Question about Shure SM58 for Home Recording

[ravenomega]

It seems that a dynamic mic would be better suited for me considering less background noise, but the AT2020 sounds really good and has a nice price.. And yes a single mic setup is all that I really want and will need for a while. So basically all of these mics have some sort of adapter that connects directly to the computer that is sold separately? Sorry, just very new to this.

[Bobbsy]

It seems that a dynamic mic would be better suited for me considering less background noise, but the AT2020 sounds really good and has a nice price.. And yes a single mic setup is all that I really want and will need for a while. So basically all of these mics have some sort of adapter that connects directly to the computer that is sold separately? Sorry, just very new to this.

I'm afraid that, as so often occurs, the answer is a definite "yes and know"

The built in sound cards on pretty well any computer are built out of a few cents worth of parts and are very poor quality. What quality there is is aimed at the playback side so you can listen to DVDs or Youtube videos. The microphone input will be dreadful, aimed at Skype calls and so on.

Technically, you could get an adapter cable and plug a dynamic mic like the SM58 directly in--but it'll be unpleasantly noisy and, depending on the sound card in your computer, may be quite low in level.

it gets more complex with condenser mics like the AT2020 (and every other condenser). They require phantom power to operate and your in built sound card doesn't provide that.

Both these problems are easily solved with the addition of an external audio interface, probably connecting to your computer by USB. There are oodles out there but, if you are sure you'll only ever want a sing mic input, have a look at the M Audio Fast Track Mk.II. I'm sure others will be along soon with other suggestions.

[chessparov]

Actually, 58's "can" sound great for vocals (nobody's returned "Frampton Comes Alive yet over it/mostly kidding here), again it depends on the vocalist/material. Personally would have no qualms about being recorded on a 58-through a major studio w/premium pre's, SSL's, blah blah blah.

FWIW I like when Bono (U2) occasionally used a 58 on their albums (more often with Beta 58a BTW), or the lead vocal on "London Calling" (Clash).
Other examples are legion, including other notables like Carly Simon, and David Bowie etc.

Meanwhile, back in humble home recording, can you shoot out a 58 vs. other "usual suspects" among dynamic microphones?

If you can stretch your budget to under $200, recommend comparing the Shure Beta 57a, or Beta 58a, which have greater detail on a typical project studio/prosumer pre vs. the original 57/58. FWIW now that my voice has darkened the last year(!) am favoring the brighter neodymium designs like these.

Am also guessing the OP's "recording area" has not not been acoustically treated, and typically a dynamic will minimize bad room tone vs. a LDC.

Chris

P.S. Am not knocking Frampton's (excellent) singing voice BTW!

[VomitHatSteve]

I actually use an SM58 for most of what I record. All the electric guitars and basses use the 58; the vocals use a slightly cheaper Samson dynamic; I only bust out the condensers for things like acoustic guitars. (All this is through a firewire interface)

(I've got an MXL 990, but it started to poop out on me within a year of buying it, so I can't rightly recommend it.)

So yeah, SM58s can definitely get the job done. They're probably not the best choice for a lot of studio options, but i've gotten good results.