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Published on 09/30/11 at 10:42
The Shure KSM44 is Shure's highest offering in the condenser microphone territory. It has been and always will be compared to its cheaper cousin, the KSM32, but keep in mind. The Shure KSM32 and the Shure KSM44 are not the same microphone. It may appear to be that way with the KSM44 looking exactly like the KSM32 and coming in exactly the same package, with the only difference being the switchable polar patterns on the front of the microphone, but do not be fooled: they are very different microphone.
The KSM44 has a typical frequency response from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and Shure is very, very eager to talk about how little the microphone distorts. It is a very flat microphone. The frequency plot is a proverbial pancake. The microphone also has a very different self noise figure than the KSM32; while the single pattern KSM32 has a self noise of 13 dB, the KSM44's self noise is a whoppingly tiny 4 dB. This may have something to do with how much more sensitive the KSM44 is compared to the KSM32. The 32 can handle SPLs up to 154, but this microphone, the 44, can only reach 131.
Granted, the microphone comes in the same package as the 32, although this one's case is a tad bit nicer. It includes a shockmount and a pouch, as well as the case and the microphone itself.
OVERALL OPINION
The Shure KSM44 is a very uncolored microphone. It faithfully reproduces whatever you put in front of it, but keep in mind, this is not always the most desirable thing in a recording. It will function well as a workhorse microphone, especially with its patterns and its versatility. However, it is certainly not as sweet or flattering as the 32. This wasn't the goal of Shure when they were designing the 44, and in respect to their original goal, they succeeded. Just don't buy a 44 thinking you have a multi-pattern 32.
The KSM44 has a typical frequency response from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and Shure is very, very eager to talk about how little the microphone distorts. It is a very flat microphone. The frequency plot is a proverbial pancake. The microphone also has a very different self noise figure than the KSM32; while the single pattern KSM32 has a self noise of 13 dB, the KSM44's self noise is a whoppingly tiny 4 dB. This may have something to do with how much more sensitive the KSM44 is compared to the KSM32. The 32 can handle SPLs up to 154, but this microphone, the 44, can only reach 131.
Granted, the microphone comes in the same package as the 32, although this one's case is a tad bit nicer. It includes a shockmount and a pouch, as well as the case and the microphone itself.
OVERALL OPINION
The Shure KSM44 is a very uncolored microphone. It faithfully reproduces whatever you put in front of it, but keep in mind, this is not always the most desirable thing in a recording. It will function well as a workhorse microphone, especially with its patterns and its versatility. However, it is certainly not as sweet or flattering as the 32. This wasn't the goal of Shure when they were designing the 44, and in respect to their original goal, they succeeded. Just don't buy a 44 thinking you have a multi-pattern 32.