Members markie811 Posted November 14, 2006 Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 Hello Group, I am very new to all this and started singing in a local cover band. I was recently given two microphones to play with; one A/T 610 and an Audix OM-3. Both are hypercardioid.I was told the A/T is a "better" mic, but I must admit, the OM-3 sounds a bit better, all EQ aside. Since I am new, what do I look for in a mic, what makes one "better" than another? Again, out of the box, the Audix seemed a bit clearer and more representative of my voice, but what other considerations should be taken? Anyone out there have a preference with these brand names? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flanc Posted November 14, 2006 Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 As a singer in a band picking a mic for yourself...you've done most of the work. You auditioned the mic for yourself on your gear! Short of that, you've got to make sure it has acceptable gain before feedback and off-axis rejection (of other stage sound) and that's about it. If you were a sound company, you would probably concern yourself with mic reputation and rider acceptability. Since that doesn't seem to be the case....use what you like and has proven to sound good on your voice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members markie811 Posted November 14, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 Flanc, thanks so much for the response. I guess you're right. Excuse my lack of knowledge, but what is meant by off-axis rejection? ALso, what are the differences between hypercardioid, supercardioid, etc. What are advantages of each? Thanks in advance!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flanc Posted November 14, 2006 Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 Originally posted by markie811 Flanc, thanks so much for the response. I guess you're right. Excuse my lack of knowledge, but what is meant by off-axis rejection? ALso, what are the differences between hypercardioid, supercardioid, etc. What are advantages of each? Thanks in advance!!! This link shows you the differant polar patterns for microphones as a visual.http://www.crownaudio.com/mic_web/tips/mictip2.htm Cardiod mic's pickup sound from a wider pattern in front of the mic than do hyper/super cardiod. So, if you are a singer that can keep the mic in front of your mouth (within a sweet spot), you'll be better served by a mic with a tighter pattern (hyper/super cardiod). This also speaks to off-axis rejection. On a loud stage, you want the mic to reinforce your vocal and not necessarily the drummers symbols or the guitar amp off to your side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarharv52 Posted November 14, 2006 Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 Flanc is right.If you like it for your voice then use it.Since you are new to it you'll probably find another one you like even better so you can buy,sell,trade or whatever you want to do.There are a lot of good discussions on this forum,possibly even arguments,over which ones are better.Hope you have fun learning more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted November 14, 2006 Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 Be sure to compare them in a typical playing situation. Sometimes a mic can sound better in your living room but not so good in the band situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members markie811 Posted November 14, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 Thanks for all the great replies guys, much appreciated. The mics Im trying have slightly different sensitivities (measures in mV) and the EQ range is also slightly different, on the high end. Can you tell me what this means????? For instance, ATM610 Freq Response = 40-16000 HZSensitivity 1.7 mVImpedance = 300 OHMS For OM-3.... Frequency Response = 50 - 18000 HZSensitivity = 2.3 mVImpedance = 250 OHMS Help me understand these data. Perhaps the differences explain my I perceive better sound with the Audix product?? Thanks in advance. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted November 14, 2006 Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 Neither are important for your application. Sensitivity specs. are used for matching gains with preamps (not an issue since all consoles will have adequate gain range adjustment) and the high frequency response number may vary a lot depending on the measurement method used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members markie811 Posted November 14, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 old equine, thanks. One more question and I promise I'll shut up. WHat is all this about a neodynium magnet? Audio Technica makes alot of this, yet Audix makes no mention of it. Is it because Audix does not use neodynium? WHat gives??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nobrainer440 Posted November 14, 2006 Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 Neodymium magnets are particularly strong, so they can give you a hotter output with less weight, but for microphones, the magnet hardly weighs anything anyway. In speakers, they can save you a few pounds. I think it's just marketing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted November 14, 2006 Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 The advantage of N-dym materials is the smaller size and higher strength, which allows the designer additional options when configuring and focusing the profile of the magnetic field in the mic's voice coil gap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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