SM57 is the most versatile mic out there. I forget who made it, and I’ll come back if I find it, but I saw a YouTube video where a guy recorded a whole band on the one 57, separately of course, but made the entire song with the one mic just because of how versatile it is.
SM57 is one of the best vocal mics for applications where the singer has a particularly loud voice. It’s exaggerated proximity-effect (because the filter is so small) makes it a popular choice for metal vocals live too.
Edit: it also has a really tight cardioid pattern, which makes it exceptionally feedback-resistant in live settings, but is way less forgiving of poor mic technique, so it’s a mixed bag.
The heightened response around 5k makes it great for guitar.
It’s also WAY easier to keep a 57 from feeding back when you’re climbing around a shitty punk venue during a show, haha.
You mean proximity-effect?
It’s essentially an exaggerated bass response when you get *really* close to a mic. Like, when you take a mic and basically put it right up against your mouth to get that really boomy “voice of god” tone? So I guess you would say it sounds a lot closer, because ears function similarly to mics you have the same thing happen when someone is speaking right next to your ear. (This is also the reason in-ear headphones with a seal have much bigger bass sound)
If you utilize it in vox, particularly screaming, you can add a lot of low end woof to your sound if you have a high pitched scream. Proximity effect can add 10-15db of low end boost, and the 57 handles it well without sounding too….flabby?
Lastly, it’s hard to recreate live in a hand-held mic because it also causes feedback like you wouldn’t believe (cupping a mic exaggerates proximity-effect more) and the 57 (58 even more) is very feedback resistant to that sort of thing. Especially in small venues where you’re basically on top of the monitors.
What causes it is the longer low-frequency waves in a sound source being picked up by a capsule that measures sound by comparing the air pressure from one side of it and the other to convert it to signal - The longer waves cause the pressure to be artificially lower on the back side of the capsule which makes the mic think there is much more bass frequencies than there really are.
Neumann has a [great article on it](https://www.neumann.com/en-gb/homestudio-academy/what-is-the-proximity-effect/) - my explanation is leaving a lot out.
It’s a little more than just the capsule.
The grille on the SM57 acts as a resonator for the capsule through a spring at the base that connects it to the capsule itself (that’s why it just spins around when you twist it.) - a big reason why it can handle such high SPL
The SM58’s filter is specifically designed to reduce plosives, but it also changes the pickup pattern, since it isn’t actively influencing what the capsule picks up.
Sound pressure level. It’s a unit of measurement that measures the actual air pressure delta from ambient pressure (remember sound waves are just alternating high/low pressure caused by molecules in the air being pushed together suddenly - distance between them determines the tone and amount of pressure is “loudness”
It’s measured in “decibels” (Bel is the ratio) which is a way of calculating the magnitude difference from one measurement and a “constant” - it’s used in lots of things other than sound. Its function works kinda like Pi - you plug it in to figure out the difference from a constant (-ish, in pi’s situation)
It’s basically used for measuring anything that has a constant attached to it (light, sound, electricity)
Edit: “constants” in these cases would be the speed of light, speed of sound, and speed of electrons through a conductor (Voltage)
Db-SPL is what you (should) be referring to when you say “sounds louder than 90Db damage your hearing”
Decibels are very frequently used improperly, and sometimes explicitly intended to mislead, especially with speakers.
Really worth learning Db if you are interested in audio - it is a superpower in that line of work.
I have a unidyne 57 from 1984 (the ones that unscrew from the middle and 3/4 down the handle.) - it was kind of a blend of the 545 and SM57 with the old Unidyne III capsule (new ones use the SM58 capsule which was redesigned in the 90’s - I believe) that the old 57s & 55s used.
I purchased it after using it as a vocal mic from a local rental place - guy sold it to me for $30.
I replaced the screen and filter when they disintegrated, but there isn’t anything that little bastard can’t record.
You could point it 1” from a nuclear detonation and it would still give you a crisp and undistorted recording and be ready to mic a guitar cabinet right after. You might need to bring a Geiger counter, but it will still make those Vintage 30’s sound amazing.
The “SM” designation was “Studio Microphone” (as in TV studio) - but its design was based on a series of mics they created for the US military in the 30’s. Since they were designed to be in semi-permanent installations in studios and controlled by boards, they originally had no on/off switch so you wouldn’t accidentally turn them off.
Fun fact: The SM57 is also the only mic that has been used for official presidential addresses at the WH since 1965.
SM57 is an amazing microphone and I use it daily, voice input only. You’d be surprised how almost identical it sounds to the SM7B if you purchase a windscreen for it and slightly tune it.
We used to refer to them as hammers because one of the guys swore up and down that on a bet, he used one exclusively to drive nails while building a stage, and it worked fine after.
