Sm58 help

  • Thread starter Thread starter scope
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A lot of people favour condensers for vocals because they are usually more detailed and more sensitive, as the moving parts are much lighter.
To get a comparable signal level from your average dynamic you'd have to turn up the gain, move closer, or be louder.

If your recording environment sucks then a dynamic mic can be helpful. You can get very close to a dynamic with fewer issues and, therefore, increase the ratio of direct to ambient sound.
 
This...
520DX "Green Bullet" Harmonica Microphone | Shure Americas

Is THE classic harmonica mic but used to get the instrument amplified over a PA, not sure it will give good recording results?

A capacitor (aka condenser) microphone would be a good asset IMO. Their clear, uncoloured sound appeals to me and the much higher sensitivity, some ten times (20dB) better than an SM58 can be very useful on such instruments as acoustic guitar. They are also good for speech recording where getting a decent level can be tricky with a dynamic.

But do, IMHO, go for a Small Diaphragm Capacitor. The big side address jobs LOOK sexy but are heavy and hard to "poke" and not nearly so neutral in sound.

Very acceptable SDCs can be had sub $50 but if possible get one with a -20dB pad switch. This cuts the sensitivity down to that of the Dymo but keeps the clarity, allowing close micing. A good, midpriced example is the AKG Perception 170.

Dave.
 
Hi,

The I can't cup the mic due to various issues with my hands, so a green bullet wouldn't be suitable, and i'm informed a condenser wouldn't like the harmonica.
I'll find my list of links tomorrow to see what people think.
 
So, not to be that guy, but...

I've actually had some reasonable amount of success plugging an SM58 directly to a line input. It's of course not the ideal solution, but it does actually work fairly well. The only real downside is a compromise in the S/N ratio. In some contexts, that can be tolerable. In a pinch, as a last resort, or just to get something happening now, it's not as completely asinine as it might sound.
 
scope said:
Hi,

The I can't cup the mic due to various issues with my hands, so a green bullet wouldn't be suitable, and i'm informed a condenser wouldn't like the harmonica.
I'll find my list of links tomorrow to see what people think.
Click to expand...

Yes, I meant to say that a capacitor mic would probably be too "spiky" on harmonica.

Ashcat: A 10:1 passive (must be passive) guitar DI box the "other" way would give about a 20dB boost and better still preserve the mic's balanced nature. Just need an XLR gender changer.

But a mixer is SO much the best solution.

Dave.
 
Ok I've got quite a few links to pre amps and mixers, i hope its ok just to list them out, to see what people think?

so at the budget budget end i see these:

ART Tube MP £39
Blue Icicle £45
Art Tube Mp 3 £69

bit more expensive here:

alesis mictube duo
£79.99
Mackie 402 VLZ4
 £103
Yamaha MG102C Mixer
 £95

Then there's the behringers mentioned earlier. i've just used studiospares for convenience.

the £39 art stands out to me as its the cheapest. But if it's not the right thing for me, that's fine - The reason I've included the yamaha and mackie, is i've heard they are reputable brands for mixers.

But really my knowledge is limited so i would appreciate any input and advice

thanks
 
scope said:
Ok I've got quite a few links to pre amps and mixers, i hope its ok just to list them out, to see what people think?

so at the budget budget end i see these:

ART Tube MP £39
Blue Icicle £45
Art Tube Mp 3 £69

bit more expensive here:

alesis mictube duo
£79.99
Mackie 402 VLZ4
 £103
Yamaha MG102C Mixer
 £95

Then there's the behringers mentioned earlier. i've just used studiospares for convenience.

the £39 art stands out to me as its the cheapest. But if it's not the right thing for me, that's fine - The reason I've included the yamaha and mackie, is i've heard they are reputable brands for mixers.

But really my knowledge is limited so i would appreciate any input and advice

thanks
Click to expand...

The pre amps I thought we had disposed of anyway? But don't (anybody!) buy a cheap valved pre amp, it's just gimmick.

You would think because of the cost v functions ratio that the Mackie would be way ahead of the Yamaha? I doubt it. Yamms never made a bad ANYTHING! They are just better value or/and you are paying for the Mackie name..All made in China anyway...VERY well mind!

So, if you think you might need two more mic amps in the future go Yamaha. If you can work with just two and want to save a few bob, Mackie.

Me? I would go for the Yamaha in that case but in truth save up for my ZED 10!

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
The pre amps I thought we had disposed of anyway? But don't (anybody!) buy a cheap valved pre amp, it's just gimmick.

You would think because of the cost v functions ratio that the Mackie would be way ahead of the Yamaha? I doubt it. Yamms never made a bad ANYTHING! They are just better value or/and you are paying for the Mackie name..All made in China anyway...VERY well mind!

