KSM 32: If You Only Had One Mic To Record Your Entire Band!

We are back at it again! (nope not sponsored)
What if you only had one mic to record your entire band?
The Shure KSM 32 is a sleeper for sure. The KSM 32 is best in class for its price is frequency response, it's a natural reproduction of sources, and its versatility. The Shure KSM 32, as old as it is perfect for the one mic challenge. It's been around since 1999 you could pick these up for a song from eBay and reverb. This can truly get the job done.
We use the key SM 32 to record drums, guitars, vocals… The whole band stick around till the end and you'll see the song we wrote during this challenge.
It seems like you either love or hate this microphone. Either way, it seems like it's no one's first or even second choice... And that's sad because this Mike rocks. And if you're in the market for a cheap-ish medium diaphragm Condenser microphone this one should be on the top of your list.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

hmmm.... I always use the PRS Archon. Don't I?

[@Podcastage]

Dudes. This shreds so hard.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

YOU SHRED SO HARD! … sorry habit. Seriously though thanks for checking it out. I watch your videos all the time!

[@RayOrtega]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Ha, came to the comments to say how much I loved this video and I didn't expect to see Bandrew here but of course he is! Your studio is epic (way jealous), production quality amazing, song shreds, love your personality on cam, all tied in a bow with a very helpful video aka great info! 👏

[@RayOrtega]

ps I got here cause I fell down a rabbit hole trying to take apart an SM27 so if you have any tips with how to get into the bottom piece after removing the lock screw on the body...I'm all ears! Also, now subbed ;)

[@DuroSamples]

KSM 32 is the SM 57 of Condenser mics

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

That should have been the title

[@warsocki]

This is awesome. Great place, great idea on spreading the info on the one mic recordings, fun vid that not only shows the work involved, but also let's the style come thru at the end when you work the music video in the the "One Mic" video. Much respect.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Thanks man! It’s definitely possible to do a lot with very little and that’s what I am to show with these. Past that it’s just pick your flavor of mic.

[@pocket1684]

I agree w you 100 percent. I"ve owned this mic since 2001. It excels at everything.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It’s a dark horse for sure

[@JAMPROSOUND]

I miss my set of KSM44s. The entire KSM line are very underrated.

[@JayBeBerg]

Perfect video. Really enjoying these, thanks!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Thanks 🙏

[@theamazingkelly1]

Man, when the vocals hit I got chills. Great voice

[@gbashari]

Now I want to hear more of your music, that was awesome!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Thanks man!

[@Cslobasz2002]

Your video is excellent. Keep it up brother!

[@Mariusags]

Awesome song and sounds great!

[@bwzarchive708]

great production quality my dude

[@AhrenField]

Dude..that voice..wtf. Friggin killer! Holy shit!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

haha... Thanks dude!

[@ontogeny6474]

I swear I was hearing some kind of harmonic. That voice is unreal!

[@MurphyKargesBass]

Rad video. Nicely done 🤙🏼

[@CandidHeadlinesTV]

Currently doing research on this mic for voiceover work. Just gotta say, this video is super cool! :D

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Glad it was helpful!

[@musicguypodcast6825]

Can we talk about the wall with the lights behind the drum. Its soo pretty.

[@stevejeffries5403]

This is really good, thank you

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Glad you like it!

[@darrenchristieoz]

Nice work guys.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Thanks!

[@axilleas]

One mic for the whole song? Check. It being a Shure? Check. It being an MDC? Check. And don’t even get me started on your interior design taste, I LOVE the vibe you’ve got going in your studio!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

thanks man. The KSM line deserves way more love than it gets

[@axilleas]

@@RecordingStudioLoser I couldn’t agree more! Life is too short to only use U87s/SM7s on everything, making music has to become a creative process again, instead of the current preset-land/same samples and IRs on everything etc

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

couldn't agree more

[@TheRealTMajor]

This review was FIRE

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

thanks!

[@Martin-kn6vc]

KSM32 is my go-to on drum overheads because of Ronan Chris Murphy's love for it, which swayed me to buy a pair. I've also had great results using them on piano.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

So good on grand.

[@jarcidiacono1]

Do you have to get a matched pair or doesn't matter?

[@Martin-kn6vc]

@@jarcidiacono1 I didn't. I bought my "pair" at two different times... About a month or two apart and they sound the same to me. With a company like Shure, their quality control is going to be pretty decent.

