Shure SM57 vs SM58 for Spoken Word - Blind Audio Comparison, Samples, and Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- Can you use the Shure SM57 for spoken word? What about the SM58? And what's the difference between the two, anyway? This is a blind audio comparison between two iconic mics, audio samples for evaluation, and my thoughts on ideal use cases for content creators. SHOW MORE for links.
CHAPTER LINKS
0:00 Intro
1:50 SM58 integrated pop filter
2:30 SM58 proximity effect
2:50 SM57 proximity effect
3:02 Frequency response differences
4:05 Distance vs Tone
4:25 Pop filter vs wind screen
4:50 Off-axis computer fan rejection
6:40 A/B blind comparison reveal
7:25 My thoughts
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▸ Shure SM57: amzn.to/33r0uHW
▸ Shure SM58: amzn.to/2XrQwlw
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Here's my reason why I always want the reviewer to give his/her opinion on a mic comparison - Because you are used to hearing your own voice on tons of videos/podcasts, you are able to discern minor differences in mic sounds that we cannot. Your voice just sounds like your voice to us, and unless there is some kind of huge tonal difference, we can hardly tell the difference. But you can. So when you say that the sm58 sounds more nasally than the sm57, we will take your word for it. To most of us non-audiophiles they sound very close to identical.On the other hand, when I listen to my own voice with similar but different mics, I can easily spot differences that many others probably would never be able to identify. BTW - great review!
Great insight here, thank you!
Yes, and I have Tinnitus since at least 5 years of age (due to several bad things I went through) and sibilance kills me. I can hear it on myself and is the main reason I am trying to find a new mic. VST plugins or EQ helps but never as good as if the mic is not as alive in that zone. Zone for me is around 6k (5200-6600). Things like that the reviewer needs to home in on as well unless the difference is so stark we the listener can hear the difference post TH-cam butchering the sound.
Excellent point
Finally! I get frustrated when people just replicate what the Website says about the microphones. You really showed relevance in your opinion!
Love these mics! Glad you're talking about them.
Thank you for this super detailed comparison and review video, Brian. 😁 👍 👍
Cheers to you, my man! 🍻
Glad i Subscribed love these geeky and informative mic centric audio reviews
Glad to have you! Where are you in the world?
Thank you Sir..yes the SM57 is so clear and natural like no one else...just a wind screem and it's magic
Thanks for your expertise! I like your setup, too.
Might be the best comparison of these microphones I've seen.
Great review. I have an SM58 beta and as a performer it's a great stage mic. Never really used as a voice over mic but it sounds well. I'd be afraid of the noise floor personally. I agree with your comparison of each mic's tone coloration.
Great review!
My favorite has always been the SM57 my brother Jesse favored the SM58 .One or two family arguments over ,the best cables to use on them. Oh yeah ,and the cable ends.Have a great week.
Thank you for this high quality review I mean it man.
The 57 sounds so dang good. I couldn't agree more with your assessment of these two mics. I like the 58 and it's a great option for the reasons you stated, but boy do I love the 57 for personal use. The clarity, the tone colour, and the reliability of this thing make it such a joy to work with. I use it with a Fethead and a mini pop filter through a pro art VLA compressor for streaming and it just brings tears to my ears. I personally even prefer it over the SM7B due to it's clarity and form factor; it just sounds more natural, but can still engage the proximity effect for those rich lows. Thank you for the review. Have a great day.
SM57 sounds so good. It's not a sexy looking mic, which is the main reason most folks choose the SM7B, but in my opinion, it sounds just as good as 1/4 of the price.
@@AudioforContentCreators For sure!
@@AudioforContentCreators you can get the sm57 to look way nicer with a decent shure pop filter and a stand tho!
Once you put the windscreen in the 57 it's like listening a mic a whole tier above what we were hearing up until then. Was that its own a2ws windscreen?
Thank you for using a stand for each mic, really makes the blind test that much better. Great comparison!
I have 2x SM58s for a mobile podcasting setup. Built for travel, rugged and just capture great voice.
Please do the music comparison , bought the SM-57 as my first legitimate microphone , let the fun begin!
Great video. What are you running these mics into?
I noticed you were ever so slightly closer to the SM58, when you removed the microphone basket, compared to the SM58 with the basket. This increased the proximity effect. I wanted to make sure everybody understands exactly, what happened there. I personally would recommend another microphone, naming the Shure Beta 58A, which at first glance seems to be the same. But sound wise it’s like the SM58 without the basket - while still having the basket mounted. Also, they give you a louder output, so you don’t need as much gain, which will result in less noise. And: with the narrower Super Cardioid pickup pattern it does a worlds better job at rejecting background-/room-noise. In this regard it even topples the SM7B. To be fair, for very animated speeches with a lot of movement from people who don’t have a proper mic technique, they might be an inferior choice though. Still, for me, it was an obvious choice, to go for the Beta 58A.
