Bryan316
09-17-2008, 09:22 AM
ToneGrail's thread inspired me to type up a comparison I did a few months ago of four vocal microphones I demoed, after being disgusted with venues and their piss-poor beat-to-crap stage mics. This review is for those of you using a Shure SM58, like every club ever, as your live mic, and still aren't satisfied with your sound. There's a good reason why you might not like the sound of your own voice at a gig, especially after doing studio work and hearing your voice coming through clear as a bell. Because the SM58 is a naturally muddy, low-mid bumped mic. It will have drastic effects on your voice compared to a quality microphone. Problem is, it's the "industry standard". Meaning, NOBODY'S BOTHERED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
It's a peeve of mine when I hear sound guys saying, "Well I won't use any other mic, my monitors are EQ'd for these mics, that's what everybody's been using for years so it must be good enough..." Yeah. Good enough. Not GREAT.
I know it's not exactly common practice to go buy fancypants mics on a whim. Nor is it really common for singers to go try out mics at stores, cuz most stores won't even bother letting you try them. And don't even DARE try to return a mic after trying it out and hating it! But I have a friend at a local store who grabbed four mics out and showed me the differences as I sang, and once you actually hear yourself through a quality live-performance microphone, it's like a revelation. Like guitarists searching for their Holy Grail of tone.
We tested out these mics through Mackie SA1530Z's with the same mixer channel, same cable, and same room position. The mixer was set flat, so just about as straight-shot as you can get.
1. Shure SM58. As you'd expect it to sound. Everyone knows how this mic sounds and it hasn't changed in decades. And, most likely never will.
2. AKG D-790. The mic I use every show. It's AKG's version of the SM58 with the same frequency response. It's a hotter signal, with far better signal-to-noise ratio. If I got the SM58 turned up to be as loud as this mic, you'd hear tons of hiss and feedback like crazy.
3. Shure Beta 87A. Condenser mic, so it needs phantom power. Noticable difference, right off the start. No proximity bass effect, but definitely a lot of handling noise. If you're putting it into a mic stand, it'll be noisy. Already can tell why people say the SM58 is muddy, because my voice cleared up and sounded defined and projected. I had my friend turn up some music and I just talked, and you could understand what I was saying. My guitarist looked at me with disgust, as if to say, "all these years we listen to the audio of camcorders or live board recordings or our open-air mic recordings, and this is why we can't understand a word you say?" It's a difference that you have to hear in person, and have a bandmate hear as well. But not every music store would bother to bust out these mics for you just to test like this.
4. ElectroVoice RE410. This is IT. I gave this mic a full-out test drive, burning a whole tank of gas. Or should I say, G.A.S. ??? Everything the Beta 87A has, and better. Another condenser mic that needs phantom power. EXCELLENT handling response! I was slamming the mic into the stand, and it was tolerable! No bass proximity effect. Excellent response even from 12 inches away. Not a lot of volume dropoff from touching to 12 inches away. I gave it death metal growls full blast, no distortion no clipping and no artifacts. I gave it Bruce Dickinson screams and Geoff Tate banshee wails. I gave it full shouts. I gave it gentle whispers. This mic can handle everything I'd ever throw at it, with no mud, no distortion, and no woofing out. I even went through all four mics again, still cannot believe how this RE410 behaves and handles. Oh, and it rejects feedback like crazy! I was pointing it at the Mackies from 15 feet away, something that an SM58 would howl relentlessly at. Then I had it up about 3 feet away! Still nothing! Absolutely shocked me. It took a hell of an effort, and finally sticking it right at the tweeter made it squawk back.
Best part, the Beta 87A is a $250 mic, but this RE410 is only $200 and can be had cheaper if you have a good connection! My guy will give it to me for $180 out-de-do' when I'm ready. I told him, when I destroy my D-790 or just get brave, that RE410 is the first mic I'll go to. And I'll even buy a dedicated phantom power box just to make sure I'll be able to use it in even the crappiest venue.
I think this is the best bang for the buck for a vocalist. Especially if you're sick of Shure and want to know you're using better-than-standard gear. Cuz standards are just that.
Remember, this is my opinion. So take it for what it's worth. I don't expect you to believe me. But I DO expect you to give it a comparison the next time you go to your local music store and see one in the display case. And if the sales guy is being stingy, just tell em, "Do you really expect anyone to buy a higher end mic if you won't let them hear it?" Cuz that's what demos are for.
Don't forget... there are great Sennheiser's and AKG'sout there as well. I just can't give you a comparison... yet. When I get a free weekend again, I'll camp out at his store and do the same thing again, with my guitarist taking detailed notes of our thoughts.
