It's mostly just how close the capsule is to the speaker. The SM57 capsule is right at the tip of the microphone while the capsule on the SM7B is about 2 inches back. If they were spaced so the capsules were all the same distance they would sound much more similar. Although the fact that you can get closer with an SM57 is one of its main selling points.
I use an sm58 for studio vocals recording, because I can record with speakers and not headphones, for some singers this is helpful. I want to try the sm7b, but I don't have money :)
Mines over 10 years old and was my stage mic for years. It’s been swung around, smacked into things, dented and still works like a dream. They really are tanks.
I got my SM 58's (2) almost 30 years ago from a radio DJ. Both in excellent condition, $100 for the pair and they're still in great condition and performing well!
That's so amazing to hear. I don't think there is a better value for money bang for your buck store than that. Well done Thomas, and thank you for sharing. That's amazing!
I think the SM58 is the most versatile out of the three. Unscrew the dome cap off the the mic, you have an SM57. EQ to tame the mids and highs, you have an SM7b.
I'm just mostly surprised at how similar they all sound to each other. Sure, there are differences, but just wow. I expected the SM7b to be drastically different to the 57 and 58.
They sound mostly the same to me. The amp comparison is not really fair because the distance to the capsule is different for all three. When miking amps even a fraction on an inch makes a HUGE difference. I've heard they all use the same capsule, not sure its true but this video certainly makes me consider this as true.
When I lived in NC, me and one of my buds went into my studio and recorded some material using eight different mics ranging from dynamics to condensers to ribbons to tubes. Of course, the SM57 was among the mics we tested. What we proved to our own satisfaction was that with judicious use of EQ and "smoothing" (mostly using compression) we were able to make all of those mics sound virtually identical. It was an amazing experience which taught me a LOT about recording and cost versus performance ratios.
MeTuLHeD presumably your point being that it’s possible to us a cheaper mic, and get the same sound as a more expensive mic using post processing? That may well be true but it ignores a few things: 1. You need the reference of the other mic in the first place in order to emulate “it’s sound”. 2. That attitude assumes that it’s more beneficial to save the money up front and spend time tweaking in post to get the sound you are after, but more often it’s more economical/desirable to just capture the right sound in the first place and spend less time tweaking it afterwards.
frodev wrote: "MeTuLHeD presumably your point being that it’s possible to us a cheaper mic, and get the same sound as a more expensive mic using post processing?" Yes and no. My point was that an awful lot of mics are more similar than they are different in sound. If I can recreate the sound of a "world class tube mic" using an SM57 and a compressor, then anyone can. And I do feel that a lot of musicians allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. Speaking from many years experience running a commercial recording studio, I can tell you I have gotten many great sounding takes using nothing but a couple of low cost condensers and handful of SM-57's. Case in point. I went through a season of life in which I fell on hard times and had to sell off a ton of very expensive gear. I found myself in a small rental house recording music in the living room and kitchen. :D And I am being completely honest when I say that during that time, I recorded some of the best takes of my entire musical career using low cost mics and what was at the time the cheapest USB interface you could buy. But, not having all of my expensive toys made me get creative. These days, I have gear that is FAR better (and cheaper...ahhh the joys of capitalism) than the stuff I sold back in the 90's. But I do miss those times when I had to work in the rain and try to capture lightning in a bottle using just what I had available. Just saying all of this to encourage some struggling musician out there to buy (good) cheap gear, download some free plug-ins and GET RECORDING! :D
A couple of years ago when recording the final vocal tracks for a song I booked a studio with an expensive Neumann and a soundproof room and fantastic analog gear. Then I realized the demo sounded a lot better and it was recorded with a Shure SM57. Nowadays I always use it to record the final tracks. I know it must depend on my voice and also on how the studio environment may have impacted my performance, but for me the inexpensive Sm57 in a crappy room is always the top choice. Same goes for the SM7b, excellent mic, I'll probably try using that to track some songs in the future.
why not an sm58 wich chassis are the strongest for live or studio... a bit of eq in each model makes shure sound the same!!!...A condenser Newmann is another world but it doesn't you sing better...
I dumped an SM7b...just needed too much gain and the noise floor became apparent if not a huge factor in a mix. Fun to hand hold and yell like a maniac into it without clipping the shit out of though. The 57 is so versatile and rather cool live if you are a stand and deliver vocalist...If you move, 58. They are all gooood.
Krafty, no, I had a friend who told me about them. At the time (4 or 5 years ago) I was running it through a UA Twinfinity > FMR Audio PBC-6a compressor into an Apogee Duet FireWire. It sounded great except there was a noise floor you could really hear when soloed-more of a hiss than the noise you get from the room ambience you can get from a condenser. That stuff mostly gets masked out when mixing, but it irritated me a little considering the 57 is almost noiseless...maybe because the capsule gets so close and on the 7b it is set back a bit?
@@---pp7tq I still have a 57, and sometimes use it on vocals, but I have been using my aging Lauten Audio Horizon Tube Mic for most vocals. Temperamental, but sounds great if I can get it into its zone without getting too impatient. Mics are so finicky I think. Move one way it sounds great, spin around in a circle and like that...”he’s gone”. I feel the best way is to get into a good groove and stay there for days with what you have and rely more on your ears and musical creativity than maybe worrying too much about mic choices. I won’t name names, but there was a pretty annoying video recently about a U87 and how tube mics are so much more 3D. 🤣🤣🤣 Apparently, artistry and originality don’t count for a whole lot with production gear snobs.
@@christopherecatalano no bro its because the 57 is about 3 db more sensible than the SM7B... All of your problms would be solved with the cloudlifter... Having that said, You should try the AW81S on the 57 for vocals... it sounds basically like a SM7B a little brighter (which is the fix to the problem of people that say the SM7B sounds dark)
The 58 is the mic I use for my podcast. My wife ( my co-host) uses what turned out to be a fake 58. The fake actually sounds good. Its brighter the the genuine 58 which I find a little dark. Still I think the 58 is a great mic and I'll continue to use it. The 7B, to my ear, does not sound "300 dollars better" than the 58 and it requires a lot of boost. I am curious about the Rode Podmic but I already own too many mics. I'll put that on "hold." Thanks for your great reviews and your snarky sense of humor! BTW the 58 works great with the Rode Rodecaster PRO.
I agree with the presenter. Having used all 3 mics, I would say that the SM7B has a flatter response (without EQ) and is noticeably clearer or more detailed sounding. They're all good mics, though. The SM7B's low output can be addressed by incorporating a 48V signal booster such as the Cloud Lifter between the mic and the preamp. Can you make all 3 sound almost indistinguishable? Yes, if you manipulate gain and EQ settings you can bring all 3 mics into their shared range. But the SM7B will be able to deliver a degree of clarity and detail that is beyond the range of the other two. If that's what you need, then it is worth the extra cash. They all sound great on guitar cabs.
@x flare I have all 3 mics and sing on some of my tracks. The 57 sounds clearer than the 58 in a studio setting but you have to address the sibilance with it (de-essing).. where the 7b is less sibilant and more smooth in the top end .. it also has a warmer lower mids.
I am about to buy SM58 but then I got to know there's Beta SM58A... which is very similar but slight changes. But doesn't justify the 50-70$ extra price. Please advise which one should I buy. My purpose is getting a mic for LIVE singing and also recording my live performances
Agreed, but this could have something to do with the fact I have two SM57s I have been using for years and really love the sound they give. I'm sure the SM7b is good, too. Shure really knows their microphones and has for many years.