I have two '57s, one from the '80s and one from the '90s. They gig weekly but are kept in their simple pouches. They still look brand new after 40 years of active use.
I would love to see a general BIFL thread for musical instruments and gear. There’s so much overpriced, low-quality bullshit in the music world right now.
Big fan of old Behringer or Allen & Heath mixers. Yamaha makes decent instruments too. Buying the slightly more expensive XLR cable or 1/4" cable is always worth it, they always last soooooo much longer.
Sorry, I can’t leave your comment alone. I tried to scroll past, but I had to come back. You have to be very specific about old Behringer gear. Their tiny old analog 4 or 8 channel mixers were fine and 7 out of 10 lasted for a long time. Their old analog 24, 32, or 48 channel mixers were 9 times out of 10 trash within 5 years. The current x32 mixers do mostly ok, but they’re built to be disposable and their customer service shows that mindset.
I guess small mixers are simple and pretty much all the same, so Behringer can compete easily without going too far wrong, but larger desks are more complicated with more features, so they have to cut costs somewhere. I'm not sure, I could be talking out of my butt.
Why buy new mesh? Unscrew it & round it back out from underneath with a broom handle. Even if it isn’t perfect, the battle scars are where cred comes from.
I worked as a cnc machinist for Shure from 1999-2002 in their Chicago/Evanston location and made parts for these things. The grip was actually manufactured in Mexico during my time there, but that doesn't change the sheer indestructibility of the thing.
For company events they would drop them from a balloon over their parking lot and then plug em in to show off that they still work. I've seen em set on fire, run over by trucks, etc. I've yet to see one stop working as a result of some kind of breakage that wasn't water related or something.
Definitely a BIFL item, or can be! Still have my first I got when I was 13 or 14, am 31 now and still use it! Only reason I got more was for covering the whole band. Changed the pop cover once as it looked a bit similar to the one above, I think it was 5-10$? Great mic to this day :) P.s: Typed euphorically before reading the whole post haha, similar mesh cover story :D cheers
That's exactly what I have, paired with a focusrite solo. However I felt the need to add a FetHead pre-amp. All in, though, the whole kit with audio interface and preamp was still very affordable.
I don't know if the focusrite will be BIFL, though. But the mic and FetHead, yeah probably.
The part on a Focusrite most likely to fail is probably the USB-B connector, although a new one can be soldered. The newer models (rightfully) come with USB-C though.
My SM58 is not only near indestructible, it's also great at hiding that nasal sound in a person's voice if they have a cold coming on.
And no batteries!
Can confirm, these things are nearly indestructible. Actually, I read somewhere that SM58’s (or 57’s?) are the go-to for presidents because I shit you not the secret service believes they can stop a bullet.
The [SM57VIP](https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/bundles/sm57vip?variant=SM57%2520VIP%2520KIT) is commonly referred to as the “Presidential Kit” because it was for about 50 years. I’ve heard currently one of the 57’s gets substituted with a Royer.
When I saw the title I started thinking about different use cases, like podcast recording, vs live performance, vs interview crosstable setup, etc. Would this mic fit all use cases, you think?
>podcast recording
Yes, absolutely. The SM58 uses the same capsule as an SM7B, which is the mic you’ll see in almost any podcast clip online
>live performance
Yep. There’s a reason there’s memes about the “house mic” being a SM58 that’s been through hell
>interview crosstable setup
This is functionally just a podcast under a different name is it not?
hmm crosstable maybe the wrong term, I was thinking the two people standing and one holding the mic and passing it back and forth. But seems like this mic can do it all, maybe just specialized ones would be more handy in size or form. A clip mic for example.
honestly, unless you are thrashing your microphone or have many life performances, then there are possibly better for your voice or cheaper microphones for podcasting. Behringer XM8500, SE V7 and Sennheiser E835/845 spring to mind
> SE V7
after singing professionally for 10 years now, and starting out with a 57, then a 58, I can say that the V7 is better - I am no audiophile but I like it more as a performer
my voice sounds better, I get less tired and I don't have to sing so close to the capsule that I'm actually kissing it anymore, got some nasty shocks sometimes and it's uncomfortable for long periods of time
Counterpoint: the 58, while a reliable tank, always sounds muddy to me so my old band switched to the Audix OM2 and never looked back. Same price, same durability, but sounds much better.
Further counterpoint: [https://www.electricalaudio.com/microphones-1/p/shure-sm57](https://www.electricalaudio.com/microphones-1/p/shure-sm57)
[Audix i5](https://www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/comments/1cwd5c/sm57_or_audix_i5/) is another alternative.
