I have been looking at some vocal mics and have heard that the Shure Beta 58 is a good mic. I am wondering what the general consensus is on this mic, and how it compares to the Shure SM 58 and Beta Green series? Is the Beta 58 worth the extra money? I have also heard that Peavey has out done Shure with their Diamond Series of PVM 22, PVM 835, and PVM 880. Does anyone have any experience with any of these mics, or know of any info on them -- how they compare, anything else out there that is better but still in the same general price range, etc. Any information or references where I could pick up information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Colin

-- Colin (doghut@yahoo.com), January 05, 1999

Answers

For someone to adequately answer your question, you may want to consider telling us what the mic is for (live? recording? what situation?) and what kind of voice or voices you plan on using with the mic, what kind of music, if live -- what kind of venue maybe??? Just a few suggestions!

Happy New Year to everyone.

-- Ken/Eleven Shadows (ElevenShadows@theeleventhhour.com), January 09, 1999.

I am going to be using the mic for a live setting. The venue is on the smaller side, but I am looking for something that is versatile. I am looking for a couple of mics, one for a bass/tenor male voice, and another for an alto/soprano female voice. Both with fairly good range though, for backup vocals. Thanks,

Colin

-- Colin (doghut@yahoo.com), January 09, 1999.

Hmmmmm....I was hoping that since you had told in more detail what you are looking for, someone would have picked up the thread and said something. I don't do live work very often, and when I do, I just grab whatever's around (which is usually Shure 57s and 58s). I don't know live work very well, and I certainly don't know these mics at all.

When I have done vocals in the past, I've been much more pleased with a Sennheiser 421 than the reg'lar 57/58s (don't know about the Betas, but I'm pretty sure they're quite a bit better). The problem with a 421 is that it is really large and can cover the face quite a bit. It's also not really a hand-held mic, so that may be of some consideration.

The EV 257A is an okay mic, and has a much hotter output than the 57/58, and sounds about the same, more or less. You may want to look into the EV series, only higher up. I don't know the Peavey stuff at all, but sometimes they make some really good stuff.

I've never tried this mic on vocals, including live vocals, but in the studio, I've found that the Beyer M201 is an awesome sounding mic for the money. I've recorded bowed basses, kick and snare drums, and other stuff and have found it pretty detailed and full sounding for the money. Maybe this mic may be good for vocals as well?

Someone please answer this guy's question!

Someone please convince me that this is not a ghost town!

Where'd everyone go?

-- Ken/Eleven Shadows (ElevenShadows@theeleventhhour.com), January 11, 1999.

I'd generally second what Ken said, with the addition that Shure seems to have fixed most of my gripes about the SM-58 with the Beta 58, i.e.: shrillness and susceptibility to overload in the uppe rmids, all in the name of cutting through a mix. The EV 767 is a very good lead voacl mic, currently priced in the same ballpark as a Beta 58. Another mic I've been using lately for voiceover work (I'm basically a baritone) with excellent results is the Shure Beta Green 5.0/5.1. An electret type in the same price range, might be worth a listen.

-- Tom Armbruster (pcctomtrf@aol.com), March 15, 1999.