For an all-around workhorse, the 57 is UNBEATABLE for the money. It can record Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar cabs, and is a go-to mic for snares and toms. HOWEVER, for the extra money, you get an additional entire WORLD of usability in every aspect. The sm7b shines for vocals, guitar amps, acoustic guitars, any drum piece, drum room mics, bass cab mic'ing, auxiliary percussion, field recording, broadcast radio vocals, etc, etc, etc. The sm7b is the best mic you can get for under $1000. You get what you pay for.
After 25+ years of performing live with an SM57 for vocals ... I started to sing more lead with a band a few years back. I really wanted to up my game so I worked with a local sound engineer and auditioned several vocal mics. The winner? The Sennheiser e865! I know ... it's over twice as expensive as the Shure--which served me very well over the years ... but with something as critical as vocals in a live performance--go for the best you can afford. I have become so serious about the quality of the band that I was willing to pay up to $1000 for 'the right' mic. Fortunately ... didn't have to. The Sennheiser is amazing. It's a condenser mic. Great clarity. Warm & smooth low end. The pickup pattern rejects unwanted spill very nicely too. Man ... i should have done this years ago! Not knocking Shure at all. Just sayin.
Many years ago I would sing vocals in a church setting. Although I had a rock singing background I found the Sennheiser much more flattering for my voice. It had a much softer delivery imo. So I agree Stephen.
THANK YOU for yet another wonderful mic test! In my opinion - and I've owned all three - the SM7b has two variables that create an artificial difference between it and the SM57 and SM58. First, the capsule of the SM7b is a few inches away from the end of the mic. This may be one of the reasons its output is lower than the SM57/SM58. Second, there is no such thing as a presence "boost" in a passive dynamic microphone, such as the SM7b. Rather, ALL BUT THE "BOOSTED" FREQUENCY ARE CUT. This might also further explain (a) a lower signal level of the SM7b than the SM57/SM58 and (b) the "smoother flatter" response of the SM7b over the SM57/SM58. Bottom line, a fair comparison of all three mics would be to "not cut" the higher frequencies of the SM7b by setting it to "boost" so they're all the same electrically, then either removing the SM7b cage - OR - tape a ruler to the ends of the SM57/SM58 to mimic the distance from the SM7b capsule to the "end" of the mic. (Might want to remove the ball from the SM58 to further level the playing field.)
These 3 mics, are made for very specific applications. Proximity can also be adjusted by the mixing console you use. The SM57 & SM58 are identical capsules inside according to Shure's own information. The 57 is made for acoustic instruments, and the 58 is a vocal mic intended for stage use. The SM7b, is the favorite of radio stations, pod casters, and can be used for semi circle group settings. Many vocalists prefer this mic for its dynamic range, (i.e. anyone from bass to high soprano sounds great). And just because your voice, which tends to be high in pitch, sounds the same on all 3 mics, you will find they react vastly different to bass and baritone voices, even if only speaking. The baritone speaking voice is where the SM7b shines. Personally, I tend to use the AKG 697 for stage vocals, the d5, the 890 from AKG, and in the studio an Octava large condenser, and a Carvin tube mic. But, what do I know?
I personally think all are great for their own individual applications, but the best all-around is the SM7B. The 57 is great for micing amplifiers and speakers, the 58 for vocal, and the 7B for everything else. The 7B is also great for recording someone who moves around a bit more whilst they're singing, and stuff like that. I own one, and it's better for my vocals, as it isn't as effected by the proximity effect, and I move around a lot whilst singing. I use a 57 for my amp, and a 58 for my louder vocals. It depends on the application, but each has their own strong point. With a drumset, I use my 7Bs as overhead mics, a 57 as a snare mic, and a 58 as a talkback mic
This was the first time I watched one of your videos and I want to sat that this was an excellent demo. It was straight to the point, informative and very well done in terms of real world use. Great job!
Podcastage You’re most welcome. I’ve since watched about five more of your reviews, subscribed, dinged the bell and laughed heartily when you fell over during one review. Your sense of humor makes your channel unique and enjoyable.
I prefer sm7b for just vocals too - we have them at the radio station - but my sm57beta is my go to for everything at home, from guitar cabs & snares to vocals for pre-recorded shows. My ex has the sm58, and it even worked well on guitar cabs in addition to live vocal settings. These are really all work horse industry standards and every nerd should own at least one from the start.
🎼🎶 This Versus series Is always a great test And looks like people let you know What their thoughts are In the comments here below Though it wasn't hard to guess The SM7b will Shurely Be your best! 🎼🎶
Great mics. I used the SM58 for years as a singer. To me, it's the most useful, all around mic out there. I've never tried the SM7b, though, because of the cost. I'd like one! :-)
I wouldn't buy 4 of a similar mic unless you would take advantage of it for like, multi instrument stereo recording. I think two sm67s would be more practical and useful than a single 7b. But if I were to get 4 mics, I would get a 57, a 58, or two of the same kind for stereo recordings if you think phase will be an issue. I personally think the 57 and 58 work fine as a pair. And then spend the rest on a condenser or ribbon or something different. Having choices is great and can help make a more dynamic mix overall. That being said I only record myself and usually in mono, sometimes stereo. Or get 2 sm57s and a 58, stereo the guitar and mono the vocals is good for live acoustic/singing performances. It really depends what you wanna do, but I think the quality of the 57 and 58 are close enough to the 7b where having two or more of them would be much more useful than the 7b alone. If you can afford a 7b and one of the others maybe consider that.
I have and have used all 3 in many different recordings and have been happy with all the results. All of them sit really well in a mix. You really can't go wrong with any of them. I have used condensor mics, too, but given my set up, prefer the cardioid dynamic mics because room treatment and and sound bleed is not really a problem. Also, I'm not really crazy about the super airy high end sound when I'm mixing rock music.
Great comparison! Just about what I expected out of these mics. I think it would have been a bit better to put the SM57 and SM7B one after the other, instead of sandwiching the SM58 in the middle, since the former 2 are more similar in tone. Both the more inexpensive mics have an unpleasant high end that boosts way too much, and way too early, so I prefer the SM7B for your voice. However, it can be noted that all of these mics will benefit from a lower impedance load, so it might be worthwhile to do a simple resistor modification, or to use a properly loaded preamp module to match impedance. This way, the high end in the cheaper mics can be tamed. This is a very useful video!
Definitely not $300 worth of difference from the 57 to the 7b. I also felt like the 57 sounded the best in all the scenarios presented anyway, glad I already have one :D
For general recording or even live gigging for that matter, I think we can all agree the 58 and the 57 are the most recorded mics of all time, bar none. I have no experience with the 7b so I can't comment on it. Certainly Sure has really hit a home run with these mikes.
Agree 100% with you there. These are 40 year old designs and they're still relevant. If I were a company, I'd be thrilled with that kind of return on my research and development.
It would be interesting to see you comparing the same mics, but with an A2WS windscreen installed on the SM57... which is typically how it is used for vocal applications. In fact, the SM57/A2WS combo on a vibration isolating desk stand was my mic of choice for outdoor sports radio remotes, back in the 1970s.
I have had my sm58 for 38 years and as mainly a vocalist,i swear by it....so natural with very little tweaking needed,however,I like to use the 57 for my guitar and snare drum...Ive used the sm7b,but only in the studio,due to being afraid to use it on live gigs....If I had to to choose between all 3,I would go with the best of both worlds....SM58
NoQualmsTheArtist yep, 57 and 58 are the same and sounded the same, and 57b sounded similar or worse. And definitely sounded worse on the guitar amp! Many users must be using the various switch settings. Glad I didn’t get fooled by them into getting one. Already got a groove tubes, adding a 58 and a Heil PR35.
