Microphones

Amazingly versatile and great for bands to producers!

Advantages: Can be used to pickup a whole range of instruments very well!
Disadvantages: None i have ever encountered!

The legendary Shure SM57 microphone which everyone will have seen at some point in their life even if theyre not into the more 'technical' sides of music! This mic is used all over the world everywhere from recording studios to live on stage! It comes highly regarded by all and is used on a professional level every single day! This mic is probably the number one microphone that would be recommended to you if you asked someone who knows that theyre ...
...because this microphone is capable of capturing a great representation of a whole range of instruments from a snare drum on a kit to a vocalist on stage! Ok so the more technical info........ The frequency response of this microphone is really very steady which makes it perfect for a whole range of instruments and roughly covers everything from 40Hz to 15KHZ so as mentioned a very broad range seeing human hearing is around 20Hz to 20KHZ! The SM57 ...

winger15mk 21.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Shure SM 57

SHURE to impress

Advantages: very good sound across the range
Disadvantages: A bit tinny with guitar recordings

...major problem with the SHURE SM58 but I guess highlights the reason behind paying that bit more for a SHURE rather than going for a cheaper alternative. Another note is I've suffered hardley any feedback with this mic, which is good news when your half way through a recording! ...

Logan33 29.01.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Shure SM 58 LC

The Classic Budget Condenser Microphone

Advantages: Great value, all rounder, well-built
Disadvantages: No rolloff switch, top-mid boost not for everyone

...the pro audio industry but Rode has certainly done that since the release of the NT2 and then the NT1 condenser microphones. The NT1 allowed home studio owners to buy a professional standard condenser mic for less then £200, and has now become a classic in its own right. The budget condenser is now more tough than ever, but despite being release several years ago, the Rode NT1 is still the mic all new budget condensers are being compared to. Rode ...
...the price so low? Rode cut a few corners by not including a shock mounting kit (though you could buy one if you need it) or roll off switch. For most applications, you should be able to get away with out needing either. Instead they did included a hardcase and more importantly a crisp, and sturdily built condenser mic worthy of most recording jobs. A condenser needs a preamp to work, so you need a mixer with phantom power or a separate standalone ...

the_pinups 22.11.2002 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Rode NT-1

Nice mic but awful pricing.

Advantages: Nice live mic +Studio mic.
Disadvantages: High cost that puts it below alot of studio condensers.

...live use. As with all Shure gear, it's very durable and for a touring musician it can last quite a while. (but then so can any mic that's treated well) It's a dynamic micropone (moving coil) so it does not require any external power. It has an XLR output. It can be used in the studio and I've used one in the studio for vocals which yeilded some nice results. But it wouldn't be my first choice for tone or price. It carries a retail value of over ...
...It's not invincible, and the Shure badge leaves it open to theft at gigs. Personally I'd reccomend getting 6 Behringer XM8500's for £15 each and having plenty of spares than buy 1 expensive mic where the crowd won't hear the extra £75 you spent and that you're going to be completely stuck if you get it stolen on tour, or damage it before a gig. So to sum up. It's a nice mic. Does well in the studio with acceptable results, and the same for live. ...

HxCHarry 25.10.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Shure Beta 58 A

Good for the money

Advantages: cheap, effective to a point. look good
Disadvantages: poor checking, feedback at lower levels than other stage mics

OK they are a copy of the industry standard sm58 (the most popular microphone in the world) the xm8500 (85 not 58 geddit?) in tests at the college where i work came out sounding similar - but not as crisp and realistic in the mid range. They also feedback at lower volumes than the sm58 in a Live test. We have a few come through our college, and some sounded great and some not so good. SO the checking is not as good...if you buy from a store check ...
...They are a great first mic for the money, likely to have been built by slaves for the money (think about £15 quid for a mic???) and they are not the same as an SM58. oh and they are Cardioid pickup pattern - which means you can point them and they only "hear" from the front. (omni means hearing all around equally omni directional , omni present, etc) I do advise my students to buy them if they dont have the money for a shure sm58, or better still ...

adamwolters 03.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Behringer XM8500