Shure Beta 52A user reviews ( 10/10) - 9 user reviews

• 07/18/11

  Kierkes's review "Thump!"

  Characteristics

  The Shure Beta 52A is a dynamic microphone specifically tailored for use on the bass drum. The very shape of the microphone makes that pretty obvious. The Shure Beta 52A has that special low end extension in the frequency response, bringing it from the standard and acceptable 20-20,000 Hz to an incrementally more impressive 10-20,000 Hz. While humans can't exactly hear down that low, this extended response does make the microphone sound much better for this application, and you can hear the low end not directly because of the low end extension, but because of the way the frequency curve approaches that bottom.
  
  
  
  Couple this with a staggeringly impressive SPL rating at 174 dB and a nice little presence boost in the midrange, and you are in for a microphone with some, pardon the pun, kick.
  
  
  
  Shure includes a rather sorry pouch with the microphone that doesn't really do much, but it's there.
  
  
  
  The microphone, to go back for a second, is structurally speaking, quite a piece of work. I'm always impressed with how solid all of the Shure microphones feel.

  Overall Opinion

  The Shure Beta 52 is specialized for the kick, and it does not disappoint in this regard. In truth, most of the kick drum microphones are quite acceptable and on par with each other, and being more of a vocalist, I was going to be impressed with any of them, considering the fact that I am used to having someone stick an SM57 on the kick and EQ it up later.
  
  
  
  Having friends who mic up bands can make me feel just a little bit inadequate, because I don't have access to the same specialist equipment that they do, and I'm not exactly going to feel so great about micing up kick drums anymore. Thank goodness it is not a regular occurrence for me.
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• 11/18/09

  songboy's review

  Characteristics

  This is microphone is ideal for studio use as well as live use.  I see this mic in studios and on stage almost everywhere I look. 
  
  This is a Dynamic mic with a modified supercardioid pattern that is designed for use with Kick Drums and other Bass Instruments.

  Overall Opinion

  What I like most about this mic is its high quality sound.  It captures the Kick drum excellently.  Every recording I have made with drums I have reached for this mic.  It provides a nice thumpy warm sound while rejecting almost all other noise (sometimes the snare can get through).  I also love to use it on my bass amps.  It brings the same warmth and clarity on those as well.  It also is one solid (and heavy) mic.  I definitely feel I could drop this thing from up high and have no problems with it (not going to do that though).  I am a big fan of Shure.  All there products I own work flawlessly and should anything happen, they have an excellent return policy, even for highly damaged/out of warranty items.  Check it out on there website.  What I don't like about this mic is the same thing I don't like about all of my Shure mics.  The "protective" bag they ship it with is really nothing more than a super thin leather-like material pouch.  I don't understand why they would send out such awesome mics without a strong case to ensure the safety of the mic over the years.  Even cheap mics like behringer's come with hard plastic cases. 
  
  Other than that one flaw that is not really related to the MIc, this is an excellent mic and one of the the most popular Kick mics on the market. 
  
  I paid $150 brand new for this mic.  I am very happy with that price and would have paid a little more if I had too to get this classic sounding, solid piece of equipment. 
  
  The sound Quality is superb and very precise.  While in a very nice studio doing some recording, we were juggling between the 52a and a Audix D6.  After a few comparisons, we went with the 52a.  It seemed to have more response and clarity, not buy a huge amount, but enough to decide which to use. 
  
  If anything ever happened to this mic, I would have to get another one, no if's and's or but's. 
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• 02/03/09

  moosers's review

  Characteristics

  The Shure Beta 52A is a dynamic microphone used in both the recording studio and live setting. I have used it mostly in the recording studio, but have seen it used on a stage as well. It is an effective microphone in both situations in my opinion. The Beta 52A is one of the industry standard microphones use for kick drum. It is the perfect shape for sticking inside of or in front of a kick drum. It has a mount that makes it easy to swivel and place inside of the kick drum. While it is primarily known and marketed as a kick drum mic, it has a number of different uses beyond the kick drum.

