The Beths
We tested the OD505s in soundchecks against all the top stage vocal mics. They have a great tight pickup pattern and very neutral and muted off-axis sound.
The Beths, a spirited indie rock band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed in 2015. Comprising Elizabeth Stokes (vocals/guitar), Jonathan Pearce (guitar), Benjamin Sinclair (bass), and Ivan Luketina-Johnston (drums), their catchy melodies, dynamic performances, and insightful lyrics set them apart. Their debut album “Future Me Hates Me” (2018) garnered global praise, leading to widespread tours and a devoted international following. With a blend of pop-punk and jangle-pop influences, The Beths’ captivating music and evolving style solidify their place in modern indie rock.
About the OD505:
We tested the OD505s in soundchecks against all the top stage vocal mics. We wanted them to win the shootout – they are cheaper than most after all – but they simply sounded the best. They have a great tight pickup pattern and very neutral and muted off-axis sound. We are on in-ear monitors, we’re a fairly loud band on stage but we all sing, and the right vocal mics really clean up the sound we hear. They even excel in that most demanding situation – drummer vocal.
About the OC818:
I was looking out for a clean and airy mic, specifically to record Elizabeth’s vocals. We’ve tried her on a bunch of mics over several album projects together. The classic German condenser mic never quite sounded like Elizabeth does in the room to my ears – her voice isn’t necessarily enhanced by the added midrange sizzle. I wanted to try out Austrian after reading about what they were doing with the CK12 capsule. The OC818 is now my go to, not just for recording Elizabeth’s singing but for in front of a guitar amp, and really just about anything else. The icing on the cake is just how effective this mic is on the top snare. Using Polar Designer I can exclude the hi hats more than any other solution I’ve tried.
