Extra vids for Floaties! www.floatplane.com/channel/Th... Car Channel: / @garbagetime420 Game Channel: / @helloimgaming Drum Channel: / @the.drum.thing .
exactly, even if the mic sounds bad (or is like a stock mic on a laptop) it can add to the vibe, for example the first few Car Seat Headrest albums were recorded on a laptop mic into Garageband and those albums have such a great lo-fi sound to them which makes the music feel more personal
I found an SM57 in a gutter once. Worked great. Left it at a gig and someone else took it home by accident, it's probably still out there gigging to this day.
I remember years ago seeing a video of an SM58 getting buried in the dirt for a whole year on CZcams. A year later they dug it up and it sounded exactly the same. They're absolutely invincible
@@LordofDiamondsMetal While I understand that their microphones are probably quite strong, I will remind you that literally anything can be used as a hammer even a piece of glass
True story: I'm a Quality Analyst at a small engine factory. One day the engines at the run-test station STANK, like we were gagging. One of the guys said it smelled like "burning roaches". After literally sniffing around for a while, I found the aluminum components smelled like sour ass, because the machining coolant had anaerobic bacteria growing in it, and the heat was cooking the bacteria and warming up the smell. This was a quality issue, because the customers were going to open up those boxes and get punched in the face with that smell. So I had to write a report and explain as professionally as possible about how a "foul odor" described as "burning insects" was causing "strong involuntary physical reactions and distress" to personnel, and presented a customer service problem.
I’m so glad (kinda?) that other people know about this. It’s hydraulic fluid/dirt buildup in machines where I smell it. Nothing makes me genuinely wheeze like that. It’s horrendous
Glad you did this test, because I've legit been curious if my SM7B has had an issue for this very reason. Crazy how long these buggers last for! I could hear the difference between the old SM58 and the new SM58. There's a crispness to the new one that feels a noticeably softened on the old one, but it's subtle. The SM7B sounded exactly the same to me though.
You should see my war battered EV 635a, lovingly referred to by my friends as the "Chernobyl Microphone". Still used for VO and instrument recording like a champ. Edit: Recorded a video of it on this channel for those who are curious
It is honestly so refreshing to get a *"New thing actually good"* type of video as opposed to the depressing disappointment in the tech that let you down specials. The fact that type of video had to be made more than once really speaks to the state of most modern tech
@@chrisheartman9263 What I mean to say here is that they were, and still are. It's not a given that even the same company can keep up the same production quality over an extended period of time.
Would be interesting to see him do a follow up comparing to modern cheap knockoffs of these old mic designs. Some are amazing, some are trash. And comparing to modern designs like say Lewitt
I have an SM57 that I “rescued” from a fraternity basement in University. It looked like it had been through a war zone. No idea how long it had lived in beer, vomit and standing water. Cleaned it up and it sounds just as good as the one I bought new.
I mean, the rats moved in later. The microphone foamies smell like hot ass brand new (and for weeks!) I suggest hand washing with a couple drops of dish soap, using only squishing motions.
As a sound engineer, we love these things. I've had to improvise drum mics for bigger kits setups and slapping a sm57 onto a mount works wonders. I have a ton of these from the 80s and 90s working perfectly. They can also do pretty much whatever. Huge recommendation
One of the beauties of old dynamic mic tech is that once you have them, *you have them* - no more fiddling/tweaking needed. A good portion of the time in my experience, "bad mic" was really closer to "bad cable" or "bad XLR connection/mixing board." People are _so much closer_ to pro audio on a budget than they think these days.
And it's crazy how good you can get even putting your budget on a budget these days, a copy like the Behringer XM8500 sounds amazing for all of 20 bucks new
Something I think about a lot is that once Binging with Babish did a tour of his place, and his setup for VO was a blue yeti surrounded by an arc of sound deadening egg crate foam, and that man sounds damn beautiful
sound engineer here, although i’m more of a sennheiser guy, i have to say whenever people ask what mic for everything, it’s an sm58. used it for drums, used it for cabinets, works like a dream. really neutral sound profile, despite being a dynamic mic
57s/58s were always good on drums but i mean that now more than ever they can be used solely for a drum track in a pinch. if really limited you can get creative with a mono overhead and kick mic then use software to get it sounding good
@@vine00 oh yea, my bad, i’m a bit slow sometimes, absolutely you can mic up an entire kit using 57/58, which is 95% the same mic. in my musical career, before turning as a full time audio engineer i was a drummer, so drums is always something i put extra work into when mastering a track. i’ve heard shit drum recordings done with incredible mics and absolutely trash drums recorded with the humble sm57/58 sounding incredible, the trick is where you set your mic, how you mess with post processing and mostly how the drummer plays
Fun little fact about the legendary SM58 - the round "pop shield" part is purposely *designed* to crumple easily. That's why you see so many dented ones, especially if you've ever played in bands/practise rooms. The design helps to stop impacts from affecting the rest of the mic by absorbing the force. Replacing them is super-easy, too.
@@vadnegruBoth of the older mics shows the same characteristics in their differences though. So either something has changed in manufacturing or they age in that way. Which wouldn’t be totally surprising. Mics do tend to sound a different with age.
