It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:45 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 10:13 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 5:28 pm
Posts: 851
Location: So far out there, it's unbelievable!
After years of having Audacity on my computer I finally learned how to record on it. (Doh!) Now I am looking for a not too expensive mic to record acoustic, electric and voice. It's just for fun.

And I should add, the connection to my computer is just a 1/8 headphone jack.

Any suggestions?

Peace,
Gridlok


Last edited by gridlok on Tue Oct 20, 2015 1:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 11:32 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:37 am
Posts: 4099
Location: New York
I'll get this out of the way right off the bat.... :lol:
Image
There are, of course, other options (maybe cheaper). But the fact remains, you just can't go wrong with a Shure SM57.

_________________
Please subscribe to my Image Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/user/b7567


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 5:30 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:18 pm
Posts: 463
Location: Tucson
can't really go wrong with either of the Shures, but I went with the Sennheiser e385. Great mic for the same price! Here's a quick review: https://bowermanmusic.wordpress.com/201 ... view-e385/, but if you search around, you will find many Shure users who either flat out prefer the Sennheiser or find it better for certain things. With a mic like this, you have to buy an XLR cable. You can get one with a 1/8" plug on the other end. Have fun!

_________________
https://markhahnguitar.wordpress.com/
https://markhahn.bandcamp.com/releases


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 6:17 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
Posts: 25353
Location: Witness Protection Program
strings10927 wrote:
I'll get this out of the way right off the bat.... :lol:
Image
There are, of course, other options (maybe cheaper). But the fact remains, you just can't go wrong with a Shure SM57.


Agreed - you can probably use a breakout box to use with 1/8" if no
adapters are already available. Put a reducer to 1/8" on something like
this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41u19X6Y5tL.jpg

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 12:03 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 am
Posts: 12976
Location: Canada
+1 on the Shure SM57; but, you might want to compare it with the Beta 57 version. They are similar, but the newer Beta 57 appears to be more vocal friendly while the standard SM57 has proven itself with instrument miking.

Here is Shure's take:
http://shure.custhelp.com/app/answers/d ... .-beta-57a

I use the Beta for that reason YMMV. :wink:

_________________
Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:02 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
Fender Strat Brat wrote:
+1 on the Shure SM57; but, you might want to compare it with the Beta 57 version. They are similar, but the newer Beta 57 appears to be more vocal friendly while the standard SM57 has proven itself with instrument miking.

For more vocal friendly, I'd say go with the 58, and just remove the grille when using it for miking guitar or bass.

That said, I use a Blue Spark for miking guitar amps. It needs phantom power, but it has a nice button with a high-pass filter which is nice to switch between vocal and instrument, and comes with a good shock mount, so I can stand it on a small tripod in front of the amp instead of dangling it.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 11:24 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 am
Posts: 12976
Location: Canada
As arthl mentioned SM58 is truly a popular vocal mike. if not the most popular in terms of sales within its price range, etc. Other manufacturers have gained ground today, however. Still, the Shure line has its following, and the mics can hold their own. Arthl's choices are good, and he points out the usage of using two microphones. One for vocal and a different mike suited for the guitar. This is commonly a better way to optimize the end result. However, sometimes that is not desired or possible.

Amongst the Rolls Royce vocal microphones, lesser vocal microphones of quality, and instrument specific mics, the SM57 can be found in most major studios mainly for instruments. SM58s are used in studios, but on stage they flourish, and of the two here, my experience is that you are more likely to see more SM57s than SM58s in professional studios for flexibility. YMMV.

I use different mikes for vocals (I have yet to purchase a SM58 even though I acknowledge their popularity). The SM Beta57a was my choice because it is very versatile. It can not only be used for vocals and instruments, but like the SM57, it makes an excellent and popular snare microphone. If vocal is your major use I would, amongst the Shures, choose the SM58 or its Beta version; however, if instruments are your major use, perhaps the SM57 or the Beta57a. I sometimes use the Beta57a for my own vocals, but, generally I use other more expensive dedicated vocal microphones with the Beta57a primarily for miking the guitar (amp) or other sounds.

The SM57 and SM58 are more alike than the Beta models which are altogether different and improved from their earlier versions. Therefore, my choice for the SM Beta57a simply was for others to sometimes use as an additional vocal mike (said to be improved over the SM57) while I have, with the Beta57a, the advantage of having a good amp microphone (more geared for this than the SM58s, but borrowing the original SM57 characteristics somewhat), and I have a great snare mike for my drums when I choose not to use dedicated mikes. The SM57 would do the same job for me in a similar fashion.

