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Microphone Questions

Quap

Quap

Oct 14, 2008
302
193
44
Lubbock, Texas
#1
I've been picking my buddy's brain for home studio things, he recorded his own album at home so I consider him knowledgeable, and he said I need a condenser microphone.

I'd like to record vocals and occasionally my acoustic guitar or mic a cab. Is a higher end condenser needed? Can a Shure 57 or 58 do the job I need?

I am running a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 through a MacBook with Garageband.
 
#2
Quap said:
I've been picking my buddy's brain for home studio things, he recorded his own album at home so I consider him knowledgeable, and he said I need a condenser microphone.

I'd like to record vocals and occasionally my acoustic guitar or mic a cab. Is a higher end condenser needed? Can a Shure 57 or 58 do the job I need?

I am running a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 through a MacBook with Garageband.
Click to expand...
57 and 58 are the same mic. (One has a pop filter for vox.....)
And yes, they will work awesome.

My 2 cents.
 
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#6
silky smoove said:
It's not a pop filter, it's called a head basket. Otherwise yes, they have the same body and mic capsule.

@Quap, you do not need a condenser, high end or otherwise, but it's nice to have different flavors of microphone.
Click to expand...
Well over here in good ole Quebec, the slang for the head basket is pop filter.
And yes I worked a few years for a pro sound reinforcement company. Hated every second of it to.

:)
 
#7
It can do the job & will be a lot more durable, idiot proof, & less expensive than most condensers, but a C12, 414, or U87 (or knock off equivalent) would be a bit more upscale in the sounds.

It's been a good 20 years since I was doing it regularly, but in the studio we just about never used an SM-57/8 as the sole mic for vocals or acoustics when a good condenser was available unless you were purposefully going for a more lofi character to them. They were mostly used for guitar cabs & snares.

They're still a good workhorse of a mic to have though IMO, & should get you usable sounds on most sources.
 
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#10
A dynamic mic can do it.
But Some Condenser come with multi-pattern switches which can be very advantages.
Omni pattern is actually very good for many acoustic instruments, or to mic a cab from a few feet back where you can pick up multiple drivers.
Figure 8 switch along with a cardioid mic for MS processing. Although Studio One 5 claims they can turn any stereo channel to MS I haven't tried it yet.
And Cardiod switch for when you need it.

Three mics in one.
 
#11
Acoustic guitar sounds will benefit hugely from large diaphragm condenser mic positioned properly. There are many today in the undsr $200 range that are quite good. Audio Technica and SE Electronics might be good companies to look at.

But if you don't have a good sounding room to record in, i'd stick with the 57/58 and do some proper acoustical treatment before investing in mics.
 
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#13
SidNitzerglobin said:
It's been a good 20 years since I was doing it regularly, but in the studio we just about never used an SM-57/8 as the sole mic for vocals or acoustics when a good condenser was available unless you were purposefully going for a more lofi character to them. They were mostly used for guitar cabs & snares.
Click to expand...

I thought this was well put. For stage use a dynamic mic is more rugged and the Shure 57/58 are really good mics with a long reputation for good sound and durability.

In a studio setting, if there's a condenser available I'd give the edge to it for sound quality and sensitivity.

I personally have a 60's Shure 55S converted to a Super 55 with an updated cartridge. Just finished updating it, including new red foam.

Shure front-1.jpg Shure side-1.jpg
 
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#17
If you take time, and use proper mic placement, with the Shure 57 or 58 you can achieve just as high a quality recording as you can with a very expensive condenser, that you don’t know how to properly use. Good recordings come more from making sure you have proper distance of the mic to a reflecting surface, making sure you have set up the mic at the proper spot on the speaker (or voice/instrument), and more from making sure it is recorded at the proper level - than they do expensive gear. Move the mic around on the speaker. Move it around the room. Make sure you don’t have too much or too little echo from room acoustics. LISTEN to the results recorded at many different angles. That will tell you what sounds good to you, and help you find the sound your looking for. ALWAYS get a good sound to start with before you add anything else.
Too many people buy a lot of expensive gear (they don’t know how to use), and use far too many plug-ins and effects, to try and make up for bad recording techniques.
After trying this, you will realize what new gear you need, if any.
 
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#18
I do scratch vocals with a 57. It isn't perfect, but can work with the right EQ. My vocals need to cut, so the 57's sound works okay as a starting point - lots of mids and a presence bump. I re-record them later with a condenser, but the 57 would be useable, if I had no other option. The SM7, which has a similar midrange sound, has been used on a lot of recordings by major artists and engineers.

On acoustic, a condenser (small or large diaphragm) or ribbon will get you a much more "professional" sound. The honk of the 57 makes most acoustics sound a bit ugly, and masks articulation. Of course, many acoustics you hear are recorded with two mics, with each aimed at a different part of the guitar. Whatever the case, if you are looking for a "hi-fi" acoustic sound, a 57/8 will need a lot of EQ, which can kill the sound.

One thing with dynamics like the 57 is to play with proximity (too close really muddies up the sound), and get a good pop filter. Also, when EQing, it is often better to cut offending frequencies rather than boosting, and use makeup gain to March the level - unless you have a really "musical" EQ, like a Pultec.
 
#20
Paulabass said:
Yes, own any large diaphragm condenser mic over about $100. A 57/8 is great for guitar amp. Don't use a 58 for vocals- they haven't been state of the art since 1966.
Click to expand...

The SM58 is the end-all be-all vocal mic where I live. I have 4 of them but only as guitar amp mics and one of the guys in my band, insists that the 58 is the best vocal mic ever made. I also have a bunch of Sennheiser e835's and we use them as singing mics for everybody else in the band. I know when I set up mic trim on the PA that it takes more to get the 58 up to level than the e835.

To get back on topic, I've found that I prefer condensers as overhead drum mics. The cymbals just sound more alive versus using a regular mic. I have a pair of very old Realistic (Shure) condensers that are powered by a single AA battery, that work great. I'm sure that a newer condenser would be an improvement but I just haven't gotten around to getting new mics yet.
 
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