The best endorsement of the SM57/SM58 I heard was that while it might not be "perfect" on absolutely everything, you can bet that it's been used on everything by at least one person in history, and there's documentation out there on techniques and methods for how best to use it for anything. I've used 57s on electric guitars, bass guitar, snares, toms, kicks, vocals, even as a room mic in a bathroom for a drum kit and it's worked in pretty much every use case I've thrown it at
I've heard several times that STP's Core album was almost entirely SM57s. Doesn't surprise me a bit. It's the first mic I bought, and would be the one I recommend as anyone else's first, too. That or the 58. You can always put a pop filter on a 57 though. At any rate, it's one mic you'll never regret having a few of, because even when you have a mic locker full of options, at some point, it'll either be the right one, or at least not the wrong one.
When I was in school for sound engineering we had a large assortment of mics to choose from. We had the cheap 57s all the way up to Neumann U 87s. Every single time I went into the studio I would choose the 57 every time because it worked for EVERYTHING. One of the most versatile pieces of equipment ever produced and I'll always recommend it to people for any situation.
@@crawlzzz The other mic I used in the sound engineering courses I took that worked on nearly everything was the AKG C414 XLS -- opposite end of the spectrum from the SM57 in terms of price ofc, but that thing worked great on bloody anything you put it in front of, *especially* on toms, if I had the money I would get a pair immediately even just for that
Shure mics are so solid- the SM58 is used so much on stage because that metal windshield does a genius job of protecting the microphone. That thing can look dented as hell yet still work perfectly. I don't have an SM7B (although I was tempted). Currently I have two Shure MV7X which is like its little brother. I can rely on these things to work flawlessly.
Worked at a local FM station using SM7B's and the main failure point is where they screw to the stand. Aluminum threads would strip so we'd have a perfectly good mic and no clean way to mount it. Great vid as usual!
It makes perfect sense for them to sound the same. Microphones are quite simple devices and as you mention good audio stays good. I did notice quite a difference between the sm58s and the broadasting mics. The broadcasting mics seem to be more specialised in recording voice audio, more highs. The sm58s seem more like all round use. Regardless I do want to mention that I have always really appreciated the audio in your videos. It's quite a bit better than many other youtubers IMO and that is definitely not just the microphones, terrible mics can sound great with the right room/setup.
I’ve worked in live events and concerts as a tech for almost a decade, and one of the classic jokes is (in some form) that you can use a sm58 to hammer in scaffold pins for a spot tower and then throw it off the top, and the sound guy can just pick it up off the ground and use it as is
something I've learned with any foam from any factory, rinse it with hot water and soap before use, Especially pop filters. Just the factories alone have so much junk in the air that gets on the foam.
I'm almost certain that it's the actual product still off-gasing. And since it's most likely been shipped with each component inside a sealed plastic bag, that off-gasing just... lingers. Might also adhere to the material as a film, though, and that's probably why the washing has an impact
The SM58 is essentially the AK-47 of the mic world. It’s everywhere, easy to use and always works no matter how you treat it. A Swedish studio magazine putting it to the test. They whacked it a few times, dropped it from different heights, submerged it in liquid (at least comparable to dropping it in a glass of beer) and ended it by burying it in the garden. They reported it might had less treble, but said it could just be some of the grime blocking the frequencies. Roger Daltrey of The Who loves them, because he would spin them like a lasso and it wouldn’t matter if he smacked something, and as long as he taped the cable, it wouldn’t become loose. Many mics might sound better, but the SM57/58 are amazing tools, and amazing value. And because they last, picking up a used one is always worth it!
When i was an on site IT tech for a school I think i fixed their SM58 about 4 times and that's why i love that mic actually reparable unlike new garbage
I’m starting a music production degree and coincidentally a lot of your videos that are coming out are lining up with the stuff I’m learning! I’m loving it
it's so strange hearing the mic stories through an actually good sounding microphone Edit - note about the 57s and 58s, people have run them over with cars and theyve worked fine after!
I really like that the video schedule is relaxed now, and I am happy with the new extra vids! Thanks so much for doing this, you have put a smile on all our faces.
I totally came across your channel while searching something else and I have to say I've been watching all your videos started going waaaay back the videos are great and the commentary is classic love it all
I work at a place where you can rent a band practice space where we use a lot of sm58s, and they always come back with so many dents in the grill, nothing like spending 5 minutes of the floor smacking a stick on the inside of the grill and it comes out good as new. Love 'em
Nah man, real men use "Xuanding Gaming mic, wireless microphone, HIFI gaming, Professional Microphone, TikTok mic, Podcast micrphone". (the name is made up btw, no clue if Xuangding exists. tho i doubt it)
@@Friendly_Neighborhood_Dozer fun fact there are two Xuanding companies, one making textiles like bedding and tablecloths and the other producing steel mesh
Processing is everything. No matter what mic you use, the processing makes 70% of the sound quality. Compression, limiters, EQ etc. That's how pros get that crazy mic sound in podcasts or music!