So, if you think you might need two more mic amps in the future go Yamaha. If you can work with just two and want to save a few bob, Mackie.

Me? I would go for the Yamaha in that case but in truth save up for my ZED 10!

Dave.
Click to expand...

Did we? from all ive read here, it sounds like i would be pushing it using the sm58 without one? Sorry if i've somehow missed that though!
 
I've used SM58s on lots of different Yamaha mixers an they've all had plenty of clean gain without any need for an external pre amp.

I have less experience with Mackies but I'm sure they'd be fine as well.

My personal preference from your list would be the Yamaha though--but that may be partly because once you get outside the USA, Mackie prices are vastly inflated, up into the quality Allen and Heath range and they certainly don't compete in that league.
 
scope said:
Did we? from all ive read here, it sounds like i would be pushing it using the sm58 without one? Sorry if i've somehow missed that though!
Click to expand...

Well I thought so!
A pre amp, even an expensive one, would only give you the needed amplification to drive the 2496 . The only likely extra facailty might be a high Z guitar input.

A mixer on the other hand will, in addition to the gain, give you level, pan, EQ, FX send, possibly an AUX send and a return path to take the output of the soundcard and feed monitors. Plus, extra line inputs to take feeds from other devices, synth or say a cassette machine for dubbing/playing along. In fact any other audio source. When you consider all that and the fact that the mic pre amp alone will be AS GOOD and probably better than the cheap amps listed, win-win?

There is a place for specialist mic pre amps. Very low noise high gain jobs for ribbons say or the various types that have a certain "attitude" that some people like. But none of that applies here. ....IF you had nothing at all we would all be urging you to buy an Audio Interface but you already have a very decent sound card, a mixer is the logical way to go.

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
Well I thought so!
A pre amp, even an expensive one, would only give you the needed amplification to drive the 2496 . The only likely extra facailty might be a high Z guitar input.

A mixer on the other hand will, in addition to the gain, give you level, pan, EQ, FX send, possibly an AUX send and a return path to take the output of the soundcard and feed monitors. Plus, extra line inputs to take feeds from other devices, synth or say a cassette machine for dubbing/playing along. In fact any other audio source. When you consider all that and the fact that the mic pre amp alone will be AS GOOD and probably better than the cheap amps listed, win-win?

There is a place for specialist mic pre amps. Very low noise high gain jobs for ribbons say or the various types that have a certain "attitude" that some people like. But none of that applies here. ....IF you had nothing at all we would all be urging you to buy an Audio Interface but you already have a very decent sound card, a mixer is the logical way to go.

Dave.
Click to expand...


Sorry! I'm being dense here, when i say pre amp i meant pre amp/mixer with pre amp built in. That was definitely my mistake :P.
ok, So yamaha mixer it is! Now to read through it thoroughly, and order.

Thanks for all the help here! I will undoubtedly find more questions when it arrives
 
I am using the 192 with a Mackie 802. The 192 is very much like your card (they use the same drivers), drivers are good and stable, latency is very good, plus with the mixer, you're not crawling around in the back pluggin stuff in. I can't say the Pre's in the Mackie are great, but they work and it has all the routing one needs. Main outs to the card, returns back to the mixer, Monitors hooked up to the mixer for volume control (CR Mix) and I think it cost around $200 at GC.

This is what I am using and seems to work fine. If I were to trade this in, it would be for an 8 input USB interface or go up to the higher end interfaces.

But, until I get a lot better, no sense in making good equipment sound bad.
 
TBH DM60 the 192 was the top of range M-A card and even today I doubt there is much that beats it for converter quality.

Any monies that can be earmarked for The Hobby should in my view go toward better monitors and room treatment....Maybe a nicer mic depending upon what you do.

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
TBH DM60 the 192 was the top of range M-A card and even today I doubt there is much that beats it for converter quality.

Any monies that can be earmarked for The Hobby should in my view go toward better monitors and room treatment....Maybe a nicer mic depending upon what you do.

Dave.
Click to expand...

Yea, I was talking more about if I want to expand my recording capability (really I would probably would go with a portastudio for tracking as my room is limited).

My focus is exactly what you said, room treatment (almost there, need to improve the bass trapping), I have a decent set of monitors for now, Rokit 8's. So room treatment, microphones and improved recording and mixing are my focus.
 
DM60 said:
Yea, I was talking more about if I want to expand my recording capability (really I would probably would go with a portastudio for tracking as my room is limited).

My focus is exactly what you said, room treatment (almost there, need to improve the bass trapping), I have a decent set of monitors for now, Rokit 8's. So room treatment, microphones and improved recording and mixing are my focus.
Click to expand...

Fair enough D! Of course, room improvements are always there even if you go for more tracks.

Dave.
 
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