Best Dynamic Vocal Mic for Live Music TV Series

[DanDan]

I do a live music TV series. Archived online at RTÉ Television - Other Voices
I, am very happy with the vocal sound I get from a Beta 57 with Canford Popshield. However, some musicians and monitor engineers reckon that couple of centimetres of foam is ruining their day. Unfortuntately the 57 is unusable for vocals without the popper. The 58 is a fine mic, but I really don't like the windrush and pops. I have tested many alternatives, Beta 87, AKG535, Neumann, Audix. In this little church, A-B tests always favour the B57+PS, always. I notice what looks like a Sennheiser on a lot of TV shows at the moment. They sound good and look discreet, and I don't hear air noises. My lighting guy would love to see the popshield go. Anyone know which model it is? Personal experiences, observations. ?
Best Regards, DanDan FitzGerald
SoundSound - Homepage

[Remoteness]

It appears that the link you provided is dead.

[mohthom]

Mostly the ones used on the TV talent shows (at least the ones I catch for 4/5 seconds before turning off) are using Senneiser ew500 series, which can come with either the same capsule as the e835 or the e845 (as well as others). The 835 is card, the 845 is hypercard. I prefer the 845, and HAVE used both. For my money, kicks the crap out of a 58.

MohThoM

[huub]

I really like the audix dynamic mics..
The touring PA guys will propably compain anyway, if they have to use something that is not their choice, even if it's better..

[DanDan]

Hi, thanks for the comments. It is not possible to try or A-B these in a little City at the edge of Europe! The show I do is pretty real, not one of those talent things. Take a look. The link is fixed now. Interference are worth watching. I prefer to avoid wireless mics so the simple dynamic is my preference. I note that Sennheiser have a 900 range now. They suggest that the 900 range is an improvement over the 800's. Have any of compared them? I note that the SuperCardioid 845 is preferred below. Interesting. Is it a better sound, or better rejection of monitors, cymbals, and other stage spill? Are these Senn's good at handling pops?
Best Regards, DD

[rmx16]

Check out the Heil PR 35. I heard them at a Stevie Wonder gig I did. Nice and thick in the low-mids and smooth on the top end,

http://www.heilsound.com/pro/products/pr35/index.htm

Peace

[Remoteness]

Call me old fashion, but I still like the sound of an original MD431.

[DanDan]

That Heil product sounds very good on paper. It also seems to look quite like the Sennheiser. My visual associates would love either of these mics compared to my current foam cushion! I watched Joan Armatrading on Live at Abbey Road the other night. Again these Sennheiser or possibly Heil mics. Sounded excellent.
Are Heil mics manufactured anywhere healthy?
I had assumed the 431 was long gone. Nice mic indeed but now expensive and visually it has a bit too much character for my visual friends.
Anyway thanks again, food for thought and further research.
Best, DD

[bishopthomas]

I like Audix OM5's and 7's. I used to be a huge fan of the 835 but switched to the OM series. Now listening to an 835 or 935 sounds harsh in the 2-3k range. The Audix are all black and so are the Sennheiser 900 series (for your visual needs).

[Remoteness]

I also saw that Joan Armatrading video and I thought she was singing into a Shure KSM9, but I could be mistaken.

In any event, I've seen other artists on that show using the KSM9 condenser mics on vocals.

[Jim vanBergen]

The KSM9 is very popular right now, but for dynamic, I'd suggest you look closely at:

Beyer M88
Telefunken M80 (Studio set with black grill)

I also would not use an additional foam windscreen if you can get away with it. If you have plosives on a dynamic with the built-in foam screen, then you're too close.

Hope this helps!

JvB

[Remoteness]

Yeah, I have worked with M88s for vocals back when Phil Collins and others used them a lot.
They are excellent vocal mics for sure.
Every now and then they come out for lead vocal duties.
I tend to use them for bass drum almost every time we record or do live sound.

Rob Anderson and I just finished a vocal group overdub session tracking layers of voices over the original live (gospel) recording we did in Brooklyn a few weeks back.
During the live recording session we had the main choir (SOP/TEN/ALTO) and about eight (group) vocal ringers to help thicken the vocal blend.

In our mobile recording studio (ELROY) we matched the group vocal mics and pres and used speaker playback instead of individual headphones to capture the vibe of the original live recording.

It worked out wonderfully...

The mics we used for the group vocals were Sennheiser MD431s

The vocals sounded phat.

[astronmr20]

Originally Posted by rmx16

Check out the Heil PR 35. I heard them at a Stevie Wonder gig I did. Nice and thick in the low-mids and smooth on the top end,

Heil Sound - Recording Live Sound Broadcast - PR-35

Peace

+10.

[DanDan]

Quite a few great suggestions there. It made me realise how out of touch I am. Interesting that the Sennheiser, Heil, and Shure look very similar.
The 88 is a great old mic but the massive bottom end and pops... When people diss me about my popshields I refer to The Last Waltz (88 plus PS)
The 431 has too much visual character I am afraid. Very well engineered mic though, great pops and handling protection, great off axis eveness.
Aside- I have a couple of 441's!
I am very happy with my sonic result at the moment. My desire to change is mostly cosmetic with some curiousity as to what's new and good. Strangely my current choice is not intended to be a vocal mic, but with a high quality popshield it seems to trump all comers.

Much thanks for your thoughts.

Dan Fitzgerald
SoundSound - Homepage

[huub]

On a side note: anyone experience with a sm7 as stage mic?
I love that mic, and saw a jon bon jovi live-for-tv show once with an sm7..
Ah, found it:
(Yeah, I know .. that band does suck)

[Remoteness]

I've used that mic for scratch vocals and voice over work with great results.

I've used it for an in studio live performance with monitors and such.
Everything went well with regard to zero feedback.

[Dean7]

Have you checked out a Heil PR30? Amazing mic for vocals IMO.

-Dean

[JoeyM]

I had to say something after seeing you mention the beta 87. I did a few mixer gigs with a University girl choir band and the Beta 87 was so wrong, just crappy sounding. I went home and got my beta 58 and it sounded fantastic and real high gain before feedback. All the gigs were indoors so I don't know about wind effects on the b58. Fortunetly other than my b58 the Uni had a suitcase full of beta Shures, but again one vote against b87 and + for b58.