Best mic for female vocals

[DanR]

Hi
Our function band needs a good vocal mic for female vocals. We tend to use different singers as they're unable to commit.
The problem we have is that while they have their own mics, it's not always convenient to sound check or EQ them ie. if they're held
up on the way to the gig or if the guests are dining.
It can be a bit of a problem at times as I do the sound from my keyboard position and when one of the band members goes out front
to check balance, I then have to EQ as I play.
So a mic needs to be already setup. Need to bear in mind varying mic techniques and vocal tone but it's pretty much Pop, Rock, Soul, Motown.

Budget up to £130 but there does seem to be a lot of seemingly very good mics for a fair bit less.
Not sure whether regular cardioid or super cardioid would be best. Super cardioid requires the mic being quite close and cardioid would be best for varying mic technique.
We use wedge monitors and feedback most of the time isn't a problem.
Sennheiser E935 would fit the bill I think but any other suggestions would be welcome.

[Big Kev]

I don't think you're going to cure different sounding vocalists by finding an ideal mic.

I'd suggest spending time with each vocalist. Get a decent sound and make a note of EQ settings and gain positions etc. Then dial in those settings depending on who the vocalist is for the gig. (Or save and recall the settings if you have a digital desk). It's not ideal but at least it should be a very good starting point.

[Bob Bickerton]

One of my favourite mics for female vocal is the Neumann KMS105, but that's over budget.

Interestingly i recently bought a Beyer TG70, based I hearing an online test which, to my ears, had it sounding very much like the Neumann.

So far I've been impressed with the TG70 and indeed put it up against the Neumann this evening. There were subtle differences but overall the Beyer delivered a very 'condenser' like sound with a pleasant, but smooth high frequency lift that would suit many female vocalists. Certain worth consideration and pretty much comes in at your budget point.

Bob

[Wonks]

Don't forget that if you are using different singers, you should really be disinfecting the mic after each use. So one with an easy to remove and clean grille and foam would be a bonus.

[Tim Gillett]

...It can be a bit of a problem at times as I do the sound from my keyboard position and when one of the band members goes out front
to check balance, I then have to EQ as I play...

Are you saying that you are the band's designated sound mixer but that from where you play you cant hear approximately the mix the audience is hearing?

[DanR]

Are you saying that you are the band's designated sound mixer but that from where you play you cant hear approximately the mix the audience is hearing?

That's pretty much it and I think a lot of bands do the same thing.
We have a A&H QU16 and an iPad but quite often the budget isn't there to hire a soundman.
All the other band members are very untechnical which doesn't help.

[DanR]

I'd suggest spending time with each vocalist. Get a decent sound and make a note of EQ settings and gain positions etc. Then dial in those settings depending on who the vocalist is for the gig. (Or save and recall the settings if you have a digital desk).

We don't often rehearse and really only see the singer at the gig and there's often not much time.
With the QU16 though I could save scenes for each singer and their mic.

[Tim Gillett]

Are you saying that you are the band's designated sound mixer but that from where you play you cant hear approximately the mix the audience is hearing?

That's pretty much it and I think a lot of bands do the same thing.
We have a A&H QU16 and an iPad but quite often the budget isn't there to hire a soundman.
All the other band members are very untechnical which doesn't help.

Yes sounds like it's fallen to you to sort out what the other band members only faintly understand.

I've mixed Front of House for bands I've played in while playing. It's not easy. But I always try to have a good "wedge" monitor right in front of me with the same mix the audience is hearing.

It's much harder to do this if you have instruments onstage such as full drum kit, electric guitars played loudly through their own amps etc. The standard advice in this situation is to try and get the sound levels ONSTAGE down to reasonable levels so you who is trying to mix for the audience can at least hear that mix. Unfortunately this can meet with some resistance from some musos who dont understand the mixing implications from your - and therefore the audience's - point of view.

[DanR]

I've mixed Front of House for bands I've played in while playing. It's not easy. But I always try to have a good "wedge" monitor right in front of me with the same mix the audience is hearing.

It's much harder to do this if you have instruments onstage such as full drum kit, electric guitars played loudly through their own amps etc. The standard advice in this situation is to try and get the sound levels ONSTAGE down to reasonable levels so you who is trying to mix for the audience can at least hear that mix. Unfortunately this can meet with some resistance from some musos who dont understand the mixing implications from your - and therefore the audience's - point of view.

Thanks. The sound onstage is usually pretty good and not over the top.
It does depend on the venue though. The nearer everybody is to the drums the more challenging it is.
I have 2 Yamaha DXR10s for stereo keys which I run off a stereo mix from the QU16 so I can put whoever I need through them.

A wedge for FOH monitoring is a good idea but it would need to be a seperate unit. One of my DXR10s would do nicely although I do like stereo keys if space allows.

[DanR]

Don't forget that if you are using different singers, you should really be disinfecting the mic after each use. So one with an easy to remove and clean grille and foam would be a bonus.

Good point, thanks. Something we haven't always done, not after every gig anyway.

[Tim Gillett]

I have 2 Yamaha DXR10s for stereo keys which I run off a stereo mix from the QU16 so I can put whoever I need through them.

Sounds good. I just meant that to mix FOH we need to hear FOH as the audience hears it.

