head set mic experience

r johnson · Post by **r johnson** » 12 Mar 2003 6:52 am

I am considering buying a head set mic ie.
shure sm10a, for doing vocals while playing
steel. Has anyone had experience pro or con
doing this. Appreciate your comments.

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 12 Mar 2003 7:22 am

Hi R. Johnson
I use an Audio-technica, Pro Series PRO8HEx.
I have been using it for about 7 years now and have not had a single problem. I like the fact that it clamps on the side of your head with the mike in front of your mouth. You can look around, down and around and have eye contact with your audience and the mike is always where it should be, in front of your mouth.

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 12 Mar 2003 7:56 am

I think the Shure is one of the worst sounding headset mics. I use the Crown 211 and it sounds great. It's the one that Garth Brooks uses live. The AKG is also supposed to sound good. Don't know anything about the Audio Technica, but they do make a lot of great sounding mics.

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 12 Mar 2003 8:55 am

Couldn't agree more about the SM10.Not a desirable tone at all or sensitivty. The AT
is good the crown is the best. I want to use
the little countryman unit I see everyone
using now.

r johnson · Post by **r johnson** » 12 Mar 2003 9:41 am

appreciate the comments, I have heard a Audio
Technica used by a announcer at a basket ball game and was very impressed by the quality. I'll check out the crown.

Bruce Meyer · Post by **Bruce Meyer** » 12 Mar 2003 9:12 pm

I have to put in another good word for the Crown. I use a model 311A, which is the wired version. I also bought a 311E that I use with a Shure belt pack to go wireless when needed. I was told that this is the unit that Garth Brooks and others on the pop side use. Sound guys, even in venues that host major acts have, by in large, given me great comments about both the quality and signal level.

The 311A comes with a belt pack that has a push button on/off switch that is totally silent through the PA. To me, this is invaluable because your mouth is always by the headset mike - unlike a fixed mike that you can turn away from to cough, swear, or ask what key the next song is in!

One more thing with the Crown. I sing both leads and harmonies. The Crown headset is made in such a way that you can easily swivel the mike position up or down to get it closer or farther from your mouth depending upon how strong you want your voice to come through.

r johnson · Post by **r johnson** » 13 Mar 2003 4:49 am

the announcer that i saw used the AT mic also had a mic cable with a on/off switch built into the end that plug into the
cable attached to the mic. I had never seen that type of cable before. the announcer said you can get these anywhere they sell cables ??? Anyway I ordered the AT mic model
PRO 8HEX for $79.00 plus $6.95 for shipping,
from AMS.
Thanks for the comments
R Johnson

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 13 Mar 2003 9:26 am

I bought a Countryman head set. Not the wireless version. Love how light it is! Fits behind your head and over ears so you don't even notice it's on. Requires phantom power. Sound is excellent. Sometimes these condenser mics feedback more easily - but if you're careful with monitor placement and vol. it's not a big deal.

EDIT: mine is the isomax hypercardioid. I paid around $300. These are tough units. This one works great and sounds great. My feedback comment perhaps needs clarification; when I sit and play no prob. , if I walk around I can wander into a position where feedback can happen - but this is true for any mic. as you know. The nice thing about these is I can keep singing if I need to look at the neck, or look at the music etc., makes eye contact with the audience easier. The down side of course is it's always there - as stated by others - if you cough, etc. you have to remember to move or mute it. Tip1 - the ProCo Coughdrop ($40) is a nice mute solution for hardwired mics. Tip2 - store headset in a tupperware bowl/container - keeps it from getting crushed in your kit.
------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon" www.book-em-danno.com

[This message was edited by seldomfed on 14 March 2003 at 10:28 AM.][This message was edited by seldomfed on 14 March 2003 at 10:30 AM.][This message was edited by seldomfed on 14 March 2003 at 10:40 AM.]

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 13 Mar 2003 10:44 am

The one bad thing with the Countryman headset (if it's the one I'm thinking of) is that the mic is omni directional and not really made for live band situations. Those type are used a lot for musical theater because the small size makes it easier to hide them from easy view.

Rainer Hackstaette · Post by **Rainer Hackstaette** » 13 Mar 2003 11:47 am

The Countryman Isomax headset comes in different versions with either cardioid or hypercardioid polar patterns. I am using the hypercardioid one with an Audio Technica beltpack and 19" rack receiver. The sound quality is superb IMHO.

