Microphone Overdrive?

[blinkersin]

When performing live vocals I have a very erratic and dynamic singing style that sometimes results in the vocals being painfully loud. The dynamic changes are usually too quick for the "moving away from the mic" technique to work all the time. I'm looking for a reliable way to get something like peaking distortion instead, something, something like peaking the microphone. It can't be mixer specific as we rely on the venues mixers. I also don't want it to be constantly "on", as in it's mostly clean and just the bits that are too loud have a nice distortion sound. What can you guys recommend?

[lfm]

Harmonica mike


or just hold mike in a way that you don't get too close?
- maybe a style like harmonica player do with something in between

If you are doing wireless, maybe there are such with limiters and as you can set for clipping.
- some preamp in belt or something that many acoustic guitars have
- or something in between to wireless sender

But to get it right as spur in the moment effect is maybe not so easy....

[kelvyn]

I think the main problem would be latency when using a compressor or limiter if you are thinking about plugins.
Doesn’t the main house mixer have a compressor on the mix desk?
There’s a trick you can use when singing loud parts instead of using mic techniques - moving the mic further away on the loud parts - maybe try imagining swallowing the loud parts on the belt instead of pushing them out. It’s a tricky technique but does work with some vocalists. Imagine you are an ape beating your chest and intoning “Ugh!!!” Put the “Ugh” into your chest not your throat.
No idea what style you have but it’s OK for some vocalists.
Good luck:)

[pdxindy]

Instead of trying to move away from the mic, keep the mic slightly to the side and then you can turn your head slightly away from the mic for the loudest parts... that's faster.

You might also be able to find a mic with more dynamic headroom.