Oh and talking about the basket: Taking it off gave it away after 2 minutes into the video, which microphone was which. 😅
I like the SM58 more. It has fuller sound. Awesome comparison!
Great video, cheers.
Nice video, which one is better for recording rap vocals? I want to get one since I have bad acoustic treatment😢
They sound really different. I’ve had the 58 and now own a 57. I find the 58 darker and smoother. The 57 has more high mids I think, which translates to more clarity but also a weird nasal harshness. I don’t know which one I prefer... in a live setting it probably wouldn’t matter much though
As a musician, I love the 57 with a standard pop filter for recording vocals. The 58 I'd use for live vocals when you need a rugged mic by itself.
One of the best comparisons I've seen. And I've seen like...a lot...like hundreds of them lol!
Yes, I went crazy and bought AKG414...it didn't suit my voice and I sold it. Now I use 30 years dynamic microphone from AT that looks like a clone of SM58 and it sounds way better on my voice...So really guys don't spend fortunes.
Mind you I'm talking about spoken word. For singing AKG414 was of course better.
This is a great review, answered some questions I had, but I still wonder, would using an SM58 without the pop filter still be “good” for recording guitar amps, acoustic, percussion and things like that, if I also intend to use the pop filter for vocals and speaking?
Absolutely. You can unscrew the pop filter if you like to get the capsule right up on the grille of a guitar cab, or just leave it as is. Tons of guitars have been tracked with SM58s just as they are. Super all-around mic.
Can't tell the difference. If it isn't a stage act, I'd just opt for the sm57 all around. If someone is singing on stage, then sm58 is most appropriate. What I like is that both of these microphones can perform on par or better than much more expensive offerings, and the cardioid pattern is simply amazing.
I'm on the market for Dynamic micrphone and i'm currently deciding between SM57 / SM58. After watching this review i decided to get SM57. I was wondering at @11.15 what kind of pop filter is that? Does it work for SM57? Also a beginner, i would love to see video on how to properly rig / set SM 57 for Voice over / Podcast / Recording Sound ( example recording keyboard typing test ). And also i'm wondering, since i have Tascam DR60 MkII do you think it can drive SM57 properly forcording voice over re and keyboard typing test?
The SM57 with an A81WS is a pretty good combo.
Question: Thinking about the SM57 for recording videos but I can't find a video explaining how these mics would be when boomed above me. Do you have any ideas or thoughts around if this mic would do well if its boomed maybe a foot above me out of frame.
It was easy to find out wich was wich, because as you took off the Grill of the 58 it was very loud...
Nice video
put the rubber shock mount and the windscreen designed for the SM57 on the SM57, then IMO it looks as good on screen as any other studio dynamic microphone.
I agree with your assessment, but the 57 really needs a pop filter. I use it on my guitar amp. For vocals I'm using a Røde NT-1 (with a pop filter). Ok, it's a bit more expensive, but certainly not crazy expensive by any measure, With a 57 and an NT-1, you have a very versatile setup.
Cheers!
I'll take an SM57 with a pop filter in front of it. It sounds great. It's been my favorite Mic for years.
Decent test format, I preferred the SM57.
Excellent video. I’ve had a 58 for about 20 years and never saw the point in buying a 57 until now (my Son stole my 58 for his computer set up). So glad I watched this because I definitely preferred the 57. It records my acoustic guitar better too which is a bonus.
@Brain, would you still suggest the sm57 with a pop-filter (say an A81WS) to someone in an untreated dorm room with a loud roommate? Or would another mic be better suited for this situation? I'm looking to stream/make youtube videos and prevent friends/teammates from hearing my roommate during gaming or coaching sessions.
Either would work for that situation!
Dang they both sound so good, I want to pick up one of these mics for my stream with a goxlr mini with the shure shock mount and there individual pop filters 57- a2ws 58- a58ws. Which one do you guys think will preform better (btw i only use a keyboard cam so looks dont matter only what sounds better)
I'm really partial to the 57 for spoken word. If looks don't matter and you can get it within 3-4" of your mouth, you'll be super happy. But it does require a lot of clean gain (both do). Double-check the GoXLR can provide enough gain.
@@AudioforContentCreators thanks, the goxlr mini has the same amount of clean gain as the full sized one, ive seen ppl use the shure sm7b with it with like 60-70% gain which is good. So shure sm57 is the go to
You'll love it!
Audio for Content Creators thanks man
Awesome
And if we put the a2ws to the shure sm58?? By removing its natural grill
People love the 57 but the 58 is warm and beautiful. If you look at the specs, the frequency response is a lot smoother on the 58. It has more low end and smooth high end. The smooth highs are probably attributed to the pop screen.
I like 57 more. It sounds more crisp. I saw a video on how to EQ it to sound like SM7b. I just wonder what should I get for recording. Tascam or Scarlett solo. Is recording directly on camera so much bad? It would save time for synching it in the post.
