Okay, say someone is auditioning to be the frontman/woman in a band, and they make the cut.
What kinds of equipment should/would that person be expected to have?
Equipment for Vocalists
-
Captain Cool
- Active Member
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Wednesday Aug 24, 2005
- Location: Tyrone Area
Equipment for Vocalists
Captain Cool
-
ToonaRockGuy
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 3091
- Joined: Tuesday Dec 17, 2002
- Location: Altoona, behind a drumset.
Really, I would think that the only equipment investment that a singer should make is a kickass microphone. Whether it's the trusty ol' Shure SM-58 or a new wireless rig, the mic is the main extension of your instrument (voice) and you should have the best one that you can possibly afford to have. You won't see a pro guitarist playing a Sears electric guitar, so why should a singer walk out onstage with some piece of crap from Radio Shack?
That said, I do have a rather controversial view that if the singer does not play an instrument, they should chip in a bit more for PA gear and support stuff (backdrop, banners, cabling, etc.) since they have less overhead cost than a drummer (heads, sticks, accessories) or guitarists/bassists (strings, picks, adjustments, etc). Some singers don't dig that, but when you are putting costs side by side, it doesn't compare with a $400 mic next to a $1500 guitar or a $2500 drumkit.
There's always that old adage about the band arriving for a 10pm gig at 7:30 for set-up and soundcheck, and the singer walking in at 9:55pm, putting up his mic stand and mic and saying "There. I'm set up. Someone get me a beer."
That said, I do have a rather controversial view that if the singer does not play an instrument, they should chip in a bit more for PA gear and support stuff (backdrop, banners, cabling, etc.) since they have less overhead cost than a drummer (heads, sticks, accessories) or guitarists/bassists (strings, picks, adjustments, etc). Some singers don't dig that, but when you are putting costs side by side, it doesn't compare with a $400 mic next to a $1500 guitar or a $2500 drumkit.
There's always that old adage about the band arriving for a 10pm gig at 7:30 for set-up and soundcheck, and the singer walking in at 9:55pm, putting up his mic stand and mic and saying "There. I'm set up. Someone get me a beer."
Dood...
Watch it, Kev. First, stop putting ideas in my guys' heads about paying for stuff ...lol. They chose their instrument, I chose mine.
Second, I resent your stereotypical protrayal of a singer. If I'm not the first to show up at most gigs, I'm the second, and I always lug gear -- drums, guitars, cabs, lights, etc. ...
Third ...
r:>)
Second, I resent your stereotypical protrayal of a singer. If I'm not the first to show up at most gigs, I'm the second, and I always lug gear -- drums, guitars, cabs, lights, etc. ...
Third ...
That's bullshit, man. Just because I don't hold drumsticks or a guitar in my hands at a show DOES NOT mean I don't play an instrument. Singing is so much more than opening your mouth and releasing sound. Of course, couldn't expect a drummer to understand that ...lol.ToonaRockGuy wrote:I do have a rather controversial view that if the singer does not play an instrument ...
r:>)
That's what she said.
-
ToonaRockGuy
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 3091
- Joined: Tuesday Dec 17, 2002
- Location: Altoona, behind a drumset.
Rob, you know me better than that! There are singers out there who bust their asses to get stuff in the door, and you are most certainly one of them. And I know that singing is an instrument, you know what I mean, you're just responding taking that part of the post out of context with the rest. 
But I have worked with some vocalists (who will go unnamed) who are absolute prima-donnas and do just what I said, and don't want to share in the expense of being in a band.
But hey, I did say it was a controversial view, LOL. But seriously, Rob is one of the best frontmen that I have played with, because he kicks ass onstage, and does a TON of work off it, from lugging stuff around to being a promotional machine. Good lord, all he needs is a few "Old-Skoolisms" of his own and he'd be the complete rock machine!!
But I have worked with some vocalists (who will go unnamed) who are absolute prima-donnas and do just what I said, and don't want to share in the expense of being in a band.
But hey, I did say it was a controversial view, LOL. But seriously, Rob is one of the best frontmen that I have played with, because he kicks ass onstage, and does a TON of work off it, from lugging stuff around to being a promotional machine. Good lord, all he needs is a few "Old-Skoolisms" of his own and he'd be the complete rock machine!!
Dood...
Vocalists Gear
I think initially a vocalist should be held responsible for their microphone/mic stand/cable or wireless, however....I also believe that a vocalist should have some knowledge of things that they can buy to help their sound.
Just as a guitarist or bassist adds compressors, effects, ect. I think a vocalist should be held to the same bar.......tube preamp? good vocal compressor (dbx...mmmm)? reverb/effects just for vocals?