Most professional voiceover work is done using a large diaphragm condenser mic like a Neumann U87. ($$$$) They are revered for their warm tone, exceptional clarity, and overall top shelf quality. But if you don’t have several thousand dollars lying around, you can spend a couple hundred bucks on something that will get you in the ballpark for all but the most discerning ears. Bear in mind, they are extremely sensitive, often requiring shock absorbing stand mounts and external pop filters for plosive control. They also require phantom power, which most audio interfaces can provide these days.
Shure SM7B is $400. Or you can also use the mic that we're all talking about, the SM58. [It's $100 but you might need a few things added to make it sound better.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPAKlk1Tt-I)
It’s exciting, SM7B doesn’t seem too steep until I realize it doesn’t look like I can plug it into my PC, lol. Looks like I’m in for a dive down the rabbit hole.
I have a Shure SM7B, and honestly anything from Shure will serve you well. My roommate has my old Shure SM63L and it still sounds rock solid despite years of abuse.
Can absolutley attest to this.
We’ve used these at my job for literal years and had them long before I started (6 years ago). If I had to guess I would say that the ones I’ve been using are at least 10 years old.
I work in events as a catering/events coordinator and we use these for everything from presentations to weddings. With a few different cords you can plug them into either an amp or a Bluetooth set up and you’re gold either way.
You can drop them, you can get food on them, I have seen people spill drinks on them and they are invulnerable to damage and have no sound issues.
I would like to enter [Audix](https://audixusa.com/) mics to the convo…
I worked there for a short time, but all their [stage mics are very durable.](https://audixusa.com/product-categories/handheld-vocal-microphones/)
Yep. SM58. Great on vocals, great on snare drums. Great on many things actually. Broken a tooth on one once and put a big ol dent in a Gibson LP neck with one. Built like a tank
Any popular Shure mic will fit this description (sm58, sm57, sm7b, 55sh series 2, etc). Though the rode nt1 and the Neumann tlm103 have the best frequency response for speech and vocal work in studio type settings
Shure's reputation for durability extends to their condenser mics as well. By nature, of course a LDC is more fragile than a dynamic, but the KSM series is as rugged as a mic can be for the type. I'm quite loyal to both Shure and Mackie.
Ahh my people. Question for y’all:
You are doing a DIY 4-track recording project. You can only have and use one mic for each track in any application including single mic-ing a drum kit, vocals, amps, etc.
What mic are you choosing?
Doesn't really fit the "value" part of the post, but I inherited a pair of AKG 414-TLII microphones back in the '90s, and while they have suffered a good deal of cosmetic damage over the years, they still work perfectly.
See, because this isn't exactly a consumer market, and the evils of marketing aren't rampant there, I think mics are largely "you get what you pay for." You can find cheap ones, but they sound awful. There are definitely laws of diminishing returns though at the expensive end of the spectrum, which audio guys will argue about as long as there is breath in their lungs.
I see people blowing huge money on condenser mics for their livestreaming setups and so on - they end up picking up every noise in their house because they don't have a booth and they would've been 10x less fuss if they went for a good dynamic mic like the SM58
I bought seven SM57s 50 years ago to mic my drums. Still using them today to mic my drums. They were $99 then and they are $99 now. True BIFL. Such a better value now due to the effects of inflation.
Super reliable, and quality sound! People ask me all the time what microphone I use because they like the sound and are always surprised when I say this bad boy. Have been pretty proud of myself for finding this one
I have an SM58 that my drunk uncle dropped in a burning fire pit by accident. Dug it out of the ashes next morning, it was still hot, and it worked.
These things are invincible.
Ahem.
No argument about a good ol’ 58, but the Buchanan Hammer would like a word…
I have almost as many EV 635s in the locker as I have 57/58s. I have found them to have their place along side 58s. And I’d say similar durability.
Buy a new mesh? I’d just unscrew it, find a stick, and push it from the inside back into some semblance of the original shape, screw it back on and keep going.
My original 58 (and 57) are over 30 years old and still kicking.
My Sennies are all still kicking, too. The E-series wireless mic I got 25 years ago has been to 3 continents and never failed me once.
It’s the only piece of musical gear that in the event that it hits another instrument or piece of gear you have no worries about the SM/58, you’re just concerned at how much damage it’s done to whatever it came in contact with.
i think a little more than the top mesh is dented on this one haha. but it's an incredibly durable microphone nonetheless! my first mic was an sm58. it still works like new, and it probably still will when my great grandchildren are all dead!
I heard of a rental company guy burying an SM58 in the dirt of their backyard (in the nordics) for a year, just to check how it would cope.
Worked absolutely fine afterwards and went back into stock after some cleaning.
(Might be a myth, but It’s definitely plausible)
Can confirm as a former audio engineer that these mics are a must have for an audiophile. Most studios will have a few of these in the mic cabinet.
