What can you tell me about the SM58?

[Farview]

Should I award neg rep for that statement?

When you have that special Radio Shack voice, it's the only way to go.

I used to record our shows with a RS stereo mic, it was absoluley wonderful. The thing cost $20 and I've had it for 23 years, it still works.

 

[omtayslick]

Should I award neg rep for that statement?

Hah. Let's do some editing. Take the "sometimes" off the front of it, and make it a sticky so Bear can see it everytime he comes here. 0)

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I know you guys are joking, but the point still needs to be made...

Point is, there's no "best" mic for all recording scenarios -- the best mic is always the mic that gives you the sound you need... sometimes that's a Neumann U87 or AKG C12, other times it's an SM58, some Radio Scrap mic, or even a $10 computer mic from Wal-Mart!

Is an SM58 muddier-sounding than a Beyer M69? Absolutely... does that mean it's generally inferior to the M69? Definitely not...

To say otherwise would be the same as saying dark blue is a worst color than light blue because it's darker! Which makes no sense at all... same with mics!

 

[Han]

I don't have a SM58 and I don't want one, I do have a SM57 and never use it.

I guess Nathan is right.

 

[Farview]

I do have a SM57 and never use it.

What do you record?

 

[Han]

What do you record?

You can find it on my website, all kinds of music.

 

[MadAudio]

The Beta 58 can be a good recording mic for the right voice.

The sound of vocals thru an SM58 is sometimes EXACTLY the right sound needed for a particular voice in a given context/application. I've had singers who sounded like crap thru various condensers but it all came into focus slapping up a 58.

Agreed. When my old band, The Beautiful Failures, was recording our demo, I threw up my CAD E-300 for the main vox. That mic had been my go-to mic for our previous singer. The result was harsh and unpleasant. Tried a couple of other mics, but it was the 58 that made the singer sound like she really did.

 

[Farview]

You can find it on my website, all kinds of music.

Very nice sounding stuff, you don't seem to like a lot of lower mids, that would explain why you don't like the 58.

 

[Han]

Very nice sounding stuff, you don't seem to like a lot of lower mids, that would explain why you don't like the 58.

Thanks Jason, how did you listen to it, Genelecs or Urei?

 

[KEVIN1600]

I Sing through a 58 all the time at band practice and gigs and sometimes I use it at home when I'm recording too but I just seem to prefer a condenser on my voice ,let me put it that way.

 

[Farview]

Thanks Jason, how did you listen to it, Genelecs or Urei?

Genelecs....

I didn't mean to imply something bad, I just notice that my mixes have a ton more lower mids than yours.

 

[Han]

Genelecs....

Mmmm......you know, over the years I've had many monitors, I even have a pair of NS10's and there is one thing great on NS10, they show mud in a mix, more than many other monitors, besides that they sound 'not so good'.

I listen to my mixes through many monitors and I dont have a problem with the low mids on any of them.

As far as the topic subject, the SM58 is a decent stage mic. But for recording I prefer the much better sounding mics like the Beyer M69, M88, M201 and the Sennheiser MD421/441 althougt I realize they're much more expensive.

The SM57 is a decent talkback mic at my place, that sounds a bit blunt but IMNSHO the 57 is a boxy sounding mic with a nasty off axis response.

I've really tried it on almost everything, but there was always a better sounding mic.

I guess I'm spoiled.

 

[Farview]

As far as the topic subject, the SM58 is a decent stage mic. But for recording I prefer the much better sounding mics like the Beyer M69, M88, M201 and the Sennheiser MD421/441 althougt I realize they're much more expensive.
.

I wasn't saying it was a problem, it is a matter of taste. An asthetic. Most of your mixes have a sonic signature (as do mine) that reflects what you like to hear.

All of the mics you listed are brighter than a 57/58. You like bright, there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[Han]

I wasn't saying it was a problem, it is a matter of taste. An asthetic. Most of your mixes have a sonic signature (as do mine) that reflects what you like to hear.

All of the mics you listed are brighter than a 57/58. You like bright, there is nothing wrong with that.

No problem Jason, is there a recording of yours that I can listen to? Recommend me some please.

You're right about the Beyer mic, they sound very diferent from the SM57/58 indeed though I wouldn't say brighter, it's just a more silky high end. But besides that, an M88 sounds very tight, is much more rejective than the Shure and it has a very nice off axis response.

Have you ever used an M88 on a guitar cab next to a 57? Or an MD421?

 

[Farview]

Sure I've used an M88. I normally use a combination of a 57 and a 421 on guitar cabs.

The only thing I have ready is the samples on my rock-drums site, but they were mixed to highlight the drum samples, so the drums are a little hot.

http://www.rock-drums.com/html/samples.html Anything that has 'music' in the name will have a mix, the rest of them are just drums.

There is also www.myspace.com/daitribe I have some reservations about those, but you wouldn't beleive what I had to work with.

 

[NathanEldred]

Overated? What other mic (sm57) will do about the best job on a guitar cab,snare,leslie 145,toms if needed, vocals all for under $90.00 new?

I didn't say 'overrated for the price', I just said overrated. I've heard more than a few people say they are as good as mics priced in the $1500+ range. I've never experienced this phenomenon with these mics. It's just my opinion. FWIW, I think there are quite a few 'cheap' mics that are great in certain apps, SM-7 (not 57), e604, e609, RE20, etc...

 

[jmorris]

I am watching Eagles live on TV right now. (NBC)Some final tour show. Looks to be all sm58 on vocals ( except drums). Sounds real good to me!

 

[jmorris]

Nathen,
I have a freind that has a LOT of experience in big time studios. I made a comment about audio hype with mics and preamps. Ya know all the sayings like "it very musical", "fat bottoms,solid mids". All the quotes that drive me crazy. He is very good friends with Mick Guzowsky (spelling,opps). Anyways he and Mick were talking about preamps,which they like better (SSL preamps ie. brown and so forth)...anyways. The conclusion was there aint much difference. If its a good preamp 'nuf said. He compaired a beautiful U47 and sm57. He said "you know, not really such a big difference between the two". Its the very little things you notice. Bottom line, its all just taiste.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Apparently, some people DO think light blue is better than dark blue....

 

[travelin travis]

How about a hypothetical situation........

The only mics you have are a $100 large diameter condensor mic and an sm58. You track a wide range of vocals from jazz to metal. Out of 100 voices, how many times do you reach for an sm58?