SM58/AW4416 compatibility problem?

[johnnystarx]

SM58 and Yamaha AW

A ha! I just got my AW2816 4 days ago. I ALSO had trouble with the signal from my SM58. I had to turn the gain all the way up and put the corresponding fader up past zero to get a sufficient signal. Of course, this introduced hiss to the signal also. A local music dealer leant me some condenser mics to test overnight. AKG C1000S and AKG C2000B. Both of these gave me a much hotter signal, though I still had the gain knob turned almost totally up. (I kept the fader at 0), and had no hiss.
It's like the AW has really wimpy pre-amps. I'm opting for new mics instead of a pre, as I never liked the sound of the 58 anyway. On the Yahoo AW forum, Ronny Morris suggested that my 58 may be losing some of its output due to damage or humidity or whatever. But I tried my Sennheiser MD421 (dynamic mic) and had similar low signal.

BTW, all I've heard about SM58's is "they should work", but nobody has ever posted and said, "I USE an SM58 and I keep the gain at 11 o'clock, and get plenty of signal. " No one.

I didn't count on spending more money either, but I'm excited about new microphones!

Pat Folkner
Folkners@aol.com

 

[TexRoadkill]

Dynamic mics are best for loud sound sources like a guitar amp or a singer who is right on the mic. That is why they are so popular for live sound. They can work in a studio but only for the right situations.

If you just plug in a 58 and talk into it the hiss will be too high. Start singing about 2 inches away and you will bring down the level and the hiss wont matter.

Do not use a dynamic for recording quiet sounds or you will have hiss. That is what condensors are best for.