No 'thin here' or 'boomy there crap. Big yes!

 

[Lt. Bob]

HA so funny I was searching the threads to find a quote from you Lt. ~ that when we talked that guy into getting the 767.
At this rate I believe that a job offer from EV will be headed our way!

yeah ..... didn't he end up not liking it?



I just got a catalog from M.F. and they had the 767a for $69 after instant rebate!

I'm gonna grab a couple even though I can't afford it ...... that ought to take me to the end of my life.

 

[moresound]

I just got a catalog from M.F. and they had the 767a for $69 after instant rebate!

I'm gonna grab a couple even though I can't afford it ...... that ought to take me to the end of my life.

If the wifey finds out it could be today!!!

$69. ~ that's insane. I might as well join ya. Hope we can bring them to the after life with us.

That's the 767a right?

NO I THINK HE DID LIKE THE 767a

 

[moresound]

EV's mmm good (...as many others of naturally.

Let's look at live (or not..) low end/mud. Most all directional mics boost low end up close (a side effect of their design), so they are voiced (rolled off) to sound ok up' close to compensate. On top of that a pa may also be eq'd.
Down side is if you then work off the mic it goes thin on you -no longer doing it's proximity effect boost.
Then there are mics like the RE15, 16, 20 and such that start flatter and don't boost' as you get up on them. I've found this can be really cool if you want to keep clarity and articulation in the low registers and don't happen to like hearing that mud and over done low end you can get in a lot of pa/club situations.
Downside here is in a mixed pa/stage set for the tones of 58's and such –you can end up the 'thin one.

But in your situation if you're doing your own mics, or you have control, you can play it either way. Check out some mics to see how they feel and sound and if they're the typical style, dialing in for your comfortable tone can work just fine and just be aware of the proximity effect variable. The 'RE's do add a very nice option though especially in situations where you want to use expanded working distances. Vocal –yes! Acoustic guitars and such- No 'thin here' or 'boomy there crap. Big yes!

There is the low end cut found on many consoles or just roll off the low, low mid on the console. A lot of contributing factors with this.

 

[Lt. Bob]

$69. ~ that's insane. I might as well join ya. Hope we can bring them to the after life with us.

That's the 767a right?

yep N/D767a ... page 153 in the Christmas catalog and item#270058
on sale for 99.99 and 69.00 after instant rebate.
Really ..... 100 bucks is a decent price for that mic so 69 is something I can't pass up.

 

[dmcl]

Thanks for all the thoughts, everybody.

moresound and lt. bob--is there a promo code or something associated with that sale? For some reason I didn't receive the catalog this year, an the offer isn't posted on their website.

Thanks again.

 

[Lt. Bob]

no promo but they might ask the catalog source code so: MF10121031A