Listening through my monitors I felt the same. $400 I'd rather pickup two 57's and two 58's, more bang for the bucks! Also, they don't have to be driven as hard as the 7B making the sound cleaner. I'm using MOTU M2, it's really clean with good gain for the money.
Spending big money on a 7B for plain old voice podcast purposes when difference in sound quality is unnoticeable seems wasteful of your hard earned money. I realize Joe Rogan and others use them but it seems like overkill.
@@johnc.8298 I also do professional VO, but have condenser mics for that. I like gear. That being said, the 7B is pretty far down on my list of 'next mics' for me.
SM58 vs BHRINGER ULTRAVOICE XM8500 AND ID SAY 1. SM7B 2. SM58 3. SM57 my reasoning behind this rating is the SM7B and 58 do an awesome job at curving plosives and are some of the most legendary microphones studio wise, don't get me wrong the SM57 is a good mic and all but their are people on forums who say just take the ball-cap of the 58 and you got a 57
Such a good video - just perfectly produced and full of useful information. I've heard a Cloud Lifter or Fethead is a good idea with the SM7b when using with home studio level interfaces?
My dad bought me an SM58 for my birthday and I feel like this is the only microphone I will ever need in my life with the limited amount of recording I do, as well as being perfect to bring to a jam session. Also works pretty well for just regular audio voice recording for discord and stuff
Funny how I seem to prefer the 58 on guitar amp over the 57. The 57 has more 'oomph' but I kinda like more of the clearer articulation of the 58. The 7B sounds awful on that guitar sound.
The 58 did sound better on the amp, but I think it's because we are trained to like that sound. We have heard it so much on actual studio recordings, our ears picked up on it as sounding 'right'.
Tough love. The 58 is advertised as an all round vocal mic but 57 works on most female and tenor male vocals with less hassle and eq fixes. Great review mate! :)
wow l shure am tired of these mic puns l am going to hit the RØDE if it doesn't stop, l mean they are making me feel blue. l will have to find a NEEWER youtube channel for mic reviews. jk l love this channel. out of all the other channels this one is the sharpest, l would almost say it's as sharp as a R Λ Z Ξ R and there are no channels sharper.
On a live gig in 2019, I chose to use an SM7B instead of the normal SM57 on a standup bass. I had to crank the input level gain about 6dB to get the same level, but the difference in quality was noticeable - the bass really sounded like a bass! On really low notes, the sound degraded as it normally does, but that could have been the speakers. (We don't use sub-woofers.)
I totally agree with your choice. I have said for years that you can't go wrong with any of these mics, especially the 57's and 58's. If for no other reason the cost factor. There will always be a place for these mics in my shows. But I'm far more particular about the SM7b. I love for podcast and broadcast, great response and oh so smooth with my voice. Also set a flat it sounds great. Thanks for the comparison!!
It's amazing how similar these sound, I was going to get the sm7b for recording an audio book but I think my SM57 will do just fine with some post processing
Personally I preferred the SM58. I think the SM7B kills the sound way too much, especially in the higher frequencies. I don't know a lot about microphones, full disclosure, but from what I know about headphones and earphones FR graphs, you don't want them to be flat on a graph which hasn't been adjusted for a target curve. So the raw readouts on headphone FRs usually have extra top end. I believe this is because our ears are less sensitive to higher frequencies, so to get a neutral sound where everything feels equally represented, the trebles need to be played back louder than the rest.
I have those three mics, I definitely prefer the SM7b for studio recording, it replaced the U87 as my vocals go-to mic. But in the video, I can't say the one that I prefer as it's more in the action that you can feel the real difference.
Florent Jean Gaston Can I ask. I am a VoiceOver. I don’t have a treatment room. I am using Microphone Samson Cu3 and Focusrite solo gen 2 now. Which one should I buy: - SM7B - Rode Nt1 Or the cheapest one SM57 Shure
@@uyennguyenthanh1984 with your Focusrite interface you'd better use an external preamp to boost the signal from the SM7b. Triton Audio FetAmp is a great alternative, costs less than CloudFilter and can be attached directly to your mic. Just power it through phantom 48V from your interface
Anonymous Cyclist, with a little eq it won't matter much. I'd go with the sm58beta personally, because the highs are a little sweeter and it's still dirt cheap. That said, a cheap condenser of Amazon is a good option if you have phantom power and a pop filter and a quiet room. You can't beat the articulation of a condenser, even a cheap one. The big takeaway is that Being comfortable with eqing your voice in post will make most mics usable for spoken word.
Jacob Triffo thanks, I get what you mean. But I have always liked the SM48 (owned a couple). I think it has a more natural sound than the SM58. Podcastage It would also be good for the lower price shure mics SM48, PGA58 and SV200 verses show.
For me Acousctic guitar SM 58 Electric guitar SM 57 Edit : After hearing it more than once i think for electric guitar will be awesome if combining SM58 and SM57.
As expected, to me, the SM57 sounded best on the amp and the SM7b sounded better on voice. For the acoustic guitar, I'd go with the SM7b but in a pinch the 57 would do (or if your track called for brighter, more forward acoustic guitar sound).
Couple of points I'd like to add: 1) SM7b is *a lot* more expensive than the other 2. 2) The off-axis rejection of SM7b is worse than the two others. 3) SM7b is not as durable as the other 2 (while it really is durable). To a normal user going for Scarlett 2i2 and a mic to be able to handle Skype/Discord calls, I'd actually prefer SM58, much to my surprise. Ofc 7b has the best windshield, but you're most likely not going for proximity effect for these kinds of things. For podcasts, something like Electrovoice RE320 could be better, because it's more sensitive (same pricepoint). Of course, like you said, you can't really go very wrong with any of these workhorse mics.
The main issue I see with the SM7b is that you will need a rather high end interface to get the most use out of its sound, and most people will not do that because they want equipment like their favorite TH-camr/podcaster is using. To be honest I like the sound of the SM57 as it sounds the most natural out of the box, and while yes you can turn the switches on the 7b to boost it but it still sounds like it is distant without a high end interface (even the 2i2 isn't really suited for it). Also the 7b cannot be put into a shock mount this to me is a huge minus given the price point, and considering the size that small cable instead of an XLR port at the base is just weird.
Well you could throw a Cloudlifter, I believe Bandrew did a video on them, and place it in between the mic and interface, but I do not know the cost of one of those offhand. Personally I would get am Arturia AudioFuse Interface, but again you are looking at around $600 for one. I look at things as what I can get as a return with the investment in the course of a year, basically if I spend $1k on gear I would want to make back double that in the course of a year give or take. But again that is just me...
Thanks for sharing your knowlidge, you are on of the best. The Sm7b and Sm58 sounds better than the Sm7b. No need to spend more $$$ for the 7b. For me, the 58 is a great choice with great results also.
I've just bought an SM58 and SM57. what I have always wanted. The SM7b is the only other mic I want in the near future. I'm still learning. Your demo convinced me. I think I need another mixer to take full advantage of it because I want to use that for recording my daughter's voice (she is a mezzo soprano) with a huge range. . I like the versatility of these Shure dynamic mics - for live and home studio sound. Eventually, when I get my room treatments better situated and learn more,I want to get some condenser mics, but I will have to be more confident in my room response before I think I will enjoy those. I have.a friend who loves the SM57 and he thinks they are more versatile and sound as good on his records - which get airplay on real radio.
