Studio Projects or Shure?

[fova]

Would the SM 57 or SM 58 be better? Im recording mostly vocals, but the occasional acoustic guitar.

Should I get the SM 57 and 58? Or is there a cheaper alternative. Mics at the store I'm purchasing from are pretty darn expensive. No other store I can find, and dont want to Ebay.

SM57 and 58 are almost identical. 57 is designed for recording of instruments, 58 for vocals. 58 is more resistant to "p", "b", etc. speech sounds.

Other dynamic mikes that are similar to SM57/58 are Shure Beta 58 that has a brighter sound, Beyerdynamic M69 and M400, Sennheiser MD431 and E825, Audio Technica AT ATM27HE and AT ATM41HE, Electrovoice N/D367, Audix OM5, T.Bone MB85 (Made by Thomann in Germany, maybe there are some Shure components inside), Shure PG58 (cheaper than SM57/58 but with worse sound) and Behringer XM8500 (I do not know how it is with their quality and sound).

Instead of new SM57/58 you can also buy an used one. Especially their predecessor Shure 545, 546 or 548 could be a great choice if you are not afraid of a very old mikes. Most of the people who has both new 57/58 and these old ones say that old ones are better. I bought already several used dynamic mikes and all of them work correctly up to now. In my city there is a special shop with an used equipment where I can try it before buying.

 

[alanhyatt]

Scott,

It is always different stokes for different folks. I guess if you asked what is better to drink, Pepsi or Coke, you will get a bunch of different answers that will not include Pepsi or Coke....

The simple fact is either mic will work well for you, provided you learn how to use them. Both mics are pretty forgiving with placement, and the LD mic, that being the B1 will pick up more of the ambient noise because that is what any LD(large diaphragm) mic will do. The Shure has a smaller diaphragm and is a very good mic, but it will sound very different than an LD mic will.

In the end, it is your ears, so you should decide. Fortunately, they both are about the same money so tax your credit card for a couple of weeks, get both and return one of them if your dealer will allow that. Even if you have to buy from two separate dealers to get it done. Then you can decide for yourself, rather then others deciding for you.... It is your ears!!!

 

[mshilarious]

Scott,

It is always different stokes for different folks. I guess if you asked what is better to drink, Pepsi or Coke, you will get a bunch of different answers that will not include Pepsi or Coke....

C'mon. It's Coke.

 

[alanhyatt]

C'mon. It's Coke.

DR. Pepper!!!!

 

[DJL]

I deteled/edited this because I hate the PMI Audio Group using hr.com forums for marketing and don't want anything to do with it.

 

[Gidge]

DR. Pepper!!!!

hell ya...FINALLY we agree on sumpin.....

 

[alanhyatt]

Scott... remember you don't have too buy new... and you should be able to get a used Shure SM57 in mint condition for about half the price of a new B1. Plus, rather than trying compairing dynamic mics with LDC mics like the B1... try compairing it with mics the Marshall MXL67G and etc.

Let me see...rather than Scott comparing a 57 to an LD SP B1, he should compare it to a Marshall 67G, which is also an LD mic...That does not make much sense as they are both LD mics with the B1 being more of a utility mic like the SM57, and the V67 being more of just a vocal mic.

We all know which ones "you" like which I guess proves my Pepsi Coke point.

Ahhh, I see you just edited your post.

Good thing I quoted from the original...

 

[alanhyatt]

hell ya...FINALLY we agree on sumpin.....

About time.....

 

[Treeline]

When I started (well, I'm still starting) I went through all that angst and ended up buying, in order, a Shure SM57, a Shure Sm58 wannabe cheapo dynamic (Access-1 or something - one of my favorite mics as it turns out), (2) Studio Projects B1s with shockmounts, and (2) MXL 603s with shockmounts. That was over a couple of years. Then came an SP C3, a handful of AKG hypercardioid dynamics, a Sennheiser wireless and an MXL LDC du jour for sixty bucks as a spare. So I have an armful of mics that do different things. I use the dynamics most because I do live sound the most. When I do solo gigging its the B1s. The MXLs are great on acoustic instruments but are fragile as the dickens. I'm really happy with all of these mics, but I've learned to be realistic about some of them (Realistic - get it?). They all deliver excellent value for the money, but as soon as you get used to one level, somehow the next level up comes calling...

BUT - If I were to do it again, I would get exactly the same stuff at exactly the same time. The SM57 / 58 mics are real workhorses. The SP B1s are to my mind the large diaphragm condenser equivalent - sleepers, workhorses, whatever. They deliver value. But the real thing to bear in mind when you start is to begin with something that is versatile. To me that's the SM57.

 

[chessparov]

With all due respect to Fova's otherwise excellent post...

The Shure Beta series is MUCH brighter than the "SM" series!

They only share a similar model #, NOT the family sound you'll hear in the previously mentioned 545 series,let alone a SM7.

Although the older "Made In USA" Shure Unidynes are sonically more consistant (sound more alike) than the new ones, there are still plenty of good new 57/58's or 545's. Currently have the 546, 548, and Unidyne III
SM57 BTW. (cheap & cool to collect)

Never have heard two Unidyne's that sound identical, whereas a condenser mic that has good QC (like a B1) sound much closer, even if they're not matched pairs.

Chris

 

[DJL]

Alan... now that the PMI-AG marketing group is back on hr.com, I'll butt out and let you do what you do best "Marketing". Goodbye.

