Live Condenser Suggestions?

[thispleasesme]

Hey everyone. I've been a die hard fan of the Shure Beta 58 for a while but after recording with a couple of new vocal mics, I really have found that my voice shines on a more neutral sounding, slightly midrangy mic. To note, I use my Blue Baby Bottle in studio and get amazing results with my focusrite TTP.

So, anyone, can you recommend a live mic (preferably condenser) to use that will give me a bit more of a clean, neutral sound that my 58 is just not delivering? Thanks!

Kyle

 

[boingoman]

I am a big fan of the Neumann KMS 105 stage mic. I'm not sure how it would sound on your voice, and isn't for every situation, ie it's hard to use on a small loud stage without getting feedback. It's also about $600.

I've heard the Audio Technica stage condensers are very good, and recently tried an Audix OM-6 on live vocals and found it superior the the beta58 in sound and feedback rejection. The OM-7 is supposed to be basically the same mic, without the midrange cut. Those two models are dynamics. Audix also makes a condender, I believe it is the VX-10. I would love to hear one. Audix mics seem to be exceptional at feedback rejection, and sound fantastic. You may also try the good old shure beta 87. Good gain before feedback, cuts right through a mix.

 

[omtayslick]

SM-57. Or if it's got to be a condenser, SM-81. (ok, now go ahead and laugh at me everybody)

 

[Dot]

The Studio Projects B1 is an excellent clean, neutral mic for live applications. Works great on vox, acoustic instruments, drums, drum OH's and amps. Workhorse in the studio, too. Runs about $79.

 

[Thom IV]

My 'go to' condensor mic for live apps is my shure beta 87a. It's easier for me to tame the feedback with this hypercardioid mic. I wouldn't characterize it as very 'neutral' though.

I would characterize it as 'more neutral' than my SP B1 mic, IMHO.

I would very much recommend that you 'try before you buy', and see what works best for you.

Tom

 

[boingoman]

In most situations involving singers a condenser designed for live use is superior to a mic like the SM-81 or the B1. Neither of these mics provide enough gain before feedback in a loud situation involving monitors, their patterns are open enough to allow substantial bleed, and they have high handling noise, making them unusable for someone who takes the mic out of it's stand.

 

[Neil Ogilvie]

You might want to check out the Sennheiser e865. I've never heard it myself although I know Sting uses one and they are a very respectable line of mic's.

It is a handheld (or clip) end-address stage mic, so sounds like the sort of thing your looking for to me.

 

[Markd102]

Check out the Beyerdynamic Opus 81. IMHO better than the Shure Beta 87a for way less money. Got favorable comments from pretty much every artist who used them.

My goto stage condenser now though is the AKG 535-EB. I have 4 of these. They are an amazingly versatile mic. Extremely useful in the studio too. That's the only reason I went away from the Beyers. I still have the Beyers though.... couldn't bring myself to sell them lol.

 

[wilkee]

You might want to check out the Sennheiser e865. I've never heard it myself although I know Sting uses one and they are a very respectable line of mic's.
.

Another thumbs up for the E865, It has become my workhorse mic for live close mic'ed vocals.

The AKG C900 is also a fine live mic but it does require quite a bit of EQ'ing due to its large proximity effect.

 

[Rev E]

I've had a lot of time mixing with the lead singer using the Neumann KMS 105 stage mic... A very good choice for where you want a warmer, more neutral sound. Even at its price point, it's still not always the best choice. For louder stages where you'll be doing a lot of EQ boosts for certain voices to cut through, I found it better to simply start with something like a Shure beta 87, which already has a bit of 'presence' built in.

 

[paddyponchero]

artist elite

The new audio technica artist elite are very nice .. used at the grammys (as they love to tell us over and over again.

 

[Herm]

I also would try the akg c535 great stage and studio mic. Also it has a bass roll of switch.

 

[Innovations]

It is hard to recommend a LDC for non-studio use because of the potential for rough handling. I would be more inclinded to go up the dynamic scale maybe to a Sennheiser 421 or 441.

 

[Markd102]

LDC? deffinately not. We are not suggesting an LDC.

 

[Cave Dweller]

I Wouldn't go with the 421, because it has a wide pattern it tends to feedback excessivly. not to mention everything bleeds through it.