Vocal Equipment Essentials

AnimalInstinct625 · Post by **AnimalInstinct625** » Saturday Oct 25, 2008

So, after a couple months, I think I've finally found some good solid chemistry with another musician (guitarist), and we're ready to start adding to the band. Having said that, we've been practicing and writing acoustically, but will soon be amping it up and turning some of the songs into electric rock tunes. Yet, I have no equipment.

As a new singer who has no equipment, where should I even begin? How much should I expect to spend on a decent set up, and where should I look?

ANY advice you guys can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Help!

Sincerely,

a new vocalist.

KyleMayket · Post by **KyleMayket** » Sunday Oct 26, 2008

are you looking for a full PA or just a mic to bring with you?

AnimalInstinct625 · Post by **AnimalInstinct625** » Sunday Oct 26, 2008

I'm thinking maybe a practice PA, plus a microphone. Nothing major as far as the PA goes...just something good enough to practice with in a basement, since most bars have their own PA. I can't really afford anything extravagant, but I need it to get the job done.

As far as mic's go...I'm gonna go with shure brand.

KyleMayket · Post by **KyleMayket** » Sunday Oct 26, 2008

i would say look at guitar center, they always have deals on little PA's, that that's your best route there, as for mics, when i run sound, for vocals the only mics I use are sennheiser E835's. They're pretty cheap, but they are excellent mics, durable and great sound quality, and not too prone to feedback (not overly sensitive). for a practice PA where you're probably going to have the speakers facing you cuz they won't be huge, that's a pretty important factor to consider.

Something like this will would probably do you great for practice, small size, and the speakers could be taken to shows and be your monitors, which is great!

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Phonic-Powe ... 1322341.gc

and here's those sennheiser mics, like I said, I use them and think they are great for the price.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sennheiser- ... 1126762.gc

Merge · Post by **Merge** » Monday Oct 27, 2008

I would go with a Shure SM58 for a vocal mic, though I don't have any experience with the Sennheiser mic that KyleMayket mentioned. Sennheiser does make a good mic.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Monday Oct 27, 2008

Instead of a small practice PA, get yourself a nice powered monitor that you can use for practice and also use live as your main monitor.

You can usually get one on an open box special pretty cheap:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... ku=600735X

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... ku=605255V

I have a B212A that we use as an occasional monitor. It is one of those Behringer products that will surprise you. Unfortunately, they had a price increase recently. The Mackie is a great unit that is being blown out to make way for a newer model.

As for a microphone, I recommend a hypercardioid (also called supercardioid). The regular old cardioids are popular and sound good, but you may have feedback problems at higher levels.

The biggest bang for the buck (or for any price, for that matter) is the EV ND767A.

I bought a pair of open box from this eBay authorized EV dealer for $73, shipped:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0304008725

AnimalInstinct625 · Post by **AnimalInstinct625** » Thursday Oct 30, 2008

First off, thanks to you guys for taking the time to respond to my pleas for help! Lonewolf, you're always a help!

So, you recommend I get a powered monitor. The Behringer you linked to is a good price range for me. So, aside from my microphone - is this all I would have to purchase for a decent practice set up, as a vocalist?

I mean, equipment wise - I'm at a total loss as to what I'm buying or, what I NEED to buy. Our band is forming, and we'll be setting aside the acoustic guitar soon to amp up. I need to know what all I'm going to have to get to get amped myself!

What would you consider the essentials of vocal equipment, for a singer who has no equipment at all? Nothing frivolous or fancy...just essential and good quality.

...i mean, I know what you're showing me is helpful, but is it all I'll need?

KyleMayket · Post by **KyleMayket** » Thursday Oct 30, 2008

well, yeah, basically, that would be all you would NEED. The speakers lonewolf linked, they would be plenty loud enough, they're both 400W. so you would probably only need one. The PA I listed has effects and stuff like that, it's 2 speakers, but only 100W a piece. It will all depend on your practice space, and how you want to set things up. The whole PA is approx. the same price as the one speaker. as for anything else you may need, cords and a mic stand if you want one. That's about it brother, I'm glad we could help you out.

tornandfrayed · Post by **tornandfrayed** » Thursday Oct 30, 2008

Dude the difference in the two different approaches would be that the Powered Monitors can be used in a bigger system and implemented in a lot of different ways. The Phonic system would very soon become something that you would want to list in another forum on this very page. It is a good idea to get stuff that can grow with you and is flexible....

