PURCHASING NEW MIC'S PLEASE HELP...

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

Alright, here's the deal: I need to update my vocal mics at church. 2 of them gave up the ghost. (Behringer mics. forget the model) And I need to purchase a few instrument mics, mainly for my drums, violin, piano and trumpet.
So my question is this... I am currently considering Shure SM58's for my vocals and Shure SM57's for the instruments with a Beta52 for my kick. Are these good choices? Are there any better mics out there at around the same price range?
Is the Shure Drum Mic set worth getting? How are the PG52's, PG56's and the PG81's?

Any other thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

(Funkman, I am still buying the one we talked about...thats for home.  )

God Bless.

[j_kay]

The PG series are garbage.  We had the entire set, and I'm trying to get rid of the overhead and the bass drum microphone.  We're using the Sennheiser e604 model for the toms.  On the snare, we're using the Beta 56A. 

The SM58s are okay, also.  They're general purpoe mics. 

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

So how would this work, the Beta56 for the snare, SM57's for toms and beta52 for the bass? What would you suggest for overheads?
I like the Sennheisers. They are nice! Do you have to have one for each tom? or can you get away with one for the 2 racks and one for the floor tom?

Anything better than SM58 at that price range?

[j_kay]

So how would this work, the Beta56 for the snare, SM57's for toms and beta52 for the bass? What would you suggest for overheads?
I like the Sennheisers. They are nice! Do you have to have one for each tom? or can you get away with one for the 2 racks and one for the floor tom?

Anything better than SM58 at that price range?

Do you have to use SM57s for the toms?  I mean, they've been used before, but I wouldn't make it my choice for tom micing.  The KSM series are great for overhead usage. 

Yes, we have close miked each tom.  I don't remember the pick up pattern of the e604s, but I am sure that you could get away with it, with good placement. 

I can't fade the SM58s, because they're the church mic.  I can't make an assessment of any other microphone.  He may smite thee.  LOL

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

LOL. Thanks j. In that case, I will get 2 e604's rather than the sm57. I was kinda sold on them, because I was getting a really good deal. KSM series?

SM58's it is then. Lol.

God Bless Brother.

[j_kay]

Shure's KSM series.  I just went along with the model number, since we were talknig mostly about Shure's products.  Sorry.

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

Shure's KSM series.  I just went along with the model number, since we were talknig mostly about Shure's products.  Sorry.

lol. and i forgot to finish my thought. i was going to ask which ksm, but nevermind...i looked into them.

[JFunky]

...E-R STOP.  DON'T ORDER THE SM58'S. 

...okay, get the Sennheiser E835's.  Trust me doc'.  Once you get these, you will never go back to an SM58.  (Volcals)

...wait.  What is your price range per each mic' and do you need them to be wireless???

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

I checked the price range of the e835. they are fine. No problem there. They are that much better huh Funk Man?

What about the other intsruments? Piano, Trumpet, Violin? The Violin already has a pickup, but we want to try another option.

Anybody know if a really nice condenser mic could pickup toms and cymbals accurately? You know which one I am talking about JFunky...

[JFunky]

...In some cases one will do but two really nice condensor mics' would.  It all depends on the placement of them and how "nice" they are. lol $$$  I've only seen this done in the studio though.  For Live work, you may have to mic' everything seperate but it all depends on how big the location is and how many channels you mixer has etc.

...okay so jkay already told you one option for overhead mic's....KSM 141/SL, KSM 137/SL, SM81 (Cymbals). (Shure)

...here's another one and my favorite Overhead Mic'.  Vinnie C. uses this one....Rode NT2-A Large Capsule Studio Condenser.  That mic' is just too nasty.

...for the trumpet and Piano visit these companies websites: Audio Technica, Shure, Rode and Audix.

[fretai03]

I still love Shure mics but those Sennheiser's are no joke.

[JFunky]

...E-R, update please.

[baldeagle]

...okay, get the Sennheiser E835's.  Trust me doc'.  Once you get these, you will never go back to an SM58.  (Volcals)

Sustained.

The PG series are garbage.  We had the entire set, and I'm trying to get rid of the overhead and the bass drum microphone.    

