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Shure SM58 mic?
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| Lana |
The price of this mic (Shure SM58) is pretty attempting.
And some reviews of it are really good.
But, in some reviews this mic is said to be very bad for homestudio and vocal recording = you need to SHOUT if you want the mic to take/record your voice...
Any comments about that?
:conf:
Or do you have another mic in similar price range that is a bit more sensitive (so no need to shout to it)? |
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| Eric J |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lana
Or do you have another mic in similar price range that is a bit more sensitive (so no need to shout to it)? |
Try a Rode NT1A |
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| Zild |
What type of vocals are you doing? If you want doing like hands in the air trance pristine quality type vocals then yeah get the Rode. If you're doing vocals like I do and chopping/effecting the hell out of them to use as rhythmic samples then what I would use would be a SM57.
It also depends on what pre amps you are going to be using. |
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| Ry Thomas |
| Michael Jackson 'Bad' album was recorded on SM58 |
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| cryophonik |
Generally speaking, the SM58 is a better live mic than it is a studio mic - this is, again generally, true of most dynamic mics. A better choice for recording is a condenser mic, such as the Rode NT1A already mentioned, but there are many other condenser mics in the same price range as the SM58 that will get the job done. Personally, I'd take a $70 Chinese-made mic (e.g., MXL, Behringer) over the SM58 for recording vox (unless it's for rap).
That said, yes, you can absolutely get fantastic recording results with the SM58, but, if you're having to shout into the mic, then you've probably either got: (1) a screwed up signal path (is it going through a preamp? If not, there's your problem), or (2) a bad mic. A mic, whether it's a dynamic mic, condenser mic, ribbon mic, etc., must have its signal boosted by a preamp or you want have enough gain to get a usable recording level. It's kind of amazing how many people don't realize this and will blame the mic instead. |
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| Lana |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zild
What type of vocals are you doing? If you want doing like hands in the air trance pristine quality type vocals then yeah get the Rode. If you're doing vocals like I do and chopping/effecting the hell out of them to use as rhythmic samples then what I would use would be a SM57.
It also depends on what pre amps you are going to be using. |
Ah, sorry, I totally forgot to mention what sort of vocals...
Electro music, not really the pristine trance style...
Some effects will be used also (maybe not so heavily) on the vocals.
And going to use the vocals as vocals, not as rhytmic samples...
DO you think SM57 is better for singing than SM58?
:conf: |
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| Zild |
| I just prefer the way it sounds and I like to record drums and guitar cabinets with it. |
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| Lolo |
a good compromise for quality recordings may be a BETA58. But it's just like monitors, if you can, TRY before you buy, and compare them.
I swear by the 58 series for vocals as they're easier to get in the mix, but I use my Rode for many occasions too.
Don't forget that you need a preamp for a condenser (static) microphone such as the Rode NT1A if you don't have at least one on your soundcard... it's an XLR input with phantom power. No phantom, no power, no sound. |
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| cryophonik |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lana
Ah, I remember reading some reviews saying that SM57 is good for recording drums and percussions...
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The SM57 is good for recording just about anything. The only difference between the SM58 and SM57 is the head capsule - the guts are identical, but they can sound slightly different (due to different proximity effects, recording axis, etc.) depending on how you're using them. You may find the following useful:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/review_of_the_sm57.htm
In the studio, I'd agree that the SM57 (or Beta 57) is a better choice because it's more versatile and because the singer tends to focus more closely to their position, proximity to the mic, etc., whereas for stage use, I always used SM58s (and Beta 58s) for vocals during my live performance/audio engineering days. Regardless, I still say that you'd be better off with a cheap condenser (and a decent preamp) than you would be with a 57/58 for recording the vocal styles that you posted. |
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| kitphillips |
Lolo beat me to the punch. SM58 is OK, but a Beta 58 is better. They also have the advantage of being able to be used live very easily, and bing equally good in an untreated room as a treated room. If your acoustics are rubbish, you should definately go a dynamic.
A lot of people say its better to get a decent dynamic rather than go a cheap condenser, and in an untreated room this applies even more so. Condensers are good, but you pay for it.
IN the dynamic department, generally you'd use a beta 57 if your recording female vocals, a beta 58 for male. but you need to test them out since thats a real generalisation.
It'd also be worth looking into the telefunken m80 (I think thats the number) which is a very high quality dynamic. The AKG C5 (I think) is also apparently being touted as the new 58 so have a look there too. SM 58 will get the job done and are reliable. They'll get you a perfectly releasable result. But they are really old and improvements have been made since, hence why I recomend the telefunken or the C5, Betas are a bit cheaper, but the others are probably better.
It really depends on your voice though. And you need good preamp, the one that comes in your soundcard probably ISN'T good enough. Have a look over at gearslutz.com, they have a lot of good info about this sort of thing. |
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| Lana |
I did read from somewhere that the condenser mics aren't that good for home "studio" use since they are very sensitive and so the room noise and stuff will also be recorded... And my "studio" isn't that silent :confused:
Going to record mainly male vocals (pretty deep voice I think).
And recording place is my room (so the acoustics aren't that good and there is always some background noise).... |
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