SM58 – Shure enough the best..
By Paul Dakeyne
| Posted in Music Technology
The Shure SM58 – It’s a venerable and iconic piece of studio gear that has graced the hands and mouths of everyone from the worlds biggest, most established pop artists, to the newest garage band performing their first gig. Can you believe it’s now been around for 43 years?! That’s some going and a testament to the rugged build, sound quality and innovative “we got it right from day one“ design. Existing with the SM58 in this recognisable Shure family of live performance and recording mics, there’s also the SM57 and the Beta58. In case it isn’t clear which specific studio and stage uses this high profile group of mics attribute themselves, allow me to elucidate..
The SM58 is the worlds most industry standard, commonly used microphone for vocal reproduction- period. It’s a cardioid dynamic mic with a mid-bass frequency boost which is common to all cardioid microphone designs when used in close proximity to the source. Picking it’s signal from the side and rear, it pretty much avoids feedback when used on stage. The microphone has a frequency response from 50 Hz to 15 kHz and uses an internal shock mount to reduce handling noise. A wireless, as well as the standard XLR’s cable version is available too.
The SM58 (SM standing for ‘studio microphone), alongside it’s sister mic the SM58s (only difference being an ‘on/off’ switch), is without doubt the Captain Scarlet of the pro-audio world – it’s virtually indestructible. You can chuck it in your kit bag for gigs, let the singer swing it round his head Daltrey style, drop it, leave it on the rear parcel shelf on the hottest summer day, or accidently drop it in an ice-hole on your next Artic mission. Here’s two very entertaining videos showing just that.. and more.. and a year later, erm, even more.. 
The SM57 has a very different look and intended application. It’s a low impedance mic, primarily intended for live sound reinforcement and capturing instruments with high pressure sound levels, such as drums, electric guitar amps and woodwinds. The capsule contained within the SM57 is identical to the one in the SM58 - It is actually the windscreen that differs, which changes the ‘sound’. Next in line is the Beta58, looking very similar to the SM58, a vocal microphone classed as a high output, super cardioid dynamic – phew! This unique piece of kit has a shaped frequency response making it ideal for ‘close up’ vocals. In use it also displays maximum isolation from other sound sources.
Beta58 Frequency Response curve
And so, back to the SM58.. A microphone that no doubt will be around for at least another 43 years, and then some. Thank Mr Shure, for bringing us this remarkable workhorse.. we salute you!
(Below is a simple, but straightforward guide found on good ol’ YouTube..)
Tags: Beta58, cardioid, condenser, drum microphones, instrument microphones, microphone, shure, SM57, SM58, vocal microphones