A good microphone can do anything. Not really, it’s designed for one purpose, but it does it masterfully well. From amplifying your principal yelling at you to some of the greatest vocal performances ever, it is responsible for bringing the artist to your ear. From retaining their tone to creating an echo that will give you goosebumps upon remembering the gig, microphones are responsible for capturing music in many different frequencies.
It is important that each microphone is made versatile, for it has to do justice for each genre. Artists have go-to picks that keep increasing in price range and quality based on their success. Admiration for quality sound is another dealmaker. None of Steely Dan’s impressive high fidelity recordings would be so sought after, if not for good microphones.
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For vocalists and stand-up comedians, they are a statement piece. For instrumentalists, they bank on it to amplify their setup for the right scale and volume. Heck, I blame my mic every time I bomb during my comedy sets. Maybe working on it more rather than cribbing about it will help. From bang for the buck to the greatest quality of sound you can get, here are 3 mics you can rely on for your live shows. Add this to your arsenal, and you’re good ol’ Freddie Mercury or Tina Turner. Provided you practice as well.
Shure SM-58
Probably the best in line for value of money and sound, this has been a staple for all musicians, regardless of the genre. It just has a cardioid pickup, no filters, nothing complex. It just makes recording as natural as it can get. The diaphragm on the mic is strong, the body is strong and generally, it has great performance on live shows. So many artists ditch their 500 dollar mics to rely on the simple comfort of an SM-58. From the shape of the grille to the natural, warm sound it gives-there are a lot of things to love about it.
I’m pretty sure Barack Obama’s viral mic drop was a Shure SM-58. For under 100 dollars (the price has increased since its popularity), it is worth every penny. Better wait for Black Friday, but you can still get it without breaking the bank.
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Telefunken M80
What’s better than the aforementioned cardioid? A supercardioid. That is what the Telefunken M80 has, which has to be one of the best mics made to build. It has a condenser mic like sound, has a regular mic like build and sounds great. It is also available in 15 different colours, so you can choose to showcase your personality with great sound. Not if you sound horrible though. Then you become “that comedian with the red mic sucks”. Sigh, I need therapy.
There is a good high end-boost that leads to some chirpy, exciting sounds, but might be sharp if your voice is shriller. The build quality is amazing, is quite heavy at 430g (might as well hold dumbbells). However, they have packed a podcast level condenser quality mic for a price only a third more than Shure’s popular option. The thin diaphragm also ensures there is a wide frequency, and Telefunken’s engineers don’t want you to hold their beer. They deserve it, for this is a bombshell of a microphone for the quality it delivers.
A reminder note
Beware, as you read all this. These are some of the best mics for the price and sound, however, the sound output depends on you. Rather than purchasing this online, it is suggested you try out the mics before you choose yours. We don’t more spit on our website than the inside of Elton John’s microphone grill. The feel to hold, perform and record using this will also impact your decision. You’re on the internet now. Make big person decisions, big person.
DPA d:facto 4018
The last mic on this three card Monte line-up needs an ovation. Probably because of who will use the mic, not that the mic isn’t shy. It has an extremely rugged body, and an even more rugged response. It has a presence boost that starts at about 7kHz, and has some generous mids to make your sound feel fuller. Also, it has 20dB-worth of dynamic range, which is considerable for the kind of recording you might be leaning into. A 160dB SPL, so if you’re a metal screamer who wants to challenge the super cardioid, go ahead. This is your pick, for you will drop the mics several times during your performance.
So go ahead and take your pic from these top 3 live mics. They are great with other unwanted noise that bleeds in during performances. If you choose them for podcasts as well, then it might be able to hear your soul as well. Happy recording, and most importantly, an electric and memorable performance to you!
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Self professed metalhead, moderately well read. If the music has soul, it's whole to me. The fact that my bio could have ended on a rhyme and doesn't should tell you a lot about my personality.
