sm57 or sm58?

[thomaswomas]

I need a good mic to record guitars and drums and decided to go for the sm57. but before i buy, i was wondering whether it would be better to go for an sm58. am i mistaken in thinking that both mics have the same frequency response and cardioid pattern and the only difference is the grill shape? therefore, if you remove the grill from an sm58 then it becomes an sm57? can anyone clear this up for me,

thanks

simon

 

[TaperChuck]

For instruments go with the SM57.

 

[myhatbroke]

The frequency esponse for the sm57 is 40 to 15000 Hz

while the sm58 is 50 to 15000 Hz

You can take off the grill on the sm58 but the sound isn't exactly the same. They sound a little different, the sm58 has a bit higher tone because the sm57's pop filter is part of the cartridge and can record closer. THe sm58 is not designed to record without the grille. The sm57 is a better choice if you are going to do both singing and instruments just but another pop filter for vocal recordings.

 

[mshilarious]

The frequency esponse for the sm57 is 40 to 15000 Hz

while the sm58 is 50 to 15000 Hz

You can take off the grill on the sm58 but the sound isn't exactly the same. They sound a little different, the sm58 has a bit higher tone. The sm57 is a better choice if you are going to do both singing and instruments.

Where have you gone, Blue Bear? The Mic Board turns its lonely eyes to you

 

[myhatbroke]

Where have you gone, Blue Bear? The Mic Board turns its lonely eyes to you

am I wrong?

 

[KamikazeKyle]

Go with the 57. You can track a good deal of instruments with it and even track vocals.

 

[bigwillz24]

OMFG! they are the SAME FUCKING MIC with differant grilles. Jeebus!

 

[myhatbroke]

OMFG! they are the SAME FUCKING MIC with differant grilles. Jeebus!

Pretty Much. But the freq response is tiny bit different.

 

[jonnyc]

am I wrong?

Yes. It's nice to type a bunch of presumptions and do so in a technical manner but I've used both, grill on, grill off and to me there is no difference. It's not bad that you're wrong though, lots of people assume the exact same thing you do. Now I'm almost sure someone will come on and claim I'm wrong, but I've heard this with my own ears and had it backed up by some fairly reputable professionals.

 

[jonnyc]

Pretty Much. But the freq response is tiny bit different.

So says the graph. Most people like to use their ears instead of graphs when developing an opinion of a mic.

 

[bigwillz24]

Pretty Much. But the freq response is tiny bit different.

*cough, cough, bullshit, sneeze, cough...*

 

[myhatbroke]

*cough, cough, bullshit, sneeze, cough...*

Are you choking on bullshit?

 

[bigwillz24]

Are you choking on bullshit?

Yeah yours.

 

[andycerrone]

Numbers mean nothing in the end, Aaron. When you're listening to a recording, that's all you get; what you hear. Not whether or not it had another 10 Hz range is NOT audable to your ear.

 

[TragikRemix]

anyways..

same shit to me.. of course, i'd rather use a 58 for vocals (live, not really my go-to studio mic..) over a 57, just because.

it looks right, and the singer will be more comfortable with it.

instruments- gotta be a 57. why? because thats how it is!

is it different? the world may never know........

basically, get a 57 because thats the standard all around use for everything mic.

chances are, if you are recording vocals with a 58 or a 57, your monitoring chain (and your ears) isnt/arent umm, lets say developed or strong? enough for it to matter..

its like this- if your only monitors are a pair of Berry Truths, you arent going to be able to hear enough of a difference between, lets say, Converters, for it to matter.

i could be wrong, you might be a multimillionaire with a huge studio in Europe, just asking a silly question, so if thats the case, disregard me

 

[superspit]

anyways..

its like this- if your only monitors are a pair of Berry Truths, you arent going to be able to hear enough of a difference between, lets say, Converters, for it to matter..............


Hey, I use Berry Truths.....what's a sm57? Is it louder than the 58?

 

[TragikRemix]

Hey, I use Berry Truths.....what's a sm57? Is it louder than the 58?

not saying they're bad or anything. i use ns10s which everyone hates.

im just saying, unless we have monitoring chains that are THE BEST, we really can't hear and understand things like the difference between a 57 and a 58, the difference between converters, the difference between an analog mixing board vs a DAW....

 

[jonnyc]

not saying they're bad or anything. i use ns10s which everyone hates.

im just saying, unless we have monitoring chains that are THE BEST, we really can't hear and understand things like the difference between a 57 and a 58, the difference between converters, the difference between an analog mixing board vs a DAW....

Then go get some decent monitors, you need to be able to hear stuff like that.

 

[superspit]

not saying they're bad or anything. i use ns10s which everyone hates.

im just saying, unless we have monitoring chains that are THE BEST, we really can't hear and understand things like the difference between a 57 and a 58, the difference between converters, the difference between an analog mixing board vs a DAW....

Hi TR....thanx for that.
But your response was way too good for my stupid comment I made earlier.
With reference to your 57/58 comment, I couldn't agree more!!
SSpit!

 

[Erockrazor]

I think its such a small difference that you shouldnt be this concerned. Figure which one looks better and buy it. Just my opinion. I stick to radio shack mics with sweet grills and body.