[dickiefunk]

I find the Sennheiser E935 quite a decent workhorse mic but it won't suit every voice. I work regularly with six different female vocalists and the E935 sounds ok on five of them. However, for one of the singers it was first choice for her voice. The E945 was first choice for two of these singers, sounded ok on a couple of them but didn't sound great on a couple of them. The Audio Technica ATM710 was first choice on three of the singers, sounded ok on another but really didn't suit the other. Whilst all of these mics can sound wonderful on certain vocalists they can really be hit or miss on others!

I also really like the Sennheiser E838 (silver E840) and find this works on a wider range of voices than the mics I mentioned above. I wouldn't necessarily use it as my first choice on any of the vocalists I work with but tend to use it when I've not worked with a particular vocalist before as it hasn't sounded bad on any of the vocalists I've worked with so far! I use the E838 where I would normally reach for an SM58 but find the E838 does the job better. More clarity, hotter signal, feedback rejection!

Another mic that I've recently tried but don't own is the Shure Beta 87. I really liked this mic on four female vocalists I tried it on. It sounded really detailed but a little smoother and warmer than the ATM710. I would quite like to add a couple of those to my collection at some point.

[dickiefunk]

Interestingly i recently bought a Beyer TG70, based I hearing an online test which, to my ears, had it sounding very much like the Neumann.

So far I've been impressed with the TG70 and indeed put it up against the Neumann this evening. There were subtle differences but overall the Beyer delivered a very 'condenser' like sound with a pleasant, but smooth high frequency lift that would suit many female vocalists. Certain worth consideration and pretty much comes in at your budget point.

Bob

I'm really interested in this mic myself Bob as I heard it on a mic a/b shootout online (possibly same one you heard) and thought it sounded wonderful! How is the handling noise and pop rejection with this mic?

[DanR]

I don't think you're going to cure different sounding vocalists by finding an ideal mic.

I'd suggest spending time with each vocalist. Get a decent sound and make a note of EQ settings and gain positions etc. Then dial in those settings depending on who the vocalist is for the gig. (Or save and recall the settings if you have a digital desk). It's not ideal but at least it should be a very good starting point.

Thanks. I think we need a general mic anyway. We have an AKG WMS 40 dual radio mic system which has been fine for years
but now prefer a lead type mic for ease of setup.

[DanR]

I use the E838 where I would normally reach for an SM58 but find the E838 does the job better. More clarity, hotter signal, feedback rejection

Thanks for the info. The E835 seems to be popular. Not sure how these differ from the E838 but many prefer them to the SM58.
I''Ve read that they have a clearer top end which may not always suit female vocals.
I think any of these mics mentioned will do just fine but it would be good to narrow it down.

Samson Q8 has good reviews. It's superc but could be worth a go.

[Drew Stephenson]

Another mic that I've recently tried but don't own is the Shure Beta 87. I really liked this mic on four female vocalists I tried it on. It sounded really detailed but a little smoother and warmer than the ATM710. I would quite like to add a couple of those to my collection at some point.

I've had a beta 87 for a few years now and I'm very happy with it. It does have a strong proximity effect but a bit of technique can make this very useful. I've also found it tends to fill-out female voices if they're a bit reedy.

[Mike Stranks]

I'm with dickie on this one... the e840/838 is a good mic that will give you acceptable results in many circumstances.

Can't speak about the mic Bob recommends as I've never used or heard one to my knowledge, but Mr B does know his onions!

The problem with some vocal mics is that they sound brilliant on some vocalists and very iffy on others. I have previously chronicled in these august cloisters some of my own tribulations with this!

Good general-purpose mics such as the e840 will usually keep the show on the road in the circumstances you've described... in fact just a few days ago I was recommending some for an install I'm advising on!

[Sam Spoons]

I think the E838 is a silver bodied E840. I have some SE Electronics H1 stage condensers and have been universally pleased with the way they sound with female vocalists. I do mostly moderate volume, melodic styles and suspect they would not fare so well with modern 'Adelle" style vocals or loud rock singers. I like them on many voices, male and female because they are relatively uncoloured and don't have aggressively hyped upper mids like an SM58, OTOH, if it's a rock band an SM58 (or my Beta 57s) will cut through better.

Dickiefunk has tested many live vocal mics and reported on here so if I was looking for advice I'd definitely heed what he says. Not to say the other posters are any less knowledgable mind you

[DanR]

I'm with dickie on this one... the e840/838 is a good mic that will give you acceptable results in many circumstances

Seems like they're discontinued. Maybe a couple of stores have them.
Is there a replacement - E835 / 845?

[DanR]

I work regularly with six different female vocalists and the E935 sounds ok on five of them.

Good enough for me!
I'll go for the E935 as they're readily available and it has great reviews.

[Mike Stranks]

I'm with dickie on this one... the e840/838 is a good mic that will give you acceptable results in many circumstances

Seems like they're discontinued. Maybe a couple of stores have them.
Is there a replacement - E835 / 845?

Ah! Hadn't realised that 'cos there are still some about in stores... Maybe explains Studiocare's very good price at the mo.

The e845 is supercardioid... the e840 is/was cardioid...

[DanR]

Maybe explains Studiocare's very good price at the mo.

Drat! I've ordered already
Didn't know about Studiocare.

All the searches for the E840 / 845 came up with discontinued or unavailable.

[DanR]

Maybe explains Studiocare's very good price at the mo.

Drat! I've ordered already
Didn't know about Studiocare.

All the searches for the E840 / 845 came up with discontinued or unavailable.