mike clarity

[The Bard Rocks]

I have a thick and not a very clear voice which seems to worsen as I age. What mike (or other solution) would you recommend to enable an audience to hear and understand me better?

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

I have a thick and not a very clear voice which seems to worsen as I age. What mike (or other solution) would you recommend to enable an audience to hear and understand me better?

I don't know. The more accurate the mic, the more faithfully it will reproduce your voice. I would suggest some voice lessons with someone who can help you mitigate and adjust your voice as you see fit.

[YamahaGuy]

Something with bass rolled off and a boosted upper mid -- not an SM58. Maybe an EV767 or Sennheiser e935.

[Mobilemike]

I thought you were talking about a person named Mike Clarity...

I have a thicker voice too that can be muddy and I've had good luck with an SM57 on it. It has a bit of a presence boost compared to a 58 that helps.

That said, a good sound guy can make your voice shine with a 58. I know from experience.

-Mike

[El Conquistador]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

I have a thick and not a very clear voice which seems to worsen as I age. What mike (or other solution) would you recommend to enable an audience to hear and understand me better?

Heile PR 35. http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-009453

Steve

[pieterh]

Originally Posted by El Conquistador

Heile PR 35. http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-009453

Steve

Apart from some voice coaching and an understanding of proper mic technique a good mic will help. The Heil PR35 is a very popular mic, especially by users on this forum. HOWEVER: it has an extremely prominent low end compared to other mics in a similar price bracket. The good news is that it has a built in low-cut switch which can be activated using a thin pencil or something similar. If you get one and are going to be using it as a vocal mic then activate the low cut and then forget about it!

I would definitely consider moving away from the automatic "SM58 works for everyone" responses! Fine mics and they are great for many though I agree with YamahaGuy who recommends Sennheiser e935. It has a cardioid pickup pattern so if you like your monitor immediately in front of you it will be excellent. The e945 (one of my live mic favourites) is very similar but super-cardioid and works best with stage monitors slightly off to the side (which is how I usually like them when I am performing).

[Cuki79]

What about Shure Beta 87a



It is SUPER clear but needs phantom power.

Cuki

[pieterh]

Thumbs up from me for the Beta 87a, great mic, as long as you don't mind it needing phantom power.

[Al Acuff]

The Shure KSM8 is super clear and doesn't need phantom power. It's expensive but worth it.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

I have a thick and not a very clear voice which seems to worsen as I age. What mike (or other solution) would you recommend to enable an audience to hear and understand me better?

Find yourself an old Electro-Voice RE11, the construction of which almost eliminates the proximity effect. The more modern EV RE16, and if you don't mind its size, the Electro-Voice RE20, both do the same thing as the EV RE11. Strange as it may seem, at one point in my performing, I used two Electro-Voice RE20 mics: one for vocals and one for guitar!

[pieterh]

Originally Posted by Al Acuff

The Shure KSM8 is super clear and doesn't need phantom power. It's expensive but worth it.

I need to try one of these!

[j3ffr0]

Beyer M69TG and its brother M88TG are a cut above the Shure dynamic handhelds.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

I have a thick and not a very clear voice which seems to worsen as I age. What mike (or other solution) would you recommend to enable an audience to hear and understand me better?

The posts alluding towards practicing better "enunciation" are obviously spot on and should be your first priority . Also in a very general sense do not be timid in your singing ---step right up and push enough air so as to benefit your clarity As often as not it is mic fright and fear of missed notes that leads holding back and often tends to muddy the vocal.
And learn good mic technique

Beyond that :
Do you have any examples of your singing you can post ?

Or can you describe the frequency related character of your voice?

If like me your voice is in the lower tenor to baritone range then a mic that is either very flat in the mids and highs or one with a few db lift in the upper mids can help .
For example the suggestion for the Shure Beta 87a could be good, but honestly I have one but use it only as a backup. My stage mic is an AKG C900 (out of production) because it has more presence in the mids and highs than the Shure 87

[MikeBmusic]

I find the Sennheiser e835 (and its big brother the e935) don't have the low end presence of the Shure SM58/57 (but which I prefer anyway, for my voice).

[Pecx]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

I find the Sennheiser e835 (and its big brother the e935) don't have the low end presence of the Shure SM58/57 (but which I prefer anyway, for my voice).

I totally agree, MikeBmusic.