Singers are always asking me, what’s a good live mic. Well a mic is like a pair of shoes, what fits one person perfectly might not fit another. That being said here is a rundown of some popular live mics I have experience with.SM57 $85I remember back in the day seeing a shure ad with Billy Squire singing into an 57. But these days a plethora of mics have flooded the market to the point that this mic is more thought of as the go to mic for guitar cabinets. Compared to our other contenders muddier, less even, can have unpleasant mids on some. But in a pinch totally usable workhorse vocal mic with some eq.
Beta57 $139For the $90 range on ebay this might be a less common contender for a live vocal mic, but I was surprised how usable this was in a live situation.I think it works better than the sm57 as a vocal mic. Worth considering if you can pick one up cheap on ebay.
SM58-$99Ok what many refer to as the “industry standard”. Well not to knock it but McDonalds is an industry standard in the food industry, but that does not mean it is by any means the best, just what people are accustomed to. That being said it is a very usable mic, with some eq through a decent system I’ve had good results with this mic. But again with the plethora of great mic choices I would by no means consider this the go to default mic. I think at the same price point there are better options. But Shure mics in general are great workhorse mics, you can hammer nails with this thing and then take it to a gig. That’s why many sound companies and rehearsal studios use them because they will get banged up and keep on ticking.
Shure Beta 58- $159The evolution of the “industry standard” SM58. I would probably now consider this the industry standard workhorse mic. Has hotter output, better feedback rejection, more clarity than the SM58. I think you could throw one of these up with any system and singer and get a decent result without much tweaking. Cuts through a mix decent, not much proximity effect so maintains clarity even right up on the mic.
EV N/D767a-$99OK someone recently asked me what’s a good professional live mic if I only have $100 max to spend. And my first thought was EV 767. To this day I use this mic on certain gigs. At the same price point as SM58 I think it beats it hands down. When making comparisons I would consider it more on the level of the much more expensive Beta 58. So comparing it to the Beta 58 it has much more proximity effect, if you wanna add fullness to your rapping, or add some Barry White baritone quality and warmth this is probably the fullest dynamic live mic that still maintains decent top end and mid bite with clarity. Warmer sounding than the beta 58. With a more baritone singer you may need to cut some of the lows but cutting almost always garners more natural sounding results than boosting. I’ve gone back and forth on which I would prefer but they definitely have different sounds but can be used for the same types of situations. Workhorse vocals mic that can cut through over a loud band with good feedback rejection. When using the Beta 58 with flat sounding in ears it worked nicely cutting through. Has a certain clarity without sounding midrangy or nasal, decent top end, and easy to fit into a mix. But EV has more body and still maintains clarity and top end. A matter of taste. But oh since one is 60% more expensive that also needs to be factored in. So that’s why I recommended the EV on the $100 budget. It gives you a pro sounding live mic at a great bang for the buck and definitely does not sound like a budget cheapie mic.
EV N/D967 $199I got it because since I dug the 767 so much I figured it would be a better 767, kind of like how the beta 58 is a better 58. Personally I preferred the 767. The 967 is said to be especially for good feedback rejection in loud live situations of which I have used them both in. But I noticed that the 967 had less mid bite and clarity. So yea if the mic has less mids and highs its gonna feed back less but then harder to cut through that loud band as well.
Neumann KMS105 $699Ahh Neumann renowned for their legendary studio condenser mics came out with their first and only high end condenser live mic a few years ago. Since then Shure has come out with the competing KSM9 a the same price point but I have yet to try this mic. This mic definitely sounds more polished and more like a studio sound than the dynamics. Nice clarity, smoothness, transient response. Picks up those frequencies that the dynamics just don’t have to give you nice air and pick up overtone nuances in the voice. Great if you are a singer that has nuances in color to your voice like Michael McDonald, Seal, etc. Great clarity. Has some proximity effect which gives it a warm sound but can get a tad muddy on a lower vocal but not as blatant as the EV767. Has a warm blankety sound that smooths out vocals. The low end is less of a bump and more wider and flat. More than any other mic I’d say what comes out of my mouth is what comes out of the speakers. Which if you sing well is a good thing. If you don’t than choosing a mic is the least of your problems. There is a wider pattern so it does pick up more stage bleed than other mics but still has decent feedback rejection. May need to cut around 10k if you get some real high feedback that the dynamics don’t even reproduce. Compared to a beta 58 it is more flat and for cutting through in a loud situation it might need a little more mid boost. I think its ideal for a nuanced vocal over a tame live band; it might not be as ideal if you’re trying to cut through loud rock because of the stage bleed as well as the flatness. Although all in all this is probably my favorite live mic for any situation. Just more polished clear sound than any other live mic. And for me I do want what comes out of my mouth to come out of the speakers.
