• Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 3

Topic: Is Sure 58, no good for VoiceLive 2?

Hi All!

Although I have been around awhile, I'm new to this tech stuff and a few months ago, and maybe foolishly, I  bought a VoiceLive 2..

Its sounds like a great bit of kit, but it's not like the old days of 'pushing the bass up a bit, a bit of reverb, adjusting the mic and guitar volume. You now have to have a degree in sound technology to switch it on! Well it's not quite that bad......

What I thought I would do, is  try and relate the individual parts of the VL2 to my passed experience.. I started with the Mix settings as this seemed to be the easiest starting point; inputs and outputs... how difficult could that be.. I contacted Helicon for help.... not good... obviously they know what they're talking about... but didn't really want to help..

So today, I got a email telling me that my Sure 58 mic, isn't up to the job!!  I've used Sure for years  and know many who also use them.... i would call them a workhorse and a cracking mic... but no... I need to change....

So can someone please tell me what mic they would recommend?

Many thanks for your time!
Richard

  • Registered: 2010-02-15
  • Posts: 177

Re: Is Sure 58, no good for VoiceLive 2?

it seem so strange that at TC Helicon tells that a universal mic like SM58 is not for the job..

Sure I think too there's a lot o mic that offer better characteristics for better price too, but it not means, that a siilar mic could create problems or incompatibility with VL2.

But we don't know exactly the problems you had and the request made...
For example if you want to obtain a deep warm sound from that mic... sure someone could tell.. change it..
If you want obtain crispy air harmonics with sounds opend over 15 Khz... someone could tell.. change microphone...

It depend on the question ... tha answer you have.

  • Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 3

Re: Is Sure 58, no good for VoiceLive 2?

Ta NightFly!
Here's the question and reply....

"I use an acustic guitar and I notice that the mike, an old Sure 58, picks up the external sound of the guitar... too much increase on the Guitar knob, output, or main output of my amp, causes major feedback... horrible! Any way around this?" - Better mic placement is probably the key.

  • Registered: 2009-06-19
  • Posts: 1,183

Re: Is Sure 58, no good for VoiceLive 2?

Hiya All,

As far as the feedback issue goes, as with any vocal harmony/effects unit it's important to make sure your voice is the most dominant signal going through your microphone because this it's what is being fed through your mic that it's harmonising to. Therefore, if you are performing loud with guitar amps, foldback wedges, bass amps etc directly facing your mic... you're probably going to run into trouble.

Here's some steps you can take to minimise the trouble causing spill:-

- Where possible, eliminate direct sound sources being fed in your exact     direction (turn speakers and amps away from you and make sure no amps are sitting at shoulder level).

- Think about what kind of mic you are using. A cardioid/hypercardioid pick-up pattern is best for reducing spill. See here...
http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/micro … stics.html
I have heard many reports that the Audix OM7 makes a huge difference to feedback and spill from other VoiceLive 2 users.

- Make use of the VoiceLive 2's gate feature.

- Consider using in-ear monitors.

- Use the compressor sparingly.

For further advice and help, do get in touch with TC-Helicon's support team anytime, they're always happy to help!

Let me know how you go. I'd suggest band practises are a great place to experiment and tweak things before the gig.

Best wishes,

Joey

  • Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 3

Re: Is Sure 58, no good for VoiceLive 2?

Cheers Joey!

Good advice......

One quick question: Ear monitors..... are they the same as headphone, but designed to for your ear and where to you connect; headphone output?

Ta!

  • Registered: 2010-09-16
  • Posts: 37

Re: Is Sure 58, no good for VoiceLive 2?

The Audix OM-5 is a good mic also (that's the one I have).  Basically, you want a mic with good off-axis sound rejection, and get up close to the mic when singing -- 1-3 inches is probably the sweet spot.  The SM58 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone has too wide of a pickup pattern to effectively isolate the vocal signal.  The Audix OM-5 has a hypercardioid pickup pattern that greatly reduces the sensitivity off-axis.  By singing directly into the business end of the OM-5, the mic sends just the vocal signal, even if you're banging away on a guitar just a couple feet below the mic.

In-ear monitors generally insert into the ear canal and block ambient sound from the performer.  They are not the same as headphones.

  • Registered: 2010-11-22
  • Posts: 148

Re: Is Sure 58, no good for VoiceLive 2?

I am heading into l and m today to get a new mic. I have a pg58 and am finding in our smallish practice space I am picking up too much around me. I have to turn the gain down on the vocal channel and push hard. I am just getting back into singing after oh almost 20 yrs away and that kinda workout on my diaphragm feels like I just jogged 2 miles lol

so hyper cardiod is the best? I was also thinking a uni directional. What's the scoop on Apex mics? I see the 381 is about the same cost as the audix om2 and a hyper cardiod. no Audix in stock in BC so am looking at options. Also see a couple Shure uni directionals in stock, sm57 and 58's

  • Registered: 2010-11-22
  • Posts: 148

Re: Is Sure 58, no good for VoiceLive 2?

I picked up a Shure Beta 58a today. http://www.long-mcquade.com/products/87 … id_Mic.htm so we'll see how that works out.

  • Registered: 2009-06-19
  • Posts: 1,183

Re: Is Sure 58, no good for VoiceLive 2?

DickyMac wrote:

Cheers Joey!

Good advice......

One quick question: Ear monitors..... are they the same as headphone, but designed to for your ear and where to you connect; headphone output?

Ta!

Hiya DickyMac,

This link should help:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-ear_monitor

You'd simply connect them to the headphone output on the VoiceLive 2.

Let me know if that helps!

Best wishes,

Joey

  • Daiwana
  • VC Top Contributor
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-09-09
  • Posts: 36

Re: Is Sure 58, no good for VoiceLive 2?

My current mic, is a audix om-7 that i use with the voice live. I love the sound of it, and it makes a huge difference with the VL2 in a live situation. Not so much in the rehearsal room, but thats because of the acoustic properties of the room.

Just keep in mind that if you're using a shure sm58, beta or the likes, it's a completely different mic to use. You have to sing REALLY close to the mic. I kid you not! You can sometimes push a little back from the lips, but you have to be singing in some high gain parts, like screams and so forth or else you'll get a big difference in gain.

I highly recommend using the external foam for comfort, if you are planing to use it for long periods of time.

All considered, i really love the sound of it. With good gate/compression, it'll do its magic.

I don't use IEM's yet. waiting for a pair to be made, and sent, but i think it wont make that much of a difference, unless you gig on big stages, or the whole band uses them.

Love the sound of the senheisers too.