Recording Microphones

[agent2x4]

I have a couple of sm-58's I use for everything. One guy I know said 58's are junk for recording instruments, and recommended an sm-57 for that. 57's don't seem like they cost too much, but I was curious as to what you folks use, and what you'd recommend. Keep in mind I record just for fun, so a 500 dollar mic wouldn't jerk my bobber. I've seen lots of mics on ebay saying "just like" a 58 or 57, but....?

What other brand of mics would impart an sm-57-like quality?

Thanks in advance.

[Dana]

I love SM-57's for recording. I've never had an problems with them.

[agent2x4]

eBay has tons of mics...good grief.

The Nady SP-5 sounds interesting, although it seems too much like the 58's I already have. ARE 58's bad for recording instruments? Even though my buddy says so, my recordings don't seem to sound awful...at least to me.

Thanks for the reply Dana...hopefully others will throw their .02 in as well.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by agent2x4

I record just for fun, so a 500 dollar mic wouldn't jerk my bobber.

He he. I don't know what that means but it sure sounds funny. :D

Honestly, I think a SM-58 is just fine for home recording. Sure, if you were a pro you'd probably want some super expensive condenser mic, but for home recording your fine.

Party on.....

[marshallmelloman]

The next mic addition as far as home recording goes would be decent condenser mic like a studio projects c-1. It costs 200 bucks new (not much more than a new 57). Being a condenser it will give you what a close directional mic like a 57 or 58 can't. It is a cheap copy of a neumann u87 (near $2,000 mic) and for home recording it works like a swiss army knife, good for just about anything-drum overhead, vocal mic, far guitar mic, percussion, piano etc. You could record alot of good sounding stuff with a c-1 and a couple 57's. It does require phantom power , but couldn't we all use a little ?

[Tim Armstrong]

If you're happy with the results you're getting with the SM 58, don't worry/be happy! If you want to spend money on another mic, an SM 57 would be a good one to get.

I'm also quite pleased with the Marshall MXL 2001 and MXL 603s mics that I bought last year. Both came together for $150, and the 603s in particular is really fine for recording acoustic guitar! These are Chinese-made copies of much more expensive condenser mics, and, like so many things, aren't quite as fine as the real thing, but are a great value for money spent.

Cheers, Tim

[undafonk]

... the SM57 and the SM58 is the shield - the transducer inside is the same. However, the difference in the shields (the meshed cover that you sing or play through) yield a different frequency response.

But indeed, Shure advertises the SM58 as a vocal microphone and the SM57 as an instrument microphone. But you can do as you please, for example Bono of U2 preferred the SM57 early on in his career for his vocals IIRC ...

[Tylercaster]

The is one the best inexpensive studio mics I've found. Check out the higher models, too.. This is a Samson CO1.

[Bonneville Bruce]

I agree about the Shures, they are fine for most home recordings, and nearly indestructable.

I have a couple of Audio Technica AT3035s that are fabulous condensers. They can be found in MF for $200 and one would be hard pressed to find anything bett for that price. I love these mics. My buddy and I are trying to break into the recording studio business here, and have use these mics for nearly every instrument and voice situation. They have been great in every instance.

We also use the SM57 and 58s, as do many other studios and live sound producers. Eric Clapton was fond of the SM57 for micing his amps for both recording and performance.

[agent2x4]

Way too many brands out there! I wonder how they all stay in business.

[Ben Harmless]

Originally Posted by undafonk

... the SM57 and the SM58 is the shield - the transducer inside is the same. However, the difference in the shields (the meshed cover that you sing or play through) yield a different frequency response.

This is all absolutely correct.

If someone is telling you that a 57 is good for an application, and a 58 is totally wrong, then I'd seriously rethink taking their advice on other matters as well.

The major difference is that a 57 allows the user to position the actual mic element closer to the source of the sound, which can be great for insturment mic'ing. The 58 keeps the sound source a little further away, and provides a little more in the way of screening in front of the element. This can be good when a singer likes to ride up close to the mic.

I personally love my Beta 57. Best of both worlds.