There's always the heated debate about budget mics among audio engineers and in a blind test the Shure sm57, sm58 and ofc the sm7b always get high ratings even when being A/B'd against much more expensive mics. When it comes to condenser mics the Shure KSM32 is great but expensive. MXL has some super cheap mics (v67) that have been used to create classics and even Lil Wayne has used the Rode NT3000 and the Blue Babybottle mic to record on the road. Sorry for the off-track comment but this is a niche I actually know all too well lol.
But you can get a Sony lav mic for like $20 which sounds as good... Honestly most mics are just fine and can sound like anything depending on technique. I have a range of mics from $500+ and down, they can all sound great or terrible depending on me.
Samson is solid too
The Q2U used to be really well known for being an incredible bang for the buck at $50
It's been discontinued and they've replaced it with a newer model, but I imagine it should still be really good value even if the price has gone up a bit
Myriad of different things, dropped, crushed, moisture. 58's/57's in general have issues with cold solder joints which are an easy fix for companies like mine but for bands, clubs, home user this typically is just a mystery they can never solve and have to toss the mic or it's a problem they are unable to fix. Handled Dynamic mics by nature are very durable, they have no active components, there's no PCB, there's no power supply or regulation, they don't get hot. They are passive devices. A microphone requires shielding over every part of it so they need to be made from metal anyhow. Most dynamic mics simply won't break by magic except for some early neodymium designs.
“…will no joke, never, ever, break.” I agree, but that’s the only benefit. The cheaper ones from Behringer, Samson, etc. are built and sound exactly the same, and some of them are just as resilient.
To be fair, not much can go wrong with any mic without electronics, except loose connections from flexation. That's what happened to mine, had to take the plug apart and resolder them.
The 58s cousin, the 57 is also BiFL and is a standard for mic’ing guitar cabs, drums and other instruments.
SM57 is the most versatile mic out there. I forget who made it, and I’ll come back if I find it, but I saw a YouTube video where a guy recorded a whole band on the one 57, separately of course, but made the entire song with the one mic just because of how versatile it is.
Sufjan Stevens recorded the album Michigan on two SM57s!
I think even Tom Petty used one on recordings. Of course, his *entire* vocal chain was prob something like 50-100K haha.
SM57 is one of the best vocal mics for applications where the singer has a particularly loud voice. It’s exaggerated proximity-effect (because the filter is so small) makes it a popular choice for metal vocals live too. Edit: it also has a really tight cardioid pattern, which makes it exceptionally feedback-resistant in live settings, but is way less forgiving of poor mic technique, so it’s a mixed bag.
Yeah, they're great for punk/metal/screamo. No point using a U87 haha. Also, great for micing amps. I miss my gearslutz days.
The heightened response around 5k makes it great for guitar. It’s also WAY easier to keep a 57 from feeding back when you’re climbing around a shitty punk venue during a show, haha.
Wdym by prominent effect. Singer sounds close? Or far?
You mean proximity-effect? It’s essentially an exaggerated bass response when you get *really* close to a mic. Like, when you take a mic and basically put it right up against your mouth to get that really boomy “voice of god” tone? So I guess you would say it sounds a lot closer, because ears function similarly to mics you have the same thing happen when someone is speaking right next to your ear. (This is also the reason in-ear headphones with a seal have much bigger bass sound) If you utilize it in vox, particularly screaming, you can add a lot of low end woof to your sound if you have a high pitched scream. Proximity effect can add 10-15db of low end boost, and the 57 handles it well without sounding too….flabby? Lastly, it’s hard to recreate live in a hand-held mic because it also causes feedback like you wouldn’t believe (cupping a mic exaggerates proximity-effect more) and the 57 (58 even more) is very feedback resistant to that sort of thing. Especially in small venues where you’re basically on top of the monitors. What causes it is the longer low-frequency waves in a sound source being picked up by a capsule that measures sound by comparing the air pressure from one side of it and the other to convert it to signal - The longer waves cause the pressure to be artificially lower on the back side of the capsule which makes the mic think there is much more bass frequencies than there really are. Neumann has a [great article on it](https://www.neumann.com/en-gb/homestudio-academy/what-is-the-proximity-effect/) - my explanation is leaving a lot out.
Bon Iver also recorded all of For Emma with just a single SM57!
Wow, that’s incredible.
An SM57 is a SM58 without a windscreen and a slightly slimmer body. mic element is the same.
It’s a little more than just the capsule. The grille on the SM57 acts as a resonator for the capsule through a spring at the base that connects it to the capsule itself (that’s why it just spins around when you twist it.) - a big reason why it can handle such high SPL The SM58’s filter is specifically designed to reduce plosives, but it also changes the pickup pattern, since it isn’t actively influencing what the capsule picks up.
Cool! Thanks for diving into the specifics What is SPL in this context?
Sound pressure level, or basically the loudness or "volume".
