Recommendations for Live Vocal Mics?

[lchyi]

I've been looking at something other than the trusty SM-58. I used an expensive Shure condenser one weekend and it blew my mind how clear it was. The mic was fairly feedback resistant and it was my first experience with a condenser on stage.

So after looking at some mid-range (or probably low range) condenser mics, I've pretty been pointed to either the Audix VX-5 and Shure Beta 87A. They're the same price point and seem to offer the same features. Has anyone had any experience with these mics live?

[lchyi]

Well since no one answered I went to get one anyway. They were out of Shure Beta 87a's so I just got the Audix VX-5...

Whoa, what an upgrade to the SM-58. And it's pretty affordable at $250. It has a smoother response and sounds amazing. If I knew the terms that people use to describe the different characteristics of good mics out there I'd use some but I don't. I guess warm and clear would be my description. All I know is that when I plugged it in and got it running I could immediately hear the difference. I just hope it is as bullet proof as it looks and as feedback resistant as they say.

[KLINKDETROIT]

The vx5 was my favorite but the feedback is very bad with a loud band. I tried almost every live mic out there by Audix, Shure, AT, Sennheiser as well as Neumann I ended up with the OM6. No feedback and sounds alot like a condenser.

[usc96]

I got the Neumann KMS 105 and it sounds great.

[g-nem]

My GF traded her beta58 for an audix, and wishes she had kept her beta58! We're going to take a look at the neumann next week- I'm sure it is a killer mic.

[lchyi]

Was the feedback horrible even with the 10dB pad engaged?

[loudboy]

Originally Posted by lchyi

Was the feedback horrible even with the 10dB pad engaged?

That would have absolutely no effect on it.

Try it and see how it works.

Loudboy

[amplifiedtorock]

So, anyone know which condensor mic would allow the least feedback with a loud band and whispery vocals?

[killerburst]

Try the AT2010.

[loudboy]

Originally Posted by amplifiedtorock

So, anyone know which condensor mic would allow the least feedback with a loud band and whispery vocals?

A few things:

Feedback is caused by uneven frequency response between the mic and the speaker.

The flatter the response, in both, the less feedback.

90% of feedback is caused by the speakers/system, Usually, if it's a pro outfit runnng it, they will have "rung out" the monitors and feedback will not be an issue.

However, if they've done this for a particular mic they favor, say an SM-58, if you come waltzing in with your own mic and it has a compeletely different freq response, you're just asking for it...

I don't know what type of shows you're playing, but if they're multi-band shows, w/provided PA, do everyone a favor and get a Beta58 and learn how to use it.

And,

If you're playing crushingly loud, and you're trying to amplify a whispery vocal, you're fighting a losing battle if you're using wedges.

Having run sound professionally for quite a while, this is about the worst possible situation you can run into.

When you play, you may be able to get things a little better by:

A. Using a mic w/a hypercardioid pattern, w/two wedges, at about a 45-degree angle on either side.

B. Getting everything except vocals out of the monitors. It's absolutely insane to put drums, bass and guitar through your wedge.

Good luck,

Loudboy

[KLINKDETROIT]

Originally Posted by amplifiedtorock

So, anyone know which condensor mic would allow the least feedback with a loud band and whispery vocals?

I found the kms105 to feedback less than the kms104 even though it is supposed to be the opposite . I had them both. The vx5 feeds back easier than those 2 and the vx10 is also very high in output. The Shure kms9 was the best condenser for feedback rejection that I found. I love my audix om6 and it sounds the most like the neumann kms105 than others I tried. I know it is a dynamic mic but the trade off is not that great and it is great for whispery stuff as well as screaming and very rich. A tad boomy so you may have to reduce the low mids a tad. I run mine with a flat eq and notch 1 eq band in the low mids.(Forgot what one though).

[Weldaar]

Sennheiser E845. Excellent live and recording vocal mic.

[lchyi]

Thanks for the tips loudboy.

I'm such a newb when it comes to live sound and some concepts are just pretty foreign to me (like feedback... I think I have a very skewed conception of what it really is).