I record other people’s voices for a living. You can get a perfectly acceptable sound out of a SM57 but you could never make it sound like a U87. Sometimes (often times, tbh) the 57 is even the right choice. Even for expensive mics, they’ll have intrinsic characteristics that color whatever they touch. For instance, Making an AKG414 sound dark and smooth would be a losing battle. Mic choice isn’t everything but it is a lot. You don’t want to spend any time fighting the sound of a mic, when you could just use the mic with the right sound. All that said, yeah, use an SM57 for everything if you have to. They sound good on everything except maybe a bass drum, but even then, just mic the drum head for the thwack and fake the thump.
@@thehousecat93 Yeah totally, mics are more important than I implied there. And the recording setup too. The wrong mic and wrong position can't be fixed in post, and I've tried (many painful hours lol). Though for a decent podcast/voice sound it's mostly just processing and mic position imo
Lovely video as always. Literally have a handful of SM58s and an SM7B, best investment, recorded thousand(s) of episodes of various podcasts for nearly a decade now.
That's the amazing thing about good audio equipment: It stays good! That's why it always a good idea to try to find the stuff you want used first before you drop the money on a new one!
I love these little pro audio videos. Really hits the spot. I’ve heard stories of people using 58s as hammers and getting run over by cars and still working.
Ive been wanting to try my shot at voice acting and have been apprehensive about picking up a secondhand mic. This video is EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you Stinky dingus man. I wish you many good frank sheds and cashies finds in the futire
@@felio_ oh god I cab only imagine how endless and stinky the ocean of knock offs are. I'll probably have to do some more research to authenticate things
When I geared up for a podcast about a year and a half ago, I did some investigation. $100 USD for the SM57/58 compared to nearly four times the cost for an SM7B, and the SM57/58 is 90-95% the same sound, even closer if you do a little EQ work. I spent $400 on the four SM57 mics, bought the pop filter attachments (I maybe should have just gotten the SM58 in retrospect, but whatever), and got me a Rodecaster II Pro. It is bang on the best way I could have done that, and I could have gone even cheaper if I dove into the second hand market for SM57/58s and stuck with the Zoom P4. It’s honestly making me feel like everyone buying the SM7B is a sucker. Those things are crazy overvalued, especially considering you have to invest nearly $200 USD to boost the gain on the SM7B and get it where you need. My Rodecaster II Pro has good enough preamps that I don’t need any more hardware. In short, the SM57 and SM58 are THE best you can get from a value to performance perspective, and their price point makes them accessible to just about anyone saving a few weeks of cash.
I have some equipment that I didn't expect to last as long as it did but by now I'm certain, that stuff like my DT770s will survive me but high atop that list of indestructible items is an SM57 that I bought used 16 years ago for ~50€ and that's probably in its mid 30s by now. With me alone this thing has handled stage and studio use and while I try to use my equipment in a way that it lasts me a long time the previous owner sure didn't and still after enduring hundreds of thousands of snare hits (and probably a good amount of being hit itself), woodwinds, acoustic and electric guitars and even vocals, I still end up using it despite having acquired newer and "better" microphones, this thing just sounds good if you treat it well and know how to use it.
I use some 58s that have been (ab)used professionally (live gigs and studio) for over 20 years before arriving to my hands, and they still work perfectly. Works great for voice, classical/acoustic guitar and guitar cabs.
In my school we have a decently big stagecraft setup. We also have one sm58, and all of the tables, mics, speakers, etc are handled with great care. Except for that one, every year we have a class for 6 fridays where the toughness of that mic is shown, by throwing it across the assembly hall (where we've got our stuff) It has a small piece of floor stuck to it but it still works like a charm.
Wade, I WILL SAY as an audio pro and vocalist, that they DO sound somewhat different in very fine ways. I mean think about once you've got a fat compressor ran on any of those and some EQ and air added to them -- there's some fine differences. But generally speaking YES they are all the same thing. I noticed on the second sm58 it sounds a little "dirtier" on vowels, though I can't explain or find a good word for it. A little bit of grit. The SM7s sound nearly identical but I can hear a fine difference. I'm trained for that though so of course I can. If you recorded into any of these -- nobody would know any better from a listening perspective, especially once the audio was very colored in with post processing effects.
Another great thing to mention about the sm57 is how freakishly versatile it is. Pretty much the go to for snare drums, guitar amps and in many cases vocals, it’s just a powerhouse
As a sound engineer it makes me very happy to see your excitement for these legendary microphones. It's always a rule of thumb in the recording world to have an SM57 & 58 in your collection of mics. Glad to see they still prove themselves as if they were new.
Audio engineer here. Used to work in rentals and in a school, and over 7-8 years I think I saw only one get thrown out (some dingus removed the head from a 57 and it ripped the diaphragm off, basically irreparable). There's a reason why we used 57's and 58's for the first year students, before letting them get their hands on the ribbon mics... I personally own four SM57's, two SM58's, and two SM7B's - the 58's I paid 20 bucks each, and the 57's and SM7B's were saved from the trash and required minor soldering.
I was looking away making my dinner when you were recording on the various mics. Kept wondering when you were going to change mics as I couldn't tell the difference. Looked up and saw you were on the 3rd already and assumed that I just had bad ears, but then bam - even you said they were all the same, so I feel justified. :p
i was a theater tech for a few years, our audio guy of course had several SM58's and one time told me about an advertisement Shure had for the 58's and it was the mic in a whole mug of beer with the tag line of "it'll work in the morning." and he told me it was 100% correct, alleging he him self had tested it. an absolute icon of performance and reliability.
I have a shure pg42 that I bought when I was barely out of school. It's a solid grenade of a mic, they don't even sell it any more, and it still sounds the exact same as the day I bought it. Good audio hardware will basically always be good.
It's very strange to hear one "yeah mate" monologue with good audio quality
IKR it’s not crunchy enough
Definitely ruined the vibe with the good quality
its so conflicting
@@jadz.nerdytransfem WHERE'S THE CRONCH!!!
nothing compares to the mic quality of the giant airpod though ,,,, i still cackle with laughter listening to that
i am really enjoying the new relaxed video schedule.
Facts
totally
Exactly. It allows him to take time to make his videos good.
Not saying his older videos WEREN’T good, but you get what I mean.
So glad he is no "LTT ing " it for an upload schedule. Quality
It makes for a pleasant surprise
"Can you recommend a good microphone to me?"
"Yeah, Shure"
"........"
Good one. It Shure sounds fine. :) These are my favorite types of jokes bro/sis.
@@GalacticFoxCatThe majority disagrees. Seems like it's the corner for you instead!
Where is this man getting his mics? An sm7b for $449 used???? They’re $399 at Sweetwater!
unshure about that
@@GalacticFoxCatoh stfu you and ur hate comments lmfao, stop watching
Mics are so important to music. Even a crappy mic has value if it can provide the right texture.
Heck yeah. Honestly, you can get so many different variations with sound just by what mic you use and where you put it. A lost art form.
exactly, even if the mic sounds bad (or is like a stock mic on a laptop) it can add to the vibe, for example the first few Car Seat Headrest albums were recorded on a laptop mic into Garageband and those albums have such a great lo-fi sound to them which makes the music feel more personal
i used a Babyphone once as a mic.
The quality? trash
The vibe? immaculate
People kept asking Zeal and Ardor how they got their incredible vocal tone. "I bought the cheapest mic I could and shouted really loud".
@@TheJargonKingis your name a reference to the Peter Hammill song?
"Mocofones"
Freestyler!!
i had to replay it like 3 times LOL
mokofons
mokafon
Rocco mocco fone
I found an SM57 in a gutter once. Worked great. Left it at a gig and someone else took it home by accident, it's probably still out there gigging to this day.
it travels the world gigging where it’s needed
Shure dynamic mics are indestructible. it's a common joke that they can double as a hammer
I remember years ago seeing a video of an SM58 getting buried in the dirt for a whole year on CZcams. A year later they dug it up and it sounded exactly the same. They're absolutely invincible
THe brotherhood of the traveling SM57.
@@LordofDiamondsMetal While I understand that their microphones are probably quite strong, I will remind you that literally anything can be used as a hammer even a piece of glass
True story: I'm a Quality Analyst at a small engine factory. One day the engines at the run-test station STANK, like we were gagging. One of the guys said it smelled like "burning roaches". After literally sniffing around for a while, I found the aluminum components smelled like sour ass, because the machining coolant had anaerobic bacteria growing in it, and the heat was cooking the bacteria and warming up the smell.
This was a quality issue, because the customers were going to open up those boxes and get punched in the face with that smell. So I had to write a report and explain as professionally as possible about how a "foul odor" described as "burning insects" was causing "strong involuntary physical reactions and distress" to personnel, and presented a customer service problem.
This is hilarious
God that is a mood.
interesting story, thanks!
I’m so glad (kinda?) that other people know about this. It’s hydraulic fluid/dirt buildup in machines where I smell it. Nothing makes me genuinely wheeze like that. It’s horrendous
Glad you did this test, because I've legit been curious if my SM7B has had an issue for this very reason. Crazy how long these buggers last for! I could hear the difference between the old SM58 and the new SM58. There's a crispness to the new one that feels a noticeably softened on the old one, but it's subtle. The SM7B sounded exactly the same to me though.
honestly i find it crazy how modern the sm7b's design is considering it was made in 2001
not the stupid ahh verifitards
I’d kill for an OG 1970’s SM7, those are the real grail microphones
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
hey youre the guy from smplive
I don’t know why i was expecting the freakish ears on a stand for the comparison…
Well, they still got mics as far as i know. Now that you said it, i wanna listen to one of Wade's stories recorded on them!
Those are mics, so maybe a freakish mouth on a stand would do?
@@belyashichek "Mic-test Bogan Stories ASMR to Relax and Fall Asleep To"
Ahahah same, then then I went “wait.. oh" 😅
Well now you get a freakish mouth on a body!
You should see my war battered EV 635a, lovingly referred to by my friends as the "Chernobyl Microphone". Still used for VO and instrument recording like a champ. Edit: Recorded a video of it on this channel for those who are curious
you know we need to see pics right
Please upload a short of the mic. Would love to see it
make a video plaes
looks like one of those German grenades to me lol
did you use it as a pleasuring device? otherwise i dont see how it can get battered
It is honestly so refreshing to get a *"New thing actually good"* type of video as opposed to the depressing disappointment in the tech that let you down specials.
The fact that type of video had to be made more than once really speaks to the state of most modern tech
"new thing" they're still from the seventies lmfao
new old design thing is good.
@@chrisheartman9263 What I mean to say here is that they were, and still are. It's not a given that even the same company can keep up the same production quality over an extended period of time.
Would be interesting to see him do a follow up comparing to modern cheap knockoffs of these old mic designs. Some are amazing, some are trash. And comparing to modern designs like say Lewitt
@@venstomayeah, Shure could’ve easily fallen prey to cost cutting that reduced their reliability. Thankfully they haven’t
I have an SM57 that I “rescued” from a fraternity basement in University. It looked like it had been through a war zone. No idea how long it had lived in beer, vomit and standing water. Cleaned it up and it sounds just as good as the one I bought new.
Sounds like a hell of a podcast lmao
The 57 can be passed down through genrrations of your family and still work.
Im shure someone out there has a musician family and this has happened
"How dare you make something smell THIS BAD..." that doesn't have four wheels and reside in your garage, Wade?
But it has been banned from its interior, so its fine, right?
@@mhammadalloush5104 right? _right?_
I could've sworn he and James had found all the causes of stink in his fleet?
It's the Jeff of mocofones.
I mean, the rats moved in later. The microphone foamies smell like hot ass brand new (and for weeks!)
I suggest hand washing with a couple drops of dish soap, using only squishing motions.
As a sound engineer, we love these things. I've had to improvise drum mics for bigger kits setups and slapping a sm57 onto a mount works wonders. I have a ton of these from the 80s and 90s working perfectly. They can also do pretty much whatever. Huge recommendation
If it makes a sound, SM57 can capture it, good enough
Given this is a CZcams comment I don’t expect an answer, but do you have any recommended resources for getting into sound engineering?
@@social_anthrax Do you have a garage? Go buy a mixing board, some headphones, some mics, and start making noise.
One of the beauties of old dynamic mic tech is that once you have them, *you have them* - no more fiddling/tweaking needed. A good portion of the time in my experience, "bad mic" was really closer to "bad cable" or "bad XLR connection/mixing board." People are _so much closer_ to pro audio on a budget than they think these days.
And it's crazy how good you can get even putting your budget on a budget these days, a copy like the Behringer XM8500 sounds amazing for all of 20 bucks new
Something I think about a lot is that once Binging with Babish did a tour of his place, and his setup for VO was a blue yeti surrounded by an arc of sound deadening egg crate foam, and that man sounds damn beautiful
im so used to garbage mics during nugget episodes that hearing the quality of these ones threw me for a massive loop, mah gawd o_o
Hearing the microphone stories in actually decent quality is a jarring transition from the mics that nuggets have.
sound engineer here, although i’m more of a sennheiser guy, i have to say whenever people ask what mic for everything, it’s an sm58. used it for drums, used it for cabinets, works like a dream.
really neutral sound profile, despite being a dynamic mic
yeah no you can totally get away with a 58 on drums these days, i'd say the tuning/heads and room acoustics are far more important
57s/58s were always good on drums but i mean that now more than ever they can be used solely for a drum track in a pinch. if really limited you can get creative with a mono overhead and kick mic then use software to get it sounding good
@@vine00 yea but with a mono overhead you gonna get cymbals predominantly. you can work it out with a DAW, but no thanks, i’d rather do it the old way
@@vine00 oh yea, my bad, i’m a bit slow sometimes, absolutely you can mic up an entire kit using 57/58, which is 95% the same mic. in my musical career, before turning as a full time audio engineer i was a drummer, so drums is always something i put extra work into when mastering a track. i’ve heard shit drum recordings done with incredible mics and absolutely trash drums recorded with the humble sm57/58 sounding incredible, the trick is where you set your mic, how you mess with post processing and mostly how the drummer plays
Fun little fact about the legendary SM58 - the round "pop shield" part is purposely *designed* to crumple easily. That's why you see so many dented ones, especially if you've ever played in bands/practise rooms. The design helps to stop impacts from affecting the rest of the mic by absorbing the force. Replacing them is super-easy, too.
Yeah it's like the crumple zone in a car.
Closed my eyes for the test and I swear I could hear a slight difference between the first two. But not any that'd be noticeable without A/B'ing them.
Its probably just worn foam from the pop filter. Seamed like it popped a bit worse but barely.
I think it's just variations in production and not the actual wear
@@vadnegruBoth of the older mics shows the same characteristics in their differences though. So either something has changed in manufacturing or they age in that way. Which wouldn’t be totally surprising. Mics do tend to sound a different with age.
Can’t wait for the microphone stories in this episode
My entire studio is built on the back of used SM57s. Absolute champs, so versatile and rugged.
The windscreens don't stink! They just have the mild and pleasant odour of isocyanates...
The best endorsement of the SM57/SM58 I heard was that while it might not be "perfect" on absolutely everything, you can bet that it's been used on everything by at least one person in history, and there's documentation out there on techniques and methods for how best to use it for anything. I've used 57s on electric guitars, bass guitar, snares, toms, kicks, vocals, even as a room mic in a bathroom for a drum kit and it's worked in pretty much every use case I've thrown it at
I've heard several times that STP's Core album was almost entirely SM57s. Doesn't surprise me a bit. It's the first mic I bought, and would be the one I recommend as anyone else's first, too. That or the 58. You can always put a pop filter on a 57 though. At any rate, it's one mic you'll never regret having a few of, because even when you have a mic locker full of options, at some point, it'll either be the right one, or at least not the wrong one.
When I was in school for sound engineering we had a large assortment of mics to choose from. We had the cheap 57s all the way up to Neumann U 87s. Every single time I went into the studio I would choose the 57 every time because it worked for EVERYTHING. One of the most versatile pieces of equipment ever produced and I'll always recommend it to people for any situation.
@@crawlzzz The other mic I used in the sound engineering courses I took that worked on nearly everything was the AKG C414 XLS -- opposite end of the spectrum from the SM57 in terms of price ofc, but that thing worked great on bloody anything you put it in front of, *especially* on toms, if I had the money I would get a pair immediately even just for that
I dropped my mic and it has a huge dent in the top. It does, in fact, sound worse :3
:3
:3
Cool
:3
Don’t talk to me unless your mic sounds like a 2006 CoD Squeaker
Shure mics are so solid- the SM58 is used so much on stage because that metal windshield does a genius job of protecting the microphone. That thing can look dented as hell yet still work perfectly. I don't have an SM7B (although I was tempted). Currently I have two Shure MV7X which is like its little brother. I can rely on these things to work flawlessly.
a great mod to improve the mv7 sound is to buy the rk 345 windscreen that the sm7b uses
Worked at a local FM station using SM7B's and the main failure point is where they screw to the stand. Aluminum threads would strip so we'd have a perfectly good mic and no clean way to mount it.
Great vid as usual!
That's where some good ol' duct tape comes into play
It makes perfect sense for them to sound the same. Microphones are quite simple devices and as you mention good audio stays good. I did notice quite a difference between the sm58s and the broadasting mics. The broadcasting mics seem to be more specialised in recording voice audio, more highs. The sm58s seem more like all round use. Regardless I do want to mention that I have always really appreciated the audio in your videos. It's quite a bit better than many other youtubers IMO and that is definitely not just the microphones, terrible mics can sound great with the right room/setup.
I’ve worked in live events and concerts as a tech for almost a decade, and one of the classic jokes is (in some form) that you can use a sm58 to hammer in scaffold pins for a spot tower and then throw it off the top, and the sound guy can just pick it up off the ground and use it as is
something I've learned with any foam from any factory, rinse it with hot water and soap before use, Especially pop filters. Just the factories alone have so much junk in the air that gets on the foam.
I'm almost certain that it's the actual product still off-gasing. And since it's most likely been shipped with each component inside a sealed plastic bag, that off-gasing just... lingers. Might also adhere to the material as a film, though, and that's probably why the washing has an impact
The SM58 is essentially the AK-47 of the mic world. It’s everywhere, easy to use and always works no matter how you treat it.
A Swedish studio magazine putting it to the test. They whacked it a few times, dropped it from different heights, submerged it in liquid (at least comparable to dropping it in a glass of beer) and ended it by burying it in the garden. They reported it might had less treble, but said it could just be some of the grime blocking the frequencies.
Roger Daltrey of The Who loves them, because he would spin them like a lasso and it wouldn’t matter if he smacked something, and as long as he taped the cable, it wouldn’t become loose.
Many mics might sound better, but the SM57/58 are amazing tools, and amazing value. And because they last, picking up a used one is always worth it!
It sounds so weird to hear Wayne's voice through good mics and not nuggets
*Wade
I bought a used Rode Procaster. It had a 10 year warranty. A good mic is timeless.
My first thought seeing the title:
“Yes”
Maybe you should watch the video instead of leaving this uninformed comment :)
@@baconwizardTake a joke, i know the mics are good.
@@baconwizardAnd i said “MY FIRST Thought.” Meaning I didn’t watch the video yet.
@@ThatSocialKid you could say something remotely funny
@@baconwizard The hell do you mean?
When i was an on site IT tech for a school I think i fixed their SM58 about 4 times and that's why i love that mic actually reparable unlike new garbage
"get the good thing once and be happy" apply that everywhere in your life. Always.
Nice, finally got a mic video, we love ya mate!
hearing Wade's ridiculous stories in full quality is unexplainably cursed. It's like listening to the full version of Walk Through the Park
The mic stories begs the question of when Wade will eventually play Fortnite
The world probably needs it, but I'd still be viciously disappointed.
I like how the music just ends during the Frank bit and were left to silenty watch her for the last few seconds.
I’m starting a music production degree and coincidentally a lot of your videos that are coming out are lining up with the stuff I’m learning! I’m loving it
DankClass
@@felio_ oh so dank
it's so strange hearing the mic stories through an actually good sounding microphone
Edit - note about the 57s and 58s, people have run them over with cars and theyve worked fine after!
