Dynamic vs Condenser Microphones, SM57 vs P170

[@RubinRahman]

1:05 "A microphone is a device..." Thats the moment I strapped myself in for the ride lol

[@CaneMajor]

Thank you very much! I'm slowly pulling myself out of one of the longest creative slumps I've ever experienced and your complement helps a lot.

[@natearchuleta2003]

8 years on, I know most of this stuff but the content is great and your straightforward production keeps it pretty timeless. Also, your voice is noice.

[@danielsahagun4367]

Sir: You made my Day thanks for your Video-Lessons

[@iconaclastor]

the sound test difference between the two was what I was looking for, thanks.

[@fallingbed1]

Your voice reminds me of those puberty videos I watched in Middle school

[@neonlightning8062]

quite possibly the most informative video ive ever seen. EVER. Thank you very much.

[@CaneMajor]

Thank you! Good luck with your projects!

[@duartecosta9801]

neon lightning I totally agree

[@jedidiahgomez1938]

neon lightning 😁

[@clydesight]

Great video. You have a magnificent voice!

[@hemanthaabeywardena3442]

This is how explanations should be: to the point; so clear and amazingly presented. Thank you very much.

[@GhostSickness]

BEST VOICE EVER

[@lukalarry7349]

You probably dont care at all but does any of you know a way to get back into an Instagram account? I stupidly forgot the login password. I would love any help you can give me.

[@judsondevon1582]

@Luka Larry instablaster =)

[@lukalarry7349]

@Judson Devon Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm. Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@lukalarry7349]

@Judson Devon It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thank you so much you really help me out :D

[@judsondevon1582]

@Luka Larry no problem :D

[@MusicMikeVlogs]

I didn't learn anything new, but your voice is so soothing, I enjoyed the video anyway haha.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

It really is! Makes me feel happy and safe haha

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

SM57 is a "desert island" mic. It's not the best sounding on everything, but it is arguably the most versatile microphone ever made. It sounds good on MOST things, whereas say, a U87, sounds best on SOME things. Plus it's about $90 and nearly indestructible. If you record anything, an SM57 is like bringing a pencil to school or a hammer to a construction site. It is that basic of a necessity.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

thx bro

[@Jjf109nine]

Geek Therapy Radio I almost shed a tear out of joy. I would never trade my SM57, but I would trade my U87. In a bad room, the SM57 sounds 10x more professional. Let that sink in.

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

@@Jjf109nine Yup. The vast majority or engineers would agree. If they could only use one microphone for the rest of their lives on absolutely everything, it's the 57. From kick drum to female vocals, a 57 can do it where a $100,000 modded U87 wouldn't go near a kick (well, maybe room or overhead).

[@Jjf109nine]

Geek Therapy Radio Very true. When I tell upcoming engineers or artists to try an SM57 they think I am being cheap and end up getting a U87/U47 clone. They don’t understand the beauty of a SM57. 1. room: Any good dynamic sounds better than a LDC in a poor sounding room due to off-axis rejection. 2. tone: The SM57 has a bite and impulsive behavior which sounds very musical to the human ear. That instant record sound ala Bruce Springsteen. 3. SM57>SM7B: For me the SM57 works much better than the SM7B due to its impulsiveness. The way it handles transients is very unique and I have yet not found a mic that resembles that character (not even a SM7B). The SM57 is truly a legendary microphone. It works for you and not against you. I have to say that you need a high quality preamp (Neve works best for me) to hear its full potential.

[@bookofkils]

Wow...what a great voice you have!

[@noisepuppet]

Hey lemme borrow your voice thx

[@mintyCS]

+noisepuppet Holy shit yes.

[@agirotto1]

+noisepuppet "My darling, I... can't get enough o' your love, babe". I would sing it all day long.

[@havocproltd]

RIGHT?!?!

[@V1de0Phile]

Sweet! Thanks. Obvious how the P170 has better low freq response but the SM57 is much brighter. Great comparison test. Keep 'em coming!

[@sotem3608]

Very clear and concise, thank you for your video! I was equally surprised by the sound of the Shure SM57.

[@DanaTucker1]

I been doing this for over 45 years Brother. This is the best example I have ever seen comparing mics. Very well done!

[@JoysofNature]

he speaks like when we give apologies to some ones loss

[@YouVWatcher]

lmao

[@andreassylvan3478]

Hi. This video was very clear and easy to understand for anyone, and it's great that you don't assume that the audience has a lot of knowledge of microphones. It was interesting to hear the difference between the condenser and dynamic mic.

[@Arlo360-Official]

I greatly appreciate your no-nonsense approach and keep-it-simple style. I've been recording live bands for over a year and learned a lot from you.

[@twoowlspatterson9620]

Mr Trace, Very good information, and nicely presented. They both handle the natural resonance in your voice very well. Tough choice.

