Shure SM58 - still the best microphone

“Podcast tips” are one of the top in-coming searches on Blog Relations. I haven’t written that many so far, perhaps for fear of looking like a know-all, high-lighting my own weak-points, or boring the general audience. But as more people try out podcasting, there must be punters looking for a few tips.

One of the first questions a would-be podcaster must ask himself or herself is, “Which microphone should I buy?”

For a safe bet, why not stick with a tried and trusted old work-horse? The Shure SM58 has been around since the 1960s, and features on numerous pop classics. It’s made for vocalists, and it’s just as good for those of us who merely babble into the mic, and don’t burst into song unless we are pissed.

In the Storynory “studio” (which is currently the back room of our presenter’s grandma’s flat in Notting Hill), I use the SM58 plugged into my Behringer Mixer, which in turn is plugged into the “line-in” of my laptop. The resulting sound of this combination is remarkably smooth and lacking in hiss (not so with some other mics I’ve tried).

Out on interviews, I use it plugged into my portable Sony Hi MD Minidisc. I set the recording level on the Minidisc to high. It’s particularly good in noisy situations because its pick-up pattern is “cardioid” - which means you have to point it at the speaker, and it cuts down noise to the side. Its build is solid enough for a rocker to chuck around the stage, so it’s good for taking out and about. It’s shape is short and stubby, and it fits into a pocket more snuggly than a typical long thin “reporter’s” mic.

I suppose no mic is quite “all round”. The SM58’s output is “low impedance” - IE it’s not highly “live” or sensitive. This means it’s not too great plugged directly into the computer, which usually needs a higher impedance mic (usually a tacky plastic thing with a battery). But even here there is a solution. Dolphin Music recommend a transformer, to make the output “hotter”. I haven’t tried it, because I have other mics for this, but the A96UF transformer costs 50 odd quid. If you buy it, you will effectively have two mics in one, and you will be covered for all eventualities.

The SM58 is a dynamic mic, which is the simplest design, with little to go wrong. Dynamic mics don’t need extra power - no batteries - and they are not particularly sensitive, which is helpful when it comes to avoiding handling noise. In other words, its more or less idiot proof.

As with all decent mics, the output is for an XLR cable. XLR is earthed (or “balanced”) which is important for hiss reduction by taking static electricity to ground.

A word of warning - be certain you get the genuine article. Much as I love eBay, it’s full of a constant supply of SM58s at bargain prices, and there just can’t be that many real ones out there going so cheaply. There are warnings on the net of inferior forgeries made in the Far East. You are probably best forking out the £70 or 100 odd dollars for a SM58 from the shop that will serve you for a life-time in all sorts of recording situations.

I do have a small collection of other microphones, and some good ones which I will write-up one day soon, but the SM58 is a safe bet, and you won’t go wrong with it.

This entry was posted on May 06th, 2006 and is filed under Blog Home, Podcast Tips, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or Trackback from your own site.