It's been a while since I bought a general purpose, on-the-road, playing-in-dodgy-pub band vocal mic...

Should I still go for the classic SM58 or is the Beta better? Or are there better options made by other manufacturers?

Thanks

Your 58 might be the better option, but the beta is a more sensitive mic hence being more of a problem.

58 is the standard mic that most venues will use, so foldback mixes will be eq'd to suit this mic, a beta having a hypercardiod polar pattern can cause problems, due to the lobe at the back. This mic must be angled horizontanly so null is aimed at foldback, rather than the normal angle found with a 58 (45ish degrees).

Don't get my wrong, I'd go for a 58beta over a 58 as they sound a little clearer in my opinion, but because your going into the unknown (different venues, monitors, sidefills etc) a beta might end up being more of a hinderance than a help!

Beta 87c are also extremely impressive, but can't remember polar pattern of them.


This is freq. graph for Beta58


and sm58


as it shows the beta has slightly raised mid, and less bass reponce which can help and reponce is slightly smoother...

The 58 is a cardioid - the Beta 58 is a super-cardioid - very different.

Best to get a Sennheiser evolution series



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John - Sound-Link ProAudio
President - Federation Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

Quote John Willett:

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The 58 is a cardioid - the Beta 58 is a super-cardioid - very different.

Best to get a Sennheiser evolution series

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Oh but its different again!

Having said that... I used one for some recording a few weeks ago (E865), and was very suprised! It was really nice! Sounded great on female vocals!

Stop tempting me with new gear John!!!

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P.I.G.L.E.T - where is polly?

Having now used Sennheiser mics, I'm not going back to Shure. I've owned the 58, Beta 58 and 57. Then I picked up a few Sennheisers and liked them a lot. Not nearly as "dull." However, I still think the Beta 87A is a great mic and highly recommend that one for vocals.

A vote here for Sennheisser. I have the e935 and e840 and, in general, prefer them over SM58s and Beta 58s. I'd describe their sound as more open whereas the SM58 sounds more congested, perhaps dull.

But the two Sennheiser mics are quite different, I actually prefer the e840 for my own vocals (baritone) and flute, whereas I prefer the e935 on female vocals. It's a question of finding a mic that best suits your voice, and yes, the other day I reverted to an SM58 because it sounded better on that particular vocal. So best to try them out if you can.

I guess we now have affordable, serious alternative choices to the ubiquitous SM58!

Cheers

Bob

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www.bickerton.co.nz

Hello,

IMO,
For a loud set rock/pop the SM should be used because of its tighter polar pattern. This way the loud drums and guitars wouldn't leak too much into the mic, not to forget the loud monitors possibly causing feedback. This, ofcourse depends on how the diffrent instruments and amps are placed on stage. In a quieter on stage gig, maybe a jazz or acoustic show a Beta should be used because there is not such a loud level to cause leakage and the clarity on the vocals is needed.

cheers

Quote FB:

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Hello,

IMO,
For a loud set rock/pop the SM should be used because of its tighter polar pattern. This way the loud drums and guitars wouldn't leak too much into the mic, not to forget the loud monitors possibly causing feedback. This, ofcourse depends on how the diffrent instruments and amps are placed on stage. In a quieter on stage gig, maybe a jazz or acoustic show a Beta should be used because there is not such a loud level to cause leakage and the clarity on the vocals is needed.

cheers

---

Uh well for one thing that is a LARGE generalization that I would be very hesitant to support myself. It all depends on more circumstances than just the type of music.

For another thing, the Beta has the tighter pickup pattern, being a hyper-cardioid(Or is it super? Either way) and the SM is a standard cardioid.

Seablade

If you are working with one particular PA and one particular voice then there are certainly better options.

But if you want something that will work with any PA and any voice then the SM58 can't be beaten. It was designed at a time when most PA's were of poorer quality than they are today and that's why it is so versatile - it sounds OK on a crap PA whereas most modern alternatives sound really bad through a crap PA. None of the other mic manufacturers seem to have gasped this and, while they produce great sounding mics through a good PA, their mics sound terrible through a bad PA.

