Microphone Recomendations

I currently use a Shure SM 58 on my wife’s vocals. It sounds good but it picks up all sorts of other noise on the stage- like the Latin percussion instruments and when the VH is on it effects my KB sounds. I want a hand held mic that will just pick up her voice. She not a real powerful singer so mic that can get real loud with no feedback would be good. Any thoughts?
Thanks!

My wife and I both use the Sennheiser 421. Works really well.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MD421

Duane

I found the SM58 picks up a lot of noise, especially low end.
I have several that would be far better, especially for females.
My favorites are Sennheiser 855 and AKG D5.
I have one that has been used only once or twice, that was designed for girls. It is similar to SM58, but less noise.

http://www.amazon.com/Peavey-White-Dynamic-Handheld-Microphone/dp/B003A4KYK4/ref=pd_cp_MI_3

I'll make you a deal you can't refuse! I'd like to see someone get some use from it. It is beautiful.
DonM

When I am not using my
Wireless I use a sennheiser 835. Very good mic it has a deeper sound and very full.

Hi Don, how much do you want for the peavy mic? Do you really think it would pick up less noise than the SM 58? It kind of looks the same... I tell you, the SM 58 picks up everything!

EV 767

Sorry Don, I meant to send my response as a PM...

Two important things to consider...

First off is, if she isn't a strong singer, by the time you get her gain up to where it picks her up well, it's going to pick up a lot more of anything else! One solution to this (or at least a slight fix!) is to make sure she keeps the microphone virtually touching her lips while she sings. If she is holding the mike away from her lips, you'll need more gain, which equals more bleed. Make sure she stays right on it. If she tends to back off as she gets louder try putting a hair of compression on the mike, rather than her move it around.

Secondly, there is the issue of pickup pattern... SM58's are cardioid pattern. This means, essentially that the microphone rejects sounds the BEST from wherever it is pointing. That is, if the business end of the mike is held directly in front of the singer, the mike rejects sounds from whatever the other end is pointing at(180º away). This is designed so that monitors are directly in front of the singer, and the mike points up at 45º and the monitor is rejected the most.

However, there are other pickup patterns. Hyper-cardioid, or super-cardioid patterns reject picking up best from 45º or so from the SIDE of the mike. This is really good if your monitors are to the side of you (like most keyboard players have to have them), or you have instrumentalists next to you you want to keep out the mike.

So, all in all, I'd highly recommend an EV N/D767a if this is the case. If not, the female optimized N/D367s is a good choice. Both are hotter than hell, reject feedback amazingly well, and are crisp, full and robust. I've used the EV N/DYM series for well over 20 years, not a single complaint (other than my trusty 457 got stolen a few years back!). I currently run a 767, and it sounds great.

The last thing in the equation is monitors... TBH, if she is willing to try, I might suggest some inexpensive in-ear earphones, either wired or unwired (if she moves around a lot). For one thing, she can have the vocals incredibly loud in her ears without the slightest hint of feedback, and if your board has sufficient aux/effect/monitor sends, she can have exactly what she wants in there without disturbing the stage sound. And none of it will bleed into the mike.

Hope this helps.

All good choices.I use e945 and I like it.
Also when you adjust her mic, less is more.

Paul, I'll send it to you and you can try it out. $25. if you like it. It includes matching white cable.
DonM

When I first came home from the U.S. Navy I used a Shure mic, and I believe it was the SM58, but couldn't swear to it. It was considered the "Gold Standard" of vocal mics at that time, which was 1960. I played honky-tonk bars using that mic, a 100-watt Gibson amp and a 6-string acoustic guitar that had a portable pickup in the body opening. I still have the pickup, but the guitars, mic and amp are history.

The mic really sounded good back then, but that was more than a half-century ago. Since then I've upgraded many, many times, and now I strictly use a Crown CM-311A headset mic, which I absolutely love. No feedback problems - ever, great clarity, superb sound quality, and wonderful depth for my voice, which is a bit softer now than it was just a decade ago.

When I was still using handheld mics, which was also just over a decade ago, I purchased several mics, the best of which was only used for a few months before I went to the headset mic, a Sennheiser E-855. At the same time, I also purchased a Samson Q7, which is a fabulous mic, especially for the price. Just about everyone that I've talked to that used the Samson Q7 fell in love with the mic. And, not too many months ago, that mic was selling for just $29 from one of the online music stores. A lot of forum members grabbed them up and they were sold out in a single day.

I still have the Sennheiser E-855, Paul, and it's for sale if you're interested. I paid over $300 brand new, it was used a half-dozen times and in new condition. I'll sell it for $150, let you try it out, and if you or your wife doesn't like what it sounds like, I'll refund the full purchase price. Email me if you, or anyone else is interested.

Gary

Another GREAT choice, Super-cardiod also is the AKG D 5 or D5S, same mic, only one has the "silent" on/off Switch.
My friend Michael Carollo, also a soloist arranger, he used the EV ND767 and could not believe how much better is the D5.
Greetings.

Thanks for great the recommendations. As luck would have it, my brother-in-law, who likes to lurk around here, called me to tell me that he has a few different older EV mics that he will pass on to us. Don, I'd still like to take up your offer on the Peavy mic. And Gary, I'd like to pick your brain a bit about your Crown head set. I think that might work well on my OMB act.

Paul,

Email your telephone number to me at travlin_easy@verizon.net and I'll be glad to give you a call and provide any information I can. For me, the headset mic was the best thing I've done in decades. I love the freedom it gives me while performing, don't have to search for the mic while making changes on the keyboard, provides me with constant eye contact with the audiences, and the vocal quality of top-notch.

Now, I must say that headset mics are not for everyone, and it does require a significant amount of vocal control. However, once mastered, you would never go back to a handheld mic.

Cheers,

Gary