Beta 57

[AxeSlash]

Any opinions on this mic? I quite like it on vox, but I've heard some people say they don't like it.

Anyone ever used it on toms?

Cheers.

[jkokura]

I find it's a very different mic than the SM57...does anyone else find the same? Mostly I've used it on Djembe and guitar cabs in live situations. I liked it on the Djembe, but I like my e609s better on the guitar cabs. If you like it get one or two, but they aren't a 'better' version than the SM57 IMO, they're different mics.

Jacob

[mshilarious]

I use it for just about anything live. I like the Beyer M201 better, but it's pricier and less friendly for live vocals, even though it sounds great for that. But on the whole, the Betas sound pretty good.

In the studio, it could have some application on vocals, toms, snare, guitar amps, even some piano parts.

[Doc Holiday]

I've got one. It sounds pretty good on a guitar cab. I've used it for vocals a couple of times. It would be ok for a gritty rock vocal. I've also used it to record a snare drum with ok results.

[soundchaser59]

As far as my feeble hearing skills go, the SM57 and the Beta 57 sound the same, except the Beta is just hotter signal because of the N-Dym magnet. It has an EV counterpart in the ND267. If memory serves me correctly - which it rarely does anymore - EV came out with the NDym mics first, and the Betas quickly followed.... I think the EV is brighter and hotter than the Beta, but for a heavy guitar cab I would be quite happy to use a straight 57. But I am having a lot of fun experimenting with the EV ND468 and the AKG D770 for leads, and the E609 for rhythms.

[visa]

i think it sound shit on snare but great on live vocals and guitar cabs.

[Blue Bear Sound]

The Beta 57 has a brighter top-end than the regular 57, plus it's hypercardioid where the 57 is cardioid....

[mishagolin]

i like it a little more than a sm58 for live vocals. but i use mine most often on the underneath of a snare with its phase reversed, and in the back of my Fender Princeton mixed in with an LDC out front.

[xstatic]

I primarily use beta 57's on snare and on live vocals.

As far as the EV counterpart, the beta 57 is much brighter and a little hotter than the EV> The EV's have always seemed really muddy to me.

Also, there is definately a tonal difference between a standard beta 57 and a beta 57a. I much prefer the beta 57a.

[soundchaser59]

I suppose the EV might seem muddy for vocs, I never tried that. I only used it on guitar amps.

I did not remember the Beta57 being supercardioid, thanks for the reminder. I think that would make it more difficult to use than a cardioid SM57. Supercard's tend to get more ambient noise because of the slight rear pickup on the polar pattern.

Mishagolin: You are the second person I've heard say that the SM57 works great for vocals. I never would have believed it, but my friends recordings dont lie, his vocs sound awesome! He uses the SM57 for all of his vocals, and it is unbelievable what a skilled musician can get outa one of those mics! I'll never cut it down, that's for shure!