What is the best 'live' vocal mic & pre

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NYMorningstar

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My band uses a macky mixer and SM58's which works real well but we're looking for a better setup and figure we should start with the mics and maybe use a mic pre-amp. Someone mentioned Sennheiser but I'm not at all familiar with them. Where do we go from here?
 
I can't help you much with vocal prcessors for stage work, my knowledge isn't current, but you'll probably get better FX/'verbs from a dedicated processor. Somebody will help you out there. The bitch of it is, there aren't really "better" vocal mics than a 58, just ones that sound better on some singers, so you have to experiment a little. Beta 57/58 will sound similar to the 58's you have, but are somewhat less prone to feedback.
I'm different from most in that I've had my best results from AKG dynamics, D770, D880S. I've never gotten to try a C535EB, but I sure would like to. Others worth giving a listen to are Audix OM-6, EV ND-767, and Sennheiser E845 and MD 421 II. These are all good mics, but as I said, there is no guarantee that any given singer will sound good through any of these mics. Many excellent singers sound great through 57's and 58's, which make me sound mediocre at best, and often actually suck, Go figure.-Richie
 
If you want to go for Sennheiser, take something like the E845. I like them more than beta58's. For vocals only then.
 
Sennheiser MD-441U is an awsome live mic. You have to stay on it though. Off-axis response falls off rapidly.

I used to use mine when I was gigging.
 
I really like my EV 767-A's. that said they are hyper-cardiod so you will will need to stay more in front of it, and it doesn't have the proximity effect that a 58 has.
 
Sennheiser, you're a braver man than me. I'd probably have a heart attack when (not if!) someone knocks into a 441 or drops it!

You may want to use the same model mixer, or bring your own to the dealer to test out the various microphones.
The Shure Beta 57, however, and the Shure SM57 sound very different. The Beta's are brighter in tone. The same is true for the
latest model of the 421 (421 MKII), compared to its predecessors.
The older models of the 421 are more mellow sounding.

You may also want to try;
1) Beyer M88TG
2) Sennheiser 431
3) Sennheiser e855
4) Beyer Soundstar MKII (superior to SM58 IMHO) used only
5) Shure Beta 87a or 87c

Along with the many others...

Chris
 
Used it for four years. Never had a problem. I was a piano player though, kind of in the back.
 
That would make it easier for me to rope off the area.

The 441 is on my eventual gear lust list, what a terrific mike.

Chris
 
I used to do The Who a lot- Roger Daltrey antics with a 441 could get expensive real fast-Richie
 
NYMorningstar said:
My band uses a macky mixer and SM58's which works real well
Click to expand...

If it works welll why would you want to replace it? Remeber, live audio isn't studio quality. The SM58 is the world standard for live vocal mics.
 
Richard Monroe said:
I used to do The Who a lot- Roger Daltrey antics with a 441 could get expensive real fast-Richie
Click to expand...

Being chained to the piano is a lot different than wearing a guitar. I didn't do a whole lot of jumping up and down and swinging my legs about.

I never got too far away from the stage during a break and always had an eye on it. Not that many in the audience even knew what it was though. Just some big-ass mic they'd never seen on a stage at a local gig before.
 
Ah, Sennheiser, I think you've never seen The Who live. It was Roger Daltrey's favorite routine to take the mic during long instrumentals, like the Underture in Tommy, and spin it in a circle on the mic cable. By adjusting the length of cable played out, you can adjust the frequency of the tortured mic's output to match the key. I think he had the mic cable marked for different songs. This works better on old high-Z mics where the cable adapter is threaded. With XLR mics, you have to use strapping tape or heavy duty duct tape, and if you don't change the tape frequently, the mic will come flying off as a missile in a random direction, causing lawsuits and additional gear damage.
I think this is probably a better use for a 58 than a 441. Of course, if my operational budget was the same as The Who, I probably wouldn't care. I can tell you AKG D690's survived this routine better than any mic I've used, including a 58, and that's a serious testimonial based on experience with serious mic abuse.-Richie
P.S.- It's not so good for your cables, either.
 
AAAUUGH! No I've never seen The Who live.
No, my mics don't ever see too much physical activity. They're pretty fit the way they are.:D
 
I've noticed a good many big names converting to the KMS 105 Neuman and its Sennheiser wireless version. The 105 runs arround $500 the wireless you do not want to ask.
 
And what if the engineer of The Who decides to use wireless sennheissers in the future?
 
My favorite live vocal mic is the Shure Beta 87, followed closely by the Beyer M88. I am also fond of the AKG 535, on some singers. They have to sound really great acousticly to use the 535, but if they do it will sound very good.


This straight keyboard is driving me nuts!!!!! I want my Macrohard natural!!!!


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'Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
I like the EV N/D series for live vocal mics. The Beyer M88 is a great mic, but too much handling noise for a handheld for me, plus if you put it on a stand it picks up rumble from stage vibrations like crazy unless you have some kind of suspension mount. The M69 might be an alternate choice.
 
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