Shure is one of, if not the single most trusted and reliable brand in live music production.
There isn’t a performing musician on earth who hasn’t sung into a Shure SM58, mic’d up their amp with a SM57 or their kick drum with a Beta 52. Now, Shure has introduced the ultimate collection of vocal microphones for touring musicians with the brand new Nexadyne series.
These new dynamic microphones from Shure offer professional performers unparalleled timbre, clarity and reliability regardless of whatever chaotic external factors are thrown at them. Touring musicians are all very familiar with just how different they can sound from room to room and the lack of consistency can be exhausting. The Nexadyne series is designed to cut down on this concern by producing microphones designed for the highest level of live performance.
The Nexadyne series is based on innovative Revonic technology, recently developed by Shure to maximise performance. Utilising two matched transducers perfectly balanced in an acoustic network, the signal output of these microphones is focused and tuned to enable greater clarity whilst eliminating unwanted noise and stage-bleed. This improved design allows singers to enjoy previously unachievable clarity on stage, no matter where they’re performing.
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So how does this new technology work? The dual transducers, or Revonic engines, inside these new mics unlock greater control of their acoustic response. Whilst the upper engine captures the signal with improved isolation, the second engine has given Shure precise control of the mic’s frequency response, polar pattern consistency, and vibration cancellation.
Shure is offering two versions of the Nexadyne vocal mic: one with a standard cardioid polar pattern and another with a supercardioid pattern. The cardioid model is less directional and therefore more forgiving of a singer’s technique, whereas the supercardioid model, the 8/S, is a better choice for loud stages due to its tighter side rejection and more precise vocal isolation.
Nexadyne
The Shure 8/S Supercardioid is, in other words, the perfect microphone for a professional touring singer. Encased in an ultra sleek black finish, the 8/S looks and feels as good as it sounds, its subtle design preventing it from being a visual distraction. Featuring a dent-resistant hardened grille, the 8/S feels incredibly sturdy and is most definitely built to last, great news for those enduring the rigours of the road. Compared to a classic SM58, the 8/S has a more modern and refined look that pros will appreciate.
The 8/S sounds warm, clear and natural even in very loud live situations, delivering a very pure sound reproduction that is a definite upgrade from the base Shure models of the past. An engineer’s dream, this mic has evidently been precisely designed for consistency, reducing the need for on-the-fly EQing during a live mix. Whilst the supercardioid polar
pattern can be slightly unforgiving when it comes to inconsistent mic technique, this won’t be a problem for seasoned professionals who are used to keeping their mic at a consistent distance during a performance. For those uninitiated, a supercardioid pattern essentially offers a narrower front pickup angle than a cardioid pattern, as well as greater rejection of ambient sound. This makes the 8/S a great choice for singers operating within a live loud band, allowing them to be heard extremely clearly with minimal stage noise leaking into their signal.
The 8/S Supercardioid makes great use of Shure’s new Revonic technology, ensuring that every note and word is heard with immense clarity and focus. Along with an excellent gain-before-feedback threshold, the 8/S has a perfect frequency range that compliments the human voice. Compared to other supercardioid vocal microphones, the 8/S seems to maintain low end clarity with greater ease, creating a very natural balanced sound with improved lows, without ever sounding woofy. This means even for baritones, the 8/S is going to help you project a live context.
In the top end, the 8/S sounds incredibly detailed and crisp but not to the point of being overbearing or harsh. This allows sibilant frequencies to cut through the mix, creating better lyrical clarity for the audience. The midrange is also incredibly detailed and pronounces frequencies that allow the body of your voice to sit perfectly on top of a mix, regardless of the situation. Essentially, the 8/S helps to bring the natural sound of your voice as you may hear it in the studio to a live setting with greater success than ever before. The fantastic noise rejection combined with this clear, natural sound means you’ll be hearing yourself better than ever before in a loud venue.
The Shure Nexadyne 8/S is a definite step into the future of live vocal sounds. With its modern, sleek design and powerfully clear sound, you really can’t go wrong with this microphone. The acoustic signal processing of its brand new Revonic design enables exceptional clarity across all important vocal frequencies and greatly reduces the need for corrective EQ, making it as appealing to sound staff as it is for performers.
This mic comes shipped with a protective zipper case, mic clip and brass stand adapter and has a standard XLR connection, meaning it’s ready for the stage right out of the box. Boasting many of the auditory benefits of a condenser microphone without the headache, this is one hell of a dynamic microphone that is liable to become a new industry standard. It would take an incredibly reliable, robust and microphone to dethrone the SM58 as the king of live vocal mics, but the Nexadyne 8/S may very well have done just that.
Generally coming in at around $629, the 8/S is certainly more than the average live microphone, but with added investment in roadworthy toughness, innovative new technology and superior performance, it is well worth it for a professional touring singer. The peace of mind that comes along with knowing exactly what you’re going to hear when you step up to the mic each night is priceless, and with the 8/S, you know what you’re going to hear will be absolutely superb.
Shure’s Nexadyne microphones, as well as their huge range of live, studio and content creation microphones are available locally at Jands.