I really like that the video schedule is relaxed now, and I am happy with the new extra vids! Thanks so much for doing this, you have put a smile on all our faces.
I totally came across your channel while searching something else and I have to say I've been watching all your videos started going waaaay back the videos are great and the commentary is classic love it all
0:02 moccofones
Frank just stops and so does the music lol
Making this play at the same time on all of my devices! (Because your channel's awesome!)
I work at a place where you can rent a band practice space where we use a lot of sm58s, and they always come back with so many dents in the grill, nothing like spending 5 minutes of the floor smacking a stick on the inside of the grill and it comes out good as new. Love 'em
favorite before sleep routine is watching your vids
as long as it sounds like earrape when i violently blow into it ima use it
Even a crappy pop filter can prevent that. BUT, you learn that getting ridiculously close to the mic and raising your voice is 10x funnier
honestly i wasn't even looking at the screen when you were playing back audio from the mics, they all literally sounded exactly the same to me!
Loving the more frequent uploads Wade!
real men use a Zeom ™Q7 Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Mic (Pink) Microphone
Nah man, real men use "Xuanding Gaming mic, wireless microphone, HIFI gaming, Professional Microphone, TikTok mic, Podcast micrphone".
(the name is made up btw, no clue if Xuangding exists. tho i doubt it)
@@Friendly_Neighborhood_Dozer fun fact there are two Xuanding companies, one making textiles like bedding and tablecloths and the other producing steel mesh
bruh@@That_Ultimate_Camry
@@Friendly_Neighborhood_Dozer I have a Google addiction
Processing is everything. No matter what mic you use, the processing makes 70% of the sound quality. Compression, limiters, EQ etc. That's how pros get that crazy mic sound in podcasts or music!
I record other people’s voices for a living. You can get a perfectly acceptable sound out of a SM57 but you could never make it sound like a U87. Sometimes (often times, tbh) the 57 is even the right choice. Even for expensive mics, they’ll have intrinsic characteristics that color whatever they touch. For instance, Making an AKG414 sound dark and smooth would be a losing battle.
Mic choice isn’t everything but it is a lot. You don’t want to spend any time fighting the sound of a mic, when you could just use the mic with the right sound.
All that said, yeah, use an SM57 for everything if you have to. They sound good on everything except maybe a bass drum, but even then, just mic the drum head for the thwack and fake the thump.
@@thehousecat93 Yeah totally, mics are more important than I implied there. And the recording setup too. The wrong mic and wrong position can't be fixed in post, and I've tried (many painful hours lol).
Though for a decent podcast/voice sound it's mostly just processing and mic position imo
Lovely video as always. Literally have a handful of SM58s and an SM7B, best investment, recorded thousand(s) of episodes of various podcasts for nearly a decade now.
That's the amazing thing about good audio equipment: It stays good! That's why it always a good idea to try to find the stuff you want used first before you drop the money on a new one!
HOLY NEW VIDEO
Saw the video title and instantly looked forward to the crazy stories.
I was about to comment 'I can't tell the difference' and you just confirmed it. God I felt crazy in that moment.
I love these little pro audio videos. Really hits the spot. I’ve heard stories of people using 58s as hammers and getting run over by cars and still working.
Sounds like old radio! My favorite....
Hmmmmm, i wonder why you like it 🤔
5:06 No matter what, he will always end up in jail.
😢
Ive been wanting to try my shot at voice acting and have been apprehensive about picking up a secondhand mic. This video is EXACTLY what I needed.
Thank you Stinky dingus man. I wish you many good frank sheds and cashies finds in the futire
Beware of fake microphones! They are almost everywhere, they look good and they are cheap.
People have been copying sm58 since they cane out
@@felio_ oh god I cab only imagine how endless and stinky the ocean of knock offs are. I'll probably have to do some more research to authenticate things
It's so surreal to hear a wacky dankpods "story" through an actually decent sounding microphone
When I geared up for a podcast about a year and a half ago, I did some investigation. $100 USD for the SM57/58 compared to nearly four times the cost for an SM7B, and the SM57/58 is 90-95% the same sound, even closer if you do a little EQ work. I spent $400 on the four SM57 mics, bought the pop filter attachments (I maybe should have just gotten the SM58 in retrospect, but whatever), and got me a Rodecaster II Pro. It is bang on the best way I could have done that, and I could have gone even cheaper if I dove into the second hand market for SM57/58s and stuck with the Zoom P4. It’s honestly making me feel like everyone buying the SM7B is a sucker. Those things are crazy overvalued, especially considering you have to invest nearly $200 USD to boost the gain on the SM7B and get it where you need. My Rodecaster II Pro has good enough preamps that I don’t need any more hardware.
In short, the SM57 and SM58 are THE best you can get from a value to performance perspective, and their price point makes them accessible to just about anyone saving a few weeks of cash.
