Sm81lc

  • Thread starter Thread starter CoolCat
  • Start date Start date
CoolCat

CoolCat

Well-known member
I just purchased a Shure SM81LC, $285 w/pop filter from Guitar Center. (Noticed you can't return microphones anymore to GC!!NO REFUND due to un-Healthy spit screens...)

My purchase intention was to "leap" up a level from my SM57, not just a tiny step.

So I bought the SM81..I'm still not saying Awesome!, tho....and was expecting more?....it wasn't a "leap" away form the SM57 and I can't return it!! I swear I didn't spit on it...hee,hee

Reading these articles have helped tremedously, and miking the SM81 from the acoustic guitar fret board(away form the hole), 6inches out helped greatly. The SM81 has alittle more clarity than the SM57...but not $200 worth....I've tried LD's but the CAD and an AT3035 was sold off. I'm starting to think I could make a Nuemann sound crappy??

I have a Yamaha Mixer/8 track Minidisc with a 3630 inserted.
SM81LC pointed at my sweet old,old Yamaha acoustic.

What's my next upgrade, gang?
Because this "pro-industry standard SM81" apparently is being degraded due to something else in my chain.
where's the love??
 
Try taking out the 3630 from the signal path first, and try to get
a balanced sound with placement. All guitarists may be able to help if you announce the ax your using.
Another things is may need to try different seeting of the HP filters on the 81.
I don't if the mic pres on your Yammie recorder are up to snuf? sorry I never used , though I've used a Sony MX-4.

Don't give up yet.

T
 
thanks tonio

Thanks...
I'll do this tonight!
This post is great....you know you can't return stuff like microphones, so this is extremely helpful stuff...for those who can't afford to "buy on request"

remove my 3630??
I've been reading and the 3630...it doesn't get a lot of good press here? I've never had a problem...but then again haven't compared it to anything. RNC gets good reviews and is cheap.

The SM81 gets alot of good mentions for being consistent and flat and a good acoustic guitar microphone....many articles, many magazines, some reviewers use it as a "compare to mic"
...but I still haven't heard the huge difference in my studio from my SM57 yet...cheap..and my kids can scream in it!

Are my Yamaha's Pre-Amp any good? I don't know either....unfortuantely its hooked up directly to the MD8 porta-studio setup, you know...so I don't see how to get around this.

I have an old,old, Yamaha acoustic...very nice, one of the early years when they were copying Martin to spec i was told...wood, everything....anyway i like the feel and sound.
I saw one article mentioned 6"inch away about the 20th fret another article said the 16th fret...either choice....away from the booming sound hole. It helped greatly too.

Still trying.....
recently added old (but washed and cleaned!) comforters to the walls.

Phil Spector had the Wall of Sound...I have the Drywall of Sound!!..... I got my eye on the closet too...don't tell the wife tho!
 
I agree with Tonio. Get that 3630 out of your chain.
I don't know ANYTHING aboput the pre's you've mentioned.

You ought to get a killer sound from the 81's. If you're not, my first suggestion would be to experiment with mic placement. This is a painstakingly slow process with a new mike that you're not familiar with. Movements of an inch or so can have a dramatic effect on the sound you are getting. Take good notes so that next time you can set up quickly once you find that sweet spot.

Once you've exhausted that, and still can't find the sound you're after, then it might be time to look into other items in your chain.
 
that makes two...plus archives

so i feel vulnerable as i've had this 3630 for years but never had the comparison (i did try a behringer compressor for 2 days and returned it...tiny and thin sounding...)

everyone here and numerous other articles say RNC...never heard of them before.
I don't think I came across one bad article on this unit?!

combining all these articles- i'm leaning (fantasizing) towards

SP B1- just bought yesterday!! $79 daaaannggg if it's as good as all these posts...vocal

SM81- in hand, acoustic..

plugged into a DPM3- $179
with a RNC insert- $179....

for a Vocal acoustic guitar home recording setup...Does this sound cool?
 
Tonio & Michael ...SM81LC vs SM57...

So I took out the 3630 out of the chain as recommended...
TEST Criteria::SM81 vs SM57:
I set both channels on the Yammie MD8, the same= flat eq.
I strummed the Acoustic and picked on that Blackbird Beatly song...6 inches away and also ~2ft...both mics the side by side.