Hell, if a new singer showed up to play and cas carrying a $1500 focusrite tube pre-amp, I'd be blown away.
Just as a guitarist or bassist adds compressors, effects, ect. I think a vocalist should be held to the same bar.......tube preamp? good vocal compressor (dbx...mmmm)? reverb/effects just for vocals?
Hell, if a new singer showed up to play and cas carrying a $1500 focusrite tube pre-amp, I'd be blown away.
www.seventides.net
On a pillow of your bones
I will lay across the stones
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling back
On a pillow of your bones
I will lay across the stones
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling back
Processor
We used to have one of these in the studio I loved it,
http://cgi.ebay.com/Focusrite-Platinum- ... dZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Focusrite-Platinum- ... dZViewItem
www.seventides.net
On a pillow of your bones
I will lay across the stones
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling back
On a pillow of your bones
I will lay across the stones
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling back
-
J Michaels
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 698
- Joined: Thursday Aug 21, 2003
- Location: Huntsville, AL
- Contact:
Why do you think I stopped playing drums? Cuz I got tired of lugging all that gear for my drums around!ToonaRockGuy wrote:There's always that old adage about the band arriving for a 10pm gig at 7:30 for set-up and soundcheck, and the singer walking in at 9:55pm, putting up his mic stand and mic and saying "There. I'm set up. Someone get me a beer."
Seriously, though - a decent mic - and decent mic cables! - is the least a singer can do. I have a wireless Shure SM-58 that I use, as well as backup wired ones (including cables) in case the wireless takes a shit, or there's interference, etc. Personally, I can't live without my wireless in-ear monitors anymore, though not everyone likes them (why I can't figure out, but it's true!), so I always have those, too. A good vocal preamp is a nice idea, though that may depend on who your regular soundman is (if you usually work with the same guy, which I recommend doing, once you find the right one) and what he has in his rack.
As for loading in / out - I try to just help out here and there with odds and ends and whatever needs to be done, though I admittedly stay away from the heavy stuff!
You better call me a doctor - feelin' no pain!
Captain Cool, Rob ,& Kevin,
I've worked with singers on both end of the spectrum. Some had good
equipment (i.e.mics, etc.), and some had dick and expected the band or others to "provide" for them. Those folks need to lose the LSD! Rob, you are on the ball, and should be commended.
Other absolutely necessary "equipment" is commitment to their bandmates, and a willingness to help out in any additional way they can. Standing around and drinking beer doesn't cut it in my book, and believe
me I'm the first person to "vocalize" my issues with that matter!
Investment? What about those of us who sing AND play instruments? $$$$$$
Be considerate! How about maybe wrapping up some of those cables,
or taking down backdrops, etc. Not toooo heavy?
Skip
I've worked with singers on both end of the spectrum. Some had good
equipment (i.e.mics, etc.), and some had dick and expected the band or others to "provide" for them. Those folks need to lose the LSD! Rob, you are on the ball, and should be commended.
Other absolutely necessary "equipment" is commitment to their bandmates, and a willingness to help out in any additional way they can. Standing around and drinking beer doesn't cut it in my book, and believe
me I'm the first person to "vocalize" my issues with that matter!
Investment? What about those of us who sing AND play instruments? $$$$$$
Be considerate! How about maybe wrapping up some of those cables,
or taking down backdrops, etc. Not toooo heavy?
Skip
I've pointed out before that way back when we had half a pickup truckbed load of gear, we had 10 big ol' mountain boys to help lug it. When it was a 24' box truck packed tight, it was the band and the soundman.
As lead singer, I used to catch it all the time for not helping enough at teardown/ loadout... the truth was that I helped the vast majority of the time, unless I was "enjoying" the young drunken female fruits of my labor in the parking lot or dressing room. Before I get yelled at, bear in mind: I don't drink or, uh, other stuff before or during the show. When the other guys were drinking frosties and packing their noses, and playing rock star, I was making sure the shy fat girl and the married couple in the back knew I appreciated them being there, and that we'd be back. As far as a post-show knobgobble, hey, you have your poison, I had mine.
Gear-wise, a singer shouldn't bitch about the sound unless he knows about concert audio, and in a local club situation, he should have as much of his own gear as he can afford. Bare minimum, an SM-58 on a stick. Maybe not the highest quality sounding mic anymore, but certainly a known quantity, and very durable. The Sennheiser E-series mics are great, too, and reasonably cheap. The bottom- priced one, the E815S is a fantastic value, I've used these extensively, and you can get them for $100 WITH A BOOM STAND AND CABLE!