I'm not sure what qualifies these mics as garbage, but I have these at my church and have even taken them into the studio and they were just fine. The only problem I had was that the PG56's were kinda bulky on the rack toms. But I just had to learn to aim better, and now I don't even notice that they're there.

I don't mean to open up a can of worms, but regardless of the brand or series of mics you get. . . I promise you that proper equing is going to play an even greater role. Trust me, my drums sound great on CD with these "garbage" mics, because I sat down with the sound techs and told them how to eq my drums.

I'd just rather spend time getting it right than spending money for a sound that I could have gotten cheaper. Let us know what you decide, Dude.

[j_kay]

I hear you, baldeagle, however, I know that to my ears they were garbage.  One man's junk is another man's treasure. 

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

LOL. Sorry for not updating you Funk. haha.
OK, so I bought 3 Sennheiser e835's for my vocal mics. I am really looking forward to using them.
Then I bought 1 Shure SM57 for a Instrument Mic. I will try this on the piano, trumpet and violin to see where its most useful. If all is well, I will buy more, if not, I will try another.

For my Drums....I am really torn.
I like the Sennheiser e604's. Would one pick up a snare nicely? or are they strictly toms?
I am still thinking of what would be a great kick mic, and if the e604 wont pick up the snare, I am pondering which shure I want to go with.

Now my other thought is this....I forget about all that and get myself 2 Condenser mics that would pick up everything (hopefully).
The Rode NT1-A is the first that comes to mind. I like the Rode NT5, but I think thats more for just a cymbal frequency only.?.
Or Maybe use 2 Condensers for the Toms and Cymbals and have one Snare Mic and one Kick Mic...

Please help me out some more. Seeing all these options is just too tempting! lol.

Now I noticed my next dilemma last night. I have 4 xlr channels available on my snake box near the pulpit. I have 8 xlr channels available on my mixer. So, I was thinking I want no more than 4 mics. But if need be, I could run a couuple of 50 foot xlr's back to the soundroom and plug straight into the mixer.

Any other thoughts on all of that is appreciated.

[JFunky]

...okay, the SM57 is not to be used for the trumpet, piano or violin.  I was watching Yanni Live from Rome the other day and his violin player was using a very nice mic' that gets connected right to the violin.  You'll have to call Guitar Center to help you with that or wait a while and I'll search it for ya.  For the Piano, a Condensor Mic' is best.  Do some research before you buy or again, wait a bit and I'll ask around and give you some options.

...the next thing....the SM57 is perfect for your snare.  That's it.  Don't get anything else for it unless it's the Shure Beta56.  For the bass drum, purchase the Shure Beta 52A and you're good to go.  For the toms, the Sennheisers that J_kay suggested are good.  I'm going to get rid of the Audix F-90 that we use at church and get the Senn's.

...I'm telling you doc'.  You did great with the Vocal mic's.  The cool thing about those is that you can drop them from about 6 feet high and they will not get damaged.  German technology is killin' the music scene and drum scene.   (Sennheiser,Sonor, Meinl)

...you already know how I feel about Rode Mic's. lol  Those are for you though. lol

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

Ya, the thing for the violin is called a pickup. We have both brands that are available. It is attached to the side of the violin and the condenser portion of the mic is installed on the bridge of the violin. They work nicely, but we heard a professional give advice that a real mic picks up the sound a bit better.

[JFunky]

...so I did some research and everything I find leads to the SM81 or the Rode NT1-A or NT2-A.

...by the way, you better get your wife to listen to Sayaka (Japanese Violinist).  She's performing with Yanni and studied and graduated from a university in japan and then moved to Cuba and studied with a couple of Cuban guys.  She now has her own Latin Band.  Dude, she's Akira Jimbo on the Violin.  Seriously.  Your wife will be going crazy after she listens to her play.   Visit Yanni.com for more info. on her and other Violinist.

...dude, I'm excited for you guys.  Getting new gear is always fun.  Getting new gear for the church is a different experience.  IMHO.  God Bless.

[JFunky]

....update please.

[fretai03]

....update please.

Yep.