Shure MX418

[Jon Majors]

I have this podium mic in my auditorium and cannot get it to sound good at all. I've tried a ton of possible eq's and it sounds so small. Any recommendations?

 

[FMEng]

Take a look at the frequency response graph, and it'll be obvious. The cardioid and supercardioid capsules have a low frequency cut. Try a 5 dB shelving, bass boost at 200 Hz.
MX400 User Guide

I would describe this mic as a conference room mic, not a public address mic. It probably sounds great with ample proximity effect from someone speaking a couple inches away.

This is why I always look at mic response graphs before I purchase a mic, and learned how to correlate them to how the mic will sound and what applications it will work for. A few manufacturers don't publish them, and they won't get my business.

 

[DaveySimps]

This has been my venues lectern mic for 18 years. We never had an issue. I just highpass at about 150, and take a little cut about 600. I have used them in another large theatre with great success too.

~Dave

 

[MNicolai]

I would double check:

1) Phantom power is active.
2) The cabling to the microphone has no shorts between pins or loss of continuity on any pins.

 

[macsound]

I've absolutely worked with some of these where the wires get twisted inside the connector and end up shorting out against the body.
As I recall, they're super easy to get inside of to check.