Budget Mic for female singers

[Cliff]

Looking for a dynamic mic for female singers.
here are some things it need to do.
- Low handling noise, it will be hand held
- Good feedback rejection
- Good for someone with poor mic technique, they stay 12 - 18" away (I am working on this one) and are not always singing into it. Sometime sing across it. So a larger sweetspot like a cardiod instead of a hypercardoid.
- This will be for lead and background female vocals.
- Would like it to be free!!!!! and available at wallmart Ideally $100 range but would consider slightly higher as I know that is probably to low.

[tropicalfish]

I've read good things about the Sennheiser E835.

[waynehoskins]

The first two that come to mind are Sennheiser's 835 and AKG's D5, which I like a bit better than Shure's SM58.

If you can spend a little more money and watch the used market, the best dynamic vocal mic I've used is Sennheiser's 855, unfortunately out of manufacture by a few years.

If you want a condenser, a great "sleeper" mic is AKG's C5. Another budget condenser I've wanted to try is EV's PL84.

[prochlea]

I have a Heil PR 20 that I like for most of my female vocalists. It was $149, but they recently came out with a PR 20 UT that doesn't have as nice of a case and only comes with a silver windscreen - and it's only $99.

[Esoteric]

Sennheiser 835, Share is a warehorse in the industry, and AT makes one too that I move a lot of but can't think of the number off the top of my head.

Mike

[cmchamp]

"- Good for someone with poor mic technique, they stay 12 - 18" away (I am working on this one) and are not always singing into it. Sometime sing across it."

Depending on the stage volumes, I'd stick with what you've got and reinforce mic technique. If they can't be heard because they won't stay in the mic, a new mic, nor the laws of physics, will change the glaring issue of poor mic technique.

[SamG269]

I add my input for the Sennheiser 835. we used to use the Shure's but since trying these we have switched over to the Senn's. I really like them and think they sound better than the shures.

I would like to also comment that this past Sat I was teaching a new volunteer mic technique's. I showed him how 4 different women sang into their mics.

One was close and loud. Second far and loud. Third far and soft. Fourth close and soft. I had to teach him what one has to do at the mixer. But I also noticed that the Senn's picked them all up very well.

I'd say go with the Senn's.

[waynehoskins]

Originally Posted by cmchamp

"- Good for someone with poor mic technique, they stay 12 - 18" away (I am working on this one) and are not always singing into it. Sometime sing across it."

Depending on the stage volumes, I'd stick with what you've got and reinforce mic technique. If they can't be heard because they won't stay in the mic, a new mic, nor the laws of physics, will change the glaring issue of poor mic technique.

Good point, missed that. If they won't stay on-mic, there's no Easy Button. Once they're on-mic, the major problem is solved.

[Chkurgrnd]

The Audix OM-2 is a great mic for female vox. It is price comparable to the Senn e835 and the SM58 but I like the presence and quality it brings to our female voices.

[Cliff]

Thanks for the recommends. There is more than one lady who I am looking to mic, 2 or 3 would be needed.

I will work on mic technique with them, one is worse than the other.

[SamG269]

I would say show them the difference. I've done it with one of our churches. I speak to them in a normal voice 5 feet away and then I do it again right in their ear. They understand immediatly. Lol.

[Cliff]

Yeah I have showed them with the mic, still hard for them to put it into practice, just got to get them used to it.