57 vs Unidyne III 57

drmmrboy · 9th May 2008, 07:26 PM

Not very scientific at all.
GS member Stitch333 left a Unidyne III here for a few days, so I put it up with a run of the mill 57. The clips are from a session overdub and were played for the song, so it is what it is.

The chain went:
Tele -> Vox -> 57's -> TG2-ch 1/2 -> Rosetta..
I matched the TG2 input gain on 1 & 2, but didn't fine tune it. The mics were side by side. It is what it is..

Files:
SM 57
Unidyne 57

Nice phone picture..

Stitch333 · 11th May 2008, 02:28 AM

I gotta say, I like the unidyne more.
There's more body a smother high end roll off...

but I am a bit biased

heyman · 11th May 2008, 03:34 AM

Thanks for the test... The only problem I can see is that the sm57 is very sensative to its placement.

Notice, one is picking up a diffrent part of the speaker than the other and one is on a slight angle, which throws the eq off..

Any way you could move one of the mics over to the other speaker so we have a truer test?

Thanks, btw..

drmmrboy · 12th May 2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyman

Any way you could move one of the mics over to the other speaker so we have a truer test?

Thanks, btw..

I would if I could, but the mic has already gone back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitch333

There's more body a smother high end roll off...

Yeah, body & way less of that upper 57 fizz.

lillis · 12th May 2008, 06:13 PM

Thanks for the test! I kind of like both old and new 57s, the amp tone I really liked though! How old of a vox is that if I may ask?

cheers
/daniel

drmmrboy · 13th May 2008, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lillis

Thanks for the test! I kind of like both old and new 57s, the amp tone I really liked though! How old of a vox is that if I may ask?

The Vox is one of the newer AC30 CC2. Bought in the past 6 months. We have a bunch of old Fender blackfaces, Ampegs, & Marshalls over here, and as great as they are, I've been rocking the Vox a lot lately!

lucey · 13th May 2008, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyman

Thanks for the test... The only problem I can see is that the sm57 is very sensative to its placement.

Notice, one is picking up a diffrent part of the speaker than the other and one is on a slight angle, which throws the eq off..

Any way you could move one of the mics over to the other speaker so we have a truer test?

I'm a guitarist and have done this test a million times, a nice Unidyne IIIs like some of the the 535 SDs are always better than the new 57s. The inch doesn't matter, it just changes the eq, but not the quality of the sound.

heyman · 13th May 2008, 01:40 AM

Brian, but what about the angle... ?

A sm57 on an angle doesnt sound the same as one staight on.

lucey · 13th May 2008, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyman

Brian, but what about the angle... ?

A sm57 on an angle doesnt sound the same as one staight on.

Absolutely, but what I hear in this comparison is the same thing I hear in person ... the overall sound of these different mics. The Unidyne IIIs and the 545 SDs are more the classic 57 tonality ... a dynamic 251 sound if you will. Something you could make a whole record with. The new ones are just crap IMO. Hate them on everything.

kpaw · 13th May 2008, 02:17 AM

Back in the day I had about 10 of these. After I stopped playing so many live gigs I sold a lot of my sound gear. I sold every one of them. Grrr.

lucey · 13th May 2008, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpaw

Back in the day I had about 10 of these. After I stopped playing so many live gigs I sold a lot of my sound gear. I sold every one of them. Grrr.

We bought about 10 from a metal dude that passed away ... use them for barn parties and sometimes for recording too.

Those and Senh 409s used to be everywhere.

heyman · 13th May 2008, 02:38 AM

Brian, thanks for the heads up..

Wanna sell some? ..

Btw, how close in sound would you say that a new 57 with the transformer removed or modified (tab Funken) is to an old Unidyne model?

Also, what is the diffrence between ..
The Unidyne IIIs and the 545 SDs ?? Are they the same?

...

drmmrboy · 13th May 2008, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyman

Wanna sell some?

Yeah, dig that. I'm open for PM's..

I'm gonna have to keep my eye out for a few of these.

lucey · 13th May 2008, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyman

Brian, thanks for the heads up..

Wanna sell some? ..

Btw, how close in sound would you say that a new 57 with the transformer removed or modified (tab Funken) is to an old Unidyne model?

Also, what is the diffrence between ..
The Unidyne IIIs and the 545 SDs ?? Are they the same?

...

Well it's not a very satisfying answer but no two mics are ever the same, and beat up old dynamics vary a lot. The 545s I have are mixed but in a range, the Unidyne IIIs are very diverse but in a range.

