Best dynamic mic for vocals

[jwleeman]

I'm currently using a Shure SM58 for vocals. What do you guys think is the best dynamic mic for vocals (particularly male vocals)? Mostly slow, lyrical songs, such as for live jazz.

Thx,

~Jeff

[Aaron Miller]

For live: SM-58 or Bete58. For studio, SM7B, unless the singer has a very soft voice, in which case I would probably want a condensor.

[surflounge]

what a smart question! I'm moving to Brooklyn!

[Slikjmuzik]

I personally like the EV ND767

I own both SM and Beta58's, I have an sm7b, I have Sennheisers, Audix's and even Audio Technica live dynamic and condenser mics.

My fav is the EV...by far too...

Unless you're going into the e865, KSM9 or KMS105 price range mics....those are all high end condensers.

[boot_me]

I've read a lot of good things about the Heil Sound Pr30

[jwleeman]

what a smart question! it's never been discussed before!
wow you are really helpful for DOING A SEARCH FIRST

since you seem to have a bunch of exact threads shoved up your ass, how 'bout you pull one out? you'd be doing us both a favor.

[DONNX]

Originally Posted by jwleeman

since you seem to have a bunch of exact threads shoved up your ass, how 'bout you pull one out? you'd be doing us both a favor.

damm

[jwleeman]

Everyone else, thanks for the recommendations. I'll take a look at the EV or Heil Sound. For condensers, I'm sure the list goes on and on. But I'd like to stick with dynamics for live performance.

~Jeff

[evangelista]

In my experience the EV RE20 sounds great on the widest variety of voices.

It can also sound great on just about anything else. I've even used them as overheads with very good results.

[jwleeman]

In my experience the EV RE20 sounds great on the widest variety of voices.

It can also sound great on just about anything else. I've even used them as overheads with very good results.

That's cool. Any there particular mic pre's that you typically pair with the RE20 ?

thx

[hernanperez2000]

In my experience SM7 and MD441 sounds better than Re-20 on vocals. They are excelent dynamic microphones¡¡¡

[Recycled_Brains]

SM7 or 441.

I'd have no problem using either, as I find them to be pretty interchangeable in most applications (though I usually prefer the 441).

I also like the sound of my SM57 with the TAB-Funkenwerk transformer mod, which can also be done to your SM58. That'd be a less expensive route to take, if you're looking to save some loot.

I lost interest in Heil mics after using the PR22 and really not liking it.

[hobson]

441 another thumbsup there!!

never heard the TabFunk mod in a SM58 - but lovin' it in our Mercenary SM57!

[kittonian]

I use a Beta87a and have used that mic for many years. The noise rejection is outstanding and the sound is clear as a bell.

[dysenterygary]

The beta 58 doesn't get much respect here, but I think it works really well, and is a giant leap in front of a 58.

[roger]

i had some tracks mastered a couple weeks back - the first lot were done with an RE20 on male vox .... the ME's verdict: the RE20 kicks arse!....then i had a batch mastered that were done with an SM7....the ME commented this time that the SM7 was a touch 'sweeter' - both ended up sounding great in the mix and i would be happy with either - the RE20 is cool coz it really dosn't suffer with prox effect so take after take will sound pretty similar if the singer is a little variable with mic-mouth distance....the SM7 is more sensitive in this regard. you can really get a great vibe with a nice dynamic mic though coz the singer can grab the mic and move about and just get more real with the performance rather than staring at a pop-shield....this is what i love most about them i think...and i do love the sound of dynamics and ribbons in general over LDCs....but that's just me and my music.

[superama]

RE20 & SM7B are my go to male vocal mics. I include the RE20 mainly because I like the way it sounds on my own voice (from my days on college radio). I've used the Heil PR20 and PR40, Royer R121 and SF12, the Crowley & Tripp Studio Vocalist as well as various condensers and I think the 58 stands up well with a good pre. I would really like to try out the AEA RCA replicas. Lately I've been digging the Aurora Audio by Geoffrey Tanner GTQ-C.

[soundawg]

Originally Posted by jwleeman

Mostly slow, lyrical songs, such as for live jazz.

For what you are describing I second the Shure Beta 87A recommendation, and try the Beta 56 as well... I would also give the Audix OM5,6 or7 a listen.

You do have to try them all for yourself though, it's going to be a "feel thing"... just get them all together and try them in a session - the right mic will choose you.

SOUNDAWG

[Ric4001]

I have the 441, SM7B, RE20, PR30, Blue Raven and Shure Super 55. At the higher end of cost, I would recommend the 441 and RE20; at the low end, the Super 55.

I think the 441 (with the high boost switch on) has a very hi-fi sound - scooped of mids with really warm lows and nice clear highs. Great for recordings, but maybe not great for live use as those beautiful lows will probably get lost.

The RE20 IMHO sounds the most like a condenser mic and has a stronger midrange than the 441. I think it sounds fantastic on vocals and competes well with my condensers.

The SM7B receives lots of recommendations on this board, but relative to the 441 and RE20, I'm not as thrilled with it. It's somewhat dark unless you put the high boost switch in, and I find that makes the highs a little harsh. And the output is very weak -- you'll need a powerful preamp to drive it. It's still a great mic with a very natural (true to the source) sound to it, but to me it's definately below the 441 and RE20.

The PR30 is not good on vocals. To me it sounds like it's trying to sound like a condenser, but the sound is kind of boxed-in. It's great on guitar cabs though.

The Raven is kind of harsh sounding, and is lacking in lows.

The Super 55 is a very bright mic, and a little lacking in lows (but better than the Raven). But the highs are very smooth sounding and have a very nice qualty to them. This mic would probably be very good live.

I A-B'd all of these mics together on the same song, so my comments above are based on direct comparisons of the mics in the same song using the same pre.

[evangelista]

Originally Posted by jwleeman

That's cool. Any there particular mic pre's that you typically pair with the RE20 ?

thx

It depends on the source, of course.

For thick lead vox, I tend to go with a Neve 1272.

For stuff where I want a bit more open of a high end, I use UA Remote Pre.

It's not a very high output mic, but it works well with just about any "decent" preamp. If you can talk about it in the high end forum, it's probably fine.

It's hard to make this mic sound bad, in my opinion.

[GYang]

Pretty standard mic list to start from:

Sennheiser (e835 and older ones incl. MD 509/409)
Electro-Voice RE20, ND767A
Neumann K105
Shure for sure (from venerable vintages to newer).

[DarkSky Media]

The Neumann BCM705 is also worth considering.

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by evangelista

In my experience the EV RE20 sounds great on the widest variety of voices.

It can also sound great on just about anything else. I've even used them as overheads with very good results.

thumbsup

[roger]

yep...i did a simple acoustic pop tune a while back and out of laziness i just stuck an RE20 over the drummer's right shoulder and a d112 on kick and recorded a couple of runs through (pretty simple pattern: brushes and a swing feel with only a few simple fills)....KEEPER! we redid it later but the first take had such a great simple mono sound....BAM!....Re20 is cool in upright bass too.....oh yeah....it's great on acoustic guitar too.......um....it's a cool mic.....i like it with API 512c - mc77 - hedd....i like my sm7 - great river - distressor chain.....but as i said before i would be fine with just one of the 2.....they both sound great.

[loujudson]

Wow, nobody mentions any Beyer, try an M69 or M600.

Sennheiser 835 or better.

No Beta ever sounded good to me, too much sibilance and crappy lows. Sorry, I hate Beta anything except 52s.

First time I heard a 441 in person it was Janis Joplin singing Melacholy Baby. Floored me! Great mic!

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