Newbie......sm58 or an sm57?

[Kazawa Atoll]

Hey there. I', just starting to get my home recording gear set-up (I've already got a Tascam four-track and condensor), and my birthday is coming up. I was wondering if I shouls ask for a 58 or a 57. I do a lot of simple acoustic an vocal stuff, but sometimes I incorporate full bands. Anyways, which one should I buy if I'm going to use it primarily for vocals and the occasional acoustic guitar or amp cab?

Thanks,
Ben

[llmonty]

well if we are talking 1 mic, i would go with a 58. you can always take the screen off if you want more of a 57 sound. if you get into full band stuff, ultimately you will need at least another mic (at the least - if it was that easy we wouldn't need these boards!).

[Kazawa Atoll]

thanks. I'm actually borrowing a 58 from my friend right now and i love it, but i hadn't tried a 57. when I said full band, I mean that i played all the instruments myself, but that it had all the instruments. I've figured out how to make it sound pretty good with the 58 and a mxl 2001.

Anyways, thanks again for the help.

[earth tones]

But the 57 is "classic", man. Don't you want classic??? Ha

[Mark Alan Miller]

'57 in my book.
Even with the screen off, the '58 sounds pokey in the mids to me, which limits its usefulness, IMO.

(I subscribe to the belief that the '57 is a swiss-army-knife of mics, like many do.)

[SKEETER]

I prefer Behringer XM 8500 mics to either the 57 or 58. If you are recording acoustic, I would try to find a cheaper condensor if you are going to record acoustic guitars, dynamic mics really don't do that good a job on acoustic guitars.

[joelpatterson]

I went into my local Guitar Center thinking I wanted a 58 and came out instead with a Sennheiser e835. The top end was much... smoother? Swan-like? Gracious? Don't know how to describe it... 58 was just so... shrizzly, whatever that's supposed to mean.

Just my impressions.

[Mark Alan Miller]

I would try to find a cheaper condensor if you are going to record acoustic guitars, dynamic mics really don't do that good a job on acoustic guitars.

Sometimes that's true...

[vvv]

... 58 was just so... shrizzly, whatever that's supposed to mean.

I don't know but I do, yeah, like, "shrizzly", mang.

[s2]

The 57 and 58 actually use the same capsule. Pretty much the only difference is the windscreen, which does affect the frequency range a bit.

[fremitus]

if you can get them to spring for a beta57a then you're talking a decent all-around mic. tighter pattern, much better lows and none of that shrizzly stuff i've heard so much about...

my two cents...

dix

[markee2004]

SM57
http://www.electrical.com/item.php?page ... ures/1.jpg

SM58
http://www.electrical.com/item.php?page ... es/141.jpg

I agree pretty much whole heartedly with these reviews. (and no it's not just because Mr Albini says so). I think Beyer's a pretty trust worthy company for cheap dynamic mic's.

[Kazawa Atoll]

Thanks for all the input, guys. My next question is, with th type of music I play (acoustic/vocal/occasional piano, etc.), and considering the fact that the only mic I actually own is an MXL 2001, what would be the logical next purchase in terms of a new microphone?

Thanks again,
Ben

[Meriphew]

IMO you can't go wrong with either ( 57 or 58 ). They're both mics that you'll prolly still be using 20 years from now.

[Zeppelin4Life]

I say 57. you can use a 57 on guitar and vocals. you use a 58 on vocals but I cant see it on guitar. but the SM57 has been used on like kick drums, so what the hell do I know



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