On playback:
The SM81LC did have a bit more sparkle than the SM57, with the flat eq settings..but...!
I can EQ the SM57 to match or better the SM81 Flat setup? and once the EQ is in the picture/ mix "pun intended...heee,hee"... I don't see the "step up" or $$$ Value difference?
(also the 3630 was thrown back in/out of the chain. No negative effect. Using bypass vs. active compressor/limiter/noise gate...? confused...? didn't have an RNC to compare to...

TEST RESULTS:
1)so I am even more confident now, that I can make a Nuemann U87 sound like a Shure 57!!with the Yammie MD8 with or without the Alesis 3630!


Next attempt:::
2) Will side/side a Large Dia to the small Dia
I ordered a Large Dia..SP B1, $79 ...due to the great praise and quantity of inputs on this low-med budget microphone. Hopefully this will add the "step up" sound from the SM57....
If results are positive..
3) Will start try to return a SM81 for a DMP3?RNC?

off..to the MD8 search..
 
I have an SM81 that I love on acoustic guitar. And yes, there's a difference between it and a '57. But the '57 is a well respected mic that gets a lot of use around the world.

Maybe your preamp isn't bringing out the differences, or maybe it is. Sometimes we expect a night and day difference with new equipment, but instead we get a small incremental step. Add a bunch of these small incremental steps and it will improve your final results. I can tell you that the '81 will cut through a mix better than the '57, all other things being equal.
 
Both the 57 and 81 are probably keepers. After all where is there a locker without a 57?? The 81 is also real common but you might try it on other aps and find out its real versital also. I'm not saying dont use it on guitar just that it would be a real keeper also.

A thought that could also have merit is to vary manufacturers also. Try some AT, AKG, etc. there's probably something to family design ideas. Maybe you have a friend who will loan you some other mics or maybe even bring them over in exchange for a short session.
 
I got 2xSM81's and they are wonderful on acoustic guitar, piano and as drum overheads.

Not quite the same area of use as the SM57's, which excels on guitar cabs, snare, rock vocals and more.

If fact, just taking a look at the normal use of the mics would suggest a night-and-day sort of difference, but when compared on a single source, it might not be all that obvious, at least not the first time.

Hold on to it a while longer, it's a great mic and deserves a real chance to shine.
 
testing....

I like all the inputs, thanks - 58 vs 57
1) maybe a subtle difference, my untrained ears effect
2) may need more time to learn the mic- keep it..
3) maybe my pre-amps or chain....ouuuccchhh$$$

next test is the SP B-1 (LD) vs. SM57 (SD), $79, if I can't get a noticeable sound difference after this weeks test; the results would point to my portastudio?
pre-amp?/mixer?/eq?

or,,
my hearing..??aaaaaagggghhhh what if I have SM57 ear????
whoooaa that's too heavy.

room acoustics???
I'm cleaning the closet out now...and will "pad it up".

testing 1,2,3,...
 
...just found the faq sheet...

correction to the last post....

Correct: SM81 vs SM57 (not 58 vs 57)......

Also, excuse me for being a newbie...and heading to the posts so quickly!

I just found the BBS fact sheet that discusses alot of the...newbie questions and concerns!!!!!
 
And in the END.....

Thanks guys for the inputs.......

It wasn't the SM81LC that was the problem at all.

a different approach was taken......
picked up a Presonus Pre-Amp and TC M300 at GC.....and plugged in my old SM57..plugged into the YAMMIE MD8(no 3630)...and WOW!!! there it was. much fuller, spacious sound...amazing....most awsome...a true upgrade.... touchdown!! old school style.....amazing.

all these years I've never heard of a Pre-amp making that kind of difference....probably too busy returning and trading microphones!
...damn what a difference, did I say that already?

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Re: And in the END.....

COOLCAT said:
Thanks guys for the inputs.......

...all these years I've never heard of a Pre-amp making that kind of difference....
Click to expand...
Oh yeah dude. The pre can make ALL the difference in the world!

Check out the SM57 and SM81 on some really good quality pre's here:
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1656&alid=-1

(The song names are pretty self explainatory and they're short for quick comparison)
 
Hey Michael,
Did'nt you switch to IUMA? Or is the nowhere just old stuff?

Tony
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top