They are all good for different things: SM7B - Incredible Studio Mic for vocal recording, incredible voice/podcasting Mic SM57 - Snare Drum mic SM58 - Efficient Low Cost Vocal Mic
The SM7b jumped from $350 to $400 about a year ago; at 400, it's still a damn good price and a wonderful mic and I'd prefer it to either the 58 or 57...however, if you're just beginning in the realm of podcasting or voiceover, I would recommend instead the Electro-Voice RE320. It has a slightly hotter output, a more "natural" sound (more articulate, though not harshly so), and is $300. With the extra hundred, you could get a Scarlett Solo or a FEThead to drive the mic even hotter and thereby derive a cleaner signal. These are all good, and the SM7b at $350 was an absolute steal. But, at $400? Man, that's just too much for someone starting out. If you DO happen to have the budget, though, by all means get it. I've had mine for four years and it was the best gear purchase I ever made, use it all the time.
I found my SM7B on ebay for $330. There are lots of places you can find them for $350 if you look around. The logic doesn't make sense though. You call $350 a steal. Then $400 is too much. But then you'd spend the $400 on a RE320 and Fethead anyway, and the RE320 doesn't even really need a Fethead (nor will it compensate for any differences between it and the SM7B). For those on a budget, the SM57 and 58 are fine, but it doesn't make sense to me to buy one several hundred dollar mic over another several hundred dollar mic because of a $50-100 price difference rather than how they sound: the RE320 and SM7B do sound very different, and at that point, it more comes down to which sound is preferred
Thx! I've had both the SM57 and SM58 for about 15 years. Even those days, it was emphasized that the SM57 is never meant for vocals! As to my SM58, I love it but I have to use a foam cover to prevent the popping sound from pronouncing P and B words/sounds. As to the Shure SM7B, $400 I believe it is recommended that you buy a Shure RK345 $14 windscreen to cut down popping noises and of course, background wind noise.
Wow -- the quality of information, the speed of presentation, including timestamps -- this is how to do a TH-cam video. Outstanding. The SM7B is really nice, but I'm thinking of getting an SM58 just to have that live "capture the performance" feel. An alternative to my large diaphragm condenser mics. To actually hold it while recording.
Thanks for the review. What is interesting to me is how SIMILAR these microphones sound. With a mixer, the SM57 and SM58 can be equalized in real-time to sound nearly identical to the SM7b. The SM57 and the SM58 both use THE SAME CAPSULE. The difference between the SM58 and SM58 in response is due to the built-in Steel and Foam Wind Screen. The SM57 can be outfitted with a locking Shure Windscreen which will tone down the treble response and make it better for voice. The background noise rejection of the SM57 and SM58 is superior to the SM7b. Since I video-conference and type simultaneously, this makes me question the choice of the SM7b. The SM7b, despite its flat frequency response sounds MUFFLED. You have to enunciate very clearly or your words will be difficult to understand. Perhaps more gain is needed. But that is also a problem in this comparison to the SM7b.
Excellent video, though you forgot to mention the fact that the 57 and 58 are both actually multi-tools! Sound great for recording AND they make excellent hammers :)
Crazy how they sound very similar on voice but very different on guitar..
very different frequency content in those sources
It's mostly just how close the capsule is to the speaker. The SM57 capsule is right at the tip of the microphone while the capsule on the SM7B is about 2 inches back. If they were spaced so the capsules were all the same distance they would sound much more similar. Although the fact that you can get closer with an SM57 is one of its main selling points.
This is exactly what I was thinking as well.
@@danieljensen2626 rge sm7b actually was designed around the sm57 capsule, do sm57 is a great mic
Huh...? The vocal sounds are very different as well.
It's simple
Sm7b - Studio
Sm58 -Live
Sm57 - guitar and snare
DaniTwisted SM57 Really Brightens The Sound, Gives A Little Colour On That Guitar.
But a good engineer can make the 57 work for all of those situations. If you cant make it sound right with a 57, your doing it wrong.
I use an sm58 for studio vocals recording, because I can record with speakers and not headphones, for some singers this is helpful. I want to try the sm7b, but I don't have money :)
After tracking guitars for 16 years, I'll take the SM-7B over the 57. Of course, placement and preamp contribute.
@@humhead08 I use 7b and a Cascade Fathead ribbon together on a cab. Massive tone.
I just copped an SM57 and I am amazed at how fit it is for podcasting. Very nice warmth and isolation of the sound.
My SM58 is more than 20 years old and still sounds as good as the day I bought it.
Adam Tinkoff No comment.
Jesus Christ!
Mines over 10 years old and was my stage mic for years. It’s been swung around, smacked into things, dented and still works like a dream. They really are tanks.
I got my SM 58's (2) almost 30 years ago from a radio DJ. Both in excellent condition, $100 for the pair and they're still in great condition and performing well!
damn, the sm58 is that old? Yet some how it's still just as great as the newest and greatest microphones.
This is the best review I’ve ever seen, on anything. No dilly-dallying, just pure info. Love it, keep up the great work Podcastage!
bought an SM57 50 years ago w/ wind screen at Guitar Center and it still sounds great.
That's so amazing to hear. I don't think there is a better value for money bang for your buck store than that. Well done Thomas, and thank you for sharing. That's amazing!
I am a big fan of the SM57 across the board. I own a number of mics and I keep coming back to it for vocals, instruments, etc...
I think the SM58 is the most versatile out of the three.
Unscrew the dome cap off the the mic, you have an SM57.
EQ to tame the mids and highs, you have an SM7b.
I'm just mostly surprised at how similar they all sound to each other. Sure, there are differences, but just wow. I expected the SM7b to be drastically different to the 57 and 58.
The audio at youtube is very low quality, 7b is a beast
They sound mostly the same to me. The amp comparison is not really fair because the distance to the capsule is different for all three. When miking amps even a fraction on an inch makes a HUGE difference. I've heard they all use the same capsule, not sure its true but this video certainly makes me consider this as true.
What?? It is. Listen again to the amp comparison.
@@damisummers160 Capsules are not aligned. This results in huge differences when miking amps.
you should have said Shure, there are differences,...
The SM57 is my go to mic for recording everything honestly
Don't call me Shurely!
Dan Boud I just want to say good luck; we're all counting on you.
Insanejughead
My man!
Roger, Roger.
OK then, I will call you assuredly!!
But I will definitely (or defiantly) NOT call you Shortly...
When I lived in NC, me and one of my buds went into my studio and recorded some material using eight different mics ranging from dynamics to condensers to ribbons to tubes. Of course, the SM57 was among the mics we tested. What we proved to our own satisfaction was that with judicious use of EQ and "smoothing" (mostly using compression) we were able to make all of those mics sound virtually identical. It was an amazing experience which taught me a LOT about recording and cost versus performance ratios.
MeTuLHeD presumably your point being that it’s possible to us a cheaper mic, and get the same sound as a more expensive mic using post processing? That may well be true but it ignores a few things: 1. You need the reference of the other mic in the first place in order to emulate “it’s sound”. 2. That attitude assumes that it’s more beneficial to save the money up front and spend time tweaking in post to get the sound you are after, but more often it’s more economical/desirable to just capture the right sound in the first place and spend less time tweaking it afterwards.
frodev wrote: "MeTuLHeD presumably your point being that it’s possible to us a cheaper mic, and get the same sound as a more expensive mic using post processing?"
