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Topic: Sm-57 |
Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 2:41 am |
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| I've been using an SM-58 for years, but I've always heard that an SM-57 was better for miking instruments. Does it really make much difference? |
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Jonathan Cullifer
From:
Gallatin, TN
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 4:07 am
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| Not much. The only difference between the two mics is the element cover. The elements are the same in both mics. I prefer the 57, but that may be more subjective than anything. In several setups, one amp was mic'd with a 57 and one with a 58 and I couldn't tell much of a difference. |
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Tobie Schalkwyk
From:
South Africa
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 4:38 am
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Howard, IME the SM58 was more prone to picking up environment noise (other instruments etc). I had one of each but eventually traded the SM58 for a SM57 as I ended up never using the '58 (I'm not a singer). I used one for the reso (before installing the new Fishman pickup) and the other for playing harmonica.
If you look at the sound diagrams coming with each, you'll see that there is a difference between the two (audible). To use Shure's own wording: The SM58 is tuned to accentuate the warmth and clarity of lead and back-up vocals. The SM57 has contoured frequency response for clean sound reproduction of amplified or acoustic instruments. [/i] |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 4:50 am
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The SM57 is probably the most used mike for amplifiers. It is designed to handle the higher "pressures" of a live amp.
All the "big" live venues I've played that have their own PA systems and sound techs, they always use SM57's for the instrument amp miking.
HERE is the info from the Shure web site on the SM57 |
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Hook Moore
From:
South Charleston,West Virginia
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 2:36 pm
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Howard the big difference I notice live, is its so much easier to keep all other stage noise out using the 57, making a cleaner channel. The 57 is a directional mic an the 58 is an omnidirectional ( you can slobber on the sides too ) ....Thats all the tech talk I know 
Hook
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Blaine Moore |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 9:14 pm
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| I have a couple for sale over in the gear for sale dept. |
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Lynn Oliver
From:
Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 10:38 pm
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| Hook Moore wrote: |
| ... The 57 is a directional mic an the 58 is an omnidirectional ... |
Sorry, they are both cardiod. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 31 Jul 2008 2:08 am
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I just got a Shure newsletter and reading about the two mic's, SM57 and SM58, the only difference in the two other than the physical size is the mesh screen on the front which can affect some of the higher frequencies.
I had always been told and even saw Shure sales literature about the SM-57 "Instrument" mic and why it was more suited for instrument amplification, but this article, by Shure, disputes that.
HERE is a link to the article. |
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Tobie Schalkwyk
From:
South Africa
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Posted 31 Jul 2008 4:30 am
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| Interesting. They focus quite a bit on the fact that the larger grill of the SM58 filters out wind noise - which is never a problem for me - I never play outside. Regardless of that - I'll then blame the larger grill for reflecting more background noise (other instruments etc.) into the mic's pickup mechanism, based on personal experience. |
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Don Sulesky
From:
Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH
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Posted 31 Jul 2008 4:43 am
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I purchased a SM-57 for vocals and instrument use at one time.
I found that if I did not sing directly into the SM-57 mike my vocals dropped off dramaticaly.
So I went and bought a SM-58 and the problem was solved. My observation from this was the SM-57 is more directional than the SM-58.
Don |
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John Groover McDuffie
From:
LA California, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2008 6:59 am
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When I didn't have a 57 available I have used a 58 for recording guitar amps and I could hear the difference if I took the mesh ball off - better high end clarity.
A possible reason for the perception of greater directionality from the 57 is that, because of the mesh ball on the 58, you can't get the element of the 58 as close to the source as you can with a 57. |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 31 Jul 2008 8:55 am
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Also if you're miking amps I've seen a lot of people just hang a mike over the front of the amp. I know that's not the best was but it saves a mike stand. If you are doing it that way, a 58 will be angled out farther from the sound due to the ball on it so it won't sound the same.
I do some sound jobs on the side and one that I do each year is a Safety Awards show for our city which is outside in a park. The first year I used 58's which seemed to pick up the wind noise pretty bad. Since then I've used three 57's at various heights and they really do the job..........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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Ivan Funk
From:
Hamburg Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2008 12:43 am
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They both have a cardioid pickup pattern but the 57's is slightly more focused meaning it has a little more off-axis cancellation.
They have the same element but different capsules.
The capsule has a lot to do with how it sounds.
(imagine listening to "the ocean" in shells of various different size and shape)
Frequency responses:
SM57 40 to 15000 Hz
SM58 50 to 15000 Hz
(the 57 gets a little more low end)
I prefer the 57 on guitars and snare drum.
I once had to mic a bass cabinet with a 58 and it surprised me how good it sounded. |
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Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Aug 2008 3:11 am
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| Thanks for all the help. I'll be shopping for a 57 soon. |
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Jim Peters
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Aug 2008 7:30 am
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The shape of the mikes makes a big difference. A 57 will make your voice boomier and punchier than a 58, a 57 has much more proximity effect. I rarely see a 57 used for vocals. A 58 has more presence and upper mids, plug them in and listen, the differences are really easy to hear. JP
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Carter,PV,Fender |
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Olli Haavisto
From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 4 Aug 2008 2:55 am amp?
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Hi Olli, were you mic'd or direct like the fiddle and guitar were when I saw you last week here in Duluth? I've forgotten what model Fender amp were you using, but from where I was sitting it sounded very clear and clean. You and your group sounded great!
Geo |
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Olli Haavisto
From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
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Posted 4 Aug 2008 3:48 am
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George,
That was a Music Man 65 2x10 the soundman brought in. Unmiked,un-DI`d.Great meeting you !
Olli
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Olli Haavisto
Finland |
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Bob Bowden
From:
Vancouver, BC, Canada * R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Aug 2008 6:04 am
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SM57s have been my favorite for miking both voice and instruments on stage.
A little word of warning though. Either buy from a reputable dealer or someone that you trust. I have been hearing a lot of stories recently about cheap Chinese made counterfeits(SM57s and SM58s) flooding the market. |
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