A'ite, so how bout a vocal mic for LIVE use?

[krankguitarist]

I know, I know, the SM58 has been around for about 45 years or so. It's an industry standard, blahblahblahblah.

But...what else is out there? The 58 got to where it's at by being a rugged and reliable workhorse, but there's got to be better live mics out there.

So, what do ya'll use? I might be looking to pick something up in the next few months or so.

[NoOnesFang13]

I know, I know, the SM58 has been around for about 45 years or so. It's an industry standard, blahblahblahblah.

But...what else is out there? The 58 got to where it's at by being a rugged and reliable workhorse, but there's got to be better live mics out there.

So, what do ya'll use? I might be looking to pick something up in the next few months or so.

beta 58 lol... i used it and was very happy

[bungalowbill]

I have used a 57, 58, 58 beta and they all work good.

For the last 10 years or so, I have used and AKG D 880...

http://www.audiolines.com/product.php?productid=17776

I like it a lot..very clear and crisp.

If you have the bucks the shure 87 is real good.

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Produc..._SM87A_content

[ImmortalSix]

Shure BETA 57A is the best I have used.

Dynamic, cardiod pattern

I also used an EV (Electro Voice) Microphone with very few markings on it, only "MADE IN USA" --- it was very full sounding and very nice --- it's my favorite live vocal mic, but I don't know what it was called

[grumptruck]

We use 5X betas at church.

I forgot what kind for the x.

[sosomething]

beta 58. Good sound, predictable results, nigh indestructible.

[ImmortalSix]

Cruise this Thread

[krankguitarist]

My main concern is getting proper levels without feeding back. My band runs a 1000 watt power amp through two peavey monitors and two TOA monitors. Not the most professional set-up, but it works. We're also in a relatively small room.

The 58 I'm using now gets a lot of feedback, it's pretty **** touchy. I was looking into maybe getting something with a tighter pickup pattern. The Audix OM-7 seems to get good reviews, though is a little pricey. We've tried the Beta 58a in the studio, and it's better than the 58, just not...well...enough .

[J Moose]

My main concern is getting proper levels without feeding back. My band runs a 1000 watt power amp through two peavey monitors and two TOA monitors. Not the most professional set-up, but it works. We're also in a relatively small room.

If you're getting too much feedback & not enough volume then buy some good graphic EQ's and learn how to setup & ring the monitors! That'll take you much farther then a new mic... Granted a 58 isn't amazing but with a decent PA and solid gain staging they should be able to rip your head off before it feeds back.

The Audix OM stuff is great... sounds clear, nice tight pattern... more output... and they'll bounce off concrete. I've had a trio of OM2's for several years and love 'em...

[Hellion]

My vocalist uses a wireless Shure SM86 with an SLX system, it seems to work really well for her. I personally have used EV mics for the last 18-20 years, the 767 models to be exact. I like the way their bass proximity sounds as opposed to the Shure mics, but that's more of a personal thing. I had a bass player that had some older Beyer mics at one time, which I thought sounded great, but I've never been able to find them anywhere.

I've also got to agree with J Moose, if you're getting feedback onstage, that's an EQ issue and addressing that will be more effective than a different mic, plus you'll be saving your ears. I don't know how big your "small" room is, but from my experience, 1000 watts is a lot of power for a small room. There's a reason that 58s are the industry standard: They still work well.

[krankguitarist]

Just feedback in the studio, really. Dunno exactly what the dimensions are...but it's not really small...nor is it really big. It's so-so. Asi-asi.

We do play pretty loud...though that's gonna change soon. Our bassist just got a decibel meter, and we're gonna try and set our levels using that.

We might already have an EQ on our PA rack...I'll have to check. I know that we've got a compressor/limiter on there already, as well as a TC electronic verb unit. I've got one monitor directly in front of me, about 5 or 6 feet away from me, and one off to the left about 8 or 9 feet away from me.

We're running into some crappy preamps though, I think it's a behringer mixer that we're plugging into. One of the really small ones.

Anywho...good stuff so far!

[J Moose]

Bypass the compressor to start with... get all EQ's flat... and remove some of the monitors if the room is super small. Turn the mics up slowly until it starts to feedback/ring... and then notch that frequency with the graphic EQ. Turn it up some more... next one that rings... notch it! Rinse & repeat.

The physical relationship of the monitor to the mic is also fairly important...

SM58 has the most rejection at the absolute rear... so point the rear directly at the monitor. Hypercardiod mics, like a Beta 58 have more rejection on the sides then the rear so you'd have to put the monitors slightly towards the side.