Karaoke Forums

You're right on that, I just ran across an old SM58 the other night that I didn't even know I still had. It looked like it had been used as a jack handle.....but when I pluged it in, it still worked.

Knightshow, I'm not sure I've heard of the AS890. who makes it?[/quote]

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

I agree with knightshow, wireless is the easiest to use. Seems some people when they get around cables have to get tangled in them...why? who knows. People can act civil, use a mic, and treat it with a little care.



I won't go out buy good speakers, and a great peavey mixer, and other gear, just to have a singer sound crappy on a $20 mic.......

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Sweet Little Me In Karaokeland........

I don't mind if you have crappy wireless mics as long as you have a decent wired one for me. I don't even ask for great (i.e. Beta 58 or Senn 945). Just good, like an SM-58 or Senn. 835.

But I  agree with you 100%. I just saw a guy put the cheapest sort of $10.00 Nady microphone in front of $5000 worth of sound system. Why? If you even spend $20.00 for a Behringer XM8500, you can get some decent sound. And I have never heard of an SM-58 failing.

If you want wireless, you can get a Sennheiser Freeport wireless for $150, and it will blow away any VocoPro I have seen. If it survives 30 shows, you have spent $5.00 per show for it, which should be in anyone's budget. If you are working places that have enough drunks to destroy them at a faster rate, I hope you are not working for peanuts!

So in the end I set up with good to great wired mics, and make halfway-decent wireless available for those who want it.

I have the one wireless that I let singers use. The Audio Technica wireless has great sound and it doesn't feed back as easy as my wired mikes. It's easier to equalize too. I've had only one occasion in many years were a guy tried to hide the wireless mike on me.

I do watch the singers, and if they get too typsy, they get the wired mike.

As far as wireless goes, I'm kinda liking what I've read on the AKG WMS40 Dual Pro. Decent price, good specs, supposedly 30 hours on a AA Battery and hex, they look sexy

Mckyj57, I realize that beta58's and Sennheiser 945's are overkill for Karaoke, but I already have them for live band use where gain before feedback is a major problem and believe me two loud guitar players is already more problem than I need.

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

I have been wireless for 4 years now.  I started out with wired Shure Beta58A's.  Great mic.  I still have them but I now also have 4 Shure wireless.  I also use the 87A head.

(Not trying to sound like "Bigdog" here)

I use them because I like them.  (The only wired mic that is used at my gig is a ShureSH55) I have only been out $75.00 in the four years I have had them.  I always thought the SM58 was a great mic until I heard the Beta58A. And likewise about them until I heard the 87A's.  I'm know there are better ones out there yet but I have reached my "comfort level."  I guess I am fortunate in that my crowd is pretty respectful of my equipment.  I am very vocal about my rules. I found being that way in the beginning pays dividends.  You can post your rules in your books all you want but I have found nothing beats a good verbal lashing.  LOL

I have only a few who venture into the crowd.  Also the stage is two feet to the right just inside the front door.  Very easy for me to monitor who comes and goes.  Matter of fact, the ONLY thing I have ever had stolen is 1 blowup guitar.

I have sung on bad mics.  Nothing worse in my opinion.  Of course more time than not it's because of lack of knowledge on how to mix.  The wireless save me time.  And I like the sound.

Kelly

In a pipe dream I would love to go totally wireless......but it's just not realistic for the exact reasons people have already stated.  If you work the bar scene a lot, like I do......ummmmmmmm, there are sooooooo many people that have NO respect, ZERO.  I use (2) sm58's for the singers, I have a cordless sm58 that I use for myself and the occasional group of people, but only a trusted person gets it.  Shure makes good quality stuff for the price.  My grills covers are bent (don't know how that happened........errrrrrrrrrrr), they've been dropped...all had some occasional beer spilled on them.  They just keep going & going!

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

Kellyoke, Those are all very nice mics, I sure would be very afraid of using an 87 in that setting though, the 87 is a condenser mic isn't it?

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

I don't think they are overkill -- that is what I use (the 945). I also have an SM-58 for myself, and an Audix OM-2 for extra.

I love shows that have real good equipment. It gives me confidence in the setup.

I live in a small town, and the people here are very respectful of the equipment. Drunks who do stupid things are not tolerated at all -- not by the hosts, the venues, or the other patrons.


