Some folks can use a headset mic and some folks cannot--it's that simple. Headset mics seem to work just fine for Madonna, Garth Brooks, Michael Jackson, Jimmy Buffett, Alabama, and an endless list of other great vocalists.

Singing into the mic from different angles doesn't change any of the attributes of a vocal harmonizer, at least other than harmony clipping, which can occur when the signal strength is too low from using a pull-away technique. If you want great vocal quality you need to learn vocal control.

The midi signal coming from the keyboard and fired into the vocal harmonizer tells the harmonizer what key the singer is supposed to be singing and references that information based upon the midi signal sent. That signal has absolutely nothing to do with the actual vocals themselves. You could be playing in "C" and singing in "D" and the vocal processor would still be basing the harmony on the key of "C". Of course if you were using pitch correction, then the vocal processor would correct your voice to the key the keyboard was playing, but that's another subject.

Donny is correct in that you MUST change your singing technique if you wish to use a vocal harmony processor with any degree of efficiency. Singing with a vocal harmony processor is an art-form in itself and requires a fair degree of vocal discipline, including breath control.

Most of the individual singers I've seen in person that utilize the pull-away technique were trying to hit notes out of their comfortable vocal range. Essentially, they were screaming out that high note while rapidly pulling the mic well out of effective range for any mic. I've seen some jazz singers pull the mic all the way down to their waist-line when screaming out those highs. The mic would have a better chance of picking up the person's stomach growling than their voice.

While learning to effectively use a headset mic requires a fair degree of change to traditional singing technique, the headset mic provides the user a degree of freedom not possible with a traditional, hand-held mic on a stand. No more worrying about where the mic is while making changes on the keyboard, eye contact is much better with the audience and you can change your position from sitting to standing, or vice-versa. That's why I, for one, would never go back to a hand-held mic on a stand.

If you wish to hear some of the songs I've performed using the Harmony-M, PSR-3000 and Crown-CM-311A headset mic, go to my Jukebox and listen to Feels So Right. This was recorded to a Zoom H2 from the keyboard's headphone output during a performance last fall.

Good Luck,

Gary