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If you plan to sing while playing drums at a live gig, you need need a good vocal mic. You can use a standalone mic on a stand, or you can use a headset vocal microphone. Both types have their benefits and drawbacks.
Headset microphones typically come with cables to connect them, whereas standalone mics are sold separately, and you need to purchase XLR cables to go with them.
There are multiple options from each microphone type that are excellent for drummers. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best vocal mics for singing drummers.
I’ve compared performance, sound quality, design, and cost to give you my top recommendations.
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How I Tested and Selected the Best Vocal Mics for Drummers
I’ve sung backup vocals occasionally, and I’ve used several different vocal mics provided by sound engineers. To compile this list, I used the experience I have to understand what features to look for in a good mic.
When testing mics, I mainly looked at their sound and performance quality. Vocal mics for drummers are primarily used on live stages, so I wanted to see how they’d perform in that environment.
I then looked at comfort, as you’ll find a few different clip designs to keep vocal mics on your head. Lastly, I looked at the value and tried to find a few good mics at varying price points.
Drummers Vocal Mics Reviews
AKG C 520 Headset Vocal Microphone
AKG C 520 Headset Vocal Microphone Review
The impressive AKG C 520 is the best headset microphone for drummers on the market. It’s a head-worn mic that fits comfortably and offers a fantastic dynamic range, plus an ultra-clean sound reproduction.
The AKG C 520 headset mic is a well-built microphone that boasts a durable housing. It features a miniature gooseneck that does a good job of allowing me to position the mic whichever way I want whilst playing the drums.
With this microphone, I’m seriously impressed by how accurately it picks up the details of my voice.
In addition to being a robust microphone I’ve found it is also super lightweight and unobtrusive to wear.
This drummer vocal mic really offers an amazing sound and at a great price. It can handle relatively high sound pressure level (SPLs) of up to 130dB and the cardioid polar pattern offers good sound isolation.
The AKG C 520 is one of the best sounding vocal microphones for drummers that feels really comfortable to wear. It boasts a fantastic build quality and the flexible gooseneck mic is easy to adjust without damaging the headset.
Pros
- Awesome sounding microphone
- Great value for money
- Full freedom of head movement whilst singing
Cons
- No dynamic singing with headset mics
- No mute feature
Audio-Technica PRO 8HEx Headset Vocal Microphone
Audio-Technica PRO 8HEx Headset Vocal Microphone Review
The affordable Audio-Technica PRO 8Hex Headset Mic is another really great sounding microphone for the money. This vocal microphone for drummers offers complete freedom of movement whilst making your voice sound great.
Whilst this drummer vocal mic is a cheaper option, it boasts professional quality features throughout.
I’ve always appreciated mics like this as they allow more drummers to provide backing vocals without paying much, and the performance quality really is surprisingly good.
The hypercardioid polar pattern offers a great level of sound isolation and the neodymium capsule delivers crisp and detailed sounds.
The Audio-Technica PRO 8Hex features a lightweight headband with support pads for a secure and comfortable fit whilst you play drums. When I tried it out, it was super comfy!
There are a lot of things to like about this microphone. It offers a great frequency response and the build quality of the unit is solid for the money. It’s the best headset mic for drummers to buy on a budget and it’s an ideal choice for all types of concerts.
Pros
- Amazing value for money
- Works wired or wireless with a transmitter
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Tight fitting
- No dynamic singing with headset mics
Crown CM311 AESH Headset Vocal Microphone
Crown CM311 AESH Headset Vocal Microphone Review
The Crown CM311 Microphone is a very popular high-end mic for drummers and musicians seeking pristine sound quality for hands-free performance. It’s widely regarded as the ultimate head-worn microphone to use with Shure wireless systems.
This mic offers superb sound quality and it is often the go-to option for sound companies providing gear for musicians on stage.
The Crown CM311 is an amazing quality microphone and it’s been the choice of pros for a long time. It’s the best for mobility, fit, comfort and sound quality. Once it’s adjusted to your head it won’t move and it offers a comfortable fit for complete freedom of movement.
The pristine sound of this microphone outclasses all of its competitors from my experience. It’s perfect for all singers of all different musical styles and it’s the true professional musician’s choice.
Pros
- Superior sound quality
- Professional’s choice
- Very sturdy and reliable performance
Cons
- Larger capsule than other mics
- Expensive microphone
- No dynamic singing with headset mics
Shure Beta 56A Dynamic Vocal Microphone
Shure Beta 56A Dynamic Vocal Microphone Review
The Shure Beta 56A is a dynamic mic that makes for the perfect drummer vocal microphone. It has a lean profile that makes it unobtrusive compared to other dynamic mics on the market. Unlike the previous drummer vocal mics, this is not a headset mic and it needs to be mounted on a microphone stand.
The Shure Beta 56A is a really solid choice and it consistently sounds great.
This mic always has a fantastic presence and delivers a full, resonant tone. The end result was a powerful voice that comes through strongly in the mix.