IMO.....

The Mic is going to be a different issues. If you are new to singing then you are going to need to start with something. I would recommend a Shure 58 cause they are the closest thing to a standard that we have. From there you need to try other mics and get a feel for your style.

Post by **Ron** » Thursday Oct 30, 2008

A powered monitor is definitely more versatile than a practice PA in the long run, since it can be made part of a larger system.

IMO, the EV ND767a is the most versatile live vocal mic out there. Its sound quality, efficiency, feedback immunity and clarity stomp the Shure SM58. I know that the SM58 is a workhorse, but the 767 is much better technology.

Another thing to remember is to NOT get anything (vocal only PA or monitor) with a main speaker larger than 12". Whoever came up with the idea of putting 15" speakers and 1" compression drivers in vocal monitors should be throttled. A 15" speaker simply cannot reproduce most of the vocal range with any accuracy.

stratobastard27 · Post by **stratobastard27** » Wednesday Nov 05, 2008

Um... Animal, I'm getting the impression that you own NOHTING music-gear related. I'd agree with getting a powered monitor, as well. The mic is your call. The SM58 is the world standard; the EV, from everything I've heard, is a better all around mic. I really like the Audix OM2 myself. However, you will not be able to plug your mic directly into the powered speaker. You'll have to purchase some type of mixer, as well. Both Behringer and Tapco make a 1 input mixer for somewhere around the $50 ballpark. You must have a minimum of this signal chain: input transducer (mic) to preamp (mixing board) to power amp (in this case, built into a POWERED monitor) to output transducer (speaker). Throw in probably 50 more buck to figure in a few decent cables.

AnimalInstinct625 · Post by **AnimalInstinct625** » Thursday Nov 06, 2008

That would be a correct assumption. I've got a tiny amp to an electric guitar that I never play.

skipisode · Post by **skipisode** » Thursday Nov 06, 2008

Many of the powered speakers/monitors have built in mic preamps and ...
YES you can plug directly into them via an XLR jack. Alot have EQs on them as well. The Behringer 212A has XLR mic input and 2 band EQ. Carvin, Peavey, and others have similar models. Hope this helps.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Thursday Nov 06, 2008

AnimalInstinct625 wrote:First off, thanks to you guys for taking the time to respond to my pleas for help! Lonewolf, you're always a help!

So, you recommend I get a powered monitor. The Behringer you linked to is a good price range for me. So, aside from my microphone - is this all I would have to purchase for a decent practice set up, as a vocalist?

I mean, equipment wise - I'm at a total loss as to what I'm buying or, what I NEED to buy. Our band is forming, and we'll be setting aside the acoustic guitar soon to amp up. I need to know what all I'm going to have to get to get amped myself!

What would you consider the essentials of vocal equipment, for a singer who has no equipment at all? Nothing frivolous or fancy...just essential and good quality.

...i mean, I know what you're showing me is helpful, but is it all I'll need?

If you got a microphone and a Behringer B212A, all you would need is a microphone cable to plug it in. This would give you the minimum you need to get going. As somebody stated, there are no effects, but you really don't want effects when you rehearse (unless they are SPECIAL FX)...all they do is cover up mistakes. You will train your voice better with a dry, non-effected sound.

After reading your original post, I tried out the combination of the EV ND767a straight into the Behringer B212A. It sounds great and is plenty loud. The B212A has surprisingly strong bass, but you can roll that off with the onboard EQ.

RamRod 1 · Post by **RamRod 1** » Thursday Nov 06, 2008

Ron Said:

Another thing to remember is to NOT get anything (vocal only PA or monitor) with a main speaker larger than 12". Whoever came up with the idea of putting 15" speakers and 1" compression drivers in vocal monitors should be throttled. A 15" speaker simply cannot reproduce most of the vocal range with any accuracy.

Wow Ron, now that's a controversial statement but I think I'm gonna back you on that one.

skipisode · Post by **skipisode** » Friday Nov 07, 2008

Ditto! I've used both and prefer sound of 12" if for vocals only.

Post by **Ron** » Friday Nov 07, 2008

I remember telling that to John Solinski when he was in the market for a small vocal/acoustic PA. After shopping around and listening to both 12" and 15" drivers, he agreed with me 100%.