Recording directly to camera is not advised for premium sound quality. Depends on how much you care about audio.
3:46 the moment i bought this mic ;) uh finally! i find a heelllllllll to buy studio gear, since i am so perfectionist and no money, no time.
I have a sorta low voice sometimes that bothers me. I think I'll try the 57 because of this. Hopefully it helps lol.
Would you suggest that the SM58 is better for female VO?
Hello I have a question
Can 58 and 57 handle loud to very loud vocals? Like heavy rock and metal?
I also have an untreated room as of now will these help?
Thankyou in advance
Yes and yes.
and what about voice over at home? I dont have a quiet place... are the sm57 quieter than the 58? THANKS
Neither is quieter.
For spoken word, I think the 58 is a little smoother. The 57 is a little brighter. Not even talking directly into the mic, the plosives gave the 57 away. I've been thinking about getting an A2WS for my 57 and testing it as a stream mic. I'm saving up for a Rode Procaster, but seeing if $14 will get me good enough noise rejection. My AT2020 loves to pick up anything within a 100 meter radius of my house.
Oh yeah. Condenser mics should be avoided by most home content creators.
Will the SM57 work on a Podcast with more than one guest as far as noise rejection?
Yes but each guest needs to eat the mic.
@@AudioforContentCreatorsthank you! Great video! New subscriber!
2:00 😁Thank you so much for this great comparison.
Make that happen~
Make what happen?
The SM58 makes your voice considerably bassier/warmer than the SM57, which sounds more neutral.
Hello from the future (almost 2022)! To answer your question at 10:15 , the answer is it's ALWAYS a pandemic now. :)
The comparison is good, but the blind part was a bit too apparent from the start.
You had plosives at 0:37, 0:39, 1:05, and more in the first section while A was on the screen that made me think it was worse than the SM58 typically allows in that setup. There was a plosive at 1:26 and 1:29 for B, but it was for harsher words that seemed more mitigated than A. Then you unscrewed the SM58 screen with B on the screen and it sounded more like internal sounds than the SM57 just picking up sounds near it.
i am not a planed person so the 57 is best, for any use
Since this was for spoken word, I really wonder why you didn't use the SM-57 with either of the two Shure foamies. Oh, well …
muito foda!
Jajajaja Me reí mucho con lo de "este es el mundo real", en el futuro puede que haya una pandemia. Que acertado.
Speaking 4 years from the future, life is insane and we are at the gates of ww3. Other than that perfect 😂 !
I am definitely going to buy the shure m57. It actually sounds better in your video than in most I have seen around. Great channel!
It is no brainer. B - 58, A -57
Alert! An extremely loud advertisement starts playing during the "silence" / noise floor test.
Thank you for letting me know. I always turn off mid roll ads, and missed it here. It's off now.
И всё таки я скорее предпочту SM57 в том числе и для вокала (но с поп-фильтром) нежели SM58, поскольку мне кажется, что у него довольно бубнящий звук, что делает его менее привлекательным в отличие от SM57. Так что я скорее куплю SM57 с поп-фильтром, чем вокальный SM58 с потрясающей ударопрочной защитной сеткой.
Работаю диктором на федеральной радиостанции, мой сетап SM57 + попфильтр. Звук шикарный.
@@super-Ilya Подскажите пожалуйста, какой у вас поп-фильтр? Чем 57, в вашем случае, лучше 58 ?
3x 58 on my Tom’s, 1x 57 on the snare. Happy camper
They say the SM57 and SM58 are tecnically the same mic, tbh I dont think so, SM58 sounds nasally while the SM57 doesnt, SM57 sounds brighter but their mids sound good and not nasally like the SM58... SM57 all the way for everything tbh... I would rather sing with it + a windscreen live than with a 58...
People always say they are the same, but that's a myth. They're based on the same capsule but their design results in significant tonal differences. Notably the 57 has a 5k bump and less pronounced midrange than the 58.
@@AudioforContentCreators yeah thats what I come to realize... Also I feel like the transformers are different too, if Im not mistaken the 57 needs more gain than the 58 maybe that has something to do with the tonal quality too
edit- (not needing more gain, I mean the tonality is different bc probably the transformer is different)
If you have a decent ear you gave it again earlier in the video
Yeah. Sure. OK. Whatever. For the SAME $100 you can get a very good condenser that runs rings around the 57 or 58 for V/O vocals.
57 sounds better! more body in the voice
I couldn't hear a difference on my phone
You couldn't hear the difference between an SM58 and a U87 on your phone 🙃
Your phone's speaker cannot produce the dynamic range, frequency range, or tone to do any kind of critical listening.
When evaluating audio you need decent headphones, ideally over ears, or at least some ear buds.
SM57 is better with pop filter
How is life in a world war 3?