help on microphone choice

davylee

hi
if anyone can help that be brill. Over the last couple of years i bought the shure sm58 and the sennheiser e845. These are fine but i'm looking for something with more quality. It would be easy just to throw money at it but theres no guarantee i'll be happy. budget around 300 - 350.
It's for live performance
Any help is much appreciated

spoonbadger

davylee wrote: »

hi
if anyone can help that be brill. Over the last couple of years i bought the shure sm58 and the sennheiser e845. These are fine but i'm looking for something with more quality. It would be easy just to throw money at it but theres no guarantee i'll be happy. budget around 300 - 350.
It's for live performance
Any help is much appreciated

What will you micing?.Instruments?.Vocals?.Both?.

Eoin Madsen

I'm guessing it's a vocal mic if you've tried the e845. Which did you prefer between the 58 and the 845? The e865 is of the same Senn range but is a live condensor, and should sound better. In saying that, I didn't like the sound of it much (and was not gone on the e845 either; I prefer a 58 to any of the senn evolution mics in nearly any situation). The beta 57 and beta 58 are both substantial improvements over the SM58, but if you have the budget for it I would be strongly inclined to suggest a Shure Beta 87.

Morning Hush

For live vocals I currently use this:

http://www.thomann.de/ie/audix_om3_dynamisches_vocalmikro.htm

I find it way better than the 58. I'll be upgrading to one of these ASAP though:

http://www.thomann.de/ie/neumann_kms105.htm

A condenser intended for live use.

Eoin Madsen

The KMS105 is very nice, and possibly the best thing going. Though it's a little expensive when considering that they still sound pretty mediocre in a weak venue (as any mic will, no matter how fancy).

But then, not terribly expensive in the grand scheme of things. More singers should buy their own mics.

I'd try the UK for mics right now, and Ebay is always a great option too.

Morning Hush

Yeah I agree on using UK sites at the moment. Posting a Thomann link has become an instinct for me at this stage. Buying of UK based ebayers is good also.

Edja

Neumann KMS 105..........fantastic vocal mic....

Savman

Eoin Madsen wrote: »

Though it's a little expensive when considering that they still sound pretty mediocre in a weak venue (as any mic will, no matter how fancy).

Very true.

Eoin Madsen wrote:

Ebay is always a great option too.

Jaysis no. It's rife with fakes, I got stung a few years ago and it's impossible to tell the difference unless you do an AB test with the real thing.

Would never touch eBay for mics again.

Eoin Madsen

That fairly sucks. What did you buy?

I've only bought mics from actual music/pro-audio shops trading through Ebay, with good feedback, and based in the US or EU. I haven't had any noticable problems so far, aside from the odd delay in shipping from the US.

Savman

Got some Beta 58's and 57's a few years ago. Only recently was able to locate which mics in the box were duds, and binned them straight away. From now on I'll only buy Mics from main stealers.

Someone starting out will not be able to tell the difference if they don't know how a mic is supposed to sound. I'd say in a blindfold Pepsi challenge a lot of Sound dudes would struggle too, I know I did initially.

Anyway back OT, I really like the Beta 87 but moreso for Female Vocals. I've an SM86 that's so-so, would like to try out a Neumann KMS at one point, although I'm not sure about premium level mics in less than premium conditions. Everything after the mic has to be top notch for you to hear any difference. Cable, desk, preamps, PA, Speakers etc etc all will have an adverse effect and could very easily make your €500 mic sound like a Maplins special.

Morning Hush

The fake mics on eBay phenomenon is mostly retricted to Shure mics. And like Eoin said try to buy from power sellers or eBay stores etc.

Savman

Morning Hush wrote: »

The fake mics on eBay phenomenon is mostly retricted to Shure mics. And like Eoin said try to buy from power sellers or eBay stores etc.

Sennheisers aren't immune to it, all I'm saying is you pays your money you takes your chance. With a proper retailer, the doubt is removed completely and that's worth paying for.

davylee

Thanks for all the replies lads.
firstly yeah its for lead vocals
Eoin with the senn and shure. depends on the venue. I'd always try the 2 and use pick the best ya know
i will look more into the beta 57 and 58. tanx for your help
Morning hush. Was looking into the neumann but its just a bit pricey
Would you recommend the audix? I see it's €140. I have budgeted for more unless you reckon it's as good as more expensive mics, i never used one.
Savman you were sayin you wouldn't recommend ebay because of fakes.
If you get a fake how would you know? I know you're saying from the sound. I don't know if i'd have the experience in mics unless the sound was dreadful altogether.
You're making me very weary of buying online?
You have trouble with ebay in Uk aswell??

Morning Hush

I would personally recommend the Audix OM3 ahead of a standard 58 but the Audix range gets pricier too: http://www.thomann.de/ie/search_dir.html?gf=dynamic_microphones&sw=audix

Maynard James Keenan uses the OM6 if that makes any difference.....

And about eBay; you'll get trouble from people anywhere in the world but just have a look at the seller's feedback etc. Personally I probably would be reluctant to buy a Shure through eBay unless it was from a reputable eBay store but I have bought other mics through the site recently without any hassle.

vox

Personally I would stick with the SM58.. They are excellent sounding mics..

Eoin Madsen

Meh. There are plenty of better mics than a 58.

vox

There may well be.. but depending on the vocalist some will sound better than others. From a live situation I found the SM58 to work best for me. You cant just say this particular one is better than the next, there are multiple factors that influence the sound. If you have a girly blouse voice or if you are a girl I find a Beta version works best.

Eoin Madsen

That I would certainly agree with, and is why I would be an advocate of a singer having their own mic, rather than automatically relying on the SM58 in the venue. As often as not, I'd prefer a Beta 57A to a Beta 58A for a vocal. It's down to the voice really. But the Beta 58A is more inclined to feedback than the SM58 when you're in one of those venues, which put me off it a little in general. :pac:

davylee

have a lot to look into before making decision. Thanks for help everyone