The bottom line is IMHO to listen and to make an educated decision based on your equipment, your surroundings, your voice, your needs, and your ears. There is no right or wrong, just different. Popularity can be based on cost, promotional hype, emulation, or a host of other things. Some mikes have switches, some have eq filters, some can change patterns, some prevent feedback, some are noisier than others (SM Betas are quieter than the earlier SMs for example), and so on. Sometimes there are trade-offs where a feature is at the expense of another.

Some miking is better and some is worse. The microphone is one thing, but how and where it is used is often overlooked. A lot of great music was made with inferior mikes. Some old mikes outshine today's, and vice versa. Phil Spector, Enoch Light, Esquival, and many others made great music by avoiding the normal practices while purists keep it simple with minimal basic miking.

I say go for it. Whatever your choice today it may change later. There are a lot of great microphones at reasonable prices today. Those mentioned so far are only a few good ones. You do not have to break the bank. Just remember that you are likely to have them for some time and not all are durable or easily repaired.

Let us know how you made out, gridlok. :D

_________________
Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 12:13 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 5:28 pm
Posts: 851
Location: So far out there, it's unbelievable!
Wow! Thanks for all the info guys. Like I said, it's just for getting the sounds into my PC. I only have a cheap,integrated sound card anyhow so not sure what sort of quality I can get out of it.

The thing is, I tried acoustic and voice (with the 25 cent mic that came with some computer 10 years ago), into Audacity and it worked! I can see the tracks and manipulate them and really have some fun. So much easier than the 4 track reel to reel I used 30 years ago!

Mike I really like your stuff. Maybe you're my inspiration! :)

Guess I have to go shopping!

Peace
Gridlok


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 11:35 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:12 pm
Posts: 327
Location: Canada
You're cheapest and easiest option would just be to pick up a USB mic. Not great quality, but will get better results than what you used for your test.
That being said, if you want to get better quality, I would definitely suggest grabbing an audio interface and mic. As everyone else has suggest, the SM57 would be a great option, but there are other great mics out there as well. Personally, I'd probably go with a condenser microphone in your situation, since you said you'd like to record vocals as well. Though the SM57 is capable of recording vocals, the results aren't always the best. It takes a decent amount of force to move the diaphragm in a dynamic microphone, so unless you're singing at a pretty good volume, you might lose some frequency content. A cheaper condenser mic that I like is the Blue Spark (as arth1 said). Great budget condenser mic! It will set you back more than the SM57 though.
Now all of this is completely based on personal experience and opinions, in no way does that mean that everyone will agree. That being said, I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents. I have both the SM57 and the Blue Spark, if I could only keep one, I'd keep the Blue.

Good luck on your search!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 7:56 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
Fender Strat Brat wrote:
The SM57 and SM58 are more alike than the Beta models which are altogether different and improved from their earlier versions.

I think the reasons why the SM57/SM58 (really the same mic with a different housing) have such an enduring popularity is based on:

- They're solid. I've seen them dropped repeatedly, had the cable stumbled over, brought in from an ice cold car (now that's a new take on "condenser mic") and they just keep on working.
- If you need a replacement (a steamroller fell on it?), the local music store is likely to have one.
- You don't have to worry about phantom power.
- They don't pick up a lot of ambient noise.
- Any tech will likely be familiar with them, and know how much to push the gain or how to best equalize them.

It's much like the Sennheiser HD-414 with yellow pads you found in every studio until recently - they just do their job, are well near indestructible, and affordable.

That there are choices that have better sound quality is true, but the sound quality is more than good enough for most uses, and they take a lot of worry out of the equation.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:35 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:33 pm
Posts: 811
I agree with the assertion that SM57 and SM58 mics are just about the best-bang-for-the-buck microphones on the market, for sound quality, price and durability. I have owned (and used...and continue to use) both for a couple of decades, and have yet to be dissatisfied*.

(*to my ears, IMHO, YMMV, yadda yadda yadda)

I was completely happy with my old SM58 for vocals and SM57 for amp mic-ing and occasional vocals...

I also used the SM58 as a room mic for recording (put it high on a mic stand about ten feet away from the guitar amp, blend it into the recording to add further dimension and richness to the mix, again, *).

However...

I had the opportunity to jam/perform with a guy who used the Beta 58 exclusively for vocals...and it was like my old SM58 on steroids. Fatter, richer, fuller and dimension-ier. (Yes, that's a word...in my personal lexicon).

I thought it could be the age of my old 58 (20 years plus), or perhaps the 1000 times it had been dropped, spit into, stored in improper temperatures, or generally used and abused that made the difference, so I went to Guitar Center with my personal mic and A/B/C'd it with a new SM58 and a Beta 58.

The good news?
My SM58 performed as well as a new SM58 (chalk up one point to good engineering and good manufacturing).

