Microphones
I see a lot of churches try to cut corners when it comes to purchasing microphones. If you were building on to your church building, how would you like having to use an inferior tool kit, like the one I got for my 8th birthday? A screwdriver that bends, a hammer with plastic handle and tape measure that only pulls out 6′ would all make the job extremely difficult. In churches I see the equivalent of microphones all too often. Let me give you a list of my favorite mics, and why.
Shure SM-57. This is a MUST. The mic is only $79 if you look around, and I could litereally mix an entire band with these, with maybe a different mic on the kick drum. For the sake of saving $20, some dealers will give you the generic version in some other brand and tell you it sounds just like a 57. DON’T believe them. Trust me, it doesn’t sound the same. No other mic should go on your snare.
Shure SM-58. The ‘vocal version’ of the 57. In fact, some people argue the only difference is the windscreen. Perhaps, but I do know that this $89 mic is the #1 choice in tours all over the world with unlimited budgets for vocals.
(Both mics mentioned above are available in the ‘beta’ version, instead of the ‘SM’ version. The difference is a tighter pick up pattern and a little boost in the high end. The Beta 57 works well for snare bottoms.)
Shure Beta 52. If I have a choice on kick drum mics, this is always the one I start with. It just gives you the most natural sound, yet delivers a well rounded signal. Place the head of the mic just inside the hole on the front of the drum, aimed right at the beater. You should get plenty of attack without having to add another mic (please don’t use the 91. yuck!).
AT 4050. I couldn’t give Shure all the spots. Ok, I could, but won’t. This Audio Technica large diaphram condensor mic is great, but a bit more expensive. It works best in larger spaces because it will pick up a lot. The best part is that since it has 2 capsules, you can change the pick up pattern. If you record your band, a pair of these will quickly become your favorite mics. Try a set on your choir as well.
Sennheiser 604. I almost forgot my favorite mic for the toms! You can find a 3 pack for $300, and they come with clips on mounts, so you don’t need additional claws or mic stands. Aim the mic at the middle of the drum head for the best sound.
Audix. I actually like some of their stuff. The D6 kick drum mic is my 2nd favorite. The toms mics are overrated if you ask me. On vocals, they produce a very deep rich sound. If that works well for your group, and you want to spend the extra money, then go for it. For bands I find they usually take up too much space in the lower-vocal register, but for speaking, they give you that radio DJ voice.
Have any other mics you like or dislike? Let me know! I’m interested in what you use and what your thoughts are.
May 26th, 2009 on 11:42 am
you have some really great choices. i am a brand new youth director at a church, and before that have lead worship, and been very involved in the sound production area.
sm-58 and sm-57 are just amazing. they are over 40 years old. great bands have used them before alot of us were born. not to mention that they are very hard to break, and the cheapest to boot.
now the question i have is what do you think about the wireless versions of the SM-58 for the vocals. the current sound guy at my church bought 3 $1200 audiotechnia AEW-T5400 handheld and lapel combo.
i asked him about how good were the sm-58 wireless versions were compared to the T5400;s were, and being the strong christ centered sound person that most people in a church are, he laughed, told me those were the best money could buy, and then proceded to lecture me about my age and not knowing anything about sound system at all.
May 26th, 2009 on 11:59 am
A little cheesy, but it makes its point:
May 26th, 2009 on 10:27 pm
we use beta 58s on praise team vocals, and have 2 wireless sm-58s. our pastor uses a countryman e1 (w/ a sennheiser wireless), and I’ve been using one too as worship leader, but I’m considering moving off it and going w/ one of the wireless 58s on a boom stand. I’ve used audix vocal mics before and really liked them. I haven’t bought any mics for our church since I came on as worship pastor 18 mo. ago, and we are surprisingly absent of sm-57s…we own not a single one. And this is a church that owns a 40 ch. Allen & Heath and is pushing all EAW speakers…I just don’t get it. We need to invest in a few in the coming year.
We’ve got a Shure on the kick, but I’m not sure what model – I hope it’s the one you like.
Our drum mics, other than the kick, are pretty lacking: I might consider some of those 604s for the toms, too – I think we use a set of Nadys or something (??).
What do you think about mic’ing a grand piano, particularly in a setting where you’ve got a lot of stage noise that’s already being picked up by 7 condensers on the choir, 6 praise team mics, etc? And while we’re on the subject, what are your thoughts about choir mics? We mostly use those small audio-technicas – 5 of them hanging above the choir. 2 more of something else – I think it’s a small Shure condenser – also hanging.