Active Band Man Chats - The New Microphone

Uh, so this happened at the end of last year...

Huh? What’s up all of a sudden?

A PA engineer at a live venue told me, “Hey, I read your Sound House column.”

Oh, that’s nice! And what did they think?

“They were surprised to see two familiar faces and said it felt like a comedy duo. It was really entertaining.”

I see...

Well, if they enjoyed it, that’s great... but I figured I should write a proper column every once in a while, instead of just joke pieces.

No worries! This time, we’re talking about microphones!

Microphones?

Microphones are...

And?

Did you know you can test microphones?

Wait, really?

Yep!

I never thought of ‘test-playing’ a mic... but that actually makes sense. So, is that today’s theme?

Bingo!

Got it!

When I perform live, I always bring my own microphone.

Yeah, there are vocalists who bring their own mics. I feel like that number increased after COVID—maybe for hygiene reasons?

Yeah, could be. I had been using an Electro-Voice mic that I really liked...

But?

It broke.

That’s rough.

Since then, I’ve been borrowing microphones from the venues or bringing my old one.

Makes sense. If it’s a standard model, most venues have them for rent.

Yeah, and that worked fine.

Right. Since PA engineers usually set their base sound using the mics available at the venue, bringing an unfamiliar one means they might need some time to get used to it.

Exactly.

By the way, what was your old mic?

The Telefunken M80.

Oh, the red one?

That’s the one!

Man, you really love red gear.

Yeah. It looks great, and there are plenty of color and material options too...

Wait, mics have different material options too? Like how guitars and basses use different types of wood?

I guess? I liked it enough that I considered buying another one, but...

But?

It has a totally different character from the Electro-Voice, so I decided to get a new mic instead.

Gotcha.

So, for the past six months, I’ve been on a secret mission to find the perfect mic.

Secret...? Was it really that secret?

I’ve been going to stores where you can test microphones!

What’s it like to test a mic?

First, you pick a few models.

Okay.

Usually two or three for comparison.

That makes sense. It’s easier to tell the difference when you compare them.

Then, the staff connects them to a mixer...

Uh-huh.

...and you actually sing into them while listening through headphones.

So, you don’t hear it through monitor speakers?

Nope, just through headphones. Usually, it’s done in a soundproof room, so you can sing as loud as you want.

That makes sense. Sometimes they take me to a soundproof room for bass testing too, but most of the time, I can just play in the store.

Yeah, if I sang at full volume inside the store, it’d be a disaster.

True. Imagine people in the back of the store suddenly hearing you belt out “For love”... that’d be hilarious!

Alright then... which mic will be the winner? Introducing the contenders for the Prince Rose Cup!
First up, our baseline: the Telefunken M80!

Telefunken / M80 Red w/ Chrome

I’ve been using this one for recent gigs. It has a strong midrange presence. My old Electro-Voice mic was clearer and easy to monitor in any setting, whereas the Telefunken feels like it overpowers with sheer power.

Hmm... so it’s like the Gibson of microphones?

That’s it!

Nailed it? Your voice already has a strong presence, so I feel like this mic suits you. Though sometimes, I’d love to hear you sing softly... but either way, you’re always so powerful.

You’ve been saying that for years! Next up: the Shure Beta 58!

Shure / Beta 58A-J

Ah, that design is so familiar.

A classic, right? Compared to the SM58, the Beta 58 is a bit clearer. But it has high gain, so when I sing at full force, it starts to distort.

Interesting. Like a natural overdrive? That’s great for guitars, but for a mic, wouldn’t that make the lyrics harder to hear?

Yeah, possibly. Next, we have Shure’s latest model: the Nexadyne! This was my frontrunner before testing!

Shure / Nexadyne 8/C

It looks like it means business—very sleek.

Right? I visited several stores to find a demo unit.

How was it?

My first reaction was, “Is there a compressor on this?” But I felt the same when I tested Shure’s high-end dynamic mic, the KSM8.


Shure / KSM8/B-J

Maybe Shure’s philosophy is that a good mic should capture all frequencies evenly. That probably makes it easier for PA engineers to mix. But personally, I want more dynamic contrast.

I see. There’s logic in making a well-balanced, all-purpose mic, but I also get the appeal of a mic with a distinct character. You can really see the thought process behind different designs.

Yeah, and it’s fun to experiment with them to find the right fit.

A true gear rabbit hole!

And now, a dark horse appears!

Wait, there’s more?

Presenting...

Sennheiser / E935

Sennheiser?

I’ve barely used their mics before, but this one is nicely clear without feeling muddy in the lower mids. I think it’ll be easy to monitor on stages where sound tends to get muddy. Plus, great cost-performance! This is it!

Congratulations!

Among the many Shure contenders, the first to cross the finish line was the Sennheiser E935!

So this year, you’ll be singing with Sennheiser? I’m looking forward to it.

By the way, what mic do you use, Horry?

Uh... I do have one... it’s an AKG D5.

And how does it sound?

Uh... I don’t really know.

You don’t know!? How did you get this mic?

A few years ago, Ted (The Captains’ bassist) gave it to me for my birthday. He said, “I picked one that suits your voice.”

Oh, if Ted chose it for you, then it’s a perfect match.

Yeah... I think it should be.

“You think?” Do you even use it? You do backing vocals sometimes, right?

Yeah, but like... maybe once per show, if that. It feels like too much effort to bring my own mic just for that. And kinda embarrassing, too.

Oh, come on! You should use it this year. To all the PA engineers reading this column—when Horry shows up, ask him, “Where’s your mic?”

I’m being staged here. Alright, I guess I’ll try using it more this year.

And so, with our mics in hand, we sing—because everything is?

For love!