What microphone?? Help!

[joennick]

Hi

I am a vocalist in quite a successful function rock/pop band. Typical set up really. Drummer (a loud one - aren't they all?!), bass, electric guitar, and keyboards (the keyboard player swaps on to a 2nd electric guitar occasionally. I play acoustic.

Like I have seen so many times in my research, I am like the majority and use an SM58 for voacl. I am looking at upgrading and spending around £150 (if need be) as a) I'd like a better mic for clarity and tone and b) to reduce feedback problems and other on stage noise.

Maybe I have done too much research but I have narrowed it down to 4 and I'm just confusing myself! The 4 are....

1) Audix OM-7
2) Sennheiser E 945
3) Electro-Voice N/D767a
4) ELECTRO-VOICE N/D967

I have like a Springsteen/Joe Cocker type of voice if that helps.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[joennick]

I've also heard of the Lampifier mic. Any thoughts on this??

[RemyRAD]

All of the microphones in your list are simply a lateral move from what you already have. There are differences in tonality and coloration but they are all just another microphone. I have used most of those you have listed. I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to purchase any of those. If you want something a little better with a slightly different polar pattern, I'd suggest the Shure Beta 58. This can deal with some feed back issues a little differently than the standard cardioid pattern of the SM 58. That's because it is a super cardioid polar pattern. So the cancellation lobes are slightly different. It puts out a higher output level with its neodymium magnet. It has an extra octave in the top end giving it an almost condenser like quality. You can't break it. Otherwise your choices are like which hamburger you should get from which burger joint?

Your research is more based upon marketing hype than anything else I'm sorry to say. Placement of your stage monitors and the polar pattern and frequency response of the microphone play an important part in this equation. Better clarity would come with the Beta 58. But it's extended response might cause further feedback issues? The SM 58 needs to be high pass filtered to improve the clarity. The stage monitors may have to be moved a little bit to be directly behind the microphone due to its standard cardioid polar pattern. Of course everybody has their preferences. And the placebo effect also comes into play with that. If you feel better about being on a different microphone then be on a different microphone. Microphones that don't have a broad bandwidth produce less feedback than those that do. So in the end, you don't get something for nothing. There are always compromises we have to work around.

Don't let the advertisements fool you
Mx Remy Ann David

[pan60]

although i agree mostly with RemyRAD as to the listed mics being a lateral move from what you already have, i am a fan of both the Audix and the electro-voice, so the just get my vote, well, cause i love EM: )
So, although I have more then I need, I am not a big fan of the SM58 or the 57. The Electro-Voice N/D767a is great mic but I preferred the N/D 457b. I see them used at bargain prices. The build quality is great about the only thing they seem to ever need is new pop filters.
The difference in the A verse the B versions is that the B is the latest generation and typically was only sold through EV dealers whereas the A'' where distributed through the general Music Industry.
As well I am not a big Sennheiser fan although they have made some amazing mics over the years.
Also maybe look at some of the older AKG mic, like the D 125s, again awesome build quality.
i love shopping for use dynamics, a dynamic mic junkie: )

[joennick]

Thanks for the advice. I've looked a customer reviews more than company advertising. I'm just not 100% happy with the sm58 and like other equipment in the band, I'm looking to improve sound quality and consistency etc. still not sure what to do or go for a more expensive mic which doesn't necessarily mean is better.

[pan60]

Personally I feel the AKG and the EV mics are better build then many other dynamics. These were not inexpensive mics in their day, I think the EV 457 and 757 where two or three time the cost of the sure. I have work on many of these and I really feel the AKG and the EV mics are much much better build. And I love the tone of the mics.
i snagged some NOS 457b's of ebay last year supper cheap.

[joennick]

Has anybody used the fairly new Lampifier mic with the built in compressor? Specifically the pro vocal??

[RecordingGod]

@Joenich Yes i used the on with the build in compressor on an album i was doing. The clients brought it himself so unfortunately i didnt get to keep it for my illawarra recording studio but yea, it was bloody amazing. If i could afford to get a new mic right now that is what i would be getting for sure.

Hope this helps

[moonbaby]

The Audix OM7 was designed to be used by a raging screamer, with a bunch of Marshall stacks cranked around him/her.
The Sennheiser 935 really needs to be in the right environment to work well, the less "live" the room, the better.
The Lampifiers are toys, no better quality than the Shure PG series.
The E-V's are tough, like the Shures, and tend to have a "huskier" sound to them, with more proximity effect. If you need fattening up a bit, fine, but if not, stay clear, they get muddy really fast.
That leaves the 58. And if that isn't working for you, maybe it's not the mic...

[RemyRAD]

There is another very popular microphone that has been around for some years made by Electro-Voice called the RE 20/PG 20. These are very popular in many applications and are one of the best dynamic microphones on the market today. They are great on everything from bass drums to instrument amplifiers to singers and announcers. They produce less proximity effect than most other cardioid directional microphones and also include a base cut filter as well. They are not cheap. They range in the low 300s dollars US. They are built like proverbial tanks and are not a light weight microphone. They are extremely smooth and very musical. If I don't have an option of a ribbon microphone, I'll grab for an RE 20 every time. And in many ways they have a cool retro look because of their enormity in size. It's one of my favorite. I'm not as impressed by some of their newer current performance dynamic microphones as I am by this beast. You can't go wrong with this microphone.

Happy owner of only one RE 20
Mx. Remy Ann David