[@ViniVendramel]

Hey, I've just watched your SM57 video and kept watching your content... Such a great video! As a singer, I could realize that there was much more than one vocal track and I LOVED the high notes backing vocals. It was you? You look pretty similar to a singer called Teddy Swims btw. Cheers from Brazil!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Sounds like a handsome fella. (I hope). Haha.

[@JulianFernandez]

The KSM32 was my first "real" LDC. Loved that thing!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

So versatile

[@lucianoluggren]

Technically it is a medium sized capsule electret microphone. The KSM44 and 27 are true externally polarized large diaphragm condenser microphones. Going back to the ksm32, I also spent many years recording practically entire bands with that mic, except drums, where I added more microphones and bass trough a di box/preamp and the results were always a neutral sound that allowed each instrument or voice to take its place. Great microphone and great video. Greetings from Argentina.

[@JManuMusik]

@@lucianoluggren

[@yebitchye]

You have some serious pipes my man

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

haha thanks dude!

[@bobgulian1858]

Great video and really impressive what you did with one mic. Sounded very processed though and after sending my ksm32 back to Sweetwater after a week because of what I perceived was a very small, dull tone I wonder if you would have needed so much effect on a better mic.(I confess I listened to your one mic R88 video and was blown away by that sound)

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

hmmm... I tend not to process these too much. There is certainly processing happening, general shaping EQs, compression for control and some Master bus comp... but intentionally not trying to bend and shape this to suit the song. Small and dull are definitely not the words I would use to describe this mic... I have a few if anything they are HUGE! Thats why I adore these things on toms. They have tons of presence without sitting harsh... A very natural extended top range. I wonder if there was something wrong with yours?

[@bobgulian1858]

Recording Studio Loser You know I never considered there might be something wrong with it. My SW guy was not a fan of ksm32s so he just said “sure” when I returned it. Also, having a bunch of SM57s that could be used as battering rams with no ill effect, I just assumed Shures are QA’d to death.

[@umbersound1929]

This has always been my goto mic

[@TheZwompie]

Well done guys and thanks for the idea. Agree the KSM32 is a sleeper!

[@JoshSingsBW]

Happy 2024🥳 Hopefully we will get another One Mic video🙏

[@Angelo-vb6dg]

Man...It was for this video that I started looking for a KSM... I found one KSM44 for $250, the owner said it was given as a gift for him. He only lost the shockmount because he brought it from Mexico to Ecuador. So... He eventually said he would give it to me if I had $200 cash. I'm just really happy with my microphone, mint condition... capsule looks new, only a couple of scratches. It just sounds so natural, I tried to record a song with Ukelele + Voice at one track and another for a background vocal, it is just too good, I mean, I felt like I didn't even need to mix, just a compressor, an echoboy and a small amount of reverb did the trick. I'm just suffering because of the shockmount, I went to a couple of stores and they could't help me, I use it on a AKG Perception 220 shockmount, it rests there but isn't locked. Well, I still can't believe I got an amazing mic with multiple polar patterns for $200. I feel really bad for my Lewitt LCT 440 Pure, I got it some months ago but I feel the KSM fits really well my voice. I got the LCT 440 Pure because I tested a TLM 103 and it sounded almost identical. Man..the Shure destroys both. Sorry for all the text, I'm just so happy that I got it for such little money, thanks for making the video, I feel these mics are overlooked a lot.

[@sallopiccolo7336]

That was sweet.

[@matthewpritchard6109]

I'm loving this series of "One mic to rule them all!" But I have a question. If a band had a budget for two mics, and they wanted to record everything sonically - i.e. the bassist was insisting on recording through his/her amp and speakers, not "just" DI; and the drummer was insistent that one mic couldn't capture the full majesty of his/her kick drum, for example - what two mics would you use?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Oooo. New video time. Haha. Hmm I think it depends alot on genre and what sound you want. It would be hard to go wrong with a 57 and a 32 pairing though. And it would be fairly cheap.

[@seanemmettfullerton]

Mister mister, YOU are a powerhouse. And I love your voice! KSM32... never used one. However, if the great Roger Nichols used it on vocals and piano, it must be something :)

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Ha! Thanks! It’s a ton of fun. Look into it. They are solid mics!

