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johnrae « An all time classic at a great price! »
Published on 05/13/12 at 21:04The Shure SM57 is a directional cardiod dynamic microphone. It is an all around microphone, and every studio you ever visit will have one, if not twelve of these. It has been a studio staple since it's introduction. It's been used by US presidents to deliver speeches for nearly thirty years. This microphone is applicable to everything from live sound, to miking drums, to screaming vocals. The '57 can take a lot of punishment, but I would recommend it for the studio, due to it's short, grill design, which is perfect for studio use. It may not sound as good as a Condenser mic, but it's far more useful, and cheaper. Many classic recordings have been made with these. It's a dependable microphone, with a classic sound at a great price.
OVERALL OPINION
The greatest thing about this mic is it's versatility. You can use it for almost anything, with an acceptable sound. It has a good frequency response, and getting close gives it a small boost in the low end that can be used to your advantage in many situations. I love the way this mic sounds, as it is incredibly dependable and usable in practically any situation you can imagine. If you have the cash, pick up one of these, or 4. These are an industry staple for a reason, and the backbone of many great albums. These can take a lot of sonic punishment, but still inflect a quiet acoustic performance in a smaller setting. The consistency in sound is astonishing. These mics are a PERFECT first mic. The only drawback is that it does not operate on phantom power, and you must crank your preamp, which in cheaper equipment could result in some hum. However, this mic is worth every penny, and you'll always want to have one around.
OVERALL OPINION
The greatest thing about this mic is it's versatility. You can use it for almost anything, with an acceptable sound. It has a good frequency response, and getting close gives it a small boost in the low end that can be used to your advantage in many situations. I love the way this mic sounds, as it is incredibly dependable and usable in practically any situation you can imagine. If you have the cash, pick up one of these, or 4. These are an industry staple for a reason, and the backbone of many great albums. These can take a lot of sonic punishment, but still inflect a quiet acoustic performance in a smaller setting. The consistency in sound is astonishing. These mics are a PERFECT first mic. The only drawback is that it does not operate on phantom power, and you must crank your preamp, which in cheaper equipment could result in some hum. However, this mic is worth every penny, and you'll always want to have one around.