I can't speak to the mods, no experience there, but I dont think that would fix the problem, which is likely the capsule.

monkeyxx · 15th May 2008, 01:47 AM

I'mma go against the grain, I prefer the SM-57

more attack, less weak-mushy sounding, but still with a dynamic toughness

it would be cool to have both, maybe

basstracker7769 · 21st June 2008, 06:12 AM

Yes i prefer the UNidyne III but i always have they were made here in the US and no matter what shure says the Mexican 57s arent the same

Plus if u want a great UNidyne III capsule for cheap get some old 545s they are the same capsule but usually go for about 35 to 40 on Ebay I got a few for like 25 each and like the 57 are built pretty damn tough

9th May 2008, 07:26 PM	#1
drmmrboy Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Philadelphia PA Posts: 1,556	57 vs Unidyne III 57 Not very scientific at all. GS member Stitch333 left a Unidyne III here for a few days, so I put it up with a run of the mill 57. The clips are from a session overdub and were played for the song, so it is what it is. The chain went: Tele -> Vox -> 57's -> TG2-ch 1/2 -> Rosetta.. I matched the TG2 input gain on 1 & 2, but didn't fine tune it. The mics were side by side. It is what it is.. Files: SM 57 Unidyne 57 Nice phone picture.. __________________ Andrew "This game is really about being consistently "upper mediocre" on a regular basis. Brilliant on occasion and damn near never sucking" - Fletcher

11th May 2008, 02:28 AM	#2
Stitch333 Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phila, PA/Upstate MA Posts: 1,973	I gotta say, I like the unidyne more. There's more body a smother high end roll off... but I am a bit biased __________________ www.myspace.com/stitchproductions www.myspace.com/longviewfarmstudios "Half shark, half man, skin like alligator...carrying a dead walrus..."

11th May 2008, 03:34 AM	#3
heyman Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Waterbury CT, then Providence, RI Posts: 1,756	Thanks for the test... The only problem I can see is that the sm57 is very sensative to its placement. Notice, one is picking up a diffrent part of the speaker than the other and one is on a slight angle, which throws the eq off.. Any way you could move one of the mics over to the other speaker so we have a truer test? Thanks, btw.. __________________ Ummm, thats it... move a little to the left..

13th May 2008, 01:40 AM	#8
heyman Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Waterbury CT, then Providence, RI Posts: 1,756	Brian, but what about the angle... ? A sm57 on an angle doesnt sound the same as one staight on. __________________ Ummm, thats it... move a little to the left..

13th May 2008, 02:17 AM	#10
kpaw Lives for gear Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,195	Back in the day I had about 10 of these. After I stopped playing so many live gigs I sold a lot of my sound gear. I sold every one of them. Grrr. __________________ "Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means."--Ronald Reagan ""Musicians should learn...the fundamentals, just like a baseball player. Run, hit, throw. And if you don't know that stuff, you'll never be a major leaguer. It's an old fashioned, cranky way of thinking, but I'm sorry, there's no easy way. You can go on American Idol and scream your head off, but if you can't play an axe, I'm not going to respect you." --Billy Joel

12th May 2008, 06:13 PM	#5
lillis Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 19	Thanks for the test! I kind of like both old and new 57s, the amp tone I really liked though! How old of a vox is that if I may ask? cheers /daniel

13th May 2008, 02:38 AM	#12
heyman Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Waterbury CT, then Providence, RI Posts: 1,756	Brian, thanks for the heads up.. Wanna sell some? .. Btw, how close in sound would you say that a new 57 with the transformer removed or modified (tab Funken) is to an old Unidyne model? Also, what is the diffrence between .. The Unidyne IIIs and the 545 SDs ?? Are they the same? ... __________________ Ummm, thats it... move a little to the left..

15th May 2008, 01:47 AM	#15
monkeyxx Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 92	I'mma go against the grain, I prefer the SM-57 more attack, less weak-mushy sounding, but still with a dynamic toughness it would be cool to have both, maybe

21st June 2008, 06:12 AM	#16
basstracker7769 Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 80	Yes i prefer the UNidyne III but i always have they were made here in the US and no matter what shure says the Mexican 57s arent the same Plus if u want a great UNidyne III capsule for cheap get some old 545s they are the same capsule but usually go for about 35 to 40 on Ebay I got a few for like 25 each and like the 57 are built pretty damn tough

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