What vocal mic do you use live?

JD50

AKG D5

TimmyO

simonk said:

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.

I used a 6100 for a long time. Oddly though when I had to use a 58 at a shared gig I preferred it (well, in my monitor anyway) so now I have a Beta58 

ESBlonde

Beta 57a, excellent size, great feedback rejection and ideal pickup pattern for mostly close  on voice work. It seems to shine in the majority of PAs I've stuck it in from 1x12" + piezo up to 3 and 4 way big rigs. If you have a delicate or nuanced voice than maybe a vocal condenser, but the good ones are multiple times the cost of the venerable Beta57a.

CMW335

I own a Shure KSM9 although I don't use it personally as every time I sing I am sure a puppy dies somewhere. When recording or playing live though our singer loves it and the results are great.

midlifecrisis

kennedydream1980 said:

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

yes, i use a SM58 but also have a behringer xm8500 and its as good as the sm58 imho 

fastonebaz

Thanks all.  V interesting.  Mostly sm58 beta.

pintspiller

I use a D5 or a 58-style T-Bone.

Danny1969

Senn E945 is good for me and my fave mic for getting less drum spill in the mic. The good ol 58 is overpriced for what it is and the grills dent too easy. When I  was running a rehearsal studio we swapped out our 58’s  for Behringer XM8500’s which were fine and only about £20 ish

TJT1979

Has anybody tried the Sontronics SOLO? Made in the UK, great reviews, reasonably priced. I'm looking for any real-life feedback (no pun intended). For male vocals in a live stage environment. Rock music.

meltedbuzzbox

Sennheiser e845

Emp_Fab

Thomann’s T-Bone SM58 clone.  I can’t tell the difference between it and the singer’s genuine 58 beta.

zepp76

I'm very interested in this thread, it seems the SM58 is the go to mic. Will it cope with someone with a loud powerful voice or is there something more suited to that kind of vocals?

Jalapeno

Another Sennheiser 845 here - supercardoid - much better than SM58 at reducing feedback.

TimmyO

I got swayed by the many "sennheiser is better" opinions back in the day - tried one - preferred the Shure and AT ones  I was used to 

TimmyO

zepp76 said:

I'm very interested in this thread, it seems the SM58 is the go to mic. Will it cope with someone with a loud powerful voice or is there something more suited to that kind of vocals?

good grief yes it will - as will any dynamic stage mic. They get used to close-mic 100w guitar cabs so... 

Jalapeno

SM58 is fine with noisy bastards, more tricky with quiet singers

fretmeister

TC Helicon MP-75

Tried it when I spotted it was on offer and I really like it.

If it broke I'd buy another.

zepp76

TimmyO said:

zepp76 said:

I'm very interested in this thread, it seems the SM58 is the go to mic. Will it cope with someone with a loud powerful voice or is there something more suited to that kind of vocals?

good grief yes it will - as will any dynamic stage mic. They get used to close-mic 100w guitar cabs so... 

sorry if this is a daft question but is there a difference between stage Mic's and Mic's used for recording vocals? I'm new to all this and am slowly learning the ins and outs.

Roland

Stage mics are normally designed to avoid picking up sound from sources other than the vocalist. Their pickup area is cardio or hypercardiod shaped. Their EQ tends to be more focused, being less sensitive to high and low frequencies. They should also be physically strong so that they aren’t damaged by being dropped on the floor.

With a recording mic, particularly one used in a vocal booth or when recording vocals only, you’re more concerned about sound quality. So generally wider, flatter EQ. Different pickup area, cardio and hypercardiod require lips close to the mic which affects the EQ.

zepp76

Roland said:

Stage mics are normally designed to avoid picking up sound from sources other than the vocalist. Their pickup area is cardio or hypercardiod shaped. Their EQ tends to be more focused, being less sensitive to high and low frequencies. They should also be physically strong so that they aren’t damaged by being dropped on the floor.

With a recording mic, particularly one used in a vocal booth or when recording vocals only, you’re more concerned about sound quality. So generally wider, flatter EQ. Different pickup area, cardio and hypercardiod require lips close to the mic which affects the EQ.

@Roland Thank you that's very helpful, it's a bit of a mine field searching for the right Mic's.