Yes and no. My point was that an awful lot of mics are more similar than they are different in sound. If I can recreate the sound of a "world class tube mic" using an SM57 and a compressor, then anyone can. And I do feel that a lot of musicians allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. Speaking from many years experience running a commercial recording studio, I can tell you I have gotten many great sounding takes using nothing but a couple of low cost condensers and handful of SM-57's.
Case in point. I went through a season of life in which I fell on hard times and had to sell off a ton of very expensive gear. I found myself in a small rental house recording music in the living room and kitchen. :D And I am being completely honest when I say that during that time, I recorded some of the best takes of my entire musical career using low cost mics and what was at the time the cheapest USB interface you could buy. But, not having all of my expensive toys made me get creative. These days, I have gear that is FAR better (and cheaper...ahhh the joys of capitalism) than the stuff I sold back in the 90's. But I do miss those times when I had to work in the rain and try to capture lightning in a bottle using just what I had available.
Just saying all of this to encourage some struggling musician out there to buy (good) cheap gear, download some free plug-ins and GET RECORDING! :D
MeTuLHeD Nicely elaborated, and sounds like great advice 👍🏼
u think sm 58 can sound like um 87 or rode nt?
It inspired me. Lol
A couple of years ago when recording the final vocal tracks for a song I booked a studio with an expensive Neumann and a soundproof room and fantastic analog gear. Then I realized the demo sounded a lot better and it was recorded with a Shure SM57. Nowadays I always use it to record the final tracks. I know it must depend on my voice and also on how the studio environment may have impacted my performance, but for me the inexpensive Sm57 in a crappy room is always the top choice. Same goes for the SM7b, excellent mic, I'll probably try using that to track some songs in the future.
why not an sm58 wich chassis are the strongest for live or studio... a bit of eq in each model makes shure sound the same!!!...A condenser Newmann is another world but it doesn't you sing better...
4:43 "it's build like a tank... I just dented my desk"
I dumped an SM7b...just needed too much gain and the noise floor became apparent if not a huge factor in a mix. Fun to hand hold and yell like a maniac into it without clipping the shit out of though. The 57 is so versatile and rather cool live if you are a stand and deliver vocalist...If you move, 58. They are all gooood.
Chris Catalano Was that with a cloudlifter as well??
Krafty, no, I had a friend who told me about them. At the time (4 or 5 years ago) I was running it through a UA Twinfinity > FMR Audio PBC-6a compressor into an Apogee Duet FireWire. It sounded great except there was a noise floor you could really hear when soloed-more of a hiss than the noise you get from the room ambience you can get from a condenser. That stuff mostly gets masked out when mixing, but it irritated me a little considering the 57 is almost noiseless...maybe because the capsule gets so close and on the 7b it is set back a bit?
@@---pp7tq I still have a 57, and sometimes use it on vocals, but I have been using my aging Lauten Audio Horizon Tube Mic for most vocals. Temperamental, but sounds great if I can get it into its zone without getting too impatient. Mics are so finicky I think. Move one way it sounds great, spin around in a circle and like that...”he’s gone”. I feel the best way is to get into a good groove and stay there for days with what you have and rely more on your ears and musical creativity than maybe worrying too much about mic choices. I won’t name names, but there was a pretty annoying video recently about a U87 and how tube mics are so much more 3D. 🤣🤣🤣 Apparently, artistry and originality don’t count for a whole lot with production gear snobs.
@@christopherecatalano no bro its because the 57 is about 3 db more sensible than the SM7B... All of your problms would be solved with the cloudlifter... Having that said, You should try the AW81S on the 57 for vocals... it sounds basically like a SM7B a little brighter (which is the fix to the problem of people that say the SM7B sounds dark)
2 year old video. Still works like a charm. Thank you! Just ordered a new SM58S on ebay for $86 incl tax. Yesss!
The 58 is the mic I use for my podcast. My wife ( my co-host) uses what turned out to be a fake 58. The fake actually sounds good. Its brighter the the genuine 58 which I find a little dark. Still I think the 58 is a great mic and I'll continue to use it. The 7B, to my ear, does not sound "300 dollars better" than the 58 and it requires a lot of boost. I am curious about the Rode Podmic but I already own too many mics. I'll put that on "hold." Thanks for your great reviews and your snarky sense of humor! BTW the 58 works great with the Rode Rodecaster PRO.
I agree with the presenter. Having used all 3 mics, I would say that the SM7B has a flatter response (without EQ) and is noticeably clearer or more detailed sounding. They're all good mics, though. The SM7B's low output can be addressed by incorporating a 48V signal booster such as the Cloud Lifter between the mic and the preamp. Can you make all 3 sound almost indistinguishable? Yes, if you manipulate gain and EQ settings you can bring all 3 mics into their shared range. But the SM7B will be able to deliver a degree of clarity and detail that is beyond the range of the other two. If that's what you need, then it is worth the extra cash. They all sound great on guitar cabs.
@x flare I have all 3 mics and sing on some of my tracks. The 57 sounds clearer than the 58 in a studio setting but you have to address the sibilance with it (de-essing).. where the 7b is less sibilant and more smooth in the top end .. it also has a warmer lower mids.
SM57 sounds best for me ! I have tested here on my studio also. It´s the best one. The problem is finding the original shure.
I've been using SM58's since the early 70's. These thing are almost impossible to kill. They been on the road with me for years.
I liked the SM58 sound the best, will be Shurely getting one soon!
Agree
I am about to buy SM58 but then I got to know there's Beta SM58A... which is very similar but slight changes. But doesn't justify the 50-70$ extra price. Please advise which one should I buy. My purpose is getting a mic for LIVE singing and also recording my live performances
The SM57 sounds the best.
Agreed, but this could have something to do with the fact I have two SM57s I have been using for years and really love the sound they give. I'm sure the SM7b is good, too. Shure really knows their microphones and has for many years.
For an all-around workhorse, the 57 is UNBEATABLE for the money. It can record Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar cabs, and is a go-to mic for snares and toms. HOWEVER, for the extra money, you get an additional entire WORLD of usability in every aspect. The sm7b shines for vocals, guitar amps, acoustic guitars, any drum piece, drum room mics, bass cab mic'ing, auxiliary percussion, field recording, broadcast radio vocals, etc, etc, etc. The sm7b is the best mic you can get for under $1000. You get what you pay for.
57 best for instruments 5b for vocals
thats what i am getting to record
Without the presence boost the SM7b is a mediocre microphone, period. The 57 and 58 share the same capsule which is why they sound so much alike.
Great job, quick edits and right on point, fair and unbiased. Truly appreciate your efforts on this video.
After 25+ years of performing live with an SM57 for vocals ... I started to sing more lead with a band a few years back. I really wanted to up my game so I worked with a local sound engineer and auditioned several vocal mics. The winner? The Sennheiser e865! I know ... it's over twice as expensive as the Shure--which served me very well over the years ... but with something as critical as vocals in a live performance--go for the best you can afford. I have become so serious about the quality of the band that I was willing to pay up to $1000 for 'the right' mic. Fortunately ... didn't have to. The Sennheiser is amazing. It's a condenser mic. Great clarity. Warm & smooth low end. The pickup pattern rejects unwanted spill very nicely too. Man ... i should have done this years ago! Not knocking Shure at all. Just sayin.
Many years ago I would sing vocals in a church setting. Although I had a rock singing background I found the Sennheiser much more flattering for my voice. It had a much softer delivery imo. So I agree Stephen.
