Picking a vocal mic

[Trego]

I'd like to find a vocal microphone that's tailored to my voice/range. I'd be using the mic primarily for live use.

I am a high tenor, and really need some low-end support because my range only goes down to a B.

Other than demo a bunch of microphones, do you have any recommendations?

[SBRocket]

Besides your range, what style is your music? Also which singers do you sound like and like the sound of?

I'd suggest you start there pick a vocal sound you like and try to find the mic that they used to get it. If you can't afford it, then look at some mics made to sound like the high end model your research pointed to.

SB

[fender tele]

Price range?

I use an EV ND 767. You can get em for around $100 or so. I've uised several SM58'd & like the EV a lot better.

That said, if you got the cash dollars, a Shure Beta 87 is pretty awesome. Usually between $260-300. I'm sure others will chime & say they've seen em cheaper, more expensive...etc

[speakerjones]

You should definitely try to demo some if you can. I've had particularly good luck with a Beyer M88 on higher register male vocals. I also sometimes like a Neumann km105 or Shure ksm9 on that range, but they don't work as well for screamers or loud bands. Do you sing rock with a band, folk with an acoustic...?

[Nelson89]

There's a few mic's...no right answer...try going somewhere and testing them out and seeing which one you like the best. The one's i've used that have stood out are:

-Shure sm58
-Shure Beta57
-Sennheiser e835
-Sennheiser e945
-Beyer m88
-Rode M1

And a couple of AKG mic's...it really depends on what your voice sounds like through each of these microphones...no real right answer...

If you're singing say rock, the shure's are pretty good, very durable...if you have quite a loud band, the pickup pattern on the sennheiser e945 is great...tighter pattern, so it picks up less background sound...i.e. less prone to feedback

[harpinon]

Originally Posted by fender tele

Price range?

I use an EV ND 767. You can get em for around $100 or so. I've uised several SM58'd & like the EV a lot better.

That said, if you got the cash dollars, a Shure Beta 87 is pretty awesome. Usually between $260-300. I'm sure others will chime & say they've seen em cheaper, more expensive...etc

Chime, yes, but not so much in bringing in the bottom end. I own both of those and bottom end is not their high points. The beta 58 might be a better choice. I own a lot of vocal mics and one that is really surprisingly good (though its much like an SM58) is Carvin's M68.

[Rampdog]

Thousands of great songs have been done using SM-58's..... Yes there are great mics out now and ribbons to die for... but ya' never hear anyone talkin' trash about the 58's...

[RocksOff]

You're a high tenor? Really? You don't use your mixed voice at all? Wild. Picking a mic will be a tough call. Beta 58s for live use, I would say. The proximity effect on that mic can flesh out your tone a bit. In the studio, you'll want to stay away from the modern chinese capsules. Pretty harsh in the upper highs.