However, the Beta58 sounded better. (*)

I wasn't in the market for another microphone at that time, but later, when I was, I wanted the looks/Vibe of a SM55...a vintage-looking "Elvis" mic with SM58 innards.

I found out about the Shure Super 55, which is a SM55 without the switch and possessing Beta 58 innards...

Again, I A/B/C'd the SM58 I owned to the SM55 and the Super 55...the Super 55 won, and that's the one I bought.

So, I whole-heartedly recommend the SM57 and SM58...but try the Beta versions of those mics, too.

You might be surprised.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!
Blues, Rock and Outlaw Country
Texas Roadhouse Music at It's Finest...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 9:56 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 5:28 pm
Posts: 851
Location: So far out there, it's unbelievable!
Oh well then!
Hard to go wrong with dimension-ier! :lol:


Peace
Gridlok 8)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 3:02 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
Posts: 1598
As usual, I'm gonna be the odd guy out here. Before sinkin' your hard earned money into a Shure SM57/58, look at the other brands FIRST. While the 57/58's are decent mics, the fact of the matter is that they're OUTDATED...for the same money today, you can do A LOT better. Think of those Shure mics as the "working man's Chevy"...they run decent and they're reliable, however now a days, you can get a Cadilac for the same money. Personally I'm a big fan of the Sennheiser e835's...if you're gonna buy a mic based on "a name", then Sennheiser is certainly the BETTER way to go. The e835's are the same price as an SM58, just as solid, but they're a much warmer and generally a hotter mic with better feedback rejection...just a better microphone in every way. The Audix OM's are very decent as well, again for around the same price as you'd pay for a Shure.

One of the problems is that because those specific models of Shure mics have such a loyal following, many people recommend them without a second thought or without any real comparison of other brands...that's what they use, so in many cases, they don't even know that there are better brands/models available. Please understand that I have well over 20 various mics in my foot locker, including brands like Audio Technica, Shure, Sennheiser, CAD and MANY others, so I do have a bit of first hand experience with mics...despite what others may try and claim, those SM57/58 mics are NOT the "best bang for the buck"....again they're decent, but for the same money, again you can do better.

Now as far as recording on a computer thru your stock sound card goes, while it can depend greatly on the sound chip itself, I suspect that with a bit of practice you may be quite pleased with the results you can get. Sadly, there's a lot of techies out there who seem to belive that recording at frequencies only a dog can hear, somehow provides an advantage. The point they always seem to miss however is that it's also quite relative.....after all, generations of us grew up listening to that old scratchy stuff they call vinyl! LOL!!! Generally speaking, even a basic built in PC sound card will produce better results...FAR better results than you ever heard in the days of vinyl. While I do typically use either my Tascam or M-Audio interfaces today...if not both (mainly due to the number of inputs), I've actually done some very decent recordings with nothing more than a couple of mics plugged into a little Behringer mixer, plugged straight into the back of the computer.

-IF- you do try and plug the mic directly into the sound card, MAKE SURE you get a Low Z to High Z impedance matcher...you can usually find them for under $15. That said, if you watch Craigslist and such, you can usually find a small, basic mixer...Behringer, Yamaha, etc...for around or under $50. As long as it has Low Z mic inputs, this is usually a better way to go and then you can simply run the outputs to your sound card.

Just my own opinions as always...good luck!

Alrighty


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 4:27 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
lomitus wrote:
While the 57/58's are decent mics, the fact of the matter is that they're OUTDATED...for the same money today, you can do A LOT better.

The same can be said for Telecasters and Stratocasters too.

Guitars, amps, microphones - they're tools.
If you look in my other tool chest, you won't find fancy self-tightening wrenches, carbon fiber hammers and battery powered levers with LCD displays. You find stuff that do the job well enough and that I can rely on. Five years down the road. Or ten. They're tools. I don't need to worry about them. Sure, other fancy stuff can go on top of that to make life more pleasant, but when push comes to shove, I trust the hammer I can make a new shaft for, the pencil that doesn't dry out, and the Telecaster that might not have a built-in KAOSS pad and midi, but which reliably produces sound.
And while I like other mics that I have, and they produce better sound than my Shures, it's not something I will ever place all my faith in. The old workhorses work, and work well enough. Chances are that Shure SM57/58s were good enough for a substantial portion of the albums you love and concerts you went to. It doesn't have to be perfect. It has to be good enough.
I for one won't criticize the choice of far better musicians than me, and claim that their albums would have been better with a better sounding mic. Good enough. By far.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Suggestions for Microphone?
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 4:38 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
Posts: 25353
Location: Witness Protection Program
Ah, just get one of these and be done with it:

http://www.wirerealm.com/guides/top-10- ... ing-vocals

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: