Audix OM3

I've been running FOH, monitor mixes, music teaching & local live performances for over 10 years, professionally for the last five. I'm not a gear snob; will use what is available, and what works well together. I am not a "home recording" person. I rotate between saxaphone, BG vocals and tech guy depending on the venue.

OM3 is a superhypercardioid dynamic mic, for my own use. Mostly I play the sax, but for BG harmonies I admittedly have a strange voice in the upper register. It's naturally a little bright, with quite a harsh edge. If I sing lead, for instance, an SM57 is a really good mic. But for alto-range harmonies it wasn't that "tight" for me. The OM3 was recently suggested so I figured I'd give it a try.

The OM3 is heavy, with a slender profile. There's a good bit of heft to hit, but the slender profile doesn't "grab" as well. The grill feels substantial, certainly sturdy, but it's not as easy on the lips as the beloved behringer 8500 (beta58 clone) I've used so long.

The mic has wonderful gain b/f feedback, but you do have to stay on it to be picked up. Proximity effect is controlled and pretty mellow. You can't use it as an effect like with a 57. That said, however the mids compare to a 57 at 2" distance, with a more accurate tone. It is a very accurate mic. For my voice, it compliments sung harmonies very well. I don't think it would work well with spoken word as it's not as "crystaline" sounding as a 58. in fact, even the 57 has more boosted highs than the om3. It's also not as sensitive; more gain required at the preamp. No noticeable handling noise.

Overall, I would not consider this as a universal mic, but as a problem solver. Certainly not for timid singers or folks who can't control mic-mouth distance well. It is not forgiving in that regard. But, it's very accurate, seems well-built, is nicely priced, presents zero feedback problems in cramped spaces, doesn't pick up much stage noise, and is probably also well-suited to micing cabs too. Good mic.

I'm a solo singer-songwriter and recording artist, mainly guitar, losts of instrumentals with some singing. I'm not the best singer, but I try hard to make it sound good.
I typically plug this mike into the house PA or into my Genz Benz Shenandoah Jr. acoustic guitar amp.

I don't record with this mike. For recording singing I have an MXL v69 tube mike.

It's a dynamic hypercardiod mike. It sounds good and strong, but you have to sing right up on the mike or you won't be heard, so it makes it difficult if you have a lot of dynamic range in your singing and like to back up from the mike and get closer as needed, or if you perform with a lot of intensity and don't stay right on the mike the whole time. However, that makes it good for controlling feedback, and the mike can be pretty loud w/o feedback, so it just takes some getting used to. It would be better if I was in a loud band, as a solo performer the hypercardiod pattern actually gets in the way of performing.