[@arsereg]

Thank you, I didn't know the difference between the 2 types of mic, and also wanted to know about Phantom. You sir, helped me a lot. Thank you

[@darkgreenambulance]

Very interesting comparisons. I was amazed how similar these microphones responded. The most noticeable difference was on the drum. Here the Shure had quite a lot of bass attenuation. Loved it on the other tests, though!

[@geekgeezergrandpainterview9942]

Great comparison and explanations. And you do have a simply extraordinary voice I could listen to for hours, incredible richness. Thanks a lot.

[@ericjacobsen6901]

Wow the Darbuka Drum at 8:25 sounded completely different. The SM57 was missing the low frequencies.

[@ShammyMcPumpkinhead]

I'd like to nominate this vid for the best A-B comparison vid ever posted on KZbin. I'm researching the Shure SM57 for a home studio. Thank you

[@CaneMajor]

Hello! I was surprised myself at how well the SM57 did with my voice and flutes. The 170 has a tendency to bass/muddy my voice up a bit. Thanks for stopping!

[@marin4311]

Very accurate, professional, well-made and useful video. Your voice is terrific for testing audio devices.

[@benthemiester]

"Luke, I am your father"

[@McQuads87]

benthemiester no... I am your father...

[@marvin1574]

"My son, Akeem"

[@devcastro]

Mandela effect right here! go

[@iamanass100]

You deserve a medal for this video... very informative and well done. Also, your voice is amazing.

[@Riviner]

Great stuff! I especially liked the various instruments on the end, untypical but something i've been looking for a while. Thanks a lot!

[@FourtySven]

listening to this guy makes me wanna go to sleep dont get me wrong, well detailed video and everything, maybe the best explained by far

[@dupeigekachi7822]

You are right about how well the dynamic mic recorded the flutes. I really didn't hear much difference in the outputs between the condenser and the dynamic mics. Very informative video! and very nice voice!

[@GoodmangoProductions]

Clearly an excellent way to A-B test microphones. Thanks for the video. And your voice is great!

[@Devismo]

Hey, thank you for taking the time to make this video. It was very helpful to me in learning more about AV. Thx again

[@derfly1]

Dear Canemajor/T, Yes I know this is for comments(not an email) but; an excellent mix of layperson language vs physics and electricity. I studied at Peabody Conservatory as young guy from a poor neighborhood in Baltimore city. The last thing you want to do is sing several bars to somebody you don't know in a cold drab room ! The Peabody did this to screen for "tone deftness". If you had it they wouldn't waste their time on you-no matter how much money you had. TOUGH world to be exposed to at the age of 11-12. Later it helped me out at Warner Bros. studio where I visited to BS with the head Recording Engineer. A 20 minute visit ended up as a 4 hour visit with an invite for a job.I just wanted to see about recording engineering vs medical.professsion. Ended up in medical,but thanks to people like you I can learn the finer points of music and recording music ! Sincerely Derfly P.S. Only a few International languages,,,, Mathematics, music,,,.

[@michaelkelly6583]

Excellent presentation Cane ... and to echo comments below, you’ve a great vocal range for demonstrating. Thank you. Much appreciated.

[@HeavyVarmintClass]

I wish other testers of microphones would use the varied instruments with radically different timbre so we can get a better idea of the frequency reproduction/characteristics etc.... Great job! I'm in the middle of a mic search to capture the very dark sound of my custom flugelhorn. The fat head review you did told me exactly what I wanted to know.

[@lkb3rd]

Well presented and helpful information. Thank you! The instruments you used to listen to different frequencies were outstanding. You can really hear the difference in bass response with the Darbuka Drum.

[@rot_studios]

I could listen to you explain this stuff all day! Very well made video :)

[@pedrobarrosviolao4133]

Best explanation i found on the web. Good work, bro!

[@radiolover6364]

Superb listening and learning experience from an outstanding teacher!

[@CaneMajor]

Thank you very much! Good luck with your projects!

[@MoreNimrod]

I didn't notice a major difference between the two with the flutes, but I most definitely found that the P170 was very different with the drum; you can hear the low frequency rumbling of the drumhead, while it fades out very quickly on the Shure microphone. I also didn't notice one or the other sounding a lot better with vocals (well, in this case we could only judge speaking into it and not singing). Also I like the explanations on how the microphones work! I had been eyeing up a condenser microphone that's on sale and I think I have a much better idea now of how I can use it and what to expect from it.

[@jeroenfigee]

BRILLIANT! I learned stuff and I do studiowork for a long time! ThanX This shows its really important what you throw at a mic. Some instruments don't respond well when you throw a 75 at it.

[@danebono7667]

Great video. Very thorough, and good use of multiple instruments as examples. Well done.