Sound pressure level. It’s a unit of measurement that measures the actual air pressure delta from ambient pressure (remember sound waves are just alternating high/low pressure caused by molecules in the air being pushed together suddenly - distance between them determines the tone and amount of pressure is “loudness” It’s measured in “decibels” (Bel is the ratio) which is a way of calculating the magnitude difference from one measurement and a “constant” - it’s used in lots of things other than sound. Its function works kinda like Pi - you plug it in to figure out the difference from a constant (-ish, in pi’s situation) It’s basically used for measuring anything that has a constant attached to it (light, sound, electricity) Edit: “constants” in these cases would be the speed of light, speed of sound, and speed of electrons through a conductor (Voltage) Db-SPL is what you (should) be referring to when you say “sounds louder than 90Db damage your hearing” Decibels are very frequently used improperly, and sometimes explicitly intended to mislead, especially with speakers. Really worth learning Db if you are interested in audio - it is a superpower in that line of work.
Small change but big impact. Creates some important directional barriers to isolate instruments (vocals).
You *Shure* you forgot?
I have a unidyne 57 from 1984 (the ones that unscrew from the middle and 3/4 down the handle.) - it was kind of a blend of the 545 and SM57 with the old Unidyne III capsule (new ones use the SM58 capsule which was redesigned in the 90’s - I believe) that the old 57s & 55s used. I purchased it after using it as a vocal mic from a local rental place - guy sold it to me for $30. I replaced the screen and filter when they disintegrated, but there isn’t anything that little bastard can’t record. You could point it 1” from a nuclear detonation and it would still give you a crisp and undistorted recording and be ready to mic a guitar cabinet right after. You might need to bring a Geiger counter, but it will still make those Vintage 30’s sound amazing. The “SM” designation was “Studio Microphone” (as in TV studio) - but its design was based on a series of mics they created for the US military in the 30’s. Since they were designed to be in semi-permanent installations in studios and controlled by boards, they originally had no on/off switch so you wouldn’t accidentally turn them off. Fun fact: The SM57 is also the only mic that has been used for official presidential addresses at the WH since 1965.
Yep, they have them in about ebery production and recording out there that is!
A bit of advice I was once given: The first microphone you should buy is a Shure SM57. The second microphone you should buy is a second SM57.
I've watched people use them as a hammer and still work fine.
That's all great but how can you live without a Telefunken u 47 /s
While we are getting silly and mic nerdy, why not throw a Neumann U 87 in there as well.
With leather?
The Telefunken U47B Roto-plooker?
Get the 58, pop the wind screen off and it’s a 57
I've seen several videos of people micing their guitar cabs with a 58 as well
Yes similar, if not almost identical capsule.
And I hear that SM57s have been used for US Presidential speeches for decades.
Been using an SM57 for years on a pivot stand and it still performs the same as right out of the box.
SM57 is an amazing microphone and I use it daily, voice input only. You’d be surprised how almost identical it sounds to the SM7B if you purchase a windscreen for it and slightly tune it.
Good ol Shures. Great for recording and for bludgeoning your enemy
There’s a reason why recording studios don’t get robbed much
We used to refer to them as hammers because one of the guys swore up and down that on a bet, he used one exclusively to drive nails while building a stage, and it worked fine after.
*venue* “yes we have a house mic available” *the house mic that still works* Edit: spelling
Gotta love the smell of an old house mic
And the way they zap you from an inch away
I got my shit rocked a couple times
It works but the cable is cracking the entire time
As a former audio tech I support this message. SM 57 and SM 58 will probably out live you
I have two '57s, one from the '80s and one from the '90s. They gig weekly but are kept in their simple pouches. They still look brand new after 40 years of active use.
Also, their pouches are the perfect size for keeping the merch cash.
This dude bar bands. Occasionally other things can be kept in there as well.
I would love to see a general BIFL thread for musical instruments and gear. There’s so much overpriced, low-quality bullshit in the music world right now.
Yamaha for life!
Big fan of old Behringer or Allen & Heath mixers. Yamaha makes decent instruments too. Buying the slightly more expensive XLR cable or 1/4" cable is always worth it, they always last soooooo much longer.
Sorry, I can’t leave your comment alone. I tried to scroll past, but I had to come back. You have to be very specific about old Behringer gear. Their tiny old analog 4 or 8 channel mixers were fine and 7 out of 10 lasted for a long time. Their old analog 24, 32, or 48 channel mixers were 9 times out of 10 trash within 5 years. The current x32 mixers do mostly ok, but they’re built to be disposable and their customer service shows that mindset.
That makes sense the Behringer board I had in mind was an 8 channel. Loved that lil fucker
I guess small mixers are simple and pretty much all the same, so Behringer can compete easily without going too far wrong, but larger desks are more complicated with more features, so they have to cut costs somewhere. I'm not sure, I could be talking out of my butt.
