Shure SM58 or AKG Perception 200

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keem85

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Hi! My second post in a short time. I need some quick advice.. I've done some research but I need some direct advice on this. Will the Shure SM58 or AKG Perception 200 be best for home recording? Right now I have the AKG, and it picks up ALOT of noise from my appartment even when installing noise reduction stuff on my walls... I am very fond of quality and I want to know if the SM58 is a good choise for my home recording.. A value quality, but I also have a tight budget for now

-Kim
 
They're hugely different mics. Your question is a bit like asking "which is better...a Ford F150 pickup or a Mustang.

The SM58 would help your background noise issue but at the expense of detail and clarity--it's designed mainly as a live stage mic with low sensitivity to avoid loud stage wash.

The AKG Perception is designed for studio use and provides more brightness and clarity.

If it was me, I'd stick with the Perception and work on the acoustics. You can usually get good results from a condenser even in a live room by simply using the cardioid pattern to put noise sources behind the mic, hanging heavy, soft fabric (duvet, movers blanket) behind the vocalist and putting something else soft on the opposite wall. Well, I say opposite but diagonals work better.

However, there ARE people who record happily on an SM58 so the choice is yours.
 
Thanks. This clear things up for me.. I want to keep the clarity. I'll buy some blankets and work on the acoustic aswell as record with a low input to avoid noise
 
Just a few bucks more just buy a shure beta 87a. U don't want to have 10 mics like the other guy before u realize u only need 1 good one. U will need phantom power though. I have a sm58, beta 58, and soon I will have that beta 87a.
 
mofat said:
Just a few bucks more just buy a shure beta 87a. U don't want to have 10 mics like the other guy before u realize u only need 1 good one. U will need phantom power though. I have a sm58, beta 58, and soon I will have that beta 87a.
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And what you will have then is three somewhat similar mics all aimed at live work and none designed for the studio. Also, we don't know what the OP wants to record...all vocal, some vocal and some guitar...or a full symphony orchestra. You can get away with the Shures you recommend for vocals but i wouldn't want to use any of them for acoustic guitar (just as an example).
 
keem85 said:
Will the Shure SM58 or AKG Perception 200 be best for home recording? Right now I have the AKG, and it picks up ALOT of noise from my appartment even when installing noise reduction stuff on my walls...
Click to expand...

Changing microphones in a noisy environment is really just damage limitation. It's never going to fix the problem.

What kind of noise are we talking about here? Ambient reflections, air-con, computer fans?
If there's noise in the room there'll be noise in the recording.

How close your source is to the mic is probably the greatest variable in controlling the level of unwanted noise, along with careful pattern positioning as Bobbsy said.
 
Yeah that's true! Well there is alot of room reflection since my apartment isn't that big.. But it's stuffed with furniture and stuff so I bet I'll just need some blankets to hang on the wall and infront of my stationary PC to lower unwanted noise.. I also have bought a Reflexion Filter for my mic, which I think will help alot.. Also I got an advice to record my vocal at -10db input and this will lower the noise absorbation too I think
 
Frankly, before nailing blankets to your wall, try the Reflexion filter. I find they do a remarkable job. The most you might need is a duvet or movers blanket on a screen behind you--and probably not even that.
 
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