Jakester Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 (edited) Can anyone give any recommendations for a decent vocal mic with a switch? I have a need for a mic which can be switched on and off without giving a massive bang through the system as many do. Basically I do a gig where to a greater extent there's no-one manning the PA when it's set up. I/we (the instrumental band) need a mic for announcements etc but not for performing. I don't want a live mic left next to us when we're playing as the location is not really optimal but there's no-one on the board to mute it. (Edit: and it's a hard-wired, house PA so can't use my XR18 or anything to have the mix controls near me). I've tried a couple of cheapies in the past that singers have had but they all make a pop or boom noise when on a live mic the switch is, well, switched. Any recommendations? Will a switched SM58 do the job? I nearly got an AKG D5S for a decent price but it turned out to be the standard version, so had to cancel. Edited May 16, 2022 by Jakester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilebodgers Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Can’t really go wrong with a switched 58. Provided it suits your voice, of course. I carried one around in my gig toolbox for years as my talkback mic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Prodipe TT1. There's a switch version, and it's £35 for a truly fantastic microphone. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted May 17, 2022 Author Share Posted May 17, 2022 Thanks both. 15 hours ago, nilebodgers said: Can’t really go wrong with a switched 58. Provided it suits your voice, of course. Well I can say for certain I'm not going to be singing through it! I wouldn't want to subject anyone to that torture! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanOwens Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 A different idea - a Mic Muter from Orchid. Almost all mics will pop when reconnected. http://orchid-electronics.co.uk/Mic_Mute_lite.htm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 Yup, not sure it's actually possible to 'switch off' a mic without creating a very nasty pop from the PA. What's the driver for this? Why do you want to be able to switch it off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilebodgers Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Happy Jack said: Yup, not sure it's actually possible to 'switch off' a mic without creating a very nasty pop from the PA. What's the driver for this? Why do you want to be able to switch it off? The 58 shorts the capsule before the transformer that provides the balanced output so doesn’t pop. I don’t know about cheaper mics. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted May 17, 2022 Author Share Posted May 17, 2022 3 hours ago, DanOwens said: A different idea - a Mic Muter from Orchid. Almost all mics will pop when reconnected. http://orchid-electronics.co.uk/Mic_Mute_lite.htm Interesting, thanks! Though I suppose one more bit of kit to carry around. 3 hours ago, Happy Jack said: What's the driver for this? Why do you want to be able to switch it off? Quote I/we (the instrumental band) need a mic for announcements etc but not for performing. I don't want a live mic left next to us when we're playing as the location is not really optimal but there's no-one on the board to mute it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted May 17, 2022 Author Share Posted May 17, 2022 19 hours ago, Jack said: Prodipe TT1. There's a switch version, and it's £35 for a truly fantastic microphone. Had a punt on one of these as for that price it's a steal given the reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 3 hours ago, nilebodgers said: The 58 shorts the capsule before the transformer that provides the balanced output so doesn’t pop. Truth be told, I didn't even realise that the SM58 has a switch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 SM58 no switch SM58S with switch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilebodgers Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 2 hours ago, itu said: SM58 no switch SM58S with switch This. In pro PA world switched mics are tucked away in techs toolboxes. If it goes up on a stand you can guarantee that the "talent" will switch the mic off before attempting to sing or speak into it... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 4 hours ago, Jakester said: Had a punt on one of these as for that price it's a steal given the reviews. I have two (without the switch) and they're way better than any of the other cheap mics I've come across. They're good enough for my ooooohs and ahhhhhs anyway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted May 18, 2022 Share Posted May 18, 2022 Don't know the model. But my wife (band singer) has a Seinheisser. She's had it for probably 20 years and it's an absolutely fantastic mic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted May 18, 2022 Share Posted May 18, 2022 (edited) as another side step the optogate is a great signal, and uses an optical element to essentially switch the mike on when you get close to it. Microphone Gates | Optogate (optogateonline.com) Edited May 18, 2022 by dudewheresmybass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted May 23, 2022 Author Share Posted May 23, 2022 On 18/05/2022 at 17:31, dudewheresmybass said: as another side step the optogate is a great signal, and uses an optical element to essentially switch the mike on when you get close to it. Microphone Gates | Optogate (optogateonline.com) Thanks, that looks really interesting - but pretty expensive! US$240 plus shipping - hefty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 On 23/05/2022 at 09:30, Jakester said: Thanks, that looks really interesting - but pretty expensive! US$240 plus shipping - hefty. I know what you mean, but no one seems to have copied the idea as yet - it must be registered somewhere with Rickenbacker's lawyers watching lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 This is the Euro price for the straight unit with no frills. www.optogate.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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