This is som extreme good advertisment for these mices
Convinced me to get one if i ever get the convidence to start streaming the games i like to play
i am happy that Shure kept there quality they always have had, deffo gonna keep this vid in mind when upgrading mic :D
under-5min gang
Yup
Ofc they would get worse over time, not everything can last forever
There are mics from the 60's that still sound phenomenal. I think it's less about the age, and more about how it was kept/cared for/etc.
Absolutely magical to hear one of Wade's stories in high quality.
Just wanted to say thanks for this video. I had to make the call to put my dad on a ventilator today and this vid gave me a smile so thank you.
Hearing “So like this one time…” through anything other than the crunchiest nugget mic is uncanny.
Love seing new content being uploaded
I have some equipment that I didn't expect to last as long as it did but by now I'm certain, that stuff like my DT770s will survive me but high atop that list of indestructible items is an SM57 that I bought used 16 years ago for ~50€ and that's probably in its mid 30s by now. With me alone this thing has handled stage and studio use and while I try to use my equipment in a way that it lasts me a long time the previous owner sure didn't and still after enduring hundreds of thousands of snare hits (and probably a good amount of being hit itself), woodwinds, acoustic and electric guitars and even vocals, I still end up using it despite having acquired newer and "better" microphones, this thing just sounds good if you treat it well and know how to use it.
i was busy preparing for work while you were doing the mic tests, didn't even notice the change in mics
this was an enjoyable and informational vidya
I use some 58s that have been (ab)used professionally (live gigs and studio) for over 20 years before arriving to my hands, and they still work perfectly. Works great for voice, classical/acoustic guitar and guitar cabs.
I can’t wait to see these on the next Tech that Disappointed Me video
Man, the moment the used one started the small imperfections of the audio transported me to high school speeches.
In my school we have a decently big stagecraft setup. We also have one sm58, and all of the tables, mics, speakers, etc are handled with great care. Except for that one, every year we have a class for 6 fridays where the toughness of that mic is shown, by throwing it across the assembly hall (where we've got our stuff) It has a small piece of floor stuck to it but it still works like a charm.
Wade, I WILL SAY as an audio pro and vocalist, that they DO sound somewhat different in very fine ways. I mean think about once you've got a fat compressor ran on any of those and some EQ and air added to them -- there's some fine differences. But generally speaking YES they are all the same thing. I noticed on the second sm58 it sounds a little "dirtier" on vowels, though I can't explain or find a good word for it. A little bit of grit. The SM7s sound nearly identical but I can hear a fine difference. I'm trained for that though so of course I can.
If you recorded into any of these -- nobody would know any better from a listening perspective, especially once the audio was very colored in with post processing effects.
Another great thing to mention about the sm57 is how freakishly versatile it is. Pretty much the go to for snare drums, guitar amps and in many cases vocals, it’s just a powerhouse
As a sound engineer it makes me very happy to see your excitement for these legendary microphones. It's always a rule of thumb in the recording world to have an SM57 & 58 in your collection of mics. Glad to see they still prove themselves as if they were new.
Every time you do microphone tests I feel like watching the Big Lez show again.
Waddiyatalkinabeet ya fucken druggo
Listening through a Chord DAC into my senny huduh 800s, the older mics have a touch more sibilance, but hardly anything to complain about.
The first microphone test that am able to actually listen and comprehend
Audio engineer here. Used to work in rentals and in a school, and over 7-8 years I think I saw only one get thrown out (some dingus removed the head from a 57 and it ripped the diaphragm off, basically irreparable). There's a reason why we used 57's and 58's for the first year students, before letting them get their hands on the ribbon mics...
I personally own four SM57's, two SM58's, and two SM7B's - the 58's I paid 20 bucks each, and the 57's and SM7B's were saved from the trash and required minor soldering.
I was looking away making my dinner when you were recording on the various mics. Kept wondering when you were going to change mics as I couldn't tell the difference. Looked up and saw you were on the 3rd already and assumed that I just had bad ears, but then bam - even you said they were all the same, so I feel justified. :p
"get the good thing once and be happy"
words to live by
that just speaks to the sheer quality of these things
When doing my bachelor of music (voice) 15 years ago, the sm58 was standard issue for all vocalists and was not optional. Only sm58's allowed
Dank himself ever said "Good headphones stay good" and that applies to microphones too clearly!
i was a theater tech for a few years, our audio guy of course had several SM58's and one time told me about an advertisement Shure had for the 58's and it was the mic in a whole mug of beer with the tag line of "it'll work in the morning." and he told me it was 100% correct, alleging he him self had tested it. an absolute icon of performance and reliability.
Ive got a sure mv7x and I’ve been loving it one of the newer mics i believe i get complemented on it constantly when playing games.
It’s so great to see something that dosent degraded immediately once it enters the same room as the one grit
Ngl i was just listening to most of this and didnt realize he switched mics during the test. Thought i was gonna get 4 different stories
Weird hearing his microphone voice coming from something that isn't terrible lol
I have a shure pg42 that I bought when I was barely out of school.
It's a solid grenade of a mic, they don't even sell it any more, and it still sounds the exact same as the day I bought it. Good audio hardware will basically always be good.
man, that sounds awesome!
*"Get the good thing once and be happy"*
Absolutely. Buy once, cry once.