THANK YOU for yet another wonderful mic test!
In my opinion - and I've owned all three - the SM7b has two variables that create an artificial difference between it and the SM57 and SM58. First, the capsule of the SM7b is a few inches away from the end of the mic. This may be one of the reasons its output is lower than the SM57/SM58. Second, there is no such thing as a presence "boost" in a passive dynamic microphone, such as the SM7b. Rather, ALL BUT THE "BOOSTED" FREQUENCY ARE CUT. This might also further explain (a) a lower signal level of the SM7b than the SM57/SM58 and (b) the "smoother flatter" response of the SM7b over the SM57/SM58.
Bottom line, a fair comparison of all three mics would be to "not cut" the higher frequencies of the SM7b by setting it to "boost" so they're all the same electrically, then either removing the SM7b cage - OR - tape a ruler to the ends of the SM57/SM58 to mimic the distance from the SM7b capsule to the "end" of the mic. (Might want to remove the ball from the SM58 to further level the playing field.)
These 3 mics, are made for very specific applications. Proximity can also be adjusted by the mixing console you use. The SM57 & SM58 are identical capsules inside according to Shure's own information. The 57 is made for acoustic instruments, and the 58 is a vocal mic intended for stage use. The SM7b, is the favorite of radio stations, pod casters, and can be used for semi circle group settings. Many vocalists prefer this mic for its dynamic range, (i.e. anyone from bass to high soprano sounds great). And just because your voice, which tends to be high in pitch, sounds the same on all 3 mics, you will find they react vastly different to bass and baritone voices, even if only speaking. The baritone speaking voice is where the SM7b shines.
Personally, I tend to use the AKG 697 for stage vocals, the d5, the 890 from AKG, and in the studio an Octava large condenser, and a Carvin tube mic. But, what do I know?
I would get the SM57 with a wind cap on the top. Can be used for absolutely everything and sounds amazing
100%
when it came to vocals they sound very similar to me, but when it came to the guitar the SM7b sound super flat. Great vid!!
For a comparison between just the sm57 and sm7b:
1:15 - 1:48
2:05 - 2:31
2:47 - 3:00
3:05 - 3:15
3:20 - 3:24
3:26 - 3:37
3:42 - 3:53
3:58 - 4:09
Thank you
This is the perfect most straight forward shot I’ve ever seen
I personally think all are great for their own individual applications, but the best all-around is the SM7B. The 57 is great for micing amplifiers and speakers, the 58 for vocal, and the 7B for everything else. The 7B is also great for recording someone who moves around a bit more whilst they're singing, and stuff like that. I own one, and it's better for my vocals, as it isn't as effected by the proximity effect, and I move around a lot whilst singing. I use a 57 for my amp, and a 58 for my louder vocals. It depends on the application, but each has their own strong point. With a drumset, I use my 7Bs as overhead mics, a 57 as a snare mic, and a 58 as a talkback mic
This was the first time I watched one of your videos and I want to sat that this was an excellent demo. It was straight to the point, informative and very well done in terms of real world use. Great job!
Thank you so much Darin. That really means a lot. =)
Podcastage You’re most welcome. I’ve since watched about five more of your reviews, subscribed, dinged the bell and laughed heartily when you fell over during one review. Your sense of humor makes your channel unique and enjoyable.
@@Podcastage Greetings from Finland! Even my friend who is not into mics liked your video! Great content
I prefer sm7b for just vocals too - we have them at the radio station - but my sm57beta is my go to for everything at home, from guitar cabs & snares to vocals for pre-recorded shows. My ex has the sm58, and it even worked well on guitar cabs in addition to live vocal settings. These are really all work horse industry standards and every nerd should own at least one from the start.
🎼🎶
This Versus series
Is always a great test
And looks like people let you know
What their thoughts are
In the comments here below
Though it wasn't hard to guess
The SM7b will Shurely
Be your best! 🎼🎶
Great mics. I used the SM58 for years as a singer. To me, it's the most useful, all around mic out there. I've never tried the SM7b, though, because of the cost. I'd like one! :-)
I wouldn't buy 4 of a similar mic unless you would take advantage of it for like, multi instrument stereo recording. I think two sm67s would be more practical and useful than a single 7b. But if I were to get 4 mics, I would get a 57, a 58, or two of the same kind for stereo recordings if you think phase will be an issue. I personally think the 57 and 58 work fine as a pair. And then spend the rest on a condenser or ribbon or something different. Having choices is great and can help make a more dynamic mix overall.
That being said I only record myself and usually in mono, sometimes stereo. Or get 2 sm57s and a 58, stereo the guitar and mono the vocals is good for live acoustic/singing performances. It really depends what you wanna do, but I think the quality of the 57 and 58 are close enough to the 7b where having two or more of them would be much more useful than the 7b alone. If you can afford a 7b and one of the others maybe consider that.
Thank you for this video! The Shure SM57 sounded absolutely amazing with the amp and acoustic guitar!
I have and have used all 3 in many different recordings and have been happy with all the results. All of them sit really well in a mix. You really can't go wrong with any of them. I have used condensor mics, too, but given my set up, prefer the cardioid dynamic mics because room treatment and and sound bleed is not really a problem. Also, I'm not really crazy about the super airy high end sound when I'm mixing rock music.
I’ve seen a lot of vs vid’s, but this one was really well done; lots of explanation without blathering on too long. Great job!
Great comparison! Just about what I expected out of these mics. I think it would have been a bit better to put the SM57 and SM7B one after the other, instead of sandwiching the SM58 in the middle, since the former 2 are more similar in tone. Both the more inexpensive mics have an unpleasant high end that boosts way too much, and way too early, so I prefer the SM7B for your voice. However, it can be noted that all of these mics will benefit from a lower impedance load, so it might be worthwhile to do a simple resistor modification, or to use a properly loaded preamp module to match impedance. This way, the high end in the cheaper mics can be tamed. This is a very useful video!
Well said.
Matching impedance is used in transmission lines or similar. Why do you say the microphones would benefit from a lower impedance load?
Higher impedance, surely.
You are the man dude. Anytime I need info or comparisons on mics, you are there with just the comparisons I need.
Definitely not $300 worth of difference from the 57 to the 7b. I also felt like the 57 sounded the best in all the scenarios presented anyway, glad I already have one :D
The 57 sounds "alive" and 58's are comparatively dull.
For general recording or even live gigging for that matter, I think we can all agree the 58 and the 57 are the most recorded mics of all time, bar none. I have no experience with the 7b so I can't comment
on it. Certainly Sure has really hit a home run with these mikes.
Agree 100% with you there. These are 40 year old designs and they're still relevant. If I were a company, I'd be thrilled with that kind of return on my research and development.
It would be interesting to see you comparing the same mics, but with an A2WS windscreen installed on the SM57... which is typically how it is used for vocal applications. In fact, the SM57/A2WS combo on a vibration isolating desk stand was my mic of choice for outdoor sports radio remotes, back in the 1970s.
I have had my sm58 for 38 years and as mainly a vocalist,i swear by it....so natural with very little tweaking needed,however,I like to use the 57 for my guitar and snare drum...Ive used the sm7b,but only in the studio,due to being afraid to use it on live gigs....If I had to to choose between all 3,I would go with the best of both worlds....SM58
Wow, listening in headphones I preferred the SM58 all round. Would never have picked that.
