best mic for metal/screaming vocals

Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:44 am

hey, i started singing not too long ago, i have a crappy mic, im gana get a new one after christmas or so, so i need to know what to get, i scream, it varies from stuff like "tha agony scene" , "as i lay dying" and "the devil wears prada", theres more but, just to give u an idea, i do a small bit of vocals, so i dont want it to be horible for that,i usually use aduacity on my pc to cover songs, so id like to have a mic that can plug into my pc. ill also need other things to sing live, like an amp and stuff ( not exactly sure what all i need) so u can comment about that also, thanks, it needs to be under 200$ or close to 200 for the mic alone, i know other things will cost more.

ive heard alot about the sm57 beta, sm58, and sm58 beta

Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 12:31 pm

Any of those mics listed will serve you well for both live and studio, at least for the short term.
Several years down the road, as your studio grows, you might outgrow the Shure's for studio use. But you'll continue to use them for live work. So you can't go wrong there.
enjoy.

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:51 am

those will be your best bet. from the metal bands i've recorded i actually prefer dynamic mics to capture the screams. just my preference.

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:55 am

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/520DX

I'd recommend the Green Bullet, personally. The scream vocalist I have worked with loved just holding it in his hands and screaming his guts out.

Rammstein uses it a decent amount on background vocals as well (as indicated by their live DVDs).

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:33 am

badtodabone,

I suggest you try a couple of the mics you listed and see which one you like best. The 58 is a good choice. As for an amp... you shouldn't need one for shows, most venues have their own PA system. So you'll just need something for practices right. I bought a yamaha stage pass 300 and it's alright. 300 watts are plenty for vocals. Plus you can always use it at a party to play music! i.e Hook up a computer(or another device) to the mixer.

JensenBohren,

How does the green bullet sound with screaming vocals? I saw it's shape awhile ago and thought the same thing but then I saw it's frequency response and I ran the other way. I want to try a Blue Ball on screaming vocals but I haven't gotten to yet. It can also be cupped.

Respectfully,
Christopher

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:54 am

The SM58 is probably going to be your choice, especially if you're using it live as well. Dynamic mics have lower dynamic sensitivity than do condensers, and, as condensers are more fragile and (generally) expensive, you likely wouldn't use one live, especially in a metal band where weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth may occur. People make jokes about hammering nails with the SM58, but it's not funny.

It's around 100$ (street price? I'm not sure of the intended retail price.)

However, it's not a USB mic, so you won't be able to just plug into your PC and record as you need an A/D converter and a preamp. You can find such things packaged neatly in an audio interface.

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:55 am

Hey badtodabone

I have been singing hardcore punk and metalcore for some time and I'd recommend a Shure SM58 or if your budget allows, Beta 58. I wouldn't go for a 57 as you will need the windscreen grill to reduce vocal 'pop'.

Shure mics are tough as nails for live use and have a very long life. My SM58 is about 8 years old and I picked it up second hand from a rehearsal studio and have used it live since then. I recently recorded a short vocal part with it, and then recorded the same part with my mate's brand new 58. After about 3 listens he could pick the difference (and this was singing rather than screaming). My mic is showing very little signs of fatigue even after 8 years of use.

I have used a Beta 58 one time live and the difference in sound through the foldback was incredible - my 58 sounded dead. (Mind you, the system may have been tuned for a Beta 58...)

Either way, a Beta 58 will be my next purchase.

Cheers,
Matty

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:48 pm

Hey badtodobone,

Sorry, forgot to comment the amplification side of things.

As TopherNeverDies mentioned, most venues and rehearsal rooms you play at will have a PA system for vocal amplification. However, if you do need something to amplify yourself for rehearsal in your garage/shed, then look around for a small vocal PA system. Also on the recording side of things, forget a USB microphone...

One option that you have is to get the following;

Small mixing desk and one powered speaker. (And maybe a tripod stand for your speaker.)

For recording;
You can plug your mic into a small mixing desk, such as the $60 Behringer Xenyx 802 http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHXENTX802 and hook the mixer to your computer's sound card via the mixers RCA plugs.

For live use;
Plug your mic into the mixer and the mixer into a powered speaker, such as Behringer B212A. http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHB212A (I'm sure you don't need to spend $280. When I looked quickly I couldn't find anything cheaper with an 8 or 10in speaker.)

All in all, that is all you need to get going for recording and live performances. It is a basic system for starting out - you can upgrade as you go.

Cheers,
Matty

Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:48 am

From http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/WiredMicrophones/us_pro_520DX_content

What we have here is... failure to record highs, which will eliminate that sloppy sounding spittle and hissing that makes the screaming harder to understand, and failure to record lows, which you really don't need in a good take of a scream.

You get the mids, and that's exactly what you want with a good scream. At least it is for me. If you want it to sound like the screamer is choking on phlegm and spraying a mist of spit when he screams, that's your perogative.

As I said, though, go to a music store and take a listen first. Most will let you try 'em out.

Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:44 pm

SM58 for me. I bought 4 of them some 27 years ago when I started working full time as a singer for live work. They've been everywhere with me, and I never had to take 3 of them out of the packet until I got started in recording about 13 years ago. They're all still going strong, having been thrown around all over the place, dropped, stomped on, smacked off the stage while twirling them around by the cable etc, and they still sound great. Outgrow them? Never. Anybody who is serious about recording should have at least two of them.

Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:05 am

Make sure you listen to me. Get an AKG 414, or a Neumann TLM 49.

Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:32 pm

majormusic wrote:

Make sure you listen to me. Get an AKG 414, or a Neumann TLM 49.

"it needs to be under 200$ "

You reading this stuff? It helps to answer the question if you actually "r e a d" what the OP is saying. If you spent more time looking at the message instead of trying to be the answer, you would be of at least, some help :)

As it stands, your posts are Santa Ana wind.

Again, ymmv and this is just my opinion based on watching current weather related trends on RO :)

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:38 am

My guess for the budget is that the SM58 will be a hard one to beat. I have had some great results with the SM7 which is too expensive for you but also a cheap condenser branded in the UK as a Joe Meek JM 47. Dead cheap and very good but to be honest a lot of the performance is in holding the mic and giving it what for, so the 58 has got to be favourite.

John

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