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Best Wired and Wireless Microphones for DJs

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  • June 14, 2013 at 8:54 pm #41336
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Quite frankly, you’ll be hard pressed to get a really good wireless mic for around 300. And you should ask yourself if the way you are using it will benefit you greatly by being wireless.

    I personally have never used a wireless mic for DJ-ing in my 35+ years at it and never felt a need for one (with the exception of having one around for weddings, so the best man can do his little speech. For that purpose I have a Sennheiser FreePort set. Quality isn’t the object, just being able to amplify speech without having to bother with cables.

    I would not use a SM58 as a DJ mic. It is really only good for (loud) male vocals in a life sound (stage) environment in my opinion.

    For nostalgic reasons I am back to my first pro DJ mic, the AKG D321 (same capsule as the D3300BT, but without the filter switches). AKG, Sennheiser, Shure (just other models), Rode (the M1 is a pretty decent dynamic mic) are all good options. I would stay away from the more bling bling type low end mics that are out there. A bit of an outsider but with good dynamic mics is AT (AudioTechnica).

    Best is to take someone that knows your voice well and go to a place where you can try a couple of mics over a PA. Have the person with you tell you which sounds best in his opinion (I find it impossible to judge my own voice over a mic).

    Since you are probably not gonna be doing world-class singing, it isn’t gonna be all that important if you stick with the big brands and pick a modern design mic (the SM58 stems from 1967 or something :-)).

    Greetinx,
    C.

    June 15, 2013 at 12:28 am #41341
    NewportDJ Drew
    Participant

    I use the sm58, But my voice sounds great with it. Maybe try the beta 58 for it’s neodymium magnet that gives a stronger output.

    June 15, 2013 at 11:55 am #41344
    NORRIS Sydnor
    Participant

    I use the Shure PG48 which I picked up for about $39 US.

    June 15, 2013 at 12:06 pm #41345
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    This is the thing with advising on something so personal as a microphone. Lot’s of “I have and I love it …” comments.

    I try to advise in such a manner that the OP can then go ahead and make his own decision with as much information on what to look for.

    It’s like all the “what controller should I get” threads on here, you really can’t tell what the ideal controller for someone would be. What works for you might not work for me and vice versa.

    Back to microphones for DJ purposes:

    If a mic works for you, by all means use it. I also do a lot of sound work and own several SM58s, some Beta58s, 57s and Beta57s. So, it is not that I don’t use them or don’t have them. I own several other brands and types as well. Why? Exactly for the reason I stated in my first reaction. There is a mic for every voice and application. And although you can’t have every mic ever made, you can have a few that cater to various voices.

    The SM-series are such standards, that everybody takes them for granted and there will hardly ever be an artist that puts you down for using them, after all “everyone is using them”. The Beta’s are a definite step up from the regular SM-series. The PGseries is their budget series and I woud not have them on any sound stage I work at or as my DJ mic. But again, if it works for YOU, then that is fine.

    As I said, it is near impossible to judge your own voice through a microphone unless you have experience (and thus a reference) and a very good monitor next to you and/or if you can hear yourself through a good pair of cans. Even then, most people don’t know (or like for that matter) what they should sound like through a sound system. It is way different from what we hear when we just talk.

    Between 80 and unlimited dollars will get you a good mic, suitable for the rigors of the road and with a sound pattern that suits your voice. It just pays to examine/investigate the possibilities before committing your money is my main advice, don’t just buy a SM58 because “everyone is using them”. Spend some more time and effort and find out what works (best) for you within your financial limits.

    Hope this helps in the decision making process.

    Greetinx,
    C.

    June 15, 2013 at 12:20 pm #41346
    NORRIS Sydnor
    Participant

    Chuck, I probably don’t even realize how good or bad my mic is because I’ve never compared it with my voice to any other mics. I’m just a mobile DJ and I use the mic to announce “Make sure you tip my bartenders” or Welcome to the So and So Happy Hour or Happy Birthday to so and so type stuff. I did notice or I was told I sounded a little muffled last night. However, I think that was because I cranked up the the Bass to make my voice sound better (I thought). I sometimes run the mic through my controller so I can use the effect of the S4 on my voice. But recently I’ve been running it through the Yamaha MGM102C that you recommend. I like it that way better I think. I just lose my effects. As always, your advice is always on point! Thanks

    June 15, 2013 at 2:31 pm #41347
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Thanks.

    And you pretty much made my point for me. Somebody told you that you sounded muffled, not something you noticed yourself.

    Few quick words on EQ-ing. Using low EQ on vocal (especially speech) is not gonna do much good usually. On the Yamaha hit the lpf (low pass filter = under 80Hz) button for the mic channel (NOT for audio lol). Audible speech is concentrated in the midrange (2 to 4 KHz), which is mostly what you control with your mid EQ. Rather than pressing the mids by turning them up a lot, it is often better to take the low’s down by 3 to 6 dB and if your voice sounds a tad harsh the highs a bit as well and leave the mids untouched. This will make your voice “sit” better in the mix and enhance your audibility, even with music playing behind/under it.

