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Topic starter
25/07/2003 3:48 pm
Does a quality mic really help that much?
I have a 10 year old middle of the road peavey mic and a new $15 mic I got off ebay. I think both are comparable for singing. I am pondering the purchase of a Shure, because after all, everyone needs a Shure. Right? For sure, a Shure? But the question is, will it really make a difference? Shurely, it will (sorry). After all mics range greatly in price. But how much of a difference is what I want to know. Is it as different as a Les Paul to an Epiphone, or as different as a Marshall stack to a crate practice 15 watter? I'm just not Shure. (sorry again, but I try to had humor to the world).
25/07/2003 5:09 pm
I've got an average Shure, a really nice Peavey, and two really inexpensive Nady's. If you tweak the Nady's on the mixer adding in effects, they sound good. But if you don't have all that then the better mic will make a difference.
I know there's some vocal effects devices designed for lead singers, but I have no experience with them. You can also add an inexpensive tube based microphone pre-amp to add depth of tone.
E doesn't = MC2, E = Fb
Music "Theory"? "It's not just a theory, it's the way it is!"
Jonny T.
25/07/2003 8:32 pm
Yes, The quality of the Mic can make all the difference in the world.
Stay away from those inexpensive hand-held and wireless.
You'll drive the a your sound-man crazy trying to dial it in, you end up cutting allot of the mid range out of the mix.
Then you end up having to buy another Mic that will work.
"as different as a Marshall stack to a crate practice 15 watter?"
Now for this I'd say depends on who's playing and how the rigs are set-up.
If you run a stereo pre-amp (not factory presets) into two 15 watt crates (volume set at 2)and mic them into the p.a..
Some will go what and wow Howd-he do that, when you grab a pinch harmonic in the middle of a solo that walks out the mix and cracks the neighbors window..lol
joe
25/07/2003 11:01 pm
Having high-quality mics is very important in the recording studio. However, it's less important for rehearsals or live gigs - unless you are playing at studio levels with a polite audience.
It doesn't do much good if you have a wonderful $$$ mic but the EQ is scrambled because of a bad room.
-Laz
27/07/2003 3:00 am
I have 2 questions:
1st: Would running a mic thru a guitar amp isntead of a PA make it sound lower quality, or would it make my vox sound worse in general (like a bad voice)
2nd: Would having a cheap mic make it sound lower quality, or would it make my vox sound worse in general (like a bad voice)
27/07/2003 5:00 am
I really can't comment about what your saying, my guitar amps are used for guitars and a sound system is used for the mic's.
A lot can be achieved using models from the lower end of the price range, providing you know what their limitations are.
If you're going to spend more than a few hundred pounds on a microphone, it would be worth looking at a separate high-quality mic preamp to go with it.
A good microphone might seem expensive, but unlike that computer you may have spent a fortune on, a mic will never become obsolete, and its benefits will be heard on every recording you make.
just my thoughts joe
27/07/2003 4:19 pm
Guitar amps make lousy vocal amps.
-Laz
27/07/2003 11:52 pm
I get you Laz, but what I'm asking is if it will make the vox sound DIFFERENT or just low quality.
28/07/2003 12:48 pm
Er, both. The frequency response of a guitar amp is rarely as flat as a PA speaker which causes your voice to sound different. Plus the guitar amp doesn't mind adding distortion or noise, which doesn't help vocals either.
You can use a guitar amp in a pinch, but I wouldn't make a habit of it.
-Laz
Topic starter
28/07/2003 3:25 pm
Hey, you guys go get your own post!!!!!! >:(
28/07/2003 5:03 pm
Oops, sorry. ???
I thought we had answered you above. It's more important to have good mics in the studio than in live situations. Also, it doesn't help much to have a great mic and a lousy PA.
But if you think the reason you don't like your sound is a bad mic, try out a better one.
-Laz
29/07/2003 12:53 am
Ok, thanks a ton Laz. I decided I'm going to sing for our band, and I was going to get a new amp on sale at guitar center anyway, so I just wanted to know if it would be passable to use the guitar amp for vox, and just get a reasonablely priced mic for practicing. Or take one from someone else.