Entry level mics

  • Thread starter Thread starter JFogarty
  • Start date Start date
SM48

I don't use mic's alot (just started recording and tend to go direct where possible - for convenience), but when I do I have a Shure SM48. Can anyone tell me whether this is a decent mic, crappy mic, ok mic,........? How does it measure up to the SM57/SM58 (I've never used one so I can't compare.

Thks
 
I've heard, but don't know from experience, that the SM48 has a similar sound to the SM58 but does not produce as hot of a signal. My dad uses one for micing his clarinet for live gigs and gets a pretty decent sound out of a small amp.
 
I agree with "enemyofthesun's" reply. I own a pair of Oktava mc012's and they are definitely worth the investment. I might be stepping on toes here, but I dare say they compare quite well to Neummans pencil condensers, KM184's, at 1/3 of the price. I've used these mics on everything from drum overheads to vocals, and they sound just great! I strongly recommend these mics, especially and primarily for acoustic guitar and overheads.

If theses are still a bit out of range financially, then the sm57 is a great buy. What you can also do though, if you're in a real pinch for money, is buy shure's ACCESS series, which many argue is the sonically the same as the SM series, except that it was done with a cheaper exterior body. i've heard the Acces 4 [axxs4], which is a cardiod condenser, and it sounds pretty hot! Its $149.99 on musiciansfriend.com, BUT, if you go into your local guitar center, you can work them down quite a bit, since the AXXS mics are marked up about 40%-60%. You could walk out with that mic for about $100.

hope this helps!
 
My resume is not up to the standards of some of these other gentlemen, but I have no problem recomending the SM-57 as the all-time work horse inexpensive mic. It does some things very well, does almost everything good enough for a beginner, is very durable, and always useful in a live situation. If you buy it now, you will find yourself still using it years from now even after you have upgraded to other high-end mics. You can usually find it for about $90 and sometimes less.

And don't be ashamed of your Behringer - everyone has to start somewhere!
 
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