Singing Drummers

[drumbeat8u]

I play with a four-piece rock group. As we add more songs there is a need for me to help with the back up vocals. I am also considering a few songs where I would sing lead vocals. I am looking for suggestion on what equipment other singing drummers are using to do this.

[puttenvr]

I am using a Shure SM ??? headset because I always had troubels with a mike stand at my right or left side. The Shure mikes are dynamic microphones, not the top of the line in quality but for me they suffice. A condenser microphone is a better choise. But - as always in live - there are drawbacks:
- you need power supply for them
- they are more expensive.

So it depends on how much you sing and want to invest

[Marc.]

I used a large boom-type stand that had a sharp bend near the mic holder. It was great because it would be behind me and go over my head and the bend in the arm was just perfect for the mic to be suspened right in front of me. This was before headsets and now I would probably go with putt's suggestion.

[puttenvr]

Yeah, I once saw such stand too. Was it for sale or did you have to make it your self?

[Marc.]

Originally posted by puttenvr:
Yeah, I once saw such stand too. Was it for sale or did you have to make it your self?

I purchased it.

~ ~

[Lee E. Nelson]

I, too, play in a 4-piece rock 'n roll cover band and do some lead/harmony vocals. I use a boom mic stand and Shure Beta 58. I have used headset mics in the past...I really loved the freedom of movement they allow. What I didn't like is their comfort level and having to wearing them fulltime. A big issue with headset mics: the need to cough while playing or singing...not a good situation to be in! (sometimes even your breathing can be picked-up in the mic...)

With a normal mic, you can really develop a vocal technique like getting close or backing away as needed while singing harmony. This allows you to hear yourself better and blend with the other vocalists in the band. I've found with a headset mic, this is nearly impossible to obtain..you're either too loud or too soft.

Experiment with a mic and boom stand. I'm sure you can come up with a "happy medium" that will work with your particular set-up!

[sector7]

How would a condenser mic go being so close to the rest of your kit if you were playing acoustics?
I know the V's wouldn't be a problem, but wouldn't there be heaps of bleed through a headset condenser mic when playing acoustics?

Maybe it could act like a third overhead

PS: Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm hopeless at micing acoustic drums. Another positive reason for getting EDrums.

[jg52]

A headset condenser mic will pick up less drums than a ball-type dynamic. Like Lee, I had trouble with a headset mic (AKG C410, now C420). I was either too soft or too loud. Wound up trading it for an EV ND468. That is an excellent drummer mic. It's on a yoke and the cord goes up , so no pigtail sticking out. It's actually a tom mic.

If you wind up wanting a ball mic, check out the EV ND767. I see it online for $119.95. We replaced our Shure 58s with these. Did a mic shootout with 7 mics and wound up choosing these, before we even knew the price.

If you want a headset mic, check out the AKG C420 and the ATM 75. C420 is $199.95 from Full Compass, 75 is a little cheaper.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Jay

[bad karma]

I am the lead singer of our group.I use a crown cm311.the main thing I like about it is it's positioning . Were ever you put it,it's gonna stay. There is zero problems with catching any other noise in the mic then your voice.I have played with this mic on an accoustic kit,and had no probs.The thing I dont like with a boom mic,you never can put it wher you want,and when you find the perfect spot the damn thing falls down.IMHO,If your gonna do it,use something that your comfy with.

godd luck

[Blades]

I, too, play in a band where I share some vocal duties...lead and backup. I use a boom to the back right of me, so I get the mic straight on the outide corner of my mouth and the boom arm is out of my way. I also have one of my floor toms over on the left side (v-drums) so my need to access to the back right is very limited...so it really doesn't get in the way over there.

I like and hate headsets for all the reasons above. So nice to not have to be facing a different way than the "drum" that you are focusing on. Sometime you just HAVE to look at the hi-hats to really dig into them, even if they're electronic, and you can't if your head is straight up singing into a mic. But, the breathing/calling out questions about the ending of a song, and bar customer jokes/insults don't go over well when they are heard by EVERYONE...I just wanted the bass player to hear THAT.

Either way works for me, but I don't own a headset, so I don't usually use one...Also, since I monitor with headphones, that just ads another complication with the headsets...I wind up looking like BORG!

redbrick

[mcconaghy]

Originally posted by redbrick:

Also, since I monitor with headphones, that just ads another complication with the headsets...I wind up looking like BORG!

redbrick

Nothing wrong with looking like the Borg. Just stick some laser pointers to your headphones....


Resistance is futile bla bla bla.....
Stu, who once wore a gasmask on stage


[This message has been edited by mcconaghy (edited April 12, 2001).]

[Ass. Trash Coll. Local 53]

Beware of any headset mike that has any sponge rubber on it.

Think festering sweat, repeatedly applied! Flesh-eating bacteria, botulism, Mad Cow disease, Listeria, Legionella, Morganella Fairchildiosis

[rudi-mint]

Try a headset mic before you but one. I almost paid big bucks for one. I decided to try one on stage before I dropped the $$$ on it, and found out that I hated having the head set on.


Kurt