How to Choose a Live Vocal Microphone

When buying a microphone, the two most important factors to consider are the quality of the capsule and the durability of the build. A high-quality capsule will offer clarity and accuracy, offering a balanced frequency response and more natural tone. Whether you choose a dynamic or condenser mic, the capsule’s performance has the greatest impact on how your voice will actually sound. Investing in a mic with a well-designed capsule ensures your live performances sound professional and detailed.

Equally important is the microphone’s build quality. A sturdy, well-constructed microphone not only lasts longer but also maintains consistent audio performance over time. Durable mics are less prone to handling noise, internal damage, or performance issues caused by rough use, especially in live environments. Choosing a microphone built with quality materials will save you money in the long run and provide a more reliable experience on stage.

Jump down to our ultimate indepth guide on live microphones, here we go more in depth about SPL, Polar Patterns and more! Check out our ultimate guide to live microphones below!

From Elvis to Martin Luther King Jr., from the GRAMMYs to the Olympics – iconic performers, leaders, and communicators across industries have long trusted Shure microphones to deliver their message with clarity and power. With nearly a century of audio innovation behind them, Shure has earned its reputation as one of the most reliable names in sound.

Renowned for their legendary durability, consistency, and performance, Shure’s live microphones are a staple on stages around the world. From the indestructible SM58 – considered the gold standard for vocal performance – to wireless systems that offer freedom of movement without sacrificing audio quality, Shure mics are built to handle the rigours of touring and the unpredictability of live environments. Their tailored frequency responses help vocalists cut through the mix, while advanced feedback rejection and handling noise reduction ensure every word and note comes through cleanly.

But Shure doesn’t stop at the stage. From microphones to headphones to conferencing gear, they make products that help you define your sound in any setting. Whether you’re a musician, audio engineer, podcaster, lecturer, or simply a music lover, Shure has an innovative audio product to exceed your expectations, with the performance and reliability trusted by professionals across the globe.

With over 75 years of pioneering audio excellence, Sennheiser continues to be a trusted partner for performers, sound engineers, and production professionals around the globe. Known for their precision German engineering and dedication to sonic purity, Sennheiser helps artists stay on track and perform with total confidence, whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the scenes.
When it comes to live microphones, Sennheiser has become a benchmark for reliability and performance. Their industry-leading wireless systems and rugged handheld mics are designed to thrive in high-pressure, high-volume environments, delivering crystal-clear vocals, excellent off-axis rejection, and rock-solid signal stability. From the legendary e935 and e945 vocal mics to the flagship Digital Wireless systems used on world tours and major broadcasts, Sennheiser live gear is trusted by the best to deliver night after night.
Their lineup covers just about every musical style and performance context, offering everything from road-proof dynamic mics to cutting-edge condenser options. With a relentless focus on innovation, user comfort, and real-world durability, Sennheiser continues to shape the future of live sound, giving performers the tools to connect with their audience, loud and clear.

As a brand trusted on some of the world’s loudest and most demanding stages, sE Electronics has become a go-to name in live sound. Their microphones are used by respected front-of-house engineers and performers alike—including Anders Fridén of In Flames, Will Ramos of Lorna Shore, Andy Meyer (FOH – Justin Timberlake), and Alberto Vaz(FOH – Sheryl Crow)—a clear signal that sE gear stands up to the rigours of touring.

From their V Series dynamic vocal mics, designed specifically for the stage, to drum mic kits like the V PACK ARENA, sE’s products are engineered for clarity, durability, and maximum rejection on noisy stages. These mics don’t just sound great—they solve real-world problems for touring professionals who need tools they can trust night after night.

With a focus on in-house design and manufacturing, sE maintains tight quality control while offering premium performance at accessible prices. Whether you're mixing FOH at a club, miking up festival backlines, or outfitting a full arena rig, sE Electronics provides the reliability, punch, and sonic precision that modern live production demands.

Born from legacy, built for the future, Austrian Audio opened its doors in 2017 following the closure of the iconic AKG engineering facility in Vienna. Formed by a core team of former AKG experts, the company set out to honour their heritage while forging a bold new path in audio innovation. Today, Austrian Audio produces a critically acclaimed range of microphones and headphones that are redefining standards in both studio and live environments.
For live performance, Austrian Audio microphones deliver the perfect blend of cutting-edge engineering and rock-solid reliability. Their OC Series and handheld dynamic vocal mics, such as the OD505 and OC707, are praised for their natural sound, exceptional feedback rejection, and intelligent capsule designs, tailored to meet the challenges of loud stages and unpredictable acoustics. With superior off-axis performance and built-in pop and handling noise protection, these mics offer vocalists and engineers the clarity and control they need under pressure.
Whether you’re on a festival stage, in a packed venue, or leading a broadcast performance, Austrian Audio gear ensures your sound stays clear, powerful, and uncompromised. With a growing reputation among FOH engineers, touring professionals, and discerning artists, Austrian Audio is quickly becoming a must-have name in modern live audio.

Behringer musical equipment is a staple for many musicians and performers and for good reason. Offering incredible value for money across their vast array of product categories, they make everything from microphones to mixers; synthesizers to speakers, there really is something for everyone as they make music accessible to all. Their live mic offering is no exception and a great starting point for those looking for a quality microphone that will do exactly what is needed, without breaking the bank. Whether you are looking for the classic design, cardioid polar pattern and sound reproduction offered by the XM8500 or the more contemporary, tailored super cardioid polar pattern and brighter sound of the BA85A, you can’t go wrong with the tried and tested design of either. Add to the mix a machined alloy body, steel grille they are well built, reliable and a great solution for live vocal performers, MCs and public speakers where budget is a consideration.