You can get SM-58 grille covers for $5.00 apiece at audiopile.net -- a knockoff, but they are good.

AudioStream

Oh, Thanks Knightshow, I'll check them out.

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

I have been using SM58, and Beta 58's in bands for years. They are the industry workhorse, i've never heard any complaints about them, just great mics with that mid range thump. I have knocked over many a mic stand with a 58 on it, during my....ummmmm, well...liquid diet days. You, unscrew the screen, bend out the dents, and it's good to go.......nothing beats a good ole shure SM58, at any price.

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Sweet Little Me In Karaokeland........

Yes, and for all you people that like spec,s

Cartridge Type
   Condenser (electret bias)
   
Frequency Response
   50 to 20,000 Hz
   
   view larger
   
Polar Pattern
   Supercardioid
   
Output Impedance
   Rated at 150 ohms (100 ohms actual +/- 20%)
   Recommended minimum load impedance: 800 ohms
   
Sensitivity (at 1,000 Hz)
   Open Circuit Voltage -52.5 dBV/Pa (2 mV)
   (1 Pa = 94 dB SPL)
   
Clipping Level (at 1,000 Hz)
   1000 ohm Load: -6 dBV (0.5 V)
   
Maximum SPL (at 1,000 Hz)
   140.5 dB (0.25% THD, 1000 ohm load)
   
Self-Noise
   (equivalent sound pressure level; measured with true rms voltmeter)
   23.5 dB typical, A-weighted
   25.5 dB typical, weighted per DIN 45 405
   
Dynamic Range
   117 dB (maximum SPL to A-weighted noise level)
   
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
   70.5 dB at 94 dB SPL (IEC 651)
   (S/N ratio is difference between 94 dB SPL and equivalent SPL of self-noise A-weighted.)
   
Polarity
   Positive pressure on diaphragm produces positive voltage on pin 2 relative to pin 3
   
Power
   Phantom Supply Requirement: 11 to 52 Vdc, positive at both pins 2 and 3
   Current Drain: 1.0 to 1.2 mA
   
Connector
   Three-pin (XLR) professional audio
   
Case
   Aluminum construction with blue metallic finish, and hardened steel grille with nickel satin chrome plating
   
Dimensions
   See User Guide
   
Net Weight
   207 grams (7.6 oz)

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Agree on the SM58, have 3 of them since 94 working 7 nights - they get a new screen mesh every year, but they've been dropped, swung, flung & everything else & still sound great.  I FINALLY had to replace my first one - but not due to non-functional - it still worked & sounds great, but because the barrel where the mic clip connects the XLR wore out & the cord falls out everytime someone pulls it out of the stand.  
Get a new ball & You are good to go for years.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=422415

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Speaking of condenser mics...not that i'm thinking of purchasing one, but has anyone used the Behringer wireless handheld? i think they sell for around $150. It looks like a great unit, being a behringer and all. But the fact that it's a condenser mic, makes me a little leery in a karaoke setting, maybe not, maybe they would work just dandy. Anyone try one?

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Sweet Little Me In Karaokeland........

Personally I wouldn't use a condensor for karaoke simply because they aren't as durable if they get dropped as a dynamic mic is.  I've seen condensors (good ones) dropped in live band situations only to have them reaching for another mic after they picked it up.

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Yeah Lonman, i tend to agree with you on that for sure. i was just curious as to how well they are made, if the transmitter and reciever work as spec, and how they sound in general. I don't think i would pass a condenser mic around either, but i'm just a little curious as to the quality for $150 dollars. I know...it's a Behringer....

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Sweet Little Me In Karaokeland........

I like Behringer, but I went with the Sennheiser Freeport after hearing it at a place. It really sounds good, has minimal handling noise, and looks pretty durable for plastic.

If the Behringer wireless has metal construction, I would try it though. Their $20 XM8500 is a steal for the price, and looks solid as a rock.

I read a little bit about this mic the other day and when I got to the part about needing 2 9V batteries I quit reading. I don't know what would cost more, keeping the van in gas or the mic in batteries. Two 9volts when some manufactures are getting up to 30 hours on a double A (AKG said it not me) just tells me perhaps we aren't talking newer technology.

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye