what do you prefer in place of an sm57?

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Rocket Boy

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it seems like most people think the sm57 is a good workhorse, cus you know it doesnt flat out suck and you take that risk with a mic you havent used... but it seems like alot of people prefer other mics to replace it... so what are they?
 
It greatly depends on what you're using it for. I have a real old SM57 that I use on a number of different things. It may not be the BEST at anything, but it just doesn't flat out suck at almost anything either. I'm a drummer, so I've used it on snare and on hi-hats. I currently use a Sennheiser e604 on snare 'cause it stays out of my way better and it gives me a really good signal. I'm using the SM57 on hi-hat right now, but I switch off to a Senheisser e835 very often because it's a bit brighter.

Whenever I do a speaking engagement, (I'm a professor and give talks and lectures a lot) I use the 57.

It's a good vocal mic for live gigs, and will stand up to showy singers that tend to abuse mics on stage.

It works okay on acoustic guitar in small clubs.

There are a lot of similar mics to it out there, but they tend to be "clunkier" and more fragile. It's good at many things, great at nothing, and bad at...nothing I can think of. Well, maybe not to record a lead voice track, for background vocals it'd be okay.
In the Shure line, the SM 7 would be the dynamic mic that I would want to us for a lead vocal. But I would probably go with any of a number of good LDC's instead.
I have an old AKG D690 that I got from a friend that'll give the SM57 a run for it's money and it gives a better signal on lower frequencies too. But it's "clunkier".
 
depends

like others have said, it depends on what the source is and what your tonal goal is.

on amps and snare for a variation on a theme, just like rimshot, i like a senn e835. very similar, a little more bright and seems to give a tad more crack than an sm57. all around usable.

i've found that a studio projects B1 can be a *great* sounding mic on an amp as well, as long as you don't have bleed to deal with (or don't care about it). if you're recording small tube amps in controlled environments/isolated rooms, give the B1 a shot.

the shure 545 unidyneIII is the predecessor to the sm57 and sounds almost identical (a little "grittier" IMO), and is a good alternative on a rock guitar amp.

if i had one, i'd either use a senn 421 or 441, depending on the source. they're definitely nice mics and standards for rock guitars and drums. lots of folks like beyer dynamics as well, i just haven't had the chance to try any.

as stated in the "should i buy an sm57 or an imitation" thread a day or two ago, you can almost always get a "usable" sound out of an sm57. won't always be the best and you will likely have to tweak it with some eq, but usable it will be.


wade
 
Rocket Boy said:
it seems like most people think the sm57 is a good workhorse, cus you know it doesnt flat out suck and you take that risk with a mic you havent used... but it seems like alot of people prefer other mics to replace it... so what are they?
Click to expand...
The Shure SM57 is a "must have" type mic... however, most of the time I prefer the Beyer M201 on snare over the SM57... and the Sennheiser MD421 over the SM57 on guitar amps.
 
what do you prefer in place of an sm57?

There is no answer to this. You must try from time to time. But a bulletproof choice on electric guitar is a SM57...if you want the "standard sound".

The good thing with dynamics is that you can get them for cheap, new or second hand. I have an Astatic (CAD) 89 (something) which is very useful because it sounds like nothing else. Guess you can get one for almost nothing. It's great on guitar.

I would also recommend Beyer M88, Electro Voice 257 and 357, the Sennheisers, the old Audio Technicas are good too..and if you want good alternatives to Shure Betas...or SM57/SM58, look at JDK mics.

...The best snare mic I have, I found in a garbage container....the front pop shield was gone and maybe the owner thought it was broken. It's an Audio Technica....don't rember the letters and numbers.....(healthy isn't it)

Hans,
www.hagen.nu
 
Re: Re: what do you prefer in place of an sm57?

DJL said:
The Shure SM57 is a "must have" type mic... however, most of the time I prefer the Beyer M201 on snare over the SM57... and the Sennheiser MD421 over the SM57 on guitar amps.
Click to expand...

If you prefer two other mics to do the jobs normally associated with the SM57 then it's hardly a must have mic.

Is it true they're all made in Mexico now?
 
I agree with DJL, it's a must have...if you don't use it, you can have it as a reference.

forgot...it's GREAT!!

Hans,
www.hagen.nu
 
I have some 35 mics and only one 57 which is almost never used.
I don't like it on snare because I don't like the hi hat bleed. The M201 is much better on snare.

I don't like it on electric guitar, the MD421 or 441 is much better on electric guitar.

I don't like it on vocals, it sounds boxy on vocals. A SP B1 sounds 100 times better on most vocals. I use the Neumann M149 on most vocals. If you like a dynamic on vocals, get yourself a Beyer M88.

I've tried the 57 on almost anything, but it was always blown away by another mic.
 
For snare, sometimes a 57, mostly an audix that looks just like a 57, but warmer, I cant remember the exact number.
 
Han, methinks thou must not do much "EQing" with an SM57 on vocals...

Seriously, it's amazing how good IMHO you can get a SM57 or Shure 545 to sound if you're willing to (creatively:)) screw around with it during mixing , via a decent parametric EQ on up, like an Aphex 109.
(something like a DBX 242 would be the next notch up)

Chris

P.S. This is assuming you have a mixer/pre superior to a Mackie
or Behringer mixer...
 
If I want more presence than the 57, but want to stay up close I use a Beyer M69. The pattern is pretty much the same, so you can get more upper-mids with the same placement. It sounds good on Marshalls.
 
Re: Re: Re: what do you prefer in place of an sm57?

Mark7 said:
If you prefer two other mics to do the jobs normally associated with the SM57 then it's hardly a must have mic.

Is it true they're all made in Mexico now?
Click to expand...
That's why I said normally... and my second choice would normally be a SM57 on snare and guitar amps.... except, I like the B1 on my fender twin also.

I don't know... is it true?
 
Re: Re: Re: what do you prefer in place of an sm57?

Mark7 said:
Is it true they're all made in Mexico now?
Click to expand...

How relevant is a microphone's country of origin?
 
chris cornell's voice doesnt sound boxy at all on any of his records

T
 
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