[@WJCTechyman]

This was a very informative video. You were very clear and articulate in your lesson and I should listen to the recordings with headphones as tablet speakers aren't great for reproduction of audio.

[@WJCTechyman]

With the headphones I noticed a difference in the harmonics of the drum between the condenser mic, with a larger, flat spectrum and the Shure SM57 with a somewhat smaller but emphasized range.

[@davidvosspoor4694]

Great video. And I totally agree with you. Once you get to the the flutes (especially the bamboo one, in my opinion), the 57 really pulls its weight. For everything else, the condenser naturally has a fuller, more encompassing sound.

[@mauriciovalim]

Man, your vídeos have been of great help to me! Thanks a lot. Blessings.

[@davidwisbey648]

Great simple explanation and really informative for a novice like me .... and yes... what a wonderful voice you have ... thanks!

[@CrankCase08]

On this video the Shure dynamic sounded clearer on voice that the AKG condenser. Very strange.

[@CaneMajor]

Hey Thanks! I used a CAD u37 USB microphone for the narration of this video with no processing. I actually bought the u37 to make a video about why I didn't like USB microphones but it turned into my number one mic for narration. Thanks again! Good luck!

[@mikeschmoll4079]

I really enjoyed this video and felt it well represented both products. I am new to microphones, I really feel this gave me a better understanding of the differences and the pros and cons. Thank you for the information.

[@diegomartonnaodisponivel5573]

Great explanation, now I really understand the difference between studio and live mics. Cool video!

[@psavelli65]

Great video - thanks for doing the side by side the way you did. Super stuff!

[@MegaPortenio]

Excellent video. i was surprised that the SM 57 sounded more natural in every comparison than the condenser (to my ears...). Thanks!

[@mateocaballo]

canemajor THANK YOUF OR THIS VIDEO IT IS AMAZING and the fact that youa re comparing instruments like darbuka native flute and bamboo flute is really helpful. it would be impossible otherwise to find this kind of very helpful video anywhere else!!

[@akhennion]

Thanks for your quick answer. It makes me to decide between two mics for mic my guitar. Good luck to you friend!

[@shango02005]

Excellent video, sir! You did a wonderful job with this! Thank you! :)

[@mallorga1965]

I totally agreed on your comment about the SM57 performance on the flutes. It makes them sound very present and breathy.

[@punishedexistence]

You should be on radio, you got such a calming and clear voice. I liked this comparison, back when I first started learning about sound I wish I had this video. It was all trial and error back then, but I did find that each mic excels in certain applications. Great video!

[@UltraSamurai]

This is the 3rd time I have watched your video. It's not to learn anything, I just like hearing your voice!

[@jaladiraj]

Thank you very much for clarifying between the Dynamic vs Condenser Microphones.

[@sigridlee3743]

You're a very good teacher. You took things nice and slow, and I needed that. I agree about the flute sounding nice with the Shure. The triple chime, though sounded much much better with the AKG. Amazing how much difference there was. Thank you.

[@CaneMajor]

Sigrid Lee Thank you! I used to tutor English and my tutor voice tends to come out in my videos. Cheers!

[@huss03]

Once all the flutes came in, I felt like dropping some peyote and getting into my Shamans outfit.

[@DatNguyen-gi8pi]

I like the way he EXPLAIN the microphone for a novice people like me. I always thought all the microphones are the same, now I knew they are difference.

[@AdamRainStopper]

Your voice is so awesome. I would never shut up if I had your voice.

[@loporto]

Men, great xplanation! As I could see, for low frecs, the Condenser is the one.

[@CaneMajor]

Hey! That is an AKG C1000S small diameter condenser mic. The new version just came out a few months ago.

[@joep.3034]

Thanks for the in depth comparison! Nice work, many blessings.

[@watchcasualgaming2247]

Watching this video in 2018. Your voice just sounds so... divine, it could literally put me to sleep. I was trying not to, until you played different instruments.. ZzzzZzzzz lovely!

[@dgehosky]

Great video for introduction of mics to a still photographer slowly being forced to make movies. Your are correct. The Indian Flute sounded great on the SM57. Thanks for the help.

[@HybridIncome]

Trace, thank you. Based on my ears I liked to Shure Mic it sounded clearer to me. I also enjoyed your voice and appreciated your doing the video. Very nice thank you again.

[@madeinnature3309]

Your highly helpful video has helped me to make my decision! I am choosing Shure SM57! Thank you!

[@mashersmasher]

Super informative video. I especially liked the the comparisons and found that they were really helpful in determining the proper microphone for any given job. The voice test seemed to indicate that the sm57 was particularly good for recording voice in a conversational manor. I'd really like to hear a difference when singing at various ranges between the two.

