Just bought 3 SM 57's . Something is very wrong. Please help!

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Newtons Law

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Hello my friends

Im a bit of a noob when it comes to Microphones. But I know that the SM 57 is like the most used Mic so Im shure (Get it lol) many of you have one in your possesion.

I just purchased the Shure Drum Mic kit that comes with 3 SM 57's and one Beta 52.

My problem is the screen houseing on the Sm 57's is very loose. you can turn it freely. All 3 mics are like this so Im asuming this is just the way these mics are.

When I begin to mic the drums I get a nasty rattle that comes from these screen housings being so loose.


Is there something wrong with these mics?
Is there something wrong with me?
I cant see why the ends would be so loose and Im rdy to take these suckers back.


Please fill me in on the SM 57's
 
yes, the screen housing is pretty loose, that's normal.

But you should not get a rattling sound from them...

Then again, I never miced drums before....
 
be "Shure"

Are you "Shure" lol, that its the michrophones that are doing the rattling? Ive used plenty of Sm-57s on drums and never had a problem with the noise you describe. I would check everything else on your kit and make sure that it is indeed the mics because there are just tons of things on a drumset that can rattle or create whacky noise. If you still think its the mics, take em back.
 
Thanks for your reply my friend. Yeah I asumed the ends are supposed to turn freely by design and I know this rattle is coming from these mics. all 3 rattle. I can lightly grab the end of the mic and the rattle goes away.

The mics are cliped right to the toms so the vibration is rattling the screen housings like crazy. Im using the mounts that came with kit so it seems to me this shouldnt be happening.

I just want to get the low down from SM 57 owners before I make the hour long drive back to guitar center to take them back.

Any coments on this issue are greatly appretiated folks
 
The mics should not be clipped to the toms directly....

You use boom stands to allow them to be free-standing, but of course aiming them to where they need to be positioned.......
 
That solution of mounting to stands instead of toms sounds solid friend but I bought this as a drum Mic kit.

It comes with 1 Beta 52, 3 SM 57's and 3 Mounting clips. Granted they say mounting to stands is an option but these clips were really designed to go directly on the rims of the drums.

All throughout the documentation and even the pics on the box they are all cliped directly to the rims of the toms.

I guess what Im trying to find out is if the package I bought is performing the way it should. Clips and all.
 
Something you can try is what I had to do once on a VERY hollow stage....There was so much vibration goin' on that the ratteling happend on one of my Unidine III's (same loose grill on the mic) I just took the tiniest peace of gaff tape and stuck in just in the little crack where the shaft of the mic meets the head (glad I put the word mic in there...)....Stopped the rattle's and when I took it off later, because there was feck all tape, no marks....So, my point is, if you like the sound of those mics, and you realy want or need them clamped to the drum try that and you shouldn't have a problem....Hope this helps!
 
I totally agree using boom stands is a better solutions.

Besides, the SM57s are pretty big for clip-ons. ;)

I know Shure included the mic clips, most probably cos they are a lot cheaper than including 3 boom stands to the package. ;)
 
Well... I suspect a marketing team put together the acccessories for the "drum mic kit" rather than the engineering team...

"Hmmm... I get rattle from the vibration of the toms when the mic is contacting it... what could the solution be... obviously, isolation..., but Shure put these clips in there so it MUST work!!!"

The laws of physics can't be negated by the power of the marketing department!
 
Newtons Law said:
All throughout the documentation and even the pics on the box they are all cliped directly to the rims of the toms.
Click to expand...
Yeah... dude... those pics weren't taken in a recording session, they were done in a PHOTO STUDIO!!! :eek:

Think about it!

;)


Seriously though, all spoofing aside.... '57s are NOT clip-on mics and were not designed that way.....

You could possiby argue that they owe you some money for those lcip-ons (since you can't use 'em and you paid for them...) -- but I'm guessing they're about one-quarter of 1% of the total price!
 
Well my friend your sarcasm and undenyable knowledge saturates my eyes as I lay them upon this synchronised plethura of pixles :)

But your missing a big point here.
These mics are not rattling because they are on the clips which are connected to the rims of the toms. And before you spout off more sarcasm I know and understand how conductivity and vibration could produce a rattle.

These Mics are IN FACT rattling because the screen housing is very loose. For if I use a piece of tape like the gentlmen above advised problem solved.

Or another solution.

Use my Beta 57 which has a nice tight screen housing. Which produces no rattle what so ever even thoe it is mounted directly to the rim of the tom as you so ill advised.