Cheers

James.

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JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration.
http://www.jrpmusic.net

i'm looking to a pair of mics for live use this week. i'm in an electronic group and we usually perform in clubs and sometimes dont even get a soundcheck.

just wondering if the Beta 58 is much better at rejecting feedback, or is it pretty close to the SM58?

would i be better off with 2 of the same mics, or one of each to help separate the two vocalists in the mix? we do more spoken word then actual singing, one male one female vocalist.

hi, we bought a bunch of beta58s and beta57s for our rig, to upgrade the existing sm58s and sm57s

i never use the beta58s at all. the beta57s are, to my ears, the best live vocal mic i've heard yet.

edit: to answer the above post, the betas are hyper-cardioid which makes them much better are rejecting feedback in general, however they do pick up slightly from the cable end, which means they have to be angled differently. i do sound for loud bands in small clubs, and with a properly rung out system and a beta 57, feedback just isn't an issue - the vocalist is always happy with monitor levels, and there's plenty to spare too.


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Statick Audio

Quote Statick:

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hi, we bought a bunch of beta58s and beta57s for our rig, to upgrade the existing sm58s and sm57s

i never use the beta58s at all. the beta57s are, to my ears, the best live vocal mic i've heard yet.

edit: to answer the above post, the betas are hyper-cardioid which makes them much better are rejecting feedback in general, however they do pick up slightly from the cable end, which means they have to be angled differently. i do sound for loud bands in small clubs, and with a properly rung out system and a beta 57, feedback just isn't an issue - the vocalist is always happy with monitor levels, and there's plenty to spare too.

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Thanks for the advice. I thought that the Beta57 is for instruments while the Beta58 is for vocals? why would the57 sound better on vocals? or what is the difference?

I can't explain it, but I've also found that to be true. I use one of my Beta57's for vocals whenever possible (the other is on my snare drum!), while my Beta58 has ended up being relegated to just being my mic at church. The 57 just sounds and feels better, somehow.

yeh, they're supposed to be the enhanced versions of the sm58 and 57, so the 58 is for vocals and the 57 for instruments, but quite frankly the beta57 just sounds great on vocals. i also know several vocalists who take their own beta57s to gigs. they also look kinda smart on stage too.

so i now use beta57s on vocals and sm57s on amps and instruments...

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Statick Audio

Another vote for beta 57s. Tend to be good on females, too.

Though I used some Samson C 05 condenser (electret?)vocal mics recently and everyone was blown away (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

G

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PA stuff on FB

Quote Guy Johnson:

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...Tend to be good on females...

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Ahem

Do any condenser vocal mics exist that can run on internal power like a C1000? Often I'm not in a phantom power situation but I do prefer the clarity of my condenser for recording and would like some of that live.

In rehearsals I use either an SM58 or Beta58. I prefer the Beta58, it seems to have clearer mids and a more extended top end. For gigs I've only used SM58s. I think there must be something better out there, particularly as a baritone I find that most live vocal mics are more oriented towards thickening up tenor voices than bringing clarity to deeper voices.

Alex

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C. Alexander @ MySpace

Rode NT3

Edit: oh er do you mean more like large Diaphragm mics?
Studio spares will do an inline phantom power device which runs off a battery. it's quite small and you plug the XLR into it and it into the mic. I think.

CLICK HERE

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Simon Barrett info@fatheredsounds.co.uk


Edited by Mr_Si (17/07/06 10:14 PM)

Heh sorry I missed that post somehow...

Anyways yes there are quite a few electret condensers that can take their power from a 9v or AA or Lithium inline depending on the mic.

Also as Si posted there are battery powered phantom power supplies, but also I think for you a standard inline phantom supply should work unless you cant get power to it, and theyll be cheaper, not to mention you wont have to replace batteries nightly;)

Seablade

Well those and wireless handhelds also run off batteries obviously;)

Seablade