best mic for live rock/pop male lead vocals

Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:41 am

i would like your opinion:
i am looking for the best mic for live rock/pop male lead vocals ( vocal style between jon bon jovi / freddie mercury).
thanks for the answers.

Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:30 pm

Use what they use(d).........Shure SM58.

Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:30 pm

The SM58 is a pretty clear industry standard. Every live sound person should know how to eq one and every rock vocalist should know how to get the most out of one. With that said, there are plenty of other mics that can be a better match for a particular vocalist, but the 58 is the obvious "generic" choice.

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:47 am

what about sennheiser e835?

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:23 am

There are definitely some Sennheiser fans out there. My experience with that particular line of theirs is that they are not as physically tough as the Shures. The grilles are easier to damage, and the cartridge can be knocked askew internally and this leads to a very "nasally" sound to the mic. But I will allow that the Sennheiser is possibly cheaper and easier to obtain in your country.

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:42 am

I'm a Sennheiser fan through and through. The 835 is a good choice. Personally in most situations I use the 945, but... make sure you have a decent monitor engineer as it's touchy if your vocalist walks the line of bad mic technique. I've used the 835 for a few years and it's been a solid performer wired and wireless, empty clubs and sold out stadiums. The Sennheisers seem to have more of a tailored frequency response out of the box than the 58. Could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the situation. Enjoy!

Cheers,
-Ryan-

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:43 am

ok, lets go with shure...

SM58 or beta58A?

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:42 pm

SM58.

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:15 pm

The Beta is a slightly more sensitive, "brighter mic, but the pick-up pattern is "hypercardioid" as opposed to the SM58's more conventional cardioid pattern. This, in theory at least, means that the Beta would be better at feedback rejection (narrower pattern) on many stages. I have used both, they both have their place onstage. I avoid using the Beta on sibilant or screechie voices,or real "ballsy" singers, it just aggravates those characteristics. Listen to your vocalist, then make a decision.

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:51 pm

Like moonbaby said, don't use the Beta if the vocalist is sibilant. Also, if the vocalist doesn't do well on mic technique, the Beta will only make it worse. Why would it be worse if its hypercardioid? Because if the vocalist doesn't know how to sing into a mic, then it just flat out won't pick it up well.

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 5:17 pm

the two brands i would highly recommend would be audix and sennheiser. i think the sennheiser e935 and e945 are the best sounding dynamic mics out there--- way, way ahead of any shure comparisons!!!

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:59 am

moonbaby wrote:

The Beta is a slightly more sensitive, "brighter mic, but the pick-up pattern is "hypercardioid" as opposed to the SM58's more conventional cardioid pattern. This, in theory at least, means that the Beta would be better at feedback rejection (narrower pattern) on many stages. I have used both, they both have their place onstage. I avoid using the Beta on sibilant or screechie voices,or real "ballsy" singers, it just aggravates those characteristics. Listen to your vocalist, then make a decision.

NDymn mics have hotter output = even more prone to feedback in the upper mids, low highs. The Beta is a honky sounding mic. It is possibly the worst mic that Shure makes in my opinion. Save the gain and EQ for the eingeer/mixing console. Buy a 58.

The OP asked what is the best. There is no answer. It is all relative to the singer, the stage, the monitor rig, etc. That said, you can't beat a $69 mic like the 58 no matter what.

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