SM 57 for vocals?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Thrasher
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Thrasher

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I'm going to be picking up an SM 57 today for recording guitar/bass and im wondering should it record vocals better than my 50$ Apex?
 
I want to know if people have had success with recording vocals with it. If not i'll have to get a new vocal mic, but i'm hoping the 57 will do a good job.
 
I used my SM57 for vocals before I got my MXL 990/991 package. Just play around with it and you will get the sound you want--I know I did.

Also you will need a pop filter.
 
Be aware that 57's can be quite sensitive to "popping" when you're up close to them.
 
Yeah I already have a pop shield. Thanks for the help :)
 
Thrasher said:
I'm going to be picking up an SM 57 today for recording guitar/bass and im wondering should it record vocals better than my 50$ Apex?

In a word, yes. Sir Paul uses an SM57 too, so you'll be in good company. ;)
 
I use an SM-57 for vocals... seems to work good. Although ppl are right about popping. So build ur own pop-shield using a pair of tights and a metal wire coat-hanger. I did. :)
 
My 57 is probably my most expensive mic & the least fav of the bunch.
Obviously I'm a cheap fellow with cheap tastes.
 
If you are working with a budget preamp, you may get better results with a cheap condenser, especially if your room is treated. If you get into a nicer preamp with enough gain to push a 57, I think it is great on vocals with a pop screen. I am running mine through an FMR Audio RNP and I like the 57 on my voice better than these mics that I have rented to compare:

Studio Projects C1
Shure SM7b
Sennsheiser 421
Shure KSM27
Shure KSM32
Rode NT1a (owned, but recently sold)

I finally quit worrying over why more expensive mics didn't sound better and just accepted the fact that on my voice, the 57 is as far as I need to look. It may or may not be right for your voice though.

Also, read these comments by Fletcher:

http://www.mojopie.com/fletcher.html

That's a good enough recommendation for me!

bilco
 
recordingpro said:
why don't you listen to this and decide if a 57 can do vox
http://www.studioreviews.com/57song.htm


Whether or not YOU can use a 57 is a different story

Good article. Thanks.

And you're right about how important what the 57's are listening to is - it's gotta be good, no matter what. Period. Everything else is secondary to the performance. So, use the 57 as a measuring stick. You've heard a 57 every day if you listen to the radio. The rest, after buying the 57, cable, preamp and recording hardware/software, is up to you. ;)
 
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