stage mic

[larrye]

I sing bass in a southern gospel quartet. I don't have a great voice, it doesn't have the edge or presence I wish it had. It seems to have to much at around 200 Hz with the mic I am using. I know you can't buy a voice but I think I could improve my sound with a different mic. I am currently using a Shure beta 87-A, and when I get up into it it seems to muddy. Some have suggested a Beyerdynamic M-88TG. What do you folks think about this Mic????? I am open to other suggestions for a mic to help out a dull sounding bass singer, two octave range, starting at 60HZ.

I would really appreciate your opinions.
Thanks
Larrye

[jeeper]

The jury is still out on mine but test a Neumann KMS 105 for yourself. The 105 does not show a big prox effect acording to Neumann. Curve shows about a 2db rise on low end at 5cm. It's designed as a performance mic with a body similar to most stage mics. I've tried it on plosives and it seems to reject them well but nothing is perfect there. I am yet to try it on a strong bass singer.

It does require full 48 volt phantom power. Do not plan on useing it at all on some powered mixers that do not provide full 48 volts. I loaned it to my son's band for testing and they found out the low voltage phantom with their Mackie PA would not work.

I would recomend that you start out with a real low gain and bring it up from there. The first time I tried it was into a Shure installed sound system and I told the singer it was flat up close, good thing the limiters kicked in. The old expression eyes big as saucers was an understatement. Once gain structure was adjusted he and all the stage mic users were pleased. This group had been using Crown CM 200 and Shure SM58's.

This may not be your mic but it's a try recomendation that you may not look at otherwise. Like I said above my experience is limited with it so far but it's been positive. Here's a link to it:
Neumann KMS 105

[Kurt Foster]

Larrye,
Before you go spend a load of cash on a mic be sure to discuss this with your soundman or the person in your quartet who is responsible for the pa. If only one program is available for vocal monitors, haveing mismatched mics is of concern. It really is better for all the vocal mics to be matched in that situation. You might go out and drop a load of $$$ on a good mic only to be frustrated when the sound tech tells you won't be able to use it. .... Fats


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It's my opinion, I'll play with it if I want to!

[larrye]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I never thought about the monitoring situation. But I am sure that each channel on our mixer has its own monitor level, because I have to tell him to turn me up in the monitor. Does this mean the mics don't have to be matched. Cedar flat fats, what do you think of the M-88TG?

Thanks again,
Larrye

[Kurt Foster]

Larrye,
I would still ask how many programs and if you can use it. I found a link for the 88. onhttp://www.beyerdynamic.com/pdf/m88.pdf
It has a pretty health proximity effect from 500 down. I would think it may get a bit muffled sounding. I have never heard one however. Fats

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It's my opinion, I'll play with it if I want to!

[jeeper]

Cedar Flat Fats neat way of showing polar curve isn't it. It makes a good presentation of the 3rd demension others don't try. I had already found that curve and like you (I think) had never heard of that manufacturer.

Comparing the two frequency response curves shows great similarity but hard to tell based on not knowing larrye's distance from mike. Also the Shure curve is stepped distance a little differntly.

[Kurt Foster]

I've heard of them... I've never heard this mic.

[larrye]

I have been told that this is the mic phil Collins uses for performance and recording.

Larrye