Can You Use the Shure SM57 as a Drum Overhead?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- Today we're looking at one of the most famous (or infamous) mics in the world, the Shure SM57, and evaluating its use as a drum overhead mic. Despite the mic's ubiquity, we rarely see it used in this position.
So today we're answering the question if can you use the Shure SM57 as a drum overhead mic, and what better way to do so than with a good ol' fashion mic shootout?
Let me know which was your favorite, and thanks for watching!
00:00 - Intro
00:51 - The contenders
1:45 - Oktava MK-012 dry
2:17 - AKG 414 B-ULS dry
2:51 - Coles 4038 dry
3:24 - Shure SM57 dry
3:57 - Oktava MK-012 EQ/compression
4:30 - AKG 414 B-ULS EQ/compression
5:03 - Coles 4038 EQ/compression
5:36 - Shure SM57 EQ/compression
6:09 - Discussion
7:30 - Conclusion
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You can use an SM 57 for ANYTHING -even a hammer!😜
That's true
😂😂😂
I actually liked the sound of the 57 the best! For the tasks we typically ask an overhead to do - supply the majority of a kit's cymbal sound, as well as an overall kit sound - the 57 seemed to be the most capable of providing a natural, uncolored sound. The Oktava did a fairly good job, as well, I just felt the 57 provided the more open, present sound.
The AKG and the Coles (especially the Coles) seemed to deaden and muddy the sound quite a bit, especially that of the ride cymbal... even with EQ/compression.
Yes, been doing it for over 20 years.
I love this video! Thank you COLE! My sound guy and I were talking about this just last night, on if it would work well - and here this video was in my feed! Well done!
Glad it helped, thanks Joe!
cool video! The SM57 definitely worked fine. My favourite here was the AKG 414. But the best advice I’ve seen is this : the best microphone is the one that sounds good to you.
Actually preferred the 57 over the other mics!
I would be very happy to use the recording of the 57, TBH but I would say that the differences between all the microphones narrowed significantly after the EQ and compression
just my 2ç
I think microphone experimentation cutting against the grain of expected/recommended uses is where you find some great sounds. I mean, look, you have an SM7B without the windscreen on your tom! And cheers on the Oktava - pretty good little mics! My favorite after EQ was definitely the Coles - more body and depth than any of the others - but all would work for at least demo track purposes. The Coles felt like it was the closest to a master-ready sound.
Raw the Octava was my favorite overall. The coles raw sounded amazing on the cymbals, and probably my favorite after processing. The 57 was definitely usable and will be something I keep in mind. I've used a SM7B as an overhead before and it sounded cool after driving it to tape with some EQ.
Because I haven't got a huge boom stand to place a mic 37" above my kit, I've used the SM57 with the Tchad Blake Method of mic placement. The mic is set up just a couple inches over the right side of the kick drum, pointed directly at the snare. Admittedly this works best with a large diaphragm condenser, but the inexpensive SM57 works well there, too.
Oh wow. That 414 does sound really good 😬
Last weeks I had a band in the studio to record their drums and vocals and we choose to do something different. We checked some variations for overheads, akg c3000 for overheads for example. In the end I was installing some sm57 and vintage Shure 585, they looked at me like I was going mad, but after a test the guys had tears in their eyes... And the result was fantastic. Maybe a better option than a sm57, an unidyne 3, but it's a bit more expansive than the sm57, but it's perfect for several jobs on drums too.
There was an article in one of the old recording magazines back in the 00s that I remember reading that actually talked about using 57s as overheads because they don't necessarily interact with modern preamps the way they do older preamps because of the standard impedance different between vintage and modern preamps. Talked about how it adds something interesting to the 57.
Also, 57s have great rear rejection, so if you're recording drums in a smaller room, or in a room that maybe doesn't have the best acoustic reinforcement (we've all recorded drums in a bedroom) and you don't want to capture the reflections of the room then the 57s pickup pattern does a great job for that.
whenever recording drums, i often want to try to balance the sound of the cymbals by moving the overheads out of their way. The added advantage to this is that the overheads pick up more drums (which works for the sort of records i enjoy making). I've never used a 57 on top, but the theory would suggest that its directional quality (compared to most large diaphragm condensers I typically use) would make for even more effective cymbal rejection. I'm very eager to experiment with this.
I used a SM 57 overhead and a Beta 52 on the kick.
I placed the SM57, two and half drumsticks or 40" above the snare.
You can it sounds good
Came here on a search - I have an upcoming gig that I need overheads for. It's an outdoor show and so i don't want to haul the studio LDCs out - i was just like "What happens if I threw a pair of 57s up there?" Looks like it'll work; thank you!
Yep, the DLDW: "yes". 😅
I didn't realise how different the SM57 sound compared to other mics. I really thought it was the standard, but clearly it's not the best overhead mic.
The Oktava seems to be the best choice. Each hit feels more direct and crisp, compared to the Coles and AKG 414 makes it a bit muddy.
If for the sole purpose of budget friendly Overhead only, the SM57 was "brightest" IMO, therefore achieving the task of "best overhead" for my liking. The Coles, followed by AKG would be best, IMO, for achieving an overall capture of the kit as in a 'Glyn Johns' or minimalist micing technique. I personally use inexpensive Rode NT1s (sometimes NT5s), in the 'Glyn Johns' layout as overheads. I love my results. I use Telefunken m80sh (snare top), Shure sm57 bottom snare, Telefunken m81sh mics on toms, Shure Beta 52 inside kick and u47 FET outside kick. Sometimes I use Sennheiser 421s on toms, but find they can be hard to place without getting in the way. I soon will be trying my new Soyuz 023 Bomblet on the outside kick.
Honestly theres absolutely no issues with how the SM57 did compared to the other mics.
Although that ribbon mic sounded incredible, really smooth 👌🏻
Coles, all day! Maybe you can use the 57 to add some "top" to the overall recording, but the Coles is not muddy to these ears and is really smooth and very even. It's picking up the kick like a champ!
SM57? One hundred percent an amazing mic. But you’ve never heard used as OH it in any song you’ve ever loved & there’s a very good reason why. When you have a song to mix with a myriad of other instruments to include as well, it doesn’t matter how “present” a mic makes an instrument sound if it doesn’t allow it to occupy it “own” space & not barge into the frequency space meant for something else…like vocals….which live in the mid-range. I use mics because of the purpose they serve to the mix & how much time they save me, not because they sound different or cool. However, it’s your mix so do whatever fills your heart
The Coles and 414 were the best for capturing the overall kit including the kick drum. 57 was good too, except you lose the low end of the kick. Not into the Octava. Not a fan of SDC mics. In modern rock recordings, the overheads are mainly meant to capture the cymbals, and for that the 57 was fine.
Out of all those i like sm57 the most sound it was brighter
Interesting!
Interesting test. But why the cheesy unrelated background music as you're explaining the results?
Hey, it was either that or this: th-cam.com/video/q4i05EaML44/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=EddieEWI-Topic
I’ve always been so embarrassed to say how much I love them as overheads! 😅
No shame!
Just because you could doesn't mean you should!😊
Just depends on you! It's been the favorite of several folks so far.
I thought the 57 had the best in attack
SM57 sounded the worst imo. Too harsh and splatty for the overall set. Thanks for the video! Now I hear wby the AKG 414s are considered extremely versatile.
Glad it helped!
AKG 414 its very superior
wtf the was that drum beat? so off time lol
First time hearing a kick on an "e"?