Telefunken M80 $250Since Neumann got into the high end live mic market Telefunken another Legendary studio mic company figured they should throw their hat into the live mic ring with the M80 dynamic mic.I don’t have a ton of experience with this mic but definitely has a hi end full and crisp sound to it. Closer to the Blue encore than the Neumann or Beta 87 to my ears. Dynamic mic with a condenser articulation and condenser like transient response. Definitely worth considering.
Shure Beta 87 $249OK before the Neumann came out with their live condenser this was my favorite live mic. For a lot of the same reasons that I like the Neumann. Clarity, transient response, even sound. Great sounding mic that captures what is coming out of your mouth. And from $80-120 on ebay might be a great deal for a live mic that really captures vocal nuances without breaking the bank. Awesome for piano or acoustic gtr vocal where you really want the vocal to have nuance clarity. I always dug this mic.
Blue encore 300 $129-199Ok I was at a convention in LA and Blue, which is known for their wide array of nice sounding and cool looking studio mics was there with their brand new line of encore live mics. The 100 and 200 are dynamics (although the dynamic 200 still required phantom power) and sound decent but I haven’t tested enough to make an in depth assessment. But from what I have heard are definitely worth considering as options in their price point. So I asked the rep, how does their condenser live mic stack up to something like a beta 87 or KMS105 and he said, it makes the Neumann sound like a toy. Hmm, a bold statement especially for a mic that lists at about a third the cost. So what does it sound like? First thing I noticed when bringing up the 300 is that it is LOUD, way hotter than any other mic here. I backed off the pre -15 db just to not overload the input. At first I thought something was wrong with the mic cuz I was getting distortion. Once I put the pad on the pre and evened out the gain I got to hear what the mic really sounded like. hmm. Interesting. Very different than the Neumann. Has a low end but a tighter low end so less of an even smooth blanket sound but a narrower low end bump that gives the voice some fullness without sacrificing any clarity. There is definitely more mid hype than the Neumann or Beta 87. Less flat. Lots of clarity. I still think the Neumann has a tad more air on the very top that would be nice in a lower volume setting. Live the mic stands up nicely. I find myself reaching for the 300 more often then the Neumann recently. Just cuts through a loud band with little bleed or feedback for how hot and articulate it is. The tighter low and and mid bite work better cutting through a loud mix better than the flatter evener Neumann but still but gives you that condenser nuance and air. Two very different mics. But then I realize I am making a comparison between the $600 Neumann and the $199 Blue. And the Blue is holding it’s own and may even be better in many situations. The Neuman is fuller sounding and has a wider warmer low end. So great for getting a full warm Johnny Cash, Sinatra sound. So I still do use it on a regular basis. But if I’m concerned about cutting through a band the blue is a great tool. I found a great deal on this mic at $129 at B&H which often has some killer deals. As of this writing they have it up for $159 compared to $199 almost everywhere else. When I got this it was only out for a few weeks and people were like, what is that mic. But now I see tons of 4 and 5 star reviews reiterating much of the same observations I’ve mentioned here. Same price as Beta 58 $60 more than a SM58 and at least comparable to some of the best live mics at triple the price. And also any mics that are this distinctive in their sound personality may work awesome in some situations and may accentuate the negative aspects of another’s voice or system. The reason why many just stick with a standard like Beta 58 which is not extreme in any way and can just work in any situation. But if you are a vocalist and want something for your voice. Keeping in mind what I said about these clearer mics putting out what you really sound like, which is what I go for, Blue may be giving these other mics a run for their money. This mic has replaced the EV 767 as my recommended bang for the buck mic.
