Vocal Mics - Dynamic vs Condensor

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pshep68

Sep 21, 2006
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#1
Hi,
A bit of an odd topic... I wasn't sure where to post it, but I'm sure there are other singing bassists who can offer some suggestions/info... Anyways, I play bass and sing backup vocals. I am looking to purchase a vocal mic when playing live. I always sing high harmonies. My singing voice is fairly strong. I usually stand a fair distance from the mic when we play live (about 6 inches). In addition, My voice is higher pitched. How do I know which microphone is better suited to my voice... a dynamic or condenser?
 
#4
You'll want to put this in the Live Sound board.

You'll probably be better off with a dynamic. mainly because they're usually super durable and are far less prone to feedback because they are less sensitive. Depending on the kind of mic you get, most sound engineers will be used to it which makes it easier to mix for front of house sound.
 
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#6
For me it really depends on what's happening on stage and the general situation. I wouldn't usually use condensers with a loud band on smaller stages for example where you're often needing all the headroom in monitors and separation in the mix you can get, but something like an SM87 would be a good choice for quieter high quality folk or jazz-type scenarios (or louder situations on larger stages with plenty of space). What kind of music are you playing and in what kind of venues?
 
#8
for the majority of live stage uses you'll want a dynamic. Condensers tend to cause a lot of feedback issues.
Consider a Sennheiser 835. They're a bit hotter than an SM58 and you can work them farther back with better results. You can spend a lot more money, if you want, and bump up to a Shure KSM8, or Neumann KMS105, but the 835 will work just as well for your needs.
 
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#9
Biggbass said:
Condensers tend to cause a lot of feedback issues.
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In my gigging days I would alternate between both types of mics just to keep my little collection all in regular rotation. Never experienced any more or less feedback issues with either dynamic or condenser. Maybe I was doing something wrong. ;) Not to suggest that your circumstances were the same, of course. And for a point of reference, two of my mics are dynamic, two are condenser, and all are super-cardioid.

M. M.
 
#10
Laethyn said:
I just got out of a band that I did cleans, and growls/screams in, and I used a dynamic live. It gave me a little more "oomph" in my voice that I lacked raw. That kinda makes me sound like a crappy vocalist since I "need" a mic to make me sound good, but oh well.
Click to expand...

Have you heard Woody Guthrie? That guy was one of the worse vocalists I've heard. Not the worst, or all that close either, but he's really not that great. But damn could he write a song.

I'd rather listen to a so-so vocalist if the songs are great than a brilliant vocalist if the songs are so-so. Or even worse - so-so with lots of wankery. It might not be proper, and I'd try to practice enough that I wouldn't need to use a certain mic, but honestly nuts to those who might be vocal in their disapproval.

Also, I've never played at a live show where we were given condenser mics for anything. Dynamic mic.s are usually cheaper and more durable - look up the electrovoice 664, people used to literally hammer nails into wood with them when they weren't using them for performances.
 
#11
Testing several mics is the only way to really determine which option is best for you. However, for live vocals, I use either a Blue enCore 100 (passive dynamic) or Blue enCore 200 (active dynamic).

In the studio, my voice tends to work better with condenser mics, such as the AKG C214. Nevertheless, I use variety of dynamic and condenser mics in the studio, depending on the situation.
 
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