Basicly Ive heard so much about these SM 57's as being the Swiss Army Mic of the Mic world. Yet I cant even mic a tom without a rattle even thoe I am using the appropriate mounting equipment.
 
I wasn't being sarcastic as much as somewhat humourous..... you should learn to lighten up if you plan on sticking around these forums! (And I hope you do stick around -- there are a lot of good people here with a lot of valuable info!)

The fact remains that the sm57 is not designed to be a contact mic in high-vibration situations.... the clip attaches to the tom and is subject to vibration... the mic being attached to the clip is therefore also affected by the vibration.... the vibration is causing the mic housing to rattle.........

Therefore, the solution is to place the mic in such a way as to minimize exposure to vibration...................................... which means a boom stand!

I have yet to see any application of a SM57 being clipped-on to toms........
 
Yes my friend like I said I know why they are vibrating and I know how to remedy the problem.

My initial question was to find out if there was something defective with these mics.

Ive never owned a SM 57 till now so I did not know if the loose screen houseing was normal or not.


I just wanted to clarify this before I took them back and looked like a fool.


Guitar center:
Hi may I help you

Mic Noob:
Ahh these mics are broke

Guitar center: Ahh no their not :)

Mic Noob:
Oh......... ok


So I wanted to skip that scenerio all together.

Personaly I think its a design flaw then as the Beta 57 works fantastic being mounted to the rim of the tom.

I just wish I had 3 Beta 57's instead of 3 SM 57's now :(
 
wooa~ cool it Newton my man!

I don't see where in Bear's posts that offended him, but he was indeed being humorous (note the smiley faces) and sarcastic maybe, towards Shure, but definately not you. :)
-------------------------------------------
Quote: These Mics are IN FACT rattling because the screen housing is very loose.
----------------------------------------------------
I hope you're not blaming the SM57 for this, they are created that way, for better or worse..... the culprit is the mic clips!! :D
 
OK.... I'll make this REAL clear....

There's nothing wrong with your fuckin' mics........... there's something wrong with the way you're trying to use them.......

Throw the fuckin' clips out the goddamn door and get yourself some proper boom stands.................!

Ged'dit now?!?!?!?!

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:


(And this time, I'm NOT trying to be humourous.........)
 
You have to admit, you guys don't always think about how you come across to newbies. Politeness works both ways, and comfort in a forum should not dull you to the impression you give people.

I was pretty taken aback by the way I was first responded to when I began posting here, but I've been on the Internet since 1988 so I just shrugged it off because I know how people can be and not mean to.

Some folks here just post looking for a simple, straight, useful answer to a question. Based on my observation, they don't always get one.

I'm not trying to hack on y'all, just asking you to take a moment and put yourself in the newbies' shoes once in awhile.

-----
DAVID VESEL -- synthpop recording artist
The new single 'The Caves'
The new album Calliope
Now available on Situation Records
http://www.ampcast.com/davidvesel
davidvesel@pobox.com
 
Look dude. I knew you were an asshole from the start.

I can tell from your lil saying
Which would you choose; someone with a 50/50 smattering of knowledge and very polite, or 97% accuracy and blunt?
Click to expand...
That your one of them fucking know it alls that has nothing better to do then come in here and tell everyone how it is. Your numeber of posts only backs this theroy up.


AND FOR THE LAST FREAKIN TIME! I was not asking ...."Why are my Mics vibrating"

My question was.... " My mics are vibrating because the screen houseings are loose. Are these screen housing supposed to be loose by design"

And before you spout off with any more smart ass remarks I know damn well how to remedy the rattle via proper mounting more suitable for these Loose screened mics.

Again how to get rid of rattle was not my question.


So seeing how you raced in to post your all mighty wisdom you missed my real question which i will say one more fregin time for I cant seem to get in to your hard freagin skull.


WHY ARE THE SCREEN HOUSINGS LOOSE? IS THIS THEY WAY THEY ARE DESIGNED?

And it was answered in the very first reply by leekage. which I thank him for.

So all your BS mr Blunt Blue Bear was for not cause I didnt ask questions to the answers you gave.

We have reached the bottom line.............................
 
Newtons Law said:
So all your BS mr Blunt Blue Bear was for not cause I didnt ask questions to the answers you gave.
Click to expand...
Sure there was cause.... it was called "supplying additional information"

Now go back to playing with your clip-ons.............

:rolleyes:
 
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