Audix - OM3XB

I’m not familiar enough with the current offerings, but I liked e845 and even the e835 better, both cheaper. And Audix OM3 (similar price). There are also a lot of newer mics that look better on paper, but this is just guesswork. Mics like TC MP-85 (much cheaper), Rode M1 (cheaper), and especially SE V7 (cheaper) and AKG D5 (cheaper).

Audix OM-3 ALL DAY

Audix OM5 is my mic of choice. The OM series has a few mics that may suit the needs of different voices. Headphones, mic reviews on YouTube. Everyone will suggest the SM58. That is a bit dated, for recording purposes. Still a good stage mic. But improvements have been made in the mic world. I just picked up an Audix OM3-XB on the cheap. This was one of the first mics made by Audix, decades ago. It was meant to be an upgrade to the SM58, back then. I've done some recording and live work with the OM5. I can't give it enough praise.

Just a piece of advice regarding mics. Try to remember that each mic has a slightly different equivalent eq curve, and if you can find a mic that enhances your vocal in the right frequencies it can help a lot. I have about 30 different handheld dynamic mics in my inventory at the moment, and when anyone asks for a mic recommendation I invite them round to my studio, and record them singing into batches of 4 mics at a time. We then listen back and see which mic is most flattering to them without EQ. Polar patterns are also important when stage noise is an issue, and I usually suggest avoiding cardioid mics unless the singer is very powerful, or has to move a lot relative to the mic. Some of the winners that usually come out of the shootout are the Audix OM series, Sennheiser 935/945 (935 is my personal fav for mid priced dynamics, but that is based on my voice), Shure SM57 Beta, and an old EV ND357. I personally hate SM58s, and whenever someone goes "but you can bang a nail in with it and it still works", I ask why they don't use a hammer for nails, and a 935 for singing like a sensible person.