SM57's Modified & Stock Tests

[monkeyxx]

that was so cool........

I like them all, it would be nice to have all three for different "flavas"

the no transformer one kind of reminds me of my Audix i5 compared to the stock 57


I'm guessing you didn't follow special impedence rules (as indicated on the other forum linked above) for the no-tran 57 and just ran them all into the focusrite preamp at the same standard impedence? (and they sounded fine)

[monkeyxx]

I'd also be curious to know what the text says on your three microphones ("unidyne" or "unidyne III" or "SM-57" or whatever), since you still haven't answered that

I would think it'd be best to pick three from the same year to test

although I guess it's pretty inconsequential if they sound the same (and you seem like a pretty scientific guy)

[PMoshay]

Originally Posted by monkeyxx

I'd also be curious to know what the text says on your three microphones ("unidyne" or "unidyne III" or "SM-57" or whatever), since you still haven't answered that

I would think it'd be best to pick three from the same year to test

although I guess it's pretty inconsequential if they sound the same (and you seem like a pretty scientific guy)

We listened to all the mics before i modified them and they sounded the same.
I do not know the year my 57's were born, and really don't care.
I do know what the sticker says....... and still don't care...... they sounded the same.
The test i saw someone do with the unidyne vs the sm57, the mics were place in 2 sonically different places, so of course there will be a difference.
I made sure that the 3 mics were all centered on the cone of the speaker so they all heard the same sound.

Yes there is a difference in "some" old mics, shure, AT, Sennheiser, Neuman, etc.... Much of the time it is due to "AGE" of the mic.
Some of the time it is due to the manufacturing.
Some years they may have had better parts available..... Listen and see.

I have 3 Neuman U87's, 2 have consecutive serial #'s, all were bought and owned by one person since new.
2 sound similar, very close to identical....... one sounds different (the consecutive serial #)


People need to stop buying into the bullcrap of "if its old, its better"....... It's sometimes a true statement......... BUT CHECK OUT THE FACTS AND LISTEN FIRST.

JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE POSTED IT ON THE INTERNET, DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE

There are many great stores that will let you audition gear before you make a purchase, or return a piece for another choice...... that is a WAY more powerful way to make a decision.

[monkeyxx]

good answer!

[lostinmusic]

I just downloaded and listened to these files. Without exception I preferred the transformer-less version. The TAB version sounded more 'expensive' but I actually like the nasty edge that those Shure mics have. The transformer-less mod seemed to keep that but just fill out the sound a bit.

Can someone tell me - as someone who wouldn't recognize a soldering iron if it hit me on the head - exactly how do you remove these transformers and what, if any, are the inherent dangers in doing so?

Tx

[monkeyxx]

not too much danger

I didn't feel like making a huge mess and ruining a good pot, so I just heated the base of the mic with my cheap radio shack soldering iron. I held the side of the iron to the mic handle (unscrew it before heating) and after about 5 minutes or so (holding the piece between my shoes because it gets hot) I was able to pull the transformer and the surrounding glue out. I pulled hard enough that I ripped lose the wires to the XLR jack. you might want to desolder those first (and the ones to the capsule part, although I unsoldered those after unloosing the transformer and it was fine). to get the XLR connector loose you have to tighten the screw at the base of the mic. it's threaded backwards so lefty is tighty and righty is loosey, you want to go lefty tighty to put the screw all the way inwards and then slide the xlr jack out with some pliers (grab one of the pins). after all this you just need to solder two new wires, one from the + terminal of the capsule piece to PIN TWO of the XLR connector, and one from the - to PIN THREE of the XLR connector. (you'll need to have some raw wire handy, I used the same plastic coated wire I use to wire guitars, cut it to the proper length). then just screw it all back together and you're golden. pin one is already wired up to a piece of metal that touches the body of the mic for grounding

you might want to read a little about soldering to get the idea of how to do it, but it's really a very simple operation.

I haven't been totally floored by the modded mic but I've only tried it on a couple things... I think it will turn out to be useful once I find the right sources.

[supaheef]

Great test! Thanks so much for your patience and diligence in setting this up. I like my transformerless SM57 a lot more than the stock one, but I didn't realise how much (mostly because I lack the patience and diligence required to create a comparison!) Somewhere on GS there are photos of me taking the transformer out of one of SM57's, now the others get the treatment too.

heath.

[lostinmusic]

Dullard question. Could someone explain why the transformers are there in the first place?