Beta 58a has approximately 30% more gain than the regular SM58. Beta 87a is a condenser, and as such will pick up more nuances in any voice. It also has a narrower sweet spot, so mic technique is more important to nail down... Don't point it at your chin...you instinctively move up when you sing louder and move completely away from the sweet spot, which is why at certain spots you sound very weak. Try to stay about 6 in from the 87, pointed slightly up but at an angle, not directly pointed at your mouth. This way you won't overpower it, and still have the choice to move closer for softer passages and get the benefit of the proximity effect.
Just saw this, sorry for the delay...I believe you are referring to the Neumann KMS 105 (KSM 8/9 is Shure brand)...Anyway, I have used the KMS 104, which is cardioid, so wider pickup pattern, again, preference, but will matter how much you move on stage. I do look at my guitar when playing so know from using the Audix OM7 I would feel confined to within 2-3 inches from the mic sweet spot...the 104 sweet spot is wider so fits my use better. 104/105 and 104 Plus are unforgiving with artifacts they pick up. If you think the Beta 87a is sensitive, multiply that to a factor of about 2-3 conservatively. Also the 87 is voiced like other Shure mics, so rounder sound, more proximity(boomier) when close up on it. 104/105 are very bright compared to the Shures, well bright is probably the wrong word, cause you can hear the low range well too, but crackly, timid, sibilant voices are prob better with the Shure. Output wise - I haven't a-b the 104 and 87 but feel like 104 is a bit higher output. This is not as critical, unless you plug into a deck with an inferior pre and no EQ. The comparison above is with no EQ, the 104 takes EQ well. Best to try if you can, it depends in the voice
Another mic to check out is Audio Technica AE5400 (or the older versions AT4054/4055). Check Chris Cornell videos, he used the AE5400 on many occasions...also Eric Clapton did. This mic is based on the AT4050 capsule, but has a single diaphragm. Sits between the Beta 87a and KMS 104/105 in terms of sparkliness, picks up less sibilance than 105/104 wider proximity range, and has good output. Also half the price than Neumann.
Mark you are a good reviewer because you really gig and you really are honest. I have all the same mic choices except the 87a. My female singer has a 87a wireless and when she takes breaks I literally sing into her mic and then mine. There is just a clarity to the 87a over my beta 58. I have also have sinehieser e95. I love your guitar and that is a well written and performed song. Greeting from the home of the Indianapolis 500
This is great to hear. I do an acoustic duet thing with my daughter. She has a lovely voice, but it's very soft very quiet. She can belt but she doesn't like to. And we just did a gig where she was using an SM 58. The constructive feedback we got was that it was a bit muffled, kind of hard to Understand some of the words she was saying and she was a little too quiet. So after doing some research I just sent off for a beta 58 a. Heard that it was a little hotter and more clarity. Nice to hear you confirm that it's good mic for people with softer voices.
This is the most helpful review I’ve seen. I play live at an outdoor gig and have a softer voice and need a new mike and was gonna buy an sm58 but now I’m gonna buy the beta!
I actually like your voice with the SM58 best. After watching many videos of demos of these 3 mics, I find there is more natural sound out of the original SM58. The others have a manipulated less natural sound.
Thanks for giving an amazing review, I'm a female singer and i use the sm58 I find that with the drums and one speaker plus playing the piano my voice is just gone even if I turn the gain up, I'm giving the sm58A, a try thanks.
Just bought the wireless Beta87a. With some of the Shure wireless mics you can buy the different capsules (heads) for about £100. This is good as you can just swap over the heads for different sounds and it’s cheaper than buying the whole unit. The V7 MC1 is supposed to be a really good capsule that attaches to some of the Shure wireless mics and used by professionals such as Billie Eilish and Justin Timberlake. Beautiful voice by the way 😊
i have had 87a for decades and it's my angel...do lots of a capella, very loud and whispering...it "catches" me...still, to me, all electronics clips the feelings and connecting with audience, prefer no fi acoustic...what i have seen work
While super cardioids have better side rejection than cardioids, but tend t have a 180 degree secondary sensitivity node, which can lead to feedback issues with stage monitors. If you are using IEM monitoring instead of stage monitors, they are fine. I think that most sound engineers would prefer cardioid mics with a stage monitor setup. Generally, dynamic mics are more robust & less expensive than condensers and are therefor preferred for live gigs. However dynamics are generally have low sensitivity. They work well with loud sounds and close miking. Close miking is key to controlling feedback & rejecting stage noise. You can increase dynamic mic sensitivity, by adding a FetHead or other phantom powered preamp. Condenser mics have more sensitivity for softer sounds or distance miking, both of which increase the risk of feedback. For this reason, they tend to be super cardioid and not work so well with stage monitors. Ten we have lapel or ear worn radio mics which are a type of condenser/electret) omni directional mic. They basically rely on extreme proximity to reject other stage sounds. Maybe this is the solution for quiet vocalists. It just means you can't go near other sound sources or walk in front of speakers.
Great singing. Yea ive had guitar cables for years and years but if i have an xlr cable for a month and use it twice it fcks up explain that. Especially when its like a 30-50$ cable like wtf. Might as well just start out getting a good wireless adapter i reckon even for the same room recording.
Do you think the beta87a is good for recording? I heard about too much self noise and I'm scared it can be really too much! I need a mic that I can use either in lives and to record my voice when meanwhile my Neumann tlm102 is recording my guitar.. do you think that the quality can be appropriate and that the self noise is not too much for recording? Thank you a lot
Hey, I'm so sorry for the delay. Yes I've found it to be great for recording. There's a bit of noise but i like it. I recorded a song of mine ' Adventure time' with this mic, both the guitar and vocals on the mic. Have a listen. open.spotify.com/track/1yj93PJjrKetBAinZfKZtM?si=dce750f6c60b44f9 - I'd probably be inclined to use the TLM for vocals and the 87a for guitar to be honest but each to their own.
@@MarkCrotti I actually liked the song! Anyway i bought the beta 58a two months ago because I needed the versatility of a dynamic mic for the lives and I'll say it exceeded my expectations, but thank you anyway for the answer 😄
Your sibilant problem (the "ssss" thing) would greatly be reduced by using a pop filter. You want to use that on all your dynamic and condenser mics. This video was 3 years ago so hopefully you're using pop filters since then lol.
Sir, I am beginner. I want to record my written poetry professionally. In which my line will go in high tone and will also come in low tone. Tell me such a mic and audio interface. So that I can record and mix later. My room is not sound proof. My total budget is $300. But a shopkeeper told me that you cannot do recording with dynamic mic. Please tell me what should I do. Tell me such a mic and audio interface that I will not regret after buying.
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