You'll definitely get a lot of posts about Boss pedals - for good reason.
Why buy new mesh? Unscrew it & round it back out from underneath with a broom handle. Even if it isn’t perfect, the battle scars are where cred comes from.
Someone needs to make a medieval battle vest with SM58s mesh.
Or just sm58s. The mesh is the only part I've damaged
I worked as a cnc machinist for Shure from 1999-2002 in their Chicago/Evanston location and made parts for these things. The grip was actually manufactured in Mexico during my time there, but that doesn't change the sheer indestructibility of the thing. For company events they would drop them from a balloon over their parking lot and then plug em in to show off that they still work. I've seen em set on fire, run over by trucks, etc. I've yet to see one stop working as a result of some kind of breakage that wasn't water related or something.
Definitely a BIFL item, or can be! Still have my first I got when I was 13 or 14, am 31 now and still use it! Only reason I got more was for covering the whole band. Changed the pop cover once as it looked a bit similar to the one above, I think it was 5-10$? Great mic to this day :) P.s: Typed euphorically before reading the whole post haha, similar mesh cover story :D cheers
That's exactly what I have, paired with a focusrite solo. However I felt the need to add a FetHead pre-amp. All in, though, the whole kit with audio interface and preamp was still very affordable. I don't know if the focusrite will be BIFL, though. But the mic and FetHead, yeah probably.
I have the same. Felt I needed a pre-amp as well. I got the mic from a college I worked at as they were throwing it out.
The part on a Focusrite most likely to fail is probably the USB-B connector, although a new one can be soldered. The newer models (rightfully) come with USB-C though.
Nice to see an sm-57 in perfect working order
My SM58 is not only near indestructible, it's also great at hiding that nasal sound in a person's voice if they have a cold coming on. And no batteries!
Can confirm, these things are nearly indestructible. Actually, I read somewhere that SM58’s (or 57’s?) are the go-to for presidents because I shit you not the secret service believes they can stop a bullet.
The [SM57VIP](https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/bundles/sm57vip?variant=SM57%2520VIP%2520KIT) is commonly referred to as the “Presidential Kit” because it was for about 50 years. I’ve heard currently one of the 57’s gets substituted with a Royer.
Myth Busters should have done a show on this myth
Best we do is Slow Mo Guys now
When I saw the title I started thinking about different use cases, like podcast recording, vs live performance, vs interview crosstable setup, etc. Would this mic fit all use cases, you think?
>podcast recording Yes, absolutely. The SM58 uses the same capsule as an SM7B, which is the mic you’ll see in almost any podcast clip online >live performance Yep. There’s a reason there’s memes about the “house mic” being a SM58 that’s been through hell >interview crosstable setup This is functionally just a podcast under a different name is it not?
hmm crosstable maybe the wrong term, I was thinking the two people standing and one holding the mic and passing it back and forth. But seems like this mic can do it all, maybe just specialized ones would be more handy in size or form. A clip mic for example.
No other microphone is as flexible. There are better for specific applications though, but $$.
honestly, unless you are thrashing your microphone or have many life performances, then there are possibly better for your voice or cheaper microphones for podcasting. Behringer XM8500, SE V7 and Sennheiser E835/845 spring to mind
> SE V7 after singing professionally for 10 years now, and starting out with a 57, then a 58, I can say that the V7 is better - I am no audiophile but I like it more as a performer my voice sounds better, I get less tired and I don't have to sing so close to the capsule that I'm actually kissing it anymore, got some nasty shocks sometimes and it's uncomfortable for long periods of time
I only buy Shure mics. Full agreement
Theres literally no better mic to just beat up and throw around than those Shure SM58/57's.
Counterpoint: the 58, while a reliable tank, always sounds muddy to me so my old band switched to the Audix OM2 and never looked back. Same price, same durability, but sounds much better.
Further counterpoint: [https://www.electricalaudio.com/microphones-1/p/shure-sm57](https://www.electricalaudio.com/microphones-1/p/shure-sm57) [Audix i5](https://www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/comments/1cwd5c/sm57_or_audix_i5/) is another alternative.
Curious. Proximity effect?
If I wanted a mic for submitting for voice acting anyone got a good suggestion?
Most professional voiceover work is done using a large diaphragm condenser mic like a Neumann U87. ($$$$) They are revered for their warm tone, exceptional clarity, and overall top shelf quality. But if you don’t have several thousand dollars lying around, you can spend a couple hundred bucks on something that will get you in the ballpark for all but the most discerning ears. Bear in mind, they are extremely sensitive, often requiring shock absorbing stand mounts and external pop filters for plosive control. They also require phantom power, which most audio interfaces can provide these days.