EDIT: Save your breath crazydoc, noisedude, and etc... I'm gone.

 

[Gidge]

Alan... now that the PMI-AG marketing group is back on hr.com, I'll butt out and let you do what you do best "Marketing". Goodbye.

EDIT: Save your breath crazydoc, noisedude, and etc... I'm gone.

in the words of Alan Hyatt...."about time.... "

 

[Mark7]

Scott,

It is always different stokes for different folks. I guess if you asked what is better to drink, Pepsi or Coke, you will get a bunch of different answers that will not include Pepsi or Coke....

The simple fact is either mic will work well for you, provided you learn how to use them. Both mics are pretty forgiving with placement, and the LD mic, that being the B1 will pick up more of the ambient noise because that is what any LD(large diaphragm) mic will do. The Shure has a smaller diaphragm and is a very good mic, but it will sound very different than an LD mic will.

In the end, it is your ears, so you should decide. Fortunately, they both are about the same money so tax your credit card for a couple of weeks, get both and return one of them if your dealer will allow that. Even if you have to buy from two separate dealers to get it done. Then you can decide for yourself, rather then others deciding for you.... It is your ears!!!

I really can't see what DJL's beef is with this post Scott asked a question about the SM57 and the B1, and Alan answered it. In a pretty neutral and professional way, afaIcs.

 

[fova]

The Shure Beta series is MUCH brighter than the "SM" series!

They only share a similar model #, NOT the family sound you'll hear in the previously mentioned 545 series,let alone a SM7.
Chris

OK, it is MUCH brighter but I do not see any problem in using of Beta instead of SM58 for Chris. Maybe it is even better choice (ignoring the money issue) since SM58 seems to me to be quite limited on highs. Beta can be more similar in sound to LDC. Or do you think I am wrong?
I have experience with Beta only in live performance, I have never used it in studio. Maybe it not as suitable as I think.

 

[noisedude]

Yo yo yo - happy Wednesday to you all.

I would get two mics, with two different flavours. Now quite often I come in here and jabber about the Sennheiser E series or whatever. But on this occasion I think if you are looking simply at getting different sonic 'flavours' (ie - not pairs of stuff, or lots of the same thing) then you can look at three groups:
- Mics without a lot of top: Ok, I'm basically saying, "Buy a 57". I have a USA Uni-III 545 which prompted me to get rid of my 57s. Basically, you need a Shure dynamic - and perhaps not a Beta series, just yet - cos they have a lot more high end. Which may suit you, but find out whether the cheaper stuff suits you first
- Kinda flattish/neutral/'accurate' mics: So yeah, this would be your B1, or maybe an SDC of some description. Unless you have big money in which case an AT4050 or a KSM44. For SDCs, my understanding is MK012 at the dark end, MXL603 at the bright, with C4 somewhere inbetween. But that may be wrong!
- Something with a bit more top end: So maybe get your MXL603s here, or a C1, or any other mic that doesn't sound like the first two. I'd leave this one til last.

Well ... from one skint-ass newbie to another, this is how I'd set about building a complementary collection if I was doing it from scratch now. And believe me, there have been a few casualties on my own road to reaching this point (most notably my wallet).

 

[alanhyatt]

in the words of Alan Hyatt...."about time.... "

Can I get a Hell yeah!!!!

 

[jeffree]

Reminder to DJL, with all due respect... the recent poll here shows that about 89% of those voting have no problem with self-identified retailers expressing their thoughts here.

Why not realize that you're in the minority, just skip the thread, and let the rest of us enjoy it without the sniping, eh? Life's too short.

J.

 

[alanhyatt]

Although the older "Made In USA" Shure Unidynes are sonically more consistant (sound more alike) than the new ones, there are still plenty of good new 57/58's or 545's. Currently have the 546, 548, and Unidyne III
SM57 BTW. (cheap & cool to collect)

Chris

Good call, the Mexican made models do not sound anything like the old ones made in the USA.....

 

[Aceboympk]

DJL can't be throwing in the towel just yet! Hey, let me go check the PMI
Audio BBS. Maybe he's over there.

Regarding which mic? I stand by my earlier point and that is to buy 2 and send 1 back.

Now, if we can just get Allan and a few of the guys from PMI to dent a few more boxes in the inventory room, I can buy the C4's that I'm waiting to land on the B-stock page!

NOTE TO ALLAN: Any way I can get that new C4 model that you showed off on the BBS? And, how did you get that graphic on there?

Take care,
Mark

aka Numero Uno

 

[teetopkram]

I have been borrowing a friend's Mexican made SM57 for some vocal work to get me started in the home recording business, going into a Carvin acoustic amp, direct line out to computer for recording. Maybe its my voice or a crummy pre-amp, but this mike's not really working for me...no matter how I EQ it (e.g., flat, frown, smile), I can't seem to get nothing but midrange out of it, and bass only when I basically get right next to it. There also does not seem to be a lot of detail. I am disappointed as I was expecting the "workhorse" SM57 to be a good all around first mike that I could start off with, but I wouldn't buy one based on this test.

Now, after reading this thread and others in this forum, I understand this may be due to the fact that this mike was made in Mexico.

My question is, assuming I can't get my hands on a USA-made SM57, was is the difference/benefit of the Unidyne line of Shure mikes? Are they US made? Sound better? If the Unidyne equivalent of the SM57 is still considered an all around mike and has more detail than the mexican SM57, maybe this is the one to start my home studio with?

Thanks in advance.

Mark