Faulty SM57?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brohnis
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Brohnis

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Hey folks

Just a query regarding my SM57.

I've only been doing this recording lark for just over a year so still noobish with mics and stuff. I purchased a second hand SM57 off ebay (I checked all the classic 'fake' things such as weight, wiring and intricate details and it passed). I also use a Bluebird condenser mic for vocals/acoustic guitar.

Now my problem is surrounding gain. I use a TC Electronic Desktop Konnect 6 and when I use my bluebird, I activate the phantom power, and set the gain to approx. a quarter on the dial (sorry for the lack of technical speak!) This is a perfect level for recording, and picks up everything without peaking etc.

When I use the SM57 on the other hand, I have to turn the gain up to almost full to get any kind of signal back. Just to mess around I've tried using two mics (the bluebird and the SM57) to record acoustic guitar (for the record I know the SM57 isn't designed for acoustic guitar particularly but yknow...you just mess around?!) but as mentioned, I get an awesome response from the bluebird but the SM57 is rubbish.

Just to mention, the TC electronic has just one mic input and 2 jack inputs, so I plug the bluebird into the mic input and then I use a jack to XLR lead for the SM57. Would this have an affect?!

Many thanks for the help in advance

Tim
 
By plugging the 57 into a jack input you are probably plugging into a line-level, not a mike-level, input. Try the 57 in the XLR input.
 
Word. You'll need to run the 57 into a preamp and then the preamp LINE out can go to the interface's line in. The mic doesn't have nearly enough gain -- Probably not even perceivable at the input (short of firing a cannon off next to it).
 
Brilliant.

Thanks for the speedy/clear/non-patronising responses! :-D
 
1. condenser mic's need much less gain than dynamic mics such s the 57
2. as stated don't use adapters xlr-1/4 for mics
3. where the knob is on the interface gain is not what you should use to judge levels
4. judge your levels by whats coming in the channel you are recording.
5. digital recording levels don't need to be near 0. at 24 bit the average level between
-18 to -12 is best with peaks no more than -6.
 
Brohnis said:
Brilliant.

Thanks for the speedy/clear/non-patronising responses! :-D
Click to expand...

Sorry we should have done the usual slow, muddy, patronising, sarcastic, responses.............:)

Glad the forum helped, that's what we are all here for.

Alan.
 
How dare you besmirch the great sm57! I thought everyone liked patronizing responses. Oh and the 57 is designed to mic acoustic guitars, aim it at the 12th fret pointed slightly toward the sound hole. If you have 2 mics then set up the 1st as I said earlier and the 2nd mic pointed toward the bridge of the guitar. Otherwise if you only have 1 mic then just use the 1st setup.
 
A faulty sm57? Say it ain't so novi novak... say it ain't so
 
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