[@FenrirInFlowers]

Thank you so much for this video! You really helped me understand the basics on these kinds of microphones now that I am looking to get my first portable/practice amp and mic setup. The dynamic is going to suit my needs best in this case. I also have to agree with everyone that you have a magnificent voice.

[@CaneMajor]

Hey! Thanks! I picked those instruments because they cover the most of the range of the microphones from the lowest to highest frequencies. That should give people some idea of how well they would record the instruments they are using.

[@scottdrums2128]

Love the 57 as an overhead drum mic for the road. Picks up the toms snare and cymbals all at the same time with no distortion. Pretty incredible for just one overhead mic and one Audix D6 in the bass drum.

[@CaneMajor]

Hello! The 57 is a legend! Shure knocked it out of the park when they made that one!

[@fsparrowhawk]

Great no nonsense vid Cane, very informative. Many Thanks

[@CaneMajor]

Hello again! The CAD u37 is a USB microphone so it doesn't need an interface, it just plugs into a USB port. My video editing software seems to be configured for USB microphones. I narrate directly onto an audio track in the video software with the u37.

[@ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. I just got hold of a pair of Claritone dynamic mics. New to mics, so this is a major asset in the learning process of studio work.

[@CaneMajor]

Thanks......You play the Theremin! Those things are amazing!

[@ShammyMcPumpkinhead]

Thank you.....I just got my SM57's today and am very, very satisfied!

[@EarlyRiser365]

I use two of these with a dbx driverack on stage for o/h on my drumkit. I set the room with an RTA first, run up my gains and set, no feedback problems. Ever. These pick up all the different tones with crystal clarity. I love them, the akgc1000s.

[@XxBettyBoo89xX]

straight to the point and great with the sound tests a big help thanks.

[@georgelukes7417]

great and comprehensive review of the two mikes... thanks; though I was hoping you had some bass included in your tests. I agree the Shure sounded formidable in all comparisons... Wow!

[@ldefranco873]

Excellent video. Great explanation, great tests. Thank you!

[@blackberryblossom]

This is the second video of yours where you come to the exact same conclusion as me when listening to the comparison. So my ears and my speakers obviously aren´t that bad after all. Or we have the exact same taste when it comes to sound. Anyway, I like your videos. The AKG P120 vs. AT 2020 comparison is also very good.

[@AARONKAYE]

brilliant video. i have a love/hate relationship between Shure mics. use them most of the time but i can't stand their overly bright, sometimes uneven tone. other times like in this video, it had an increased clarity and definition than that other mic.

[@CaneMajor]

Thanks man! I actually started out with an SM57 back in 97. I think it's a great starting point for a home recording studio. I primarily record with condenser microphones now but when I play live I grab the 57. Good luck with your studio!

[@ClaudioFanara]

A perfect English and a beautiful voice. Helpful, thanks

[@sergeantcrow]

Excellent presentation and educational demonstration.. Thank you..

[@CaneMajor]

Oh, yes! I think the AT2020 is one of the best mics out there for under $100.00. I did a few videos using it. I particularly like the way it handles my voice for narration and voice overs. The P220 and AT2035 are large diameter microphones that may give you a little more detail in your vocals.

[@曾忠凱]

Thanks man. Really clear and helpful introduction for beginners like me. Thanks again.

[@michaeldenvir]

Your voice is awesome

[@ootrip40]

excellent video. you made very clear that both mics have their own strong points in the test. Where the shure has a more present sound, the akg is more dark. But even so the akg captures a lot more detail, and a wider range. That is obvious in the triple chimes. the shure 57 has a smaller range and sounds best in the mid high range as you can hear in the flute sounds

[@CaneMajor]

You are welcome! I learned this over a few years, just trying to save my fellow artists some time.

[@wolframitered4279]

Loved the "this is what this microphone ships in" part! Demonstrates the differences in durability pretty well. Yeah, I agree on the woodwinds. The SM57 had a "breathier" quality to it which I was not expecting. The bells sounded like they had more "sparkle" through the SM57 too. In fact, for everything but the drum I actually thought the SM57 sounded better. This is probably explained by the frequency response curves you provided in your video. I'm listening through a Tascam US2x2 interface and some pretty good $250 headphones (V-Moda). Thanks!

[@planetrift]

This was a very good and instructive video. Thank you for that.

[@MDugardin]

surprising how the sm57 is good with your voice, Thanks for those very usefull test !

[@cnewman99]

Damn you've got an awesome radio voice haha, sweet video! Thanks!

[@TraceCCane]

Thanks man!

[@briandouglas5098]

Thank you Sir. Excellent. I will be looking for more of your You Tube Videos

[@slyker5]

lol the instrument choice just gets more and more interesting.

[@TheseStars]

Beautiful! I came looking for microphone knowledge, and found it here. Wonderful production.