Stage Capacitor Microphones

Does your live vocal sound lack the clarity and detail of your studio recordings? Then you may want to switch over to a capacitor model. Here's a selection of current options, with links to the SOS review where available.

Thinking of upgrading your stage vocal mic to a capacitor model? Here's what you need to know.

Stage capacitor microphones use the same capsule technology as the capacitor mics we use in the studio, and this gives them an extended frequency response and a more 'hi‑fi' sound.

For many years, whenever you went to a live music event you could almost guarantee that the vocals you were hearing had come through a dynamic microphone, more often than not a Shure SM58. This model, and many others like it, can be found in venues around the world, thanks largely to the ruggedness associated with such mics.

The SM58, and its closely related cousin, the SM57, is a moving‑coil design, meaning that it has a coil of metal attached to its diaphragm. The movement of this coil within a magnetic field is what turns sound into an electric signal, which can then be amplified. As well as being durable, this relatively crude design is capable of handling very high SPLs, and in live sound these qualities are very desirable. The down side, however, is that the coil is rather heavy, which means that it moves fairly slowly. This limits its frequency and transient response, leading to a somewhat muffled sound and compromising vocal intelligibility.

Clear Advantage?

Fortunately, recent years have seen capacitor mics (also known as condensers) become increasingly popular for stage use. These employ the same capsule technology as the vocal and instrument capacitor mics we use in the studio, and they have an accordingly more 'hi‑fi' sound, thanks to their extended frequency response and increased sensitivity. There are two obvious advantages: they allow lyrics to be heard more clearly, and they require less preamp gain, which helps reduce noise levels.

If you're thinking of buying a capacitor mic for live vocals, however, there are a few things you'll need to watch out for. The extended high‑frequency response means that they can pick up more spill from cymbals — which can, in small venues, be too loud even before they've been amplified! They are also more susceptible to high‑frequency feedback, and on some singers they can emphasise sibilance quite dramatically.

On a more practical level, the majority of capacitor microphones also require phantom power (although some are capable of running on batteries). While most mixers are quite happy to supply this, some desks (mostly older models) can't, so you may need to buy a separate phantom‑power supply or upgrade your mixer before you can use a capacitor mic.

Suits You Sir

As you can see from the previous pages, there are numerous models available, at a very wide range of prices, so how do you know which one's right for you? The usual advice on buying studio microphones applies equally here: if you're going to be using it for your own vocals, what matters most is whether the mic suits your voice. If you're an engineer and you expect to use the mic on a range of voices, however, a model with a neutral tonality will probably be more appropriate.

There is, of course, a very strong correlation between price and quality. The more upmarket models will probably have better specifications (increased dynamic range, lower noise floor, and so on) compared with those at the budget end of the market, but before you spend your money, it's worth considering the gear you're going to be using the mic with. If you've got a cheap mixer with noisy preamps, the mic's self‑noise may not be an issue at all. Similarly, if the PA system you're using isn't particularly great, some of the sonic benefits of a premium mic may be not be especially audible, and a cheaper model might well suffice.

Multi‑purpose Mic

That said, if you do both studio and live work, a top‑quality stage mic could obviate the need to buy another mic for recording. In general, stage capacitors sound fairly similar to 'pencil' type microphones, and so could be useful for both vocals and instruments in the studio.

Also, if you're buying a stage capacitor mic as an upgrade to a dynamic model you already own, don't get rid of your old mic straight away! Not only is it useful to have a variety of mics in the studio, but for live work where there's more than one singer, using different mics on each of them can help significantly with separation.

Finally, as with any microphone purchase, it's best to try out as many of the models on your shortlist as you can. Specifications are useful and can tell you part of the story, but listening for yourself is invariably the best way to decide which mic is right for you.

Earthworks SR40V £870$999

Earthworks SR40V

Made in the USA, this high‑end model employs a five‑micron‑thick diaphragm, which Earthworks claim gives it the fastest transient response of any live microphone. Its feedback rejection is impressively high, and although it's expensive for a stage mic, its quality and technical performance mean it should also find many uses in the studio.

Review: /sos/dec11/articles/earthworks‑sr40v.htm

Sennheiser e965 £447$699

Sennheiser e965

This high‑end offering from Sennheiser has a relatively large (one‑inch) diaphragm and a frequency response of 40Hz to 20kHz. Like the Shure KSM9, it can be switched between cardioid and supercardioid operation, and, with the ‑10dB pad engaged, is capable of handling SPLs of up to 152dB.

Sontronics STC6 £145$249

Sontronics STC6

The STC6 competes in price terms with established dynamic models, yet offers a hotter output and extended high‑frequency response. It's capable of handling SPLs up to 140dB, and features a switchable ‑10dB pad as well as a 75Hz high‑pass filter.

Review: /pm/may09/articles/sontronicsmics.htm

DPA D:Facto £TBA$TBA

DPA D:Facto

A premium model, the D:Facto is brand new to the market, and it has been designed to offer a similar sound to DPA's highly regarded 4011 studio mic. It has a built‑in pop shield and boasts a very high SPL‑handling capability. The capsule basket can be removed and fitted to a wireless mic system from third-party manufacturers Wisycom.

Neumann KMS105 £535$699

Neumann KMS105

The supercardioid KMS105 offers low self‑noise (18dBA) as well as the ability to handle SPLs of up to 150dB, and so should work well with both up‑close and more distant sound sources. A 'Plus' version, optimised for female vocals, is available, as is a cardioid version, the KMS104.

Rode S1 £279$329

Rode S1

The supercardioid polar pattern of the S1 should make it somewhat easier to control spill from the rest of the stage. It is also said to provide a fairly hot output, and so shouldn't require much preamp gain. The S1 has a five‑layer mesh head designed to minimise breath noise, wind noise and plosives.

Samson CL5 £165$199

Samson CL5

The affordable CL5 has a supercardioid pickup pattern, an even frequency response (100Hz-20kHz, ±5dB), and a respectable SPL‑handling capability of 141dB. It's available in a black or a nickel finish, and ships in its own aluminium carrying case.

Shure KSM9 £590$699

Shure KSM9

Shure are well known for their dynamic mics, but they've got the condenser market covered too, with this premium model. The KSM9 has a switchable polar pattern (it can work in cardioid or supercardioid modes), and has been engineered to minimise the proximity effect. It also boasts impressively low handling noise, and is very resistant to popping.

Review: /pm/apr08/articles/shureksm9.htm

AKG C5 £199$199

AKG C5

The cardioid-pattern C5 has a fairly neutral sound, albeit with a slightly exaggerated low end. It's pretty resistant to plosives, however, and is both solidly built and easy to grip. The C5 represents a relatively inexpensive entry into the stage capacitor market, yet offers good technical performance and rugged build quality.

Review: /pm/nov07/articles/akg.htm

SE Electronics H1 £199$249

SE Electronics H1

The H1 is based around the same capsule that SE use in their small‑diaphragm SE2A instrument mic, so it should find uses in the studio as well as on stage. It has the high‑frequency extension and detailed sound typical of 'pencil'-type mics, yet it is rugged enough to withstand regular live use. It also has an easy-to-grip rubberised coating for hand-held use.