From the manual:
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Sensitivity: -57dB re. 1 Volt/Pascal
Output impedance: 600 Ohms balanced (phantom powered model)
Overload level: 150 dB SPL @ 1 % THD (48 V Phantom)
Power requirements: 15 V at the microphone under load.
Total current drain = 4 mA

The mic itself is quite small, even with the protective foam rubber. So there is no black "tennis ball" obscuring half of your face.

It is rather expensive, though. Here in Germany it sells for about 500 US$. That is just for the headset - the transmitter beltpack and the receiver cost extra.

An alternative might be the Samson Air Line headset. It has a built-in transmitter with an AAA-battery, so no cable and beltback are needed. I can´t say anything about the sound quality as I haven´t tested one, yet.

I would never go back to a mike on a stand.

------------------
Remington D 10 8+7, Sierra Crown D 10 gearless 8+8, Sierra Session S 14 gearless 8+5, Peavey Session 400 LTD

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 13 Mar 2003 2:07 pm

I've tried one of those but I alwasy felt like either a Shania sideman,Vegas lounge lizard or a telemarketer - plus,I could never "work the mic" with one of those rigs. Gimme a big ole retro lookin Shure Elvis mic anyday. -MJ-

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 14 Mar 2003 8:53 am

I'm with michael, here. I've used a headset, but prefer regular Shure mike, with an Atlas Sound adapter fastened to the front leg of my steel. It's very handy, and slips out of the way with just a touch from my arm. The headset mikes have several disadvantages, as I see them. First, your dynamics are gone. No longer can you move a little closer, or a little farther away without using your hands (which are usually pretty busy). Second, if you cough, sneeze, cuss, or even just "clear your throat", everybody hears it! Here again, we can't easily get to the mute switch like a singer can...they usually have both hands free.

Yeah...they're great for someone just singing, or when you're just talking (at steel seminars, for instance). For everything else, they leave a lot to be desired, IMHO.

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 14 Mar 2003 12:29 pm

I gave up mic stands in 1984 for the headsets. The proximty effect and 'working the mic' are things that can be very effectively used by the lead vocalist.

On the other hand, this varies the volume of the vocal, so someone or something (compressor/limiter) needs to stay on top of that for blending. I have adjusted my mic distance for the sweet spot and the dynamics are done by me. Louder for leads, and ... blending for choral parts.

Most of all, my playing improved drastically. I sometimes wonder if the audience knows who's singing since there is no neck craned to a mic, but no one has said anything. I also wear headphones, so I have obviously no consideration for 'look'. One comment was that we must be serious since we listen so closely. I like the look of the stage with no stands and monitors. Net result is positive.

Bill Tauson · Post by **Bill Tauson** » 22 Mar 2003 9:13 am

I have an "AKG" C420. I thought that the sound was great and it's not too difficult to wear. It's a wired mic since I'm just sitting anyway and it's less money. I recently broke it not watching what I was doing. I was unable to repair it and everyone told me that by the time I pay for it to be repaired, it was better to replace it.

It has what is called "String Wiring" which is extremely fine and can break easily if you're not careful. Great mic, great sound, but I'll probably get a cordless in hopes that clumsey me won't break it. I heard Crown is one of the best, and obviously, higher priced.

r johnson · Post by **r johnson** » 30 Mar 2003 1:34 pm

I bought the audio technica pro8hex and have used it on three gigs. It takes some getting used to because there is no mic to hide behind. It has got a lot of attention from other band members, in fact the lead guitar player in one group I play with went out and bought one. Other musicans I have talked with confirm that the quality of sound has not suffered at all. One thing i notice from my side of the mike is that you can not move into the mic for a low note because of the fixed position. However dynamics are attainable by increasing and decreasing volume of the voice rather than working the mic. There are some trade offs but for now
I'm going to work with it, beats carring a mic stand.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 30 Mar 2003 3:40 pm

I have an Audio-Technica ATM75 headset mic.
The purpose of the headset mic (for me) is to be able to sing without breaking my steel playing concentration. It has worked great for that factor.
No matter how you mic your vocal, as a steel player there are some logistical issues.
I've found the headset to be easier (for me) to perform with than a standard mic on a goose-neck or boom-stand.
The extranious mic noise and/or vocal/mic dynamics have not been an issue (for me).
Simply opening my mouth and singing with no other thought requiered has really made being a singing steel player much easier (for me).