If you don't want to trust the soundman to hit delay cues and such, try one of those floor-pedal preamp/FX units, but be careful... if it sounds good to you as you sing, it's probably too much effects, and you'll sound like you're in a sewer pipe to the audience.
Get some good mic cables, and roll them up properly for storage, for Pete's sake. Winding them over your elbow will kill them quick, and make you look unprofessional. I have cables that are 15 years old, and going strong. If you need to know how to roll them, work at Galaxy Sound for a week or two, or ask me to show you.
Best advice: The singer should know as much about the sound system as anyone there except maybe the soundman. If you run audio from stage, the singer is the only one who doesn't need both hands. He/she is also responsible for watching the stage for trip hazards, potential gear problems, drunken stage tresspassers (don't even f*cking think about it, Sunshine, this is MY stage, get invited up here, or get your OWN), and the singer has to keep one eye on the audience. The show is for them, after all.
Good thread.---------->JMS
As lead singer, I used to catch it all the time for not helping enough at teardown/ loadout... the truth was that I helped the vast majority of the time, unless I was "enjoying" the young drunken female fruits of my labor in the parking lot or dressing room. Before I get yelled at, bear in mind: I don't drink or, uh, other stuff before or during the show. When the other guys were drinking frosties and packing their noses, and playing rock star, I was making sure the shy fat girl and the married couple in the back knew I appreciated them being there, and that we'd be back. As far as a post-show knobgobble, hey, you have your poison, I had mine.
Gear-wise, a singer shouldn't bitch about the sound unless he knows about concert audio, and in a local club situation, he should have as much of his own gear as he can afford. Bare minimum, an SM-58 on a stick. Maybe not the highest quality sounding mic anymore, but certainly a known quantity, and very durable. The Sennheiser E-series mics are great, too, and reasonably cheap. The bottom- priced one, the E815S is a fantastic value, I've used these extensively, and you can get them for $100 WITH A BOOM STAND AND CABLE!
If you don't want to trust the soundman to hit delay cues and such, try one of those floor-pedal preamp/FX units, but be careful... if it sounds good to you as you sing, it's probably too much effects, and you'll sound like you're in a sewer pipe to the audience.
Get some good mic cables, and roll them up properly for storage, for Pete's sake. Winding them over your elbow will kill them quick, and make you look unprofessional. I have cables that are 15 years old, and going strong. If you need to know how to roll them, work at Galaxy Sound for a week or two, or ask me to show you.
Best advice: The singer should know as much about the sound system as anyone there except maybe the soundman. If you run audio from stage, the singer is the only one who doesn't need both hands. He/she is also responsible for watching the stage for trip hazards, potential gear problems, drunken stage tresspassers (don't even f*cking think about it, Sunshine, this is MY stage, get invited up here, or get your OWN), and the singer has to keep one eye on the audience. The show is for them, after all.
Good thread.---------->JMS
-
lonewolf
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 6249
- Joined: Thursday Sep 25, 2003
- Location: Anywhere, Earth
- Contact:
Yep, I concur about having a great mic, but a $75 SM-58 just doesn't cut the mustard anymore. The sound is fair, but too prone to feedback with movement.
If you like Shure, try an SM87a or Beta87. Of course, there is the king of handhelds, the Neumann KMS105. For dynamic mics, there is the Electrovoice ND767 and ND967 and the killer Audix OM vocal mics.
Most of these are available in wireless, and unless they are into Roger Daltry antics with duct tape, the vocalist should have a top notch wireless system.
As far as a vocal processor, ask your sound tech. Most sound techs don't like on-stage vocal processing, but it might be different if it was back at the console. I use a T.C. Helicon VoiceWorks for the solo show. It has a very clean mic pre with 48Vpp, pitch correction (yay), paraEQ, dynamics processing, voice thickening, separate delay and reverb and, of course, 4 part natural harmony processing.
If you like Shure, try an SM87a or Beta87. Of course, there is the king of handhelds, the Neumann KMS105. For dynamic mics, there is the Electrovoice ND767 and ND967 and the killer Audix OM vocal mics.
Most of these are available in wireless, and unless they are into Roger Daltry antics with duct tape, the vocalist should have a top notch wireless system.
As far as a vocal processor, ask your sound tech. Most sound techs don't like on-stage vocal processing, but it might be different if it was back at the console. I use a T.C. Helicon VoiceWorks for the solo show. It has a very clean mic pre with 48Vpp, pitch correction (yay), paraEQ, dynamics processing, voice thickening, separate delay and reverb and, of course, 4 part natural harmony processing.
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...