Beta57 $139For the $90 range on ebay this might be a less common contender for a live vocal mic, but I was surprised how usable this was in a live situation.I think it works better than the sm57 as a vocal mic. Worth considering if you can pick one up cheap on ebay.
SM58-$99Ok what many refer to as the “industry standard”. Well not to knock it but McDonalds is an industry standard in the food industry, but that does not mean it is by any means the best, just what people are accustomed to. That being said it is a very usable mic, with some eq through a decent system I’ve had good results with this mic. But again with the plethora of great mic choices I would by no means consider this the go to default mic. I think at the same price point there are better options. But Shure mics in general are great workhorse mics, you can hammer nails with this thing and then take it to a gig. That’s why many sound companies and rehearsal studios use them because they will get banged up and keep on ticking.
Shure Beta 58- $159The evolution of the “industry standard” SM58. I would probably now consider this the industry standard workhorse mic. Has hotter output, better feedback rejection, more clarity than the SM58. I think you could throw one of these up with any system and singer and get a decent result without much tweaking. Cuts through a mix decent, not much proximity effect so maintains clarity even right up on the mic.
EV N/D767a-$99OK someone recently asked me what’s a good professional live mic if I only have $100 max to spend. And my first thought was EV 767. To this day I use this mic on certain gigs. At the same price point as SM58 I think it beats it hands down. When making comparisons I would consider it more on the level of the much more expensive Beta 58. So comparing it to the Beta 58 it has much more proximity effect, if you wanna add fullness to your rapping, or add some Barry White baritone quality and warmth this is probably the fullest dynamic live mic that still maintains decent top end and mid bite with clarity. Warmer sounding than the beta 58. With a more baritone singer you may need to cut some of the lows but cutting almost always garners more natural sounding results than boosting. I’ve gone back and forth on which I would prefer but they definitely have different sounds but can be used for the same types of situations. Workhorse vocals mic that can cut through over a loud band with good feedback rejection. When using the Beta 58 with flat sounding in ears it worked nicely cutting through. Has a certain clarity without sounding midrangy or nasal, decent top end, and easy to fit into a mix. But EV has more body and still maintains clarity and top end. A matter of taste. But oh since one is 60% more expensive that also needs to be factored in. So that’s why I recommended the EV on the $100 budget. It gives you a pro sounding live mic at a great bang for the buck and definitely does not sound like a budget cheapie mic.
EV N/D967 $199I got it because since I dug the 767 so much I figured it would be a better 767, kind of like how the beta 58 is a better 58. Personally I preferred the 767. The 967 is said to be especially for good feedback rejection in loud live situations of which I have used them both in. But I noticed that the 967 had less mid bite and clarity. So yea if the mic has less mids and highs its gonna feed back less but then harder to cut through that loud band as well.
Neumann KMS105 $699Ahh Neumann renowned for their legendary studio condenser mics came out with their first and only high end condenser live mic a few years ago. Since then Shure has come out with the competing KSM9 a the same price point but I have yet to try this mic. This mic definitely sounds more polished and more like a studio sound than the dynamics. Nice clarity, smoothness, transient response. Picks up those frequencies that the dynamics just don’t have to give you nice air and pick up overtone nuances in the voice. Great if you are a singer that has nuances in color to your voice like Michael McDonald, Seal, etc. Great clarity. Has some proximity effect which gives it a warm sound but can get a tad muddy on a lower vocal but not as blatant as the EV767. Has a warm blankety sound that smooths out vocals. The low end is less of a bump and more wider and flat. More than any other mic I’d say what comes out of my mouth is what comes out of the speakers. Which if you sing well is a good thing. If you don’t than choosing a mic is the least of your problems. There is a wider pattern so it does pick up more stage bleed than other mics but still has decent feedback rejection. May need to cut around 10k if you get some real high feedback that the dynamics don’t even reproduce. Compared to a beta 58 it is more flat and for cutting through in a loud situation it might need a little more mid boost. I think its ideal for a nuanced vocal over a tame live band; it might not be as ideal if you’re trying to cut through loud rock because of the stage bleed as well as the flatness. Although all in all this is probably my favorite live mic for any situation. Just more polished clear sound than any other live mic. And for me I do want what comes out of my mouth to come out of the speakers.
