Audible difference between sm57 & sm58?

mortlar · 2nd August 2007

I hooked up my shure sm57 right next to my sm58 for a a/b test. I played classical guitar, and recorded on two separate tracks. I am not able to hear any audible difference between the mics. Do any of you hear the difference? Are my ears+monitors really that bad?

scrubs · 2nd August 2007

No, they are essentially the same mic. Slightly different on vocals up close, due to the bigger basket/windscreen on the 58, but the guts are the same.

The Teej · 3rd August 2007

They are very similar mics, but they are definitely different. Proximity effect is more exaggerated on the SM58. The 58 has a broad boost in the upper mids whereas the 57 has a bigger, narrower boost... I think about 5db around 5 or 6k.
Having said that, an A/B test side by side would probably not reveal those differences without some work. I think in a mix or even in a live sound application you might notice this a little easier.

Just one man's opinion.

tabiggs · 3rd August 2007

Although they are very simular in design, I suspect that you would hear more of a difference if you were recording voice rather than guitar.

Daniel Antix · 3rd August 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Teej

They are very similar mics, but they are definitely different. Proximity effect is more exaggerated on the SM58. The 58 has a broad boost in the upper mids whereas the 57 has a bigger, narrower boost... I think about 5db around 5 or 6k.
Having said that, an A/B test side by side would probably not reveal those differences without some work. I think in a mix or even in a live sound application you might notice this a little easier.

Just one man's opinion.

i was talking to our head engineer today (smart guy has a list of degrees as long as your arm and has been in the radio/music/tech repairs industries for years and years) and he pretty much said what you said... he also said in live situations the sm58 is great for male vox but he would always give a sm57 to female singers... says they sound better... any thoughts on that?

andi85 · 3rd August 2007

Really? I tried that once and wouldn't do it ever again without some kind of windscreen against pop sounds. And then I think you can almost stick with the 58, can't you?

Jonboy79 · 3rd August 2007

They're the same mic, only difference is in the proximity effect as a result of the ball on the 58. Unscrew the ball and you've got a 57

6strings · 3rd August 2007

Specs are slightly different between the two mics. It's no big secret...

SM58: "It has a tailored vocal response for a sound which is a world standard for singing or speech."

Tomer1 · 3rd August 2007

Could it be the 58's metal mesh causing this slight difference?

andi85 · 3rd August 2007

Sure. What else?

Or seriously...as far as I know, the capsules are identical, so that's one of the few possible things.

Jonboy79 · 3rd August 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomer1

Could it be the 58's metal mesh causing this slight difference?

I'd think that putting different material in front of the same mics would probably slightly change the frequency response.

case · 3rd August 2007

so essentially screwing the ball off a 58 turns it into a 57?

Jonboy79 · 3rd August 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by case

so essentially screwing the ball off a 58 turns it into a 57?

That's been my experience.

XLR2XLR · 3rd August 2007

57 = plastic end of X shape

58 = metal end of Y shape + foam + different material

Anything different that "interferes" with sound waves at a given frequency
will change the tonal characteristic, the 58 and 57 are not sounding the same
to me.

Closest proximity from the actual diaphragm to sound source (physically) is different for each mic and so they can never sound the same on a given source.

doorknocker · 3rd August 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by mortlar

I hooked up my shure sm57 right next to my sm58 for a a/b test. I played classical guitar, and recorded on two separate tracks. I am not able to hear any audible difference between the mics. Do any of you hear the difference? Are my ears+monitors really that bad?

I guess it's not your ears and probably also not the monitors but rather your preamp. Hook up a 57 and a 58 to a great preamp and there's a world of difference between the two. Frankly, I've never used a 58 on a recording so far, I found it to be too sibliant and 'spiky' on vocals and too dull on instruments. On the other hand , I had good results with 57s for strummed acoustic guitars and naturally snare and guitar amps.

The difference is in the way the mic picks up the sound and the 57 is much more focused. To my ears, the 58 sounds like bad hi-fi whereas the 57 is focused, cutting and full. Not a hi-end sound but something that usually sits well in a mix. I take a 57 with a good preamp over most entry-level condensers (and some higher priced ones too) any day.

FULL-DUPLEX · 3rd August 2007

I like the SM 57 more than the SM 58. The SM 57 is more like a studio mic and the SM 58 is more the live vocal thing (on stage)...

2nd August 2007	#1
mortlar Gear Head Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 69 Thread Starter	Audible difference between sm57 & sm58? I hooked up my shure sm57 right next to my sm58 for a a/b test. I played classical guitar, and recorded on two separate tracks. I am not able to hear any audible difference between the mics. Do any of you hear the difference? Are my ears+monitors really that bad?

3rd August 2007	#8
6strings Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2005 Location: New England Posts: 1,727	Specs are slightly different between the two mics. It's no big secret... SM58: "It has a tailored vocal response for a sound which is a world standard for singing or speech." Attached Thumbnails Last edited by 6strings; 3rd August 2007 at 01:38 PM.. Reason: added data

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2nd August 2007	#2
scrubs Gear addict Joined: Feb 2005 Location: NC Posts: 414	No, they are essentially the same mic. Slightly different on vocals up close, due to the bigger basket/windscreen on the 58, but the guts are the same.

3rd August 2007	#3
The Teej Gear Head Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 31	They are very similar mics, but they are definitely different. Proximity effect is more exaggerated on the SM58. The 58 has a broad boost in the upper mids whereas the 57 has a bigger, narrower boost... I think about 5db around 5 or 6k. Having said that, an A/B test side by side would probably not reveal those differences without some work. I think in a mix or even in a live sound application you might notice this a little easier. Just one man's opinion.

3rd August 2007	#4
tabiggs Gear nut Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Oklahoma, USA Posts: 111	Although they are very simular in design, I suspect that you would hear more of a difference if you were recording voice rather than guitar.

3rd August 2007	#6
andi85 Gear interested Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 20	Really? I tried that once and wouldn't do it ever again without some kind of windscreen against pop sounds. And then I think you can almost stick with the 58, can't you?

3rd August 2007	#7
Jonboy79 Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 2,636	They're the same mic, only difference is in the proximity effect as a result of the ball on the 58. Unscrew the ball and you've got a 57

3rd August 2007	#9
Tomer1 Lives for gear Joined: May 2006 Location: Haifa,Israel Posts: 1,282	Could it be the 58's metal mesh causing this slight difference?

3rd August 2007	#10
andi85 Gear interested Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 20	Sure. What else? Or seriously...as far as I know, the capsules are identical, so that's one of the few possible things.

3rd August 2007	#12
case Gear interested Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 4	so essentially screwing the ball off a 58 turns it into a 57?

3rd August 2007	#14
XLR2XLR Gear addict Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 317	57 = plastic end of X shape 58 = metal end of Y shape + foam + different material Anything different that "interferes" with sound waves at a given frequency will change the tonal characteristic, the 58 and 57 are not sounding the same to me. Closest proximity from the actual diaphragm to sound source (physically) is different for each mic and so they can never sound the same on a given source.

3rd August 2007	#16
FULL-DUPLEX Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 621	I like the SM 57 more than the SM 58. The SM 57 is more like a studio mic and the SM 58 is more the live vocal thing (on stage)...