Shurue SM 57, what do you think of it?

[electronicdreaming]

hey everyone!
i'm building my studio up..i am finally getting some money, and I need some advice. I do electronic pop music (think kraftwerk meets blink 182..........ok nevermind......lol ), and anyways, i'll be recording from my bedroom, which is pretty spatious, into my computer. I'm looking for a mic that won't pick up sounds from outside so much, even though the walls are really thick and there isn't really any outside noise.....you know what i mean though. So is the SM 57 my best choice in mic's? also, are there any preamps or anything that will help add some kick and magic to my vocals? thanks for your time, i appreciate it!
-justin

[maskedman72]

although a sm 57 is a good start i would suggest for you to look at some other mics for a lead vocal like the studio projects b1 ( around $80)or the at 4033(around $200). more information would help on the mic pre. what is your budget? you want tube or solid state sound? dual or single channel? eq or no eq?
the sm 57 is good for snare drum and a guitar cab and i have used them on kick drum with good results.
what else do you plan to record with your set up? bass? drums?

[Slackmaster2K]

If you're in a somewhat noisy environment and doing punk, then the SM57 or SM58 would be good choices, combined of course with an ok little preamp.

Besides, there is a law that requires everybody to own at least one SM57, even if they don't use it.

Slackmaster 2000

[philboyd studge]

It's also a city ordinance here that you use at least one 57 for live work. The fine is 20 hours of community service recording Gershwin songs at the senior center.

[electronicdreaming]

ahaha...you guys kill me! lol
thanks for all that advice. my budget on preamps would be under $200 right now. And i'm doing pure synthesizer music, with a drum machine for percussion. like i said, think Kraftwerk's music with the poppyness of blink 182. simple catchy stuff. but i'd like to get as nice of a sound as i can afford out of my vocals. your opinions and advice help me greatly, thanks everyone. have a great day now!

[chessparov]

Make sure to check out the Studio Projects VTB-1 mic pre.
At www.bpmmusic.com they had a deal where you'd get free
3 day shipping on it. I think there's the same deal on the B1
microphone there too. You can save some $$ by getting a nice
used SM57 off e-bay, or its ancestor, the unidyne III, that looks
like it. It would be a good idea to get a dynamic AND a condenser so you can use different ones on different songs.

Chris

[participant]

The legendary, late Jack Ortmann used SM57's on everything to get that PRO sound. You can't go wrong.























<---- tongue plants firmly into cheek, then pokes thru

[Slackmaster2K]

Noooooo, don't bring that PSW crap over here....it's like an infucktion that'll spread and take over the whole BBS!!!!!

P.S. to electronicdreaming - the SM57 is a good mic for things like rock vocals, where you're not really after an intimate sound (although the SM58 is a better choice with its cute little ball, virutally the same mic though). If you want a more present, intimate, detailed vocal sound, then a dynamic like the SM57 might not be the best choice. Just so you don't think that everybody is recommending the 57 for all vocal work...that's not what's happening You can't go wrong with one though, they're one of the most versitile, tough mics ever made...when I implied that everybody has one, I meant it!

Slackmaster 2000

[chessrock]

Originally posted by Slackmaster2K
don't bring that PSW crap over here....it's like an infucktion that'll spread and take over the whole BBS!!!!!

. . . and someday, you too will jam, Slack.

[chessparov]

The outstanding pro engineer, Bob Olhsson, has posted that he
learned to ALWAYS try a Shure SM57 (or similar Unidyne III)
microphone and an EV 635a on any vocal he had a chance to try
out different mikes-in addition to the up to 30 Neumann's the studio would carry. You DO need a good mic pre though to really
make them sound their best. The most affordable one out there
right now is the Studio Projects VTB-1 IMHO.

Chris

P.S. I've read that most of the vocals on the first "Boston" album
were done on a '57! I know that Darryl Hall used one on the
the ballad "Sarah Smile". So they're not always for rockers...