    You could even turn down the mids some on the track playing to create some more “breathing space” for your voice. Don’t go crazy and kill the mids, but a 3 to 6 dB (experiment a little with this) could work fine and actually makes that you can lower your channel fader a little less. Your voice “sits” IN the music rather than ON TOP of it.

    Not sure what effects you would use on your voice. On singers voices we use a bit of reverb and that is usually it. As soon as a singer starts to SPEAK in between songs, we quickly mute the FX channel because you do not want reverb on a spoken vocal. So for announcement like the examples you gave, forget FX, EQ them so you can be heard clearly and that is it.

    Greetinx and good luck!
    C.

    June 15, 2013 at 4:00 pm #41349
    David Taylor
    Participant

    SM58 for me. As said it is difficult to objectively listen to your own voice however over the years I have always been heard and I think it sounds good.

    June 16, 2013 at 7:47 am #41357
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Simply Disco, post: 41506, member: 8985 wrote: SM58 for me. As said it is difficult to objectively listen to your own voice however over the years I have always been heard and I think it sounds good.

    Like I said … what you feel comfortable with (and doesn’t have people complaining about not hearing you clearly) and works for you!

    Greetinx,
    C.

    June 16, 2013 at 9:47 pm #41379
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    I have lately tested the Line6 wireless gear and it is awesome… do you need it? Prolly not, but it is kinda cool.

    June 17, 2013 at 2:38 pm #41391
    Coltrane09
    Participant

    Thanks Chuck!!! This was VERY HELPFUL!!! The DJ I’m shadowing will be the perfect person to help me with this issue as he’s a sound guy too which is his second job..lol. Later this summer, I get to learn about setting up a stage for a small concert with him.

    BTW, so the Yamaha MC102C ($100) is a good all purpose mixer for Mobile DJing? That mixer is good on the pockets compared to the Allen & Heath ZED10FX Mixer ($299) I was thinking of getting later. It rec’d a lot of positive reviews too!

    June 17, 2013 at 3:53 pm #41393
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Coltrane09, post: 41548, member: 2800 wrote: Thanks Chuck!!! This was VERY HELPFUL!!! The DJ I’m shadowing will be the perfect person to help me with this issue as he’s a sound guy too which is his second job..lol. Later this summer, I get to learn about setting up a stage for a small concert with him.

    I finished my sound tech course (live and studio) a few years ago. I thought I knew a lot already going in, but boy did I learn a lot of new tricks. It’s great to have that knowledge even as a DJ, you become so much more versatile, know how to solve problems or create workarounds and you can troubleshoot better. So, good for you!

    BTW, so the Yamaha MC102C ($100) is a good all purpose mixer for Mobile DJing? That mixer is good on the pockets compared to the Allen & Heath ZED10FX Mixer ($299) I was thinking of getting later. It rec’d a lot of positive reviews too!

    I really don’t even use an extra mixer for mobile DJ-ing, although I can see why in some cases it has some added value, especially if you want to hook up more stuff (my MC6000 had room for two mics and 4 aux inputs, so what more could I need). If I DO use one, I usually bring my DL1608 Mackie digital iPad mixer, totally different animal.

    In my opinion the Yamaha is hands-down the most price efficient and compact/lightweight piece of kit with it’s kind of quality in that price range. Unless you need serious FX (like when you work with a singer), there really is no need to go for the ZED (which by the way is a VERY nice little live mixer) if you are a DJ. Save the 200 bucks and buy a set of Sennheiser HD25-II Aluminum anniversary edition cans instead. :).

    BTW, all the FX in the low end mixers (including the MC-series from Yamaha) are not SERIOUS FX :-). Quite simply because ONE real serious effect (say Reverb) will set you back more than the cost of several Yamaha MC-series mixers. So don’t be expecting any miracles. But they are good enough for some live reverb action or a bit of delay if needed. Also, although you get several FX, you can only use 1 at a time (on all channels, but still). So if you want to use the reverb for the two vocal channels you can’t use the delay on instruments as well.

    Glad I could help and good luck!

    Greetinx,
    C.

    December 29, 2016 at 10:29 pm #2485121
    squarecell
    Participant

    Line 6 makes the best wireless mic I’ve ever used hands down. All their models are excellent. I started with the base model XD-V35 and recently upgraded to the V55. Their system is a little more expensive than a VHF/UHF system, but 1000 times more reliable in my experience. It’s digital, so there’s never any interference plus the range is outstanding.

    As for wired mics, I like my Audix OM2’s. I also picked up a Blue Encore 100 on sale which is a really nice mic.

    EDIT: Oops, didn’t realize this was an old thread I’m replying to. Sorry mods.

    January 6, 2017 at 2:22 pm #2486531
    Chuck Van Eekelen
    Moderator

    You are forgiven. Someone bumped it by asking a different question. Not good 😀

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