In live settings, you’ll most commonly find dynamic mics. Dynamics are known for their robust construction and their ability to handle high Sound Pressure Levels (SPL).

Dynamics are less sensitive to transients and the attack of sources, and often give a smoother, more rounded tone to vocals due to the way that they naturally roll off the lowest and highest frequencies.

Condensers are more commonly found in recording studios but that’s not to say they can’t be used live on-stage as well. As we mentioned earlier on, there are plenty of handheld condenser mics designed to be used on stage.

In previous years, performers didn’t use condensers live on-stage very often due to issues with feedback, however as in-ear monitors become more prevalent, it’s less of an issue than it once was. If you don’t have control over monitors or you’re playing in a smaller room, air on the side of caution.

Condensers are far more sensitive than dynamics and will pick up a wider frequency range and more detail of an audio source. This can be great if you’re wanting to capture nuance in a voice, and this is exactly why they’re very commonly used in studio situations, however you may end up picking up feedback from other audio sources.

The best microphones for vocalists will feature a cardioid polar pattern in some form, which is far more directional and predominantly picks up sound from one direction.

A cardioid polar pattern primarily picks up sound coming directly into the mic from 0 °, which means it’s great for rejecting external sound sources that you don’t want to capture especially from the back of the mic. Not only this, but they also actively reject and nullify any sound waves coming from the rear which can be extremely useful.

Cardioid polar patterns are the most used patterns when it comes to vocal mics, as they actively reject external sound sources and block feedback, helping the vocalist to capture just their voice as intended while allowing some leeway in terms of the singer’s positioning.

There are also super and hypercardioid mics that are even more unidirectional and take the feedback-blocking benefits of a cardioid to the next level. Super and hypercardioid patterns are even more precise than standard cardioid patterns, which can be great for rejecting external audio sources on stage.

However, there are some drawbacks to using these polar patterns. These mics require the singer to be extremely consistent with their positioning relative to the mic.

If you’re someone who doesn’t move very much while performing or you keep your mic clipped to the stand, this may suit you. It can also be very useful on a particularly noisy stage!

Some live microphones offer the ability to switch between various polar patterns which can be extremely useful if you find yourself needing to adjust your feedback rejection to suit certain environments.

Figure-8 polar patterns capture sound equally from the front and back, while strongly rejecting sound from the sides. This unique pickup pattern can be extremely useful for isolating two sound sources facing each other or for creative stereo recording techniques such as mid-side (M/S) or Blumlein pair setups.

Because they pick up from both the front and rear, figure-8 mics can be tricky to use in live environments, especially if there are loud sound sources or monitors behind the mic. However, their tight side rejection can be a powerful tool in the studio for avoiding bleed between instruments or isolating specific sound fields.

As with hypercardioid mics, mic positioning is critical. Artists must remain in line with the front or rear lobes to get a clear signal, and movement off-axis will result in a noticeable drop in volume and tone.

Figure 8 polar patterns can be useful in situations with limited channels where backing vocalists may be sharing a microphone.

An omnidirectional polar pattern picks up sound equally from all directions, front, back, sides, and everywhere in between. This makes it ideal for capturing natural, ambient sound or for situations where the mic position relative to the source may change.

Omnidirectional mics do not reject sound from any angle, so they’re not ideal in environments where you want to block out unwanted background noise or potential feedback. However, their consistent pickup pattern makes them very forgiving in terms of mic technique and positioning.

These mics are often used in studio settings for capturing room acoustics, group vocals, orchestras, or ambient sound in film production. Because there's no proximity effect (the bass boost when you get close to the mic), the captured sound is more balanced and neutral regardless of distance.

We don't recommend Omni microphones for live performance, there’s very few situations where they’ll be useful on the stage, but it’s useful to know what else is out there.

Directional microphones exhibit the proximity effect, which increases the mic's bass response as the sound source gets closer to the microphone.

Proximity effect can help add low-end warmth and power to a vocal but can also quickly muddy up the sound.

Choosing a microphone that sounds great at a distance is important for vocals. Picking a microphone with a built-in high-pass filter (which allows you to reduce the amount of low-end response) will also benefit vocals as it combats the proximity effect.

To measure the FBR of a mic, we look at the frequency response of a signal presented from the front of the mic compared with a signal presented from the back of the mic. The difference between these two values is the FBR.

For example, an omnidirectional microphone picking up sound evenly from both the front and back will have a FBR of 0 dB. More directional mics, such as one with a cardioid polar pattern, will have a greater FBR as it’s designed to receive far more signal from 1 specific direction.

SPL stands for sound pressure level. A microphone’s max SPL level refers to how much sound pressure level it can take without distorting. To make sure you’re getting a clean, crisp recording, you want to make sure your microphone can handle the volume it’s receiving without distorting. Most new mics are capable of recording very high sound pressure levels. Examples of a high SPL source include a hard snare drum or a loud guitar amp.

Vocal range describes the range of fundamental frequencies a singer may sing with their voice. These ranges vary from person to person and are often defined in music as bass, baritone, tenor, alto, soprano, etc.

The lowest note of the lowest vocal range (Bass) is E2 and has a fundamental frequency of 82 Hz. The highest note of the highest vocal range (Soprano) is E6 and has a fundamental frequency of 1319 Hz.

The range of human hearing spans from 20Hz up to 20KHz, and the range of a human voice can typically span from 82Hz to 10KHz when accounting for harmonics so it’s worth making sure your microphone offers suitable coverage across these ranges

Check the frequency response of your microphone to make sure it covers as much of the frequency spectrum as possible!

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