NoQualmsTheArtist yep, 57 and 58 are the same and sounded the same, and 57b sounded similar or worse. And definitely sounded worse on the guitar amp! Many users must be using the various switch settings. Glad I didn’t get fooled by them into getting one. Already got a groove tubes, adding a 58 and a Heil PR35.
Listening through my monitors I felt the same. $400 I'd rather pickup two 57's and two 58's, more bang for the bucks! Also, they don't have to be driven as hard as the 7B making the sound cleaner. I'm using MOTU M2, it's really clean with good gain for the money.
Sm7B with a cloudlifter is the bomb
I love the 7b. Instantly googled the price. Now I'm back on the ground :D
I own the sm58 for live streaming in a small studio, with 0 sound treatment and high ceilings, and still get good audio. This mics are all beasts
I have the SM57 to mic amps. The SM58 for live performance. Would love the sm7b for my podcast but that’ll have to wait!!
Eric Thomure I Want To Go With The SM7B And The Procaster.
Spending big money on a 7B for plain old voice podcast purposes when difference in sound quality is unnoticeable seems wasteful of your hard earned money. I realize Joe Rogan and others use them but it seems like overkill.
@@johnc.8298 I also do professional VO, but have condenser mics for that. I like gear. That being said, the 7B is pretty far down on my list of 'next mics' for me.
Depending on what you’re using the pics for; I use the SM57 for recording a guitar through an amp and a SM58 for vocals on stage.
SM58 vs BHRINGER ULTRAVOICE XM8500 AND ID SAY 1. SM7B 2. SM58 3. SM57 my reasoning behind this rating is the SM7B and 58 do an awesome job at curving plosives and are some of the most legendary microphones studio wise, don't get me wrong the SM57 is a good mic and all but their are people on forums who say just take the ball-cap of the 58 and you got a 57
I'd like to see a comparison between the SM58 and XM8500 (maybe even the XM1800?) too!
Such a good video - just perfectly produced and full of useful information. I've heard a Cloud Lifter or Fethead is a good idea with the SM7b when using with home studio level interfaces?
Thanks so much Pete. Yeah the fet head or cloud lifter are good ideas on some interfaces.
This video is as useful as horse's shit. He doesn't tell the truth about this mics.
SM57 is where it's at for me
My dad bought me an SM58 for my birthday and I feel like this is the only microphone I will ever need in my life with the limited amount of recording I do, as well as being perfect to bring to a jam session. Also works pretty well for just regular audio voice recording for discord and stuff
3:25 is where the SM57 is really king.
Straight up. An excellent video that answered questions immediately, quick and adequate tests, and some light humour. Well done mate. I enjoyed this.
the SM-58 is the exact same microphone as the SM-57 just the 58 has a different pop-filter type of cover over the capsul.
they're actually slightly different underneath (how close each diaphragm is to the grille on each mic) but the cartridge is almost identical
57 is my go-to for recording electric guitar straight out of an amp. Looooove that meaty sound
Funny how I seem to prefer the 58 on guitar amp over the 57. The 57 has more 'oomph' but I kinda like more of the clearer articulation of the 58. The 7B sounds awful on that guitar sound.
The 58 did sound better on the amp, but I think it's because we are trained to like that sound. We have heard it so much on actual studio recordings, our ears picked up on it as sounding 'right'.
Tough love. The 58 is advertised as an all round vocal mic but 57 works on most female and tenor male vocals with less hassle and eq fixes. Great review mate! :)
Go with the sm58 if you want that flat natural sound ..
(After all high frequencies can always be boosted on your mix)
I've tried an Audio Technica at2020 and a blue Bluebird for home recording and I found that my voice is easiest to work with using an sm58! Who knew?
This is how comparison videos should be made. This guy just fucking gets it. Straight to the point with real-life scenarios.
I'll pick the 57 by far. You can do everything with it and it's cheap.
SM57 all day long. The most versatile and cost effective. You could buy 4 of those for the price of the 7B. Adjust EQ as needed.
wow l shure am tired of these mic puns l am going to hit the RØDE if it doesn't stop, l mean they are making me feel blue. l will have to find a NEEWER youtube channel for mic reviews. jk l love this channel. out of all the other channels this one is the sharpest, l would almost say it's as sharp as a R Λ Z Ξ R and there are no channels sharper.
what does gaming have to do with this? l am sorry but l don't understand the comment.
@@ElectronicsForFun cuz razer only made ""gamer"" things
@@SirSyao but my comment wasn't about razer. it was just a bunch of puns about other mic brands.
Ha, I get the mic puns! You could be a new comedian, a neumann (new man)
@Cloutgodleo r/wooosh
On a live gig in 2019, I chose to use an SM7B instead of the normal SM57 on a standup bass. I had to crank the input level gain about 6dB to get the same level, but the difference in quality was noticeable - the bass really sounded like a bass! On really low notes, the sound degraded as it normally does, but that could have been the speakers. (We don't use sub-woofers.)
The sm57 sounds the best
Super clean
I totally agree with your choice. I have said for years that you can't go wrong with any of these mics, especially the 57's and 58's. If for no other reason the cost factor. There will always be a place for these mics in my shows. But I'm far more particular about the SM7b. I love for podcast and broadcast, great response and oh so smooth with my voice. Also set a flat it sounds great. Thanks for the comparison!!
I think the 57 came out best with the guitars.
It's amazing how similar these sound, I was going to get the sm7b for recording an audio book but I think my SM57 will do just fine with some post processing
“...and the end result is extremely shocking!” The more expensive is incredibly better!
What a surprise!
Been 6 years but the lyrics is pure genius.
“what will you pick, I SHURE-ly do not know…”
Thanks man, I appreciate that.
Like for a great, thorough review...as well as the I Want to Believe poster in the background.
Personally I preferred the SM58. I think the SM7B kills the sound way too much, especially in the higher frequencies. I don't know a lot about microphones, full disclosure, but from what I know about headphones and earphones FR graphs, you don't want them to be flat on a graph which hasn't been adjusted for a target curve. So the raw readouts on headphone FRs usually have extra top end. I believe this is because our ears are less sensitive to higher frequencies, so to get a neutral sound where everything feels equally represented, the trebles need to be played back louder than the rest.
Podcastage is one of my favorite channels in youtube :)
ketchuppopsicle you are too kind. Thank you so much f or the nice words and the support.
What an outstanding video, this is the perfect comparison. Also, the 57 is easily my fav on literally everything
I have those three mics, I definitely prefer the SM7b for studio recording, it replaced the U87 as my vocals go-to mic.
But in the video, I can't say the one that I prefer as it's more in the action that you can feel the real difference.
Florent Jean Gaston absolutely fair.
Florent Jean Gaston Can I ask.
I am a VoiceOver.
I don’t have a treatment room. I am using Microphone Samson Cu3 and Focusrite solo gen 2 now. Which one should I buy:
- SM7B
- Rode Nt1
Or the cheapest one
SM57 Shure
@@uyennguyenthanh1984 untreated room force you to use a dynamic mic or you'll hear horrible reverb in your recordings. So either the SM57 or SM7b
Thank you for your answering.
Do I need to buy Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator if I want to use SM7b
@@uyennguyenthanh1984 with your Focusrite interface you'd better use an external preamp to boost the signal from the SM7b. Triton Audio FetAmp is a great alternative, costs less than CloudFilter and can be attached directly to your mic. Just power it through phantom 48V from your interface
stuff like this can't go viral but we're ultra grateful for it
Would be nice to see an SM48 vs SM58 especially for spoken word.