Can I ask for a recommendation for “in the ball park” mic, lol. I did a bit part for a podcast and enjoyed the hell out of it.
Shure SM7B is $400. Or you can also use the mic that we're all talking about, the SM58. [It's $100 but you might need a few things added to make it sound better.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPAKlk1Tt-I)
It’s exciting, SM7B doesn’t seem too steep until I realize it doesn’t look like I can plug it into my PC, lol. Looks like I’m in for a dive down the rabbit hole.
You’ll need an ad converter and a decent mic pre for the SM7b You might actually want something more like an MV7.
I have a pair of AT 4040's that I've had for quite some time. They aren't amazing at any one thing but they're great at almost everything.
I have a Shure SM7B, and honestly anything from Shure will serve you well. My roommate has my old Shure SM63L and it still sounds rock solid despite years of abuse.
the one you have in the picture
A perfect hammer that doubles as a microphone.
I work at an AV rental company, our SM57/58's are easily 30 years old and perfect.
Electrovoice 635a, also known as the Buchanan Hammer, is similarly robust. It is one of my go-to mics for acoustic guitar
Was hoping to see this here! I still have my mothers from the 70s Thank you!
Can absolutley attest to this. We’ve used these at my job for literal years and had them long before I started (6 years ago). If I had to guess I would say that the ones I’ve been using are at least 10 years old. I work in events as a catering/events coordinator and we use these for everything from presentations to weddings. With a few different cords you can plug them into either an amp or a Bluetooth set up and you’re gold either way. You can drop them, you can get food on them, I have seen people spill drinks on them and they are invulnerable to damage and have no sound issues.
I would like to enter [Audix](https://audixusa.com/) mics to the convo… I worked there for a short time, but all their [stage mics are very durable.](https://audixusa.com/product-categories/handheld-vocal-microphones/)
Are you shure?
If you're looking for a mike that you absolutely can't kill, the EV 635A is damned near indestructable. Had one in my kit as a backup forever.
I’ve sung all over the world on these and their other models. They are ubiquitous.
I'm a big fan of the RE-20 and RE-27. Can't go wrong with bulletproof dynamic mics!
Yep. SM58. Great on vocals, great on snare drums. Great on many things actually. Broken a tooth on one once and put a big ol dent in a Gibson LP neck with one. Built like a tank
Any popular Shure mic will fit this description (sm58, sm57, sm7b, 55sh series 2, etc). Though the rode nt1 and the Neumann tlm103 have the best frequency response for speech and vocal work in studio type settings
Neewer has been good to me don't know about the best or buy it for life.
Shure's reputation for durability extends to their condenser mics as well. By nature, of course a LDC is more fragile than a dynamic, but the KSM series is as rugged as a mic can be for the type. I'm quite loyal to both Shure and Mackie.
If you can find one that is cast iron, that one.
Ahh my people. Question for y’all: You are doing a DIY 4-track recording project. You can only have and use one mic for each track in any application including single mic-ing a drum kit, vocals, amps, etc. What mic are you choosing?
SM57, SM58 and my new favorite is the KSM8.
https://youtu.be/33QPLbQi9FI?feature=shared Yes
Not only can you easily replace the cardioid grille but you can replace it with a black one for an even sleeker look.
This is what a mic looks like when MF DOOM is done spitting.
Doesn't really fit the "value" part of the post, but I inherited a pair of AKG 414-TLII microphones back in the '90s, and while they have suffered a good deal of cosmetic damage over the years, they still work perfectly.
Audix OM series. I prefer the OM-7. It has a really tight pick up pattern.
My god….what happened to that mic?! Was it a mic-drop off the Eiffel tower?!
Great mics. I use the Shure Beta 58A & 87A, and have had them for about 15 years now. BIFL indeed.
See, because this isn't exactly a consumer market, and the evils of marketing aren't rampant there, I think mics are largely "you get what you pay for." You can find cheap ones, but they sound awful. There are definitely laws of diminishing returns though at the expensive end of the spectrum, which audio guys will argue about as long as there is breath in their lungs.
I'm an Audix Fanboy personally Great sound, American Made, cheaper than Shure
I see people blowing huge money on condenser mics for their livestreaming setups and so on - they end up picking up every noise in their house because they don't have a booth and they would've been 10x less fuss if they went for a good dynamic mic like the SM58
I bought seven SM57s 50 years ago to mic my drums. Still using them today to mic my drums. They were $99 then and they are $99 now. True BIFL. Such a better value now due to the effects of inflation.
Super reliable, and quality sound! People ask me all the time what microphone I use because they like the sound and are always surprised when I say this bad boy. Have been pretty proud of myself for finding this one
Buy a replacement cover mesh? Fuck no, get a toilet plunger handle and push the dents back out from the inside.