In my opinion, it’s by far one of the best sounding vocal mics for drummers on the market and it captures a fantastic sound.
But the trade-off is that this drummer vocal mic is not a headset mic designed for drummers. You won’t have the advantage of freedom of movement whilst you play, but if you can deal with that then you should seriously consider the Beta 56A as one of the top vocal microphones for drummers.
Pros
- Unobtrusive profile
- Fantastic sound with lots of presence
- Incredibly durable and versatile mic
Cons
- No freedom of movement like with headset mics
Shure SM58 Dynamic Vocal Microphone
Shure SM58 Dynamic Vocal Microphone Review
The legendary Shure SM58 Vocal Microphone needs no real introduction – it’s the most popular handheld mic in the world! You’re bound to find one in nearly every live venue and recording studio in the world.
One of the main reasons why the Shure SM58 is so widely popular is because it’s virtually indestructible. It’s designed to survive some serious abuse whilst still delivering clean and accurate sound reproduction.
I’ve owned a Shure SM58 for over a decade now. It’s a staple live mic, and I’ve used it on plenty of gigs.
The Shure SM58 makes a great choice for singing drummers because it’s reliable, affordable and it can handle very loud singing. It’s a dynamic mic that’s less sensitive than the condenser headset mics previously reviewed.
You really can’t go wrong with an SM58 – it’s a fantastic all purpose microphone. Loads of professional drummers swear by it for live use by mounting it on a microphone stand for hands-free performance.
Pros
- Ultimate workhorse
- Built like a tank
- Most popular vocal mic for drummers
Cons
- No freedom of movement like with headset mics
- Quite large and obtrusive size
Vocal Mics for Drummers Buyer’s Guide
Your main choice when buying a vocal mic for drumming is to decide whether to get a headset mic or a standalone mic.
Headset mics are an ideal option as they allow you to freely play and sing without worrying about singing in a certain direction. They give you a full range of movement.
The downside of headset mics is that they’re stuck in place. You can’t move away from the microphone if you need to, stopping you from being able to talk freely to people around you on stage without your voice being amplified.
Standalone mics need to be mounted on a stand and positioned in a way that makes them comfortable to sing into. There’s more of a risk of you hitting one of these with your sticks if you’re not careful.
The benefit is that you can simply move your face away from the mic if you want to talk to someone around you.
What to Look for in the Best Vocal Mic for Drummers
Boom Adjustability
If you’ve chosen to go with a headset mic, a key aspect to look out for is the boom arm on which the small mic is mounted onto.
These are often goose-neck mounts, and some are more adjustable than others. Some are also more rigid, maintaining the durability of the headset mic.
Cheaper headset mics have less room for adjustability. Higher-quality goose-neck mounts are easier to move around and hold in place.
The top-tier headset mics also have goose-necks that allow the microphone to sit squarely in front of your mouth, while the more affordable ones tend to position the mic more to the side of your face.
Comfortability
Comfort plays a huge factor when you plan on wearing a headset for lengthy live sets. If you want to feel as comfortable as possible, make sure to get a headset mic with ear clips.
These typically cost more, but they’re well worth it. The ear clips allow you to move very freely without worrying about the headset moving around.
More affordable headset mics without clips have more room to move around. They won’t move if they sit very tightly on your head, but that won’t feel very comfortable after an hour or two.
Microphone Type
Condenser and dynamic are two distinct microphone types. Condenser mics tend to sound better, but dynamic mics block out more sound from outside sources. Condenser mics are always more expensive than dynamic mics.
If you’re getting a standalone mic, you’ll need to get a dynamic one so that it doesn’t pick up too much sound from the drums in front of you.
It’s ideal to buy a headset with a condenser mic. Since the mic is so close to you, it won’t pick up the drum sound as much as a standalone mic would. The more affordable headsets have dynamic mics, which produce lower sound quality.
Vocal Mic for Drummers FAQs
Which Popular Drummers Sing While Playing?
Singing while drumming isn’t the easiest thing to do, but there have been countless drummers over the years who have become very well known for it. A few iconic names are Phil Collins, Dave Grohl, Ringo Starr, Anderson. Paak, and Don Henley.
How Much Should You Spend on a Drumming Vocal Mic?
Microphones have a wide range of prices, and the price largely depends on the sound quality. If you want a decent vocal microphone for drumming, you can expect to pay between $80 and $500.
A high-quality headset mic will cost more than a standalone mic with comparable sound quality. The extra cost is for the design and comfort factor.
What are the Best Vocal Microphone Brands?
The best brands I suggest checking out are Shure, AKG, Audio-Technica, and Crown. Each brand has a wide range of microphone options suited for different budgets.
How Do You Learn to Sing and Drum at the Same Time?
Singing and drumming together requires a high level of coordination. You need to be good enough at drumming so that you don’t need to think about it too much while singing.
Start with basic grooves first, then move on to singing while playing a few drum fills simultaneously.