  Overall Opinion

  I've been using the Beta 52A for about three or four years. When I was deciding what type of kick drum microphone to buy I decided to buy both a 52A and an AKG D112 and shoot them out to see which I liked better for the sound I was trying to achieve. In the end I end up keeping the D112 and selling the 52A, but this does not mean the 52A isn't a good mic. I liked both of them, but I felt the D112 had a better sound for recording kick drum, while I liked the 52A better for micing and bass drum cabinet. I record more kick drums than I do bass cabinets (as I usually record bass direct) so I decided to keep the D112. They are around the same price, which is reasonable, so I made by decision based on what I needed more for my needs. This being said, the Beta 52A sounds great on both a kick drum and a bass cabinet and is a great all around microphone for picking up things with a real low end. If you are looking for a bass guitar amp mic or a kick drum mic I would encourage you to check out both this mic and the AKG D112.
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• 04/29/10

  wattstones's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Perfect for kick drum!
  
  to recommend!

  Overall Opinion

  I would do without hesitation that choice
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• 01/23/09

  tico31's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Micro Bass drum bass drum and nothing but!

  Overall Opinion

  Bought recently, I find it sturdy and heavy. His point of view, this is what I expected, clean, clear and send.
  
  Good quality / price ratio.
  
  I recommend it.

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• 05/02/07

  noisette56's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  It's a microphone that I use mainly for registering, it is super dynamic.

  Overall Opinion

  For a player of rock, the mic is perfect because I had a prodipe before, but now there's no picture the sound of your bass drum is faithfully reproduced with nice bass and a good offense, I strongly recommend for any player who wants a sound "fit in".

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• 02/28/05

  JoneSmice's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Supercardiode dynamic microphone for kick drum mainly bass amps too ...
  
  
  
  Rponse in frquence: 20 Hz to 10 kHz
  
  Output voltage: 0.6 mV / Pa
  
  Impdance nominal 150 Ohms (45 tural)
  
  Maximum sound pressure: 174dB 000Hz 1

  Overall Opinion

  Construction is mtal, the whole is robust and trs was a pleasure ...
  
  
  
  In sound is the slap: pchu equilibrated but (it is enjoyable even without equalization). Excellent prsence ...
  
  
  
  It is not the king of versatility (trs rponse typical curve) but it's not a pity:
  
  A bump in the 6 kHz to hear the GC in the mix ', although Submitted pchue well.
  
  
  
  This is a microphone for those who want a sound quite "fit in it" (rock, metal ,...) and a microphone is not the taste of a micro prfreront jazzeux that non-equals (RE20 ,...)
  
  It is Designed to get some bass drum sound and it is very well Designed to ...
  
  Who wants a versatile mic, I know if I would recommend ...
  
  
  
  on the other hand, to sound the death that kills (trash-metal-death-brutal-core-. ..) coupled a PZM and compression (RULES attack to 15ms), although rgl e. .. Prparez you, was going to hurt!
  
  
  
  SHURE prconise also for the low: uh yeah, but ... Ho hum!
  
  You will get the ch *** qualisation able to bring out the bass ***!
  
  
  
  on the other hand, there is a little big for big events and some will not accept it (that is what is being said, I never facing this problem t)
  
  
  
  Compared to the Sennheiser E602, there's really no contest ...
  
  
  
  Compares the AKG D112, let's say I prfre the Beta 52 for its color, its broader and less aggressive.
  
  I do not like the color too AKG, but it's personal.
  
  
  
  Compar a PZM is not the same thing ... The PZM is a micro-up (when it is used in a bass drum) for the attacks of thunder.

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• 07/17/03

  Long_shaded_eyes's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Dynamic microphone for bass drum and other instruments serious.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for a short time.
  
  It is impressive with respect to all those I try (AKG & co ...): the sound is simply superb, balanced (for a GC I hear), this hot ...... nickel. Both the kick and the bass ... really a super micro balanced and great for the bass drum.
  
  It is quite expensive, but I recommend it.

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• 12/12/02

  Cpierredon's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Bass drum dynamic microphone

  Overall Opinion

  I use micro to 5 years.
  
  one mic drum must have 2 CHARACTERISTICS:
  
  must ENCISS high pressure (140 dB or more)
  
  must dscendre in the lower
  
  I tried a lot, but the beta 52 sduit me. I n'prouve not need a qualiser death as a different microphone. Just a little low or a little less depending on the sound I want to give. It's a pretty expensive for a micro dynamic but makes life easier for me. I recommend it to all sound engineers, drummers that want to have a bass drum sound that sounds. Of course, we also need the bass drum is not RULES to sound like a potato, but not the micro can not do anything.
  
  
  
  short, for me the beta 52 is the best.

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