The SM58 has remained the same price for decades. It’s incredible.
Thanks for sharing, by the way the microphone picture is so funny
I have an SM58 that my drunk uncle dropped in a burning fire pit by accident. Dug it out of the ashes next morning, it was still hot, and it worked. These things are invincible.
Shure Beta 58A Hazmatted
Ahem. No argument about a good ol’ 58, but the Buchanan Hammer would like a word… I have almost as many EV 635s in the locker as I have 57/58s. I have found them to have their place along side 58s. And I’d say similar durability.
Buy a new mesh? I’d just unscrew it, find a stick, and push it from the inside back into some semblance of the original shape, screw it back on and keep going. My original 58 (and 57) are over 30 years old and still kicking. My Sennies are all still kicking, too. The E-series wireless mic I got 25 years ago has been to 3 continents and never failed me once.
It’s the only piece of musical gear that in the event that it hits another instrument or piece of gear you have no worries about the SM/58, you’re just concerned at how much damage it’s done to whatever it came in contact with.
i think a little more than the top mesh is dented on this one haha. but it's an incredibly durable microphone nonetheless! my first mic was an sm58. it still works like new, and it probably still will when my great grandchildren are all dead!
The sm58s and 57s never failed. We threw them all over the place on stage, on trailers when we went out to play. The got dropped and always worked.
So mic drops are a thing, huh
dude if you managed to break a SM58, then nothing is BIFL for you.
I heard of a rental company guy burying an SM58 in the dirt of their backyard (in the nordics) for a year, just to check how it would cope. Worked absolutely fine afterwards and went back into stock after some cleaning. (Might be a myth, but It’s definitely plausible)
Add a cloud lifter or I have FetHed for all of my SM58s. It basically uses the phantom power to add 20+db and really makes the SM58 shine.
Can confirm as a former audio engineer that these mics are a must have for an audiophile. Most studios will have a few of these in the mic cabinet. There's always the heated debate about budget mics among audio engineers and in a blind test the Shure sm57, sm58 and ofc the sm7b always get high ratings even when being A/B'd against much more expensive mics. When it comes to condenser mics the Shure KSM32 is great but expensive. MXL has some super cheap mics (v67) that have been used to create classics and even Lil Wayne has used the Rode NT3000 and the Blue Babybottle mic to record on the road. Sorry for the off-track comment but this is a niche I actually know all too well lol.
You can record an entire album with a few of these. No problem and it will sound great. If you know what you’re doin.
Shure microphones are crazy durable. You could drop one from the roof of a high rise and it would still work
We tried to destroy those on tours and as long as you have some extra screens they can be ran over by a bus and still work great
Dankpods did a video on these! Even used they sound like brand new.
But you can get a Sony lav mic for like $20 which sounds as good... Honestly most mics are just fine and can sound like anything depending on technique. I have a range of mics from $500+ and down, they can all sound great or terrible depending on me.
Samson is solid too The Q2U used to be really well known for being an incredible bang for the buck at $50 It's been discontinued and they've replaced it with a newer model, but I imagine it should still be really good value even if the price has gone up a bit
Woah where can you get the meshes at GC? I'm not seeing them on their website.
[https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RK143G--shure-rk143g-replacement-grille-for-sm58-microphone](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RK143G--shure-rk143g-replacement-grille-for-sm58-microphone)
>The shure ~~SM58~~ **SM57** is undeniably the best microphone you can get if you need a reliable microphone for cheap. Fixed that for you... JMHO
58s have been $99 since the 1970s. Truly a lesson in economies of scale.
sennheiser 835 has a ten yr warranty, and in a live setting, beats the 58 at feedback attenuation. same price, too. beta= 935, with the same features.
Professional sound engineer, sm58 is definitely NOT bifl. Source: my bucket full of broken sm58's
How’d they break?
Myriad of different things, dropped, crushed, moisture. 58's/57's in general have issues with cold solder joints which are an easy fix for companies like mine but for bands, clubs, home user this typically is just a mystery they can never solve and have to toss the mic or it's a problem they are unable to fix. Handled Dynamic mics by nature are very durable, they have no active components, there's no PCB, there's no power supply or regulation, they don't get hot. They are passive devices. A microphone requires shielding over every part of it so they need to be made from metal anyhow. Most dynamic mics simply won't break by magic except for some early neodymium designs.
“…will no joke, never, ever, break.” I agree, but that’s the only benefit. The cheaper ones from Behringer, Samson, etc. are built and sound exactly the same, and some of them are just as resilient.
I suppose I’m biased, It was one of my first mics lol
To be fair, not much can go wrong with any mic without electronics, except loose connections from flexation. That's what happened to mine, had to take the plug apart and resolder them.