Because I'm sick and tired of Shure and their outrageous price tags! Seriously folks... at this point in their history, you're paying for a name. Nothing more. An SM58 is $99 no matter where you go. But my D790 for $120 was initially a worthy investment to know I get a better mic. Now I want even better!
It's a peeve of mine when I hear sound guys saying, "Well I won't use any other mic, my monitors are EQ'd for these mics, that's what everybody's been using for years so it must be good enough..." Yeah. Good enough. Not GREAT.
I know it's not exactly common practice to go buy fancypants mics on a whim. Nor is it really common for singers to go try out mics at stores, cuz most stores won't even bother letting you try them. And don't even DARE try to return a mic after trying it out and hating it! But I have a friend at a local store who grabbed four mics out and showed me the differences as I sang, and once you actually hear yourself through a quality live-performance microphone, it's like a revelation. Like guitarists searching for their Holy Grail of tone.
We tested out these mics through Mackie SA1530Z's with the same mixer channel, same cable, and same room position. The mixer was set flat, so just about as straight-shot as you can get.
1. Shure SM58. As you'd expect it to sound. Everyone knows how this mic sounds and it hasn't changed in decades. And, most likely never will.
2. AKG D-790. The mic I use every show. It's AKG's version of the SM58 with the same frequency response. It's a hotter signal, with far better signal-to-noise ratio. If I got the SM58 turned up to be as loud as this mic, you'd hear tons of hiss and feedback like crazy.
3. Shure Beta 87A. Condenser mic, so it needs phantom power. Noticable difference, right off the start. No proximity bass effect, but definitely a lot of handling noise. If you're putting it into a mic stand, it'll be noisy. Already can tell why people say the SM58 is muddy, because my voice cleared up and sounded defined and projected. I had my friend turn up some music and I just talked, and you could understand what I was saying. My guitarist looked at me with disgust, as if to say, "all these years we listen to the audio of camcorders or live board recordings or our open-air mic recordings, and this is why we can't understand a word you say?" It's a difference that you have to hear in person, and have a bandmate hear as well. But not every music store would bother to bust out these mics for you just to test like this.
4. ElectroVoice RE410. This is IT. I gave this mic a full-out test drive, burning a whole tank of gas. Or should I say, G.A.S. ??? Everything the Beta 87A has, and better. Another condenser mic that needs phantom power. EXCELLENT handling response! I was slamming the mic into the stand, and it was tolerable! No bass proximity effect. Excellent response even from 12 inches away. Not a lot of volume dropoff from touching to 12 inches away. I gave it death metal growls full blast, no distortion no clipping and no artifacts. I gave it Bruce Dickinson screams and Geoff Tate banshee wails. I gave it full shouts. I gave it gentle whispers. This mic can handle everything I'd ever throw at it, with no mud, no distortion, and no woofing out. I even went through all four mics again, still cannot believe how this RE410 behaves and handles. Oh, and it rejects feedback like crazy! I was pointing it at the Mackies from 15 feet away, something that an SM58 would howl relentlessly at. Then I had it up about 3 feet away! Still nothing! Absolutely shocked me. It took a hell of an effort, and finally sticking it right at the tweeter made it squawk back.
Best part, the Beta 87A is a $250 mic, but this RE410 is only $200 and can be had cheaper if you have a good connection! My guy will give it to me for $180 out-de-do' when I'm ready. I told him, when I destroy my D-790 or just get brave, that RE410 is the first mic I'll go to. And I'll even buy a dedicated phantom power box just to make sure I'll be able to use it in even the crappiest venue.
I think this is the best bang for the buck for a vocalist. Especially if you're sick of Shure and want to know you're using better-than-standard gear. Cuz standards are just that.
Remember, this is my opinion. So take it for what it's worth. I don't expect you to believe me. But I DO expect you to give it a comparison the next time you go to your local music store and see one in the display case. And if the sales guy is being stingy, just tell em, "Do you really expect anyone to buy a higher end mic if you won't let them hear it?" Cuz that's what demos are for.
Don't forget... there are great Sennheiser's and AKG'sout there as well. I just can't give you a comparison... yet. When I get a free weekend again, I'll camp out at his store and do the same thing again, with my guitarist taking detailed notes of our thoughts.
Because I'm sick and tired of Shure and their outrageous price tags! Seriously folks... at this point in their history, you're paying for a name. Nothing more. An SM58 is $99 no matter where you go. But my D790 for $120 was initially a worthy investment to know I get a better mic. Now I want even better!