e 845 S Vocal Microphone

Dynamic super-cardioid vocal mic, which helps to reduce spill and feedback. Ideal for presentations, conferences, choirs, rehearsal rooms, and stage. Easily eliminates ambient noise. Superb high frequency reproduction.Anyone who is passionate about music and singing knows full well how vocal performance can vary depending on the microphone used. Therefore, choosing the right microphone for each occasion is of paramount importance for a successful performance. Microphones tend to fall into two categories: condenser and dynamic. The former are suitable for studio recordings, the latter for live performances.A studio microphone must be able to pick up even the slightest nuance of vocals, while a stage microphone must give power, handling high sound pressure levels (SPLs) without distorting vocals or sound.Choosing a good microphone goes from evaluations in order of convenience of use and available budget, to more technical ones that include a whole series of parameters that will have to be analyzed one by one, in order to understand whether or not it is the right microphone for us and the use we will have to make of it.

Type of Use

In this guide we will be based on the type of microphones to be used for live singing. Considering that some microphones, due to their frequency range can also be used for other applications such as studio recording or recording certain types of instruments and/or amplifiers. In general, a good condenser microphone will serve you mainly for studio work, recording vocals or even acoustic guitar. While a good dynamic microphone in addition to being the best choice for live singing, in some cases it can also be useful for mixing amps both live and recorded, but also for recording in a non-studio environment, such as at home. So choosing a versatile microphone that can serve multiple applications will give you better value for money than the purchase you make.

Power switch

In general, microphones that have an on/off switch have the disadvantage that they can be accidentally turned off. For this reason, there are microphones that have locking mechanisms for the switch so that they cannot be turned off by mistake.

Type of Power Supply

Dynamic microphones do not require any power supply to operate but condenser microphones do. Some of them are battery powered and others need "phantom" power, that is, through the same cable in which the audio signal passes. Most mixers around today provide phantom power, but not all existing ones do. If your microphone requires phantom power, but your console or sound card does not provide it, then you will have to mount a preamplifier or channel strip to supply it with the necessary power.

Type of connection

Normally the microphone needs a connecting cable through which audio and possibly phantom power passes. The cable must be of high quality in order to maintain the technical requirements for voice transmission supported by the microphone, but also long enough not to be in the way of the user's movements. Indeed, during a live performance, the presence of the cable could be a dangerous impediment to movement. For this very reason, today there are also cordless or wireless microphones. These types of microphones possess an internal power supply and a receiver, in the form of a small box with an antenna to receive the signal. In this way it is able to transmit sound waves without the need for contact and allows wide ranges of movement. If you opt for this choice, it is good to choose a system with multi-channel, which allows for no frequency limitation. 

Dynamic or Capacitor?

Until two decades ago, there were only condenser microphones for recording studios and mostly only dynamic microphones on stage, especially for singers. This was because condenser microphones were very fragile. Innovations in microphone design have meant that condenser microphones specifically designed to be handheld are now able to provide studio-quality results even during live performances. Dynamic microphones typically have a lower frequency range but a warmer sound, while condenser microphones typically have a much higher frequency range and tend to have a brighter output. Condenser microphones typically require a power supply to function properly, whether it is a battery or a phantom power supply connected to a mic preamp or mixer. Dynamic microphones are generally more rugged than condenser microphones, but this should not be a problem if you treat them with care . In any case, the best thing would be to try the result on your own voice for a more informed choice by contacting us.

Polar Figure

The polar figure of a microphone is a graphical representation of how a microphone absorbs sound, relative to where the sound comes from. For live singing, it is best to choose microphones that receive the sound coming directly to them and instead suppress the sound coming from the back or sides, this is to minimize the reentry from sounds coming from the monitors, stage, or speaker boxes. Most microphones used in live performance have a cardioid polar pattern, or a variation thereof, precisely to prevent feedback. Thus, sounds within an angle of about 90° are generally picked up, so you have to be careful about the direction of the capsule. 

Frequency of response

Each microphone has its own characteristics in terms of the frequencies it can pick up and emphasize. An ideal microphone should have a flat response across the entire frequency range, but this type of response is found only in high-end microphones. That said, some microphones have their own idiosyncratic frequency responses that give them a sound effect that is particularly beloved in certain styles of music. A classic example is the rock sound of the SM58 microphone. If you have a very high voice, you might want to use a microphone that emphasizes the highs, because without proper EQ, this could result in a sound that is too harsh. If you have a low register and really want to emphasize your timbre, you might look for a microphone that has a good frequency response below 200Hz. If you know your vocal characteristics well, you will find frequency response charts quite useful. If this all sounds a bit too technical, try looking for a microphone generally used in the style of music you perform and you should not go wrong.

Proximity effectà

When you get very close to any type of directional microphone,you will notice an increase in the volume of low frequencies. This can make your "vocal sound" warmer. Typically, dynamic cardioid microphones have the strongest proximity effect, and this is evident when you consider its frequent use by male singers and rappers. Some vendors provide data on the proximity effect of their microphones and an additional line displayed in the frequency response chart for the microphone.

Impedance

Without going into too much technical detail, impedance can best be thought of as the amount of resistance an electronic device has to the electric current flowing through it. A microphone should only be connected to equipment that has the same impedance, or at the limit a higher value, otherwise you will have a loss of signal. Most handheld microphones are low impedance ( so less than 600 Ohms) so they generally do not give problems when used with the "pro" (professional) series. If you are unsure of the equipment you will be using with the microphone, such as a nonprofessional,low-cost karaoke machine, it is not bad to check the manual or spec sheet to make sure that the microphone you want to buy has the same impedance value, or allimite a lower value than the system you want to plug it into.

Max SPL (sound pressure level).

This value indicates the maximum volume, measured in decibels (dB), that you can expose a microphone to before you start having problems such as distortion. Very few people can sing loud enough to have to worry about this, but if you will also be using the microphone on amplifiers or powerful instruments such as drums, then you should opt for a microphone with a high SPL Max level. If you are not sure, you can measure it with an SPL meter. There are also phone apps that do this easily and quite accurately, alternatively you can buy hardware SPL meters.

The Sennhaiser E845 microphone has a wide-range response and a supercardioid pickup pattern for increased signal output power. The frequency response is smooth with warm tones and a full dynamic range, which increases stage presence as well as vocal projection and brilliance. The absence of on/off switch, compensation coil and no proximity, keep the sound quality constant even while moving,providing more freedom on stage. The all-metal frame construction, wide suspension and shake installation minimize handling noise and signal interference. It is a high-performance microphone that offers power clarity and projection. Also available with a switch in model E845-S.