Telefunken M80 $250Since Neumann got into the high end live mic market Telefunken another Legendary studio mic company figured they should throw their hat into the live mic ring with the M80 dynamic mic.I don’t have a ton of experience with this mic but definitely has a hi end full and crisp sound to it. Closer to the Blue encore than the Neumann or Beta 87 to my ears. Dynamic mic with a condenser articulation and condenser like transient response. Definitely worth considering.
Shure Beta 87 $249OK before the Neumann came out with their live condenser this was my favorite live mic. For a lot of the same reasons that I like the Neumann. Clarity, transient response, even sound. Great sounding mic that captures what is coming out of your mouth. And from $80-120 on ebay might be a great deal for a live mic that really captures vocal nuances without breaking the bank. Awesome for piano or acoustic gtr vocal where you really want the vocal to have nuance clarity. I always dug this mic.
Blue encore 300 $129-199Ok I was at a convention in LA and Blue, which is known for their wide array of nice sounding and cool looking studio mics was there with their brand new line of encore live mics. The 100 and 200 are dynamics (although the dynamic 200 still required phantom power) and sound decent but I haven’t tested enough to make an in depth assessment. But from what I have heard are definitely worth considering as options in their price point. So I asked the rep, how does their condenser live mic stack up to something like a beta 87 or KMS105 and he said, it makes the Neumann sound like a toy. Hmm, a bold statement especially for a mic that lists at about a third the cost. So what does it sound like? First thing I noticed when bringing up the 300 is that it is LOUD, way hotter than any other mic here. I backed off the pre -15 db just to not overload the input. At first I thought something was wrong with the mic cuz I was getting distortion. Once I put the pad on the pre and evened out the gain I got to hear what the mic really sounded like. hmm. Interesting. Very different than the Neumann. Has a low end but a tighter low end so less of an even smooth blanket sound but a narrower low end bump that gives the voice some fullness without sacrificing any clarity. There is definitely more mid hype than the Neumann or Beta 87. Less flat. Lots of clarity. I still think the Neumann has a tad more air on the very top that would be nice in a lower volume setting. Live the mic stands up nicely. I find myself reaching for the 300 more often then the Neumann recently. Just cuts through a loud band with little bleed or feedback for how hot and articulate it is. The tighter low and and mid bite work better cutting through a loud mix better than the flatter evener Neumann but still but gives you that condenser nuance and air. Two very different mics. But then I realize I am making a comparison between the $600 Neumann and the $199 Blue. And the Blue is holding it’s own and may even be better in many situations. The Neuman is fuller sounding and has a wider warmer low end. So great for getting a full warm Johnny Cash, Sinatra sound. So I still do use it on a regular basis. But if I’m concerned about cutting through a band the blue is a great tool. I found a great deal on this mic at $129 at B&H which often has some killer deals. As of this writing they have it up for $159 compared to $199 almost everywhere else. When I got this it was only out for a few weeks and people were like, what is that mic. But now I see tons of 4 and 5 star reviews reiterating much of the same observations I’ve mentioned here. Same price as Beta 58 $60 more than a SM58 and at least comparable to some of the best live mics at triple the price. And also any mics that are this distinctive in their sound personality may work awesome in some situations and may accentuate the negative aspects of another’s voice or system. The reason why many just stick with a standard like Beta 58 which is not extreme in any way and can just work in any situation. But if you are a vocalist and want something for your voice. Keeping in mind what I said about these clearer mics putting out what you really sound like, which is what I go for, Blue may be giving these other mics a run for their money. This mic has replaced the EV 767 as my recommended bang for the buck mic.