Shure SM57 vs SM58

[niteblade]

anybody has experience using these microphones for vocal/instruments?

what are the differences between them?

care to give your views?

 

[sage]

I don't know much about mics, least alone the specs of techs of it, but I do know that most people use 57s for studio recordings, and 58s for live performance mics..

I'll go whip up a 57a one day and compare :}

 

[Godspeed64]

They are the same actually.. Just the head (filter I think, forgot it's name) is diff..
SM58 is more suited for vocals, SM57 more suited for instruments.. But anything can do lah..

 

[sage]

Mmz... To me and some others that I know, they're very different mics..

Again, I can't speak for specs & techs, but vocally when I last compared them on the same preamp/monitors, the tone capture along the mids were completely different ie I sounded different.

I'll go surf some up and see if I can find any info k.

 

[Mobius]

The 58 has a filter as mentioned by godspeed, the 57 doesn't. The filter prevents "popping" noises as the singer sings into the mic.

 

[milkmesto]

actually if i'm not wrong, the 58 has a different midrange emphasis to add punch to vocals. But you could use either for vocals, though personally i'm far more comfortable with the 58.

 

[btherl]

I've used a SM58 for singing. Compared to a cheap karaoke mic, it sounds more full. It does sound a bit "woofy" in comparison, but the voice is clearly audible. Shure says it "accentuates warmth and clarity". I think it's a matter of taste also .. you need to listen to a few mics and see what sound you like.

As for the details of what the SM58 and SM57 were designed for, there's no better reference than Shure themselves:
http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/WiredMicrophones/us_pro_sm_overview_content