Anonymous Cyclist, with a little eq it won't matter much. I'd go with the sm58beta personally, because the highs are a little sweeter and it's still dirt cheap.
That said, a cheap condenser of Amazon is a good option if you have phantom power and a pop filter and a quiet room. You can't beat the articulation of a condenser, even a cheap one. The big takeaway is that Being comfortable with eqing your voice in post will make most mics usable for spoken word.
Jacob Triffo thanks, I get what you mean. But I have always liked the SM48 (owned a couple). I think it has a more natural sound than the SM58.
Podcastage It would also be good for the lower price shure mics SM48, PGA58 and SV200 verses show.
For me
Acousctic guitar SM 58
Electric guitar SM 57
Edit : After hearing it more than once i think for electric guitar will be awesome if combining SM58 and SM57.
As expected, to me, the SM57 sounded best on the amp and the SM7b sounded better on voice. For the acoustic guitar, I'd go with the SM7b but in a pinch the 57 would do (or if your track called for brighter, more forward acoustic guitar sound).
Couple of points I'd like to add: 1) SM7b is *a lot* more expensive than the other 2. 2) The off-axis rejection of SM7b is worse than the two others. 3) SM7b is not as durable as the other 2 (while it really is durable).
To a normal user going for Scarlett 2i2 and a mic to be able to handle Skype/Discord calls, I'd actually prefer SM58, much to my surprise. Ofc 7b has the best windshield, but you're most likely not going for proximity effect for these kinds of things. For podcasts, something like Electrovoice RE320 could be better, because it's more sensitive (same pricepoint).
Of course, like you said, you can't really go very wrong with any of these workhorse mics.
The main issue I see with the SM7b is that you will need a rather high end interface to get the most use out of its sound, and most people will not do that because they want equipment like their favorite TH-camr/podcaster is using. To be honest I like the sound of the SM57 as it sounds the most natural out of the box, and while yes you can turn the switches on the 7b to boost it but it still sounds like it is distant without a high end interface (even the 2i2 isn't really suited for it). Also the 7b cannot be put into a shock mount this to me is a huge minus given the price point, and considering the size that small cable instead of an XLR port at the base is just weird.
Liowen can you recommend the high end interface for the sm7b?
Well you could throw a Cloudlifter, I believe Bandrew did a video on them, and place it in between the mic and interface, but I do not know the cost of one of those offhand. Personally I would get am Arturia AudioFuse Interface, but again you are looking at around $600 for one. I look at things as what I can get as a return with the investment in the course of a year, basically if I spend $1k on gear I would want to make back double that in the course of a year give or take. But again that is just me...
Liowen thanks
The SM7b has a shock mount built into its casing.
Right On!!! I just picked up the SM57. It works great for drums and guitar recording.
you might be surprised by this, but I actually prefer the sound of the SM 57
nobody is surprised 🙃
Thanks for sharing your knowlidge, you are on of the best. The Sm7b and Sm58 sounds better than the Sm7b. No need to spend more $$$ for the 7b. For me, the 58 is a great choice with great results also.
nice movie but ending was predictible :)). How about at2020 vs takstar sm 8b vs takstar k200
I've just bought an SM58 and SM57. what I have always wanted. The SM7b is the only other mic I want in the near future. I'm still learning. Your demo convinced me. I think I need another mixer to take full advantage of it because I want to use that for recording my daughter's voice (she is a mezzo soprano) with a huge range. . I like the versatility of these Shure dynamic mics - for live and home studio sound. Eventually, when I get my room treatments better situated and learn more,I want to get some condenser mics, but I will have to be more confident in my room response before I think I will enjoy those. I have.a friend who loves the SM57 and he thinks they are more versatile and sound as good on his records - which get airplay on real radio.
Great video. We use SM57’s in college, mainly for electric guitars, so I can relate.
Note that SM7b's treble boost is in fact disconnecting a band-cut filter from the circuit. Keeping it, makes it more linear.
They are all good for different things:
SM7B - Incredible Studio Mic for vocal recording, incredible voice/podcasting Mic
SM57 - Snare Drum mic
SM58 - Efficient Low Cost Vocal Mic
got the 58, its been my go to my mic when i need to record stuff while its noisy. has served me well over the years.
The SM7b jumped from $350 to $400 about a year ago; at 400, it's still a damn good price and a wonderful mic and I'd prefer it to either the 58 or 57...however, if you're just beginning in the realm of podcasting or voiceover, I would recommend instead the Electro-Voice RE320. It has a slightly hotter output, a more "natural" sound (more articulate, though not harshly so), and is $300. With the extra hundred, you could get a Scarlett Solo or a FEThead to drive the mic even hotter and thereby derive a cleaner signal. These are all good, and the SM7b at $350 was an absolute steal. But, at $400? Man, that's just too much for someone starting out.
If you DO happen to have the budget, though, by all means get it. I've had mine for four years and it was the best gear purchase I ever made, use it all the time.
I found my SM7B on ebay for $330. There are lots of places you can find them for $350 if you look around.
The logic doesn't make sense though. You call $350 a steal. Then $400 is too much. But then you'd spend the $400 on a RE320 and Fethead anyway, and the RE320 doesn't even really need a Fethead (nor will it compensate for any differences between it and the SM7B). For those on a budget, the SM57 and 58 are fine, but it doesn't make sense to me to buy one several hundred dollar mic over another several hundred dollar mic because of a $50-100 price difference rather than how they sound: the RE320 and SM7B do sound very different, and at that point, it more comes down to which sound is preferred
@@DS-ff6ze IMO the RODE Procaster is a great mic for podcasting, but the sm58 would be the better starting option
I just bought a SM 58 and I love it so far. That said, I still have a lot to learn when it comes to recording and mixing with it.
OK, All I have to say to this video is: AWESOME!
Thx! I've had both the SM57 and SM58 for about 15 years. Even those days, it was emphasized that the SM57 is never meant for vocals! As to my SM58, I love it but I have to use a foam cover to prevent the popping sound from pronouncing P and B words/sounds. As to the Shure SM7B, $400 I believe it is recommended that you buy a Shure RK345 $14 windscreen to cut down popping noises and of course, background wind noise.
58 is the sound I need thank you
Absolutely. Enjoy the mic!
Wow -- the quality of information, the speed of presentation, including timestamps -- this is how to do a TH-cam video. Outstanding. The SM7B is really nice, but I'm thinking of getting an SM58 just to have that live "capture the performance" feel. An alternative to my large diaphragm condenser mics. To actually hold it while recording.
Thanks for the review. What is interesting to me is how SIMILAR these microphones sound. With a mixer, the SM57 and SM58 can be equalized in real-time to sound nearly identical to the SM7b.
The SM57 and the SM58 both use THE SAME CAPSULE. The difference between the SM58 and SM58 in response is due to the built-in Steel and Foam Wind Screen. The SM57 can be outfitted with a locking Shure Windscreen which will tone down the treble response and make it better for voice.
The background noise rejection of the SM57 and SM58 is superior to the SM7b. Since I video-conference and type simultaneously, this makes me question the choice of the SM7b.
The SM7b, despite its flat frequency response sounds MUFFLED. You have to enunciate very clearly or your words will be difficult to understand. Perhaps more gain is needed. But that is also a problem in this comparison to the SM7b.
That's a fair assessment.
Excellent video, though you forgot to mention the fact that the 57 and 58 are both actually multi-tools! Sound great for recording AND they make excellent hammers :)