BELOW. A RECORDING MADE TODAY, EVENTUALLY, ON THE SHURE MV5. ALWAYS BEST LISTENED THROUGH HEADPHONES…..OR LOUD.

Microphone choices of ‘which to use and for what’ has been a recent thought process. Vocals and instruments have different thought processes.

Today it was a test of trying out vocals. Focusing on an old vintage microphone and applying new technology to make it work. I own a Shure SM58 cardioid dynamic microphone I used in the 1970s. It has an XLR connection lead. It doesn’t fit into my new Apple Mac system. So I needed an adapter to make it work.

Do I pursue this. Or choose two modern microphone purchases. I recently bought the Shure MV88 and MV5 condenser microphones for the iPad and new Apple technology for the home studio recordings. Different connection leads. But were they as efficient as the old vintage perfect with decades upon decades of being viewed as an iconic masterpiece. I quickly found out that microphone choice becomes ‘horses for courses’.

Which is best for voice or instruments has been investigated for a while now. Today? I thought my enquiries were sorted. My old microphone needed a lead connection linking old style to new. Then it was to be all steam ahead.

Having bought a cheap, but effective, ‘interface’ piece of equipment to convert old style microphone connections to new technology I believed it was to be successful. It is. But, apparently, the reality is that the old cardioid dynamic microphones can pick up electrical AC interference. That….or something yet unknown that also affects suitability. An annoying audible ‘hum’ was in the background to my speech and vocals. When I was recording the standard and simple iconic ‘testing, testing 1-2-3’ voice check. I never noticed. Too excited of new ventures I suppose.

Following was the fun experience of attempting to sing, badly, the beautiful low gravelly vibe of Lee Marvin’s ‘Wanderin’ Star’ to high ‘Tiptoe through the Tulips’ Tiny Tim vocal ranges to test the low soft to harder sounds and frequencies. But problems on re-listening were suddenly found out to exist. Noise!. As said…’Hum’. Yes. A background annoying hhhhhhmmmmmm frequency. So I deleted those pretend dulcet Lee and Tiny Tim gritty to high warblings because of annoying interference. Then followed lots and lots more investigations of why it existed. A few hours later and still no solution.

I was, at first, vexed. Then calm. So I deleted the whole afternoon. Added a new project. Chose a GarageBand drum beat. Linked in the new MV5 microphone. Picked up the acoustic and played a chord sequence into it. Laid down a quick vocal of an old lyric with a new tune. Then made up a simple tune on the keyboard and played it in a chosen weird synth simple sound over the top. Afternoon wasted. Then? Half an hour later and a bit of a result.

There’s a million with shotguns

Pointing right between my eyes

They don’t seem to understand.

When it’s three in the morning

And ghosts keep calling me

Back to my past experience

I’m bleeding all over again

With my friends.

I’m glad that you and I exist.

Your wing tips brush kiss

My cheeks

I’m left feeling golden and at peace

No longer haunted

Or aching with the memories.

Forrest Gump’s mother/mama says ‘Stupid is as stupid does’. I suppose ‘Simple is as simple does’ is apt today too. I thought, having investigated, complications were overcome and life would all be straight forward. But currently, complications have a habit of liking my personality and come to visit by saying ‘Hello. Not quite finished with you yet’. I reckon they are going to show their faces quite often over the coming months.