Microphone

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Permalink Reply by Steve Sklar on November 19, 2009 at 12:23am

Hi Sauli,

Yes, inexpensive wireless mics aren't going to do your voice justice. Unless you really need wireless, just get a decent vocal mic. For studio pros, there is always an effort to find the best available mic for each source, but any decent vocal mic (usually will have a cage/ball around the capsule) should make you a lot happier. I don't know about prices in Finland, but here you can often find something adequate for $100.00 or so.

If it sounds good on your regular voice, it's likely to sound good for throat-singing. If you like to sing extremely low, as I sometimes do, or like Kuvezin, then you might lost some lowest frequencies, but most not-really-speakers won't accurately reproduce those frequencies. Not usually a problem, though.

I've seen great throatsingers use SM58s and sound good enough for gigs.

Let me know if you need more info.

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Harold Grandstaff Moses on November 19, 2009 at 8:12am

Yes, the Shure SM58 is an excellent choice. Experiment with placement to discover zones where the overtones are more prominent. You may find an off axis orientation is helpful.

HG

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Permalink Reply by Carsten Weidmann on November 19, 2009 at 8:51am

Hy, i use the ZOOM H2.
For better sound in combination with the OKM inear mic. The sound is good :-)
Carsten

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Permalink Reply by SaReGaMa on November 19, 2009 at 9:15am

Any professional mike should pick overtones with no problem and boosting the 1-3 khz range with equalizer can do wonders to them.

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Permalink Reply by D.B.Lolaq on November 19, 2009 at 11:19am

I'm an instrumentalist and I don't like the fuss with microphones lying all around, so i use just a couple. When recording on computer I use a Shure 8900 hooked to a Behringer mic100 tube pre-amp to warm up the sound, especially the mid-tone region. The Shure is rediculously sensitive, really love it! The main problem with picking up the full range of frequencies is the placing of the mic (as Harold noticed). I noticed that when recording singing, it's best the mic is tilted down towards the mouth from a position that is slightly too high. The mic capsule ( the head) faces a bit down and the mic body is at an angle of about 10 degrees. I think with overtone singing you should keep your mouth at a slightly greater distance from the mic than with normal singing, but that's just my theory, since I don't have any experience.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher on November 19, 2009 at 12:05pm

probably dynamic microphone, not condenser. long time ago I had a "cheap" (30 euro shure, I don't remember what) dynamic mic, and... well, it was not perfect, but it was fine. warm presence, gentle clean sound - with no "dirt" artifacts; not well for instruments, but good enough for overtones. condenser mics (50-120 euro at least) record everything, including the "sound dirt" present in the vocals, and thus - I'm not satisfied with overtones on them; they seem to be rather for instruments (typical condenser) or for lectures (large membrane type for vocals/instruments). I'm going to buy a dynamic one for my overtones. perhaps shure sm58 or something cheaper (perhaps it will be better; sm58 is recommended for vocals, but overtones are not typical vocals). I'm going to check also my field recorder Zoom H2 (it has electret mics inside, but sounds very specific comparing to other field recorders), because from what I heard it seems to "work" with overtones (sometimes I need high portability). if there is someone with practical experience what kind of mics are not overpriced and good for overtones especially - I'd like to hear about it.

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Permalink Reply by wolfman on November 19, 2009 at 12:50pm

hi sauli,

to me the best microphones to pickup the overtones are large ribbon geometry (LRG) microphones like the AEA R84. they can take the same soundpressure like dynamic mics and have the same brilliance like condensor mics and they are realy sensitiv. in other words, the best of both worlds. but it is not only the microphon, which makes the sound. you need also a good cable and a good pre-amplifier. and beleave me, i am not talking like a blind about colours, i am recording instruments for 40 years. wireless mics don´t have a good sound and if, they are realy expensiv. it is better to work cable-bound.

i hope i could help you out.

swinging regards

wolfman

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Permalink Reply by Mario Faustino on November 19, 2009 at 2:09pm

Hello everyone,

Thank you very much Jens for the invitation! I still keep an old "eagle" from the time I use to be in a band. A very reliable thing.

Best wishes, mjf

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Permalink Reply by Andy Bergman on November 19, 2009 at 4:27pm

One thing to watch out for is proximity effect. With most microphones, except perhaps omni-directional ones, singing very close to it will exponentially boost lower frequencies, which might sound bad or good depending on your sound/style. To avoid this, experiment by leaving more space between your mouth and the microphone - I suspect you'll hear a big difference.

I agree that a standard dynamic mic is a good place to start, if you're looking to buy one. And, if you're looking at the Shure SM58 (or 57), I'd recommend one of the "beta" models. There's even wireless versions of those, although more expensive of course. Good luck!

--andy

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Permalink Reply by Jan Ole Haber on November 19, 2009 at 6:52pm

Hi !
I don't really have a lot of experience with mikrophones that pick especially the overtones well. My main instrument is the Didge. I use the Audio-Technica AT-4041 and I'm very happy with it. Stephen Kent is using it live too. It's a small condenser Mic and it should work for your needs too. It's sensitive and clear but not too sensitive so you can use it on stage without feedback! I really like the sound of audio technica and the price is very good for the great performance! In my opinion the Price to Quality range is much much better than the common Mics from Shure ore AKG (You pay a lot for the Brand)! Audio Technica offers diferent Mics (Condenser and Dynamic) so I would guess to check some out to find a good one for overtones. May you find a Music-Store around where You can test the sound. In the end it's a question of what YOU like - and to what kind of technic the Mic is conected to... (Pre Amp, Mixer, PA , Speakers...)
Greetings from Bremen
Ole

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Permalink Reply by Sauli Heikkilä on November 19, 2009 at 9:22pm

Thanks to explosive discussion, helpfull and interresting. Yes, I have shure58, which is recommended by everyone but the problem is, while playin igil or morin khuur, I need to watch board ocationally and headset gives freedom. My friend is working in musicstore, maybe I make a research trip... I´ll report later, what I find out.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher on November 21, 2009 at 1:04am

Hi,

I just made a short (we are after midnight here) Zoom H2 test on overtones, and added a song on my playlist. See the "Vision". Could sound a little better on a dynamic mic, but is not so bad anyway. (-;

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