Should I be pushing 50dB of gain doing vox w/an SM57?

  • Thread starter Thread starter amra
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amra

amra

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I recorded a "Texas Country" track this past saturday - Acoustic Guitar and just moderately loud vocals, using a '57 on the vox. It took around 50 dB of gain to get peaks around -5 to -6dB.

I am used to recording metal and hard rock, but I am trying to expand my horizons. I usually use condensers for vox, and 57's on guitar cabs and snares and stuff, so this seems like a lot of gain to me.

Is this normal for an SM57 on medium volume vocals?
Just curious.
 
amra said:
Is this normal for an SM57 on medium volume vocals?
Just curious.
Click to expand...

Yes.

The 57 is, what, -54dBV/Pa (1 Pa = 94dBSPL)? So if you sing at roughly 94dBSPL close to the mic, and add 50dB of gain, you'd be at -4dBV, which is probably around -15dBFS or so with your converter. Thus you were probably singing a bit louder than that, which isn't unusual if you have your face pretty close to the mic.
 
Ditto.

I have to run around 50+ when trying to use the 57 for vocals... that is why I dont.

I bought some higher output N/Dym type EVs for dynamic mics to sing through.
 
Thanks for the quick replies...

What other dynamic mics do you guys use, that have a higher output, and would work well for vocals when a dynamic is called for?
 
amra said:
Thanks for the quick replies...

What other dynamic mics do you guys use, that have a higher output, and would work well for vocals when a dynamic is called for?
Click to expand...

There really aren't any. I mean, the dynamics with neodymium magnets can have higher output, but it's like 4dB more. The popular choices for dynamics for vocals are Senn MD441 or 421, Beyer M88, Shure SM7B, and EV RE20. Most are around -54 to -56dBV, the M88 is probably the hottest at -51dBV. The SM7B is only -59!

If your preamp is noisy at +50dB gain and you want to use dynamic mics, get a better preamp. If you preamp sounds fine at +50dB, but it just somehow bothers you, well, get over it! That is what a mic preamp is for. Any preamp that can't dish out +50dB of clean gain is likely a piece of crap.
 
I didn't notice my preamp having any problem getting enough gain, it's just that I was running out of knob...

I am not used to running the trim at 3/4 wide open.
lol

Close micing a guitar cab or for screaming death metal vocals you usually don't go much, if any past 1/2 with a 57. So it is kind of new to me.
 
You want a dynamic with high output? AKG D3800 tripower. Trust me on this one. The damn thing is sensitive, though, and you may find you need a pop filter.-Richie
 
tmix said:
Ditto.

I have to run around 50+ when trying to use the 57 for vocals... that is why I dont.

I bought some higher output N/Dym type EVs for dynamic mics to sing through.
Click to expand...


those EV n/d mics are pretty nice sounding. i was surprised by them. uses much less gain than a 57 also.
 
Just for jollies, I checked the spec sheet on the D3800- it's -51dBV, same as the M88, so the post above is probably about right. Maybe Harvey knows of a hotter dynamic, but I haven't seen it.-Richie
 
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