What vocal mic do you use live?

fastonebaz

Just wondering what vocal mic your singers use at pub gigs? 

John_P

I like the beta 57 but when I hire out my rig I offer beta58’s and senn 845.   I have a few SM58s just in case it’s a shouty metal band but I prefer the beta for most singers.   

TateFX

SM58 can't go wrong. 

robinbowes

I run a PA and have SM58s and Sennheiser e945.

There are better mics for some situations, but the '58 is a classic for a reason.

Roland

Sennheiser e845s. I switched from cardioid to hypercardioid to reduce spill from the drums and my guitar. Our singer used to use an SM58, but switched to a fancy ‘50s shaped thing “because it looks better”.

Sleepyscholar

Everywhere I play has SM58s. I've no objection to them, but when I've got room, I take an Audix i5, which may be a guitar/snare mic, but happens to suit my voice.

Having said that, I've recently got the 'fancy '50s shaped thing' bug, as they do look better (maybe I've been watching too much Twin Peaks?). So I'm tempted by a Shure 55SH, but have no idea what one sounds like. Anyone ever used one?

octatonic

Beta 58 usually.
Has supercardioid pattern, is 4db hotter but lower handling noise, harder grille and has more top and bottom end compared to the regular 58.
If the singer is a screamer then I stick a regular 58 in front of them, otherwise they tend to distort.

kennedydream1980

Behringer xm8500. Sounds pretty much the same as an sm58 (Just a tad warmer in the mids) and is only around £15.

Wazmeister

SM58 - proven and solid 

stickyfiddle

Not gigging atm but in the past I've generally always used 58 or beta 58. I did use a Beyer M88TG once, which was fabulous - that'll be the first mic I'll go to next time I need one.

downbytheriver

Shure 55, Super 55 and for very special occasions 5575. I own a silly number of these mics. 

downbytheriver

The 55SH sounds a lot like an SM57. The Super 55 more like a beta 58. This is due to the capsules used. 

John_P

Sleepyscholar said:

Everywhere I play has SM58s. I've no objection to them, but when I've got room, I take an Audix i5, which may be a guitar/snare mic, but happens to suit my voice.

Having said that, I've recently got the 'fancy '50s shaped thing' bug, as they do look better (maybe I've been watching too much Twin Peaks?). So I'm tempted by a Shure 55SH, but have no idea what one sounds like. Anyone ever used one?

The standard 55 with black foam and a switch has an SM58 capsule,  the deluxe version with blue foam and no switch has a beta 58.    They sound very close to the regular sm and beta 58. 

Musicwolf

Sennheiser e845.  I have a Shure SM58, or at least I think that I have - it seems to have disappeared a few weeks ago.  I also have a Rode M2 capacitor stage mic but it's not much use on a noisy stage with the drummer and backline directly behind you.  Great for when I played in a duo where we used backing tracks and IEMs.

siremoon

Sennheiser e835.  Seems to suit my voice better than the ubiquitous SM58. 

crunchman

Beta 58

p90fool

SM58 on our male singer, the two girls sound better with AKG D5s.

menamestom

Rode M3.  Far more detailed than a 58.

58's suit singers that project well but if you have a lower register and less projection I find something that adds a bit of presence and detail far better.

octatonic

menamestom said:

Rode M3.  Far more detailed than a 58.

58's suit singers that project well but if you have a lower register and less projection I find something that adds a bit of presence and detail far better.

A condenser at a live gig is usually feedback city.
Have you not had issues with this?

simonk

I use an AT6100. Primarily because it’s the nicest sounding dynamic mic I’ve ever heard, it’s hypercardiod, plus I’m a total Audio Technica fanboy.
I keep an Audix OM5 in my gigbag too for its unrivalled feedback resistance and there’s a 58 in our PA bag as a spare.

Our singer uses a Line6 wireless, within which he uses the 58 model I think.

BenSirAmos

Beta 58