Which to choose ?`

[seongkeat]

I m thinking to get a mic to record some of my stuff now... but now i m confusing which to get ? a SM58 ? or SM57 ? most probably i will use the mic for vocal purpose... but i do use it to mic some instrument .... do i need to get both or 1 will do for now? because i m still a college student.... so i dont have much money to spend...

Thanks to all the opinions.....

 

[soundchaser59]

what other gear do you have? and what is your budget? what kind of music?

 

[TragikRemix]

get a 57 and thats all. easy enough i guess.

 

[TragikRemix]

unless it's for rap of course, then thats an absolutely different subject. the best rap vocal mic is not discussed around here enough IMO.

 

[seongkeat]

i only have the line6 ux1 for the audio interface...and i m also just a beginner... i may use it record some pop/rock stuff... mainly instrument will be recorded true midi and the guitar track will b all recorded using the pod... so what is the best choice ? i m thinking to get SM57 because maybe i can use it to mic for instrument in future... but will the sound weird or different is i using it to for recording vocal ? thats the main problem i m thinking to get between sm57 and sm58....

thanks..

 

[daav]

i only have the line6 ux1 for the audio interface...and i m also just a beginner... i may use it record some pop/rock stuff... mainly instrument will be recorded true midi and the guitar track will b all recorded using the pod... so what is the best choice ? i m thinking to get SM57 because maybe i can use it to mic for instrument in future... but will the sound weird or different is i using it to for recording vocal ? thats the main problem i m thinking to get between sm57 and sm58....

thanks..

SM57 is a good place to start and here is why:
1. Cheap
2. You can use it later on screaming guitar cabs and drums when you realize that is sucks on vocals and most instruments that are not screaming guitar cabs or snare drums.
3. it is dynamic and will mask how bad your room sounds.

Even though it sounds like i am being sarcastic, i am not, everyone needs to start somewhere and a 57 is as good as anywhere else. But the point is that once you get started, you will see that you need more to get a decent recording.

The SM57 is not a mic that will normally add anything to your vocal sound, or capture the nuance of your performance. If you have phantom power (if you don;t know what that is, cehck into it, you should before you go down this road) you can try a Studio Project B-1 or simliiar entry level large diameter condenser, which can work on vocals and acoustic instruments. HOWEVER, condensers as a rule are sensisitive and you will pic up all sorts of unwanted noise from your room, like computer fans, window fans, people walking down the hall, the cat farting, and horrible sounding vocal and instrument performances that come from the terrible reflections of an untreated room.

THis is a pretty standard " i am just getting into recording" process. The more sensitive and accurate your recordings, the more you notice that your voice, talent, room, etc all sound terrible (and probably worse than they really do). Then starts a long chain of (hopefully, first) investment into the room to give yourselve a fighting chance at a decent recording, then into micrpohones (usually more than one, since different mics will be better suited for vocals, acoustice instruments, various drums, etc), preamps, EQs, etc.

Daav

 

[TragikRemix]

the 57 is the ultimate first mic.

instead of throwing it out later, you will find its useful on other things, more so than for vocals, but it will work anyway. plus there is more demand for used 57's than 58's, for some reason.

 

[daav]

the 57 is the ultimate first mic.

instead of throwing it out later, you will find its useful on other things, more so than for vocals, but it will work anyway. plus there is more demand for used 57's than 58's, for some reason.

So why does it take me 4 paragraphs to say that?

daav

 

[zed32]

plus there is more demand for used 57's than 58's, for some reason.

that's because...

the 57 is the ultimate first mic.

instead of throwing it out later, you will find its useful on other things, more so than for vocals, but it will work anyway.

 

[emergencyexit]

On an other note, the 58 has the wind screen, so if your looking to do vocals right now I might suggest the 58. I've had many problems with out a pop filter using the 57 for vocals. If I were you I'd by the 57 though. I'd also get it used becuase they are cheap on ebay, and are tough as hell. I would not suggest buying any other mic used.

In all honesty, its the musician more than the equpiment. If you can't sing, both the 57 and 58 are just going to make it sound worse, so work on your vocals and song writing skills before you blow money on mics. Then again nothing helps improve better than listening to yourself practice.

With that said, most people here probably think I have no idea what I'm talking about, so go ahead and trash my advice once someone comes up and starts bashing it.

Hope that helped,
Ben

 

[travelin travis]

If you can't sing, both the 57 and 58 are just going to make it sound worse, so work on your vocals and song writing skills before you blow money on mics. Then again nothing helps improve better than listening to yourself practice.

very good advice.

the right mic can enhance a good vocal but it can't fix a crappy one. it's hard for me to use a 57 for vocals, even with a pop filter. maybe get one of those little foam windscreens to put on it when doing vocals.

 

[punkin]

Blue Bear!!!! Where are you?!!!!!

 

[boingoman]

plus there is more demand for used 57's than 58's, for some reason.

It's also because used 58's are scary. They take the most abuse, have the most crap spit in them by.....who knows, really. A used 58 is like a used lollipop. You just avoid it on principle.