[@elruso7524]

That was freaking awesome! Did it really was the KSM32 into the Isa preamp and nothing else? The bass was DI but in the mix did you use an amp emulator? Greetings from Argentina

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yes it was! With the bass it was just the DI I believe. If I used anything I would have probably used parallax on the bass, but I doubt it.

[@yobhsiFehT]

@@RecordingStudioLoser This might sound silly to the snobs (which most of us are, on SOME level, I suppose), but a KSM32 into an ISA pre is basically my dream go-to front end 🤷🏼‍♂️ I can’t imagine ANYTHING sounding bad through that. Now I just need to get... both things 🤦🏼‍♂️😖 lol 🤞🏻🤞🏻 Thanks so much for posting!

[@superblindeye1]

I just purchased this mic a few weeks ago. I have a question for you. How many inches are you away from the microphone when you record vocals. I am looking at recording an album with vocals and acoustic guitar, which brings me to my second question. I have this microphone recording my acoustic guitar, with no pickups. I am recording the guitar as is. Where would you recommend that I put this microphone? Would it be better by the bridge, or close to the 12th fret? I would assume that 6-in away from the guitar would be the ideal situation. Any help would be appreciated.

[@kniferideaudio5145]

man, these videos kill me. Now the used market for a KSM 32 is going to boost by a hundo, like it did with AT 3035 (used to be the best deal in town, you could get them for $80 used all day, but some podcast dude did a video and now they are $200-$225) Still. love your videos. And I've always loved teh 32. I prefer it to a 414 in cardioid.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Haha. I’m not sure I have the reach to have an effect on the used market.

[@kniferideaudio5145]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Dude, they will be using your face in the Ebay ads with a little speech bubble above your head that say's "Just like in my VIDEOS!" you'll see.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Hahahaha

[@lelandbobpalmer]

Hi there :) Nice video! Happy ksm32 owner here as well! Can you help me out here - why am I hearing some "ambience" / stereo thing going on in the drum recording? Something panned hard right. Is it the compressed signal?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

The drums were just the one mic.... I may have put a small room verb on that track to let it breath a bit. If I did It was the RAUM reverb... Probably Wooden Room preset (blended to taste). Other than the guitars had a ton of ambience and delay to fill the stereo space.. as did the Backing Vocals.

[@mzonemusicful]

HARD

[@anonoma6533]

Can you tell us how you mix those instruments in the software

[@littleoakstudio4254]

what ldc would compliment this mic well for a different flavor on vocals?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I know it’s not an LDC but I would probably say the SM7. It would give a different flavor. If budget isn’t an issue. I love the Manley reference.

[@godoggo407]

What pre amp do you put it through? I have one and do not have a preamp! I do voiceworks.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Laura Bednarski we used a Focusrite ISA preamp. But if you got even a cheap preamp it would work fine. As long as it had phantom power.

[@godoggo407]

Thanks!!!!

[@matt_nyc_audioengineer]

The Focusrite Scarlet is an amazing preamp especially for the price! You can get the 3rd Gen Solo (one mic and one line input) for around $100!

[@swampcat73]

I've long believed the KSM line is probably the best Swiss Army Knife line of condensers on the market today. Lewitt Audio's LCT and Pure series mics may be right there with the Shure KSM series now in terms of overall flexible quality performance to value ratios.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I've wanted to get my hands on some Lewitt stuff but i haven't crossed paths yet. I've heard good things. But yes the KSM stuff is just.... its hard for it to sound wrong on something.

[@beccamitchell05]

I wanna know how you made your light wall!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Two pieces of mdf Some commercial string lights from Amazon , a 1” bit. And some black paint. 👍

[@marcelosuarez3027]

nice, did you sing the high vocals yourself?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yeah that was me

[@edm265]

Rode NTR next?

[@ineedstuff8286]

man... if this is what you produce when you're losing? (video quality included).. then fehhckk!!.. i can't imagine winning :D An armitron??... HAHAH WOWWwwww... my dad loved that thing more than i did i think... when i was a kid.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Armitron is LEGIT my favorite toy. My dad asked what my favorite tree Christmas present was. And then repurchased it a few years back. It was so cool.

[@eihthype6578]

I see BURL😳

[@eihthype6578]

And a Kush fatso, I’m jelly

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I should probably address those at some point. ahaha

[@marbar1844]

Bummed we didn’t get to hear the 32 on bass, and felt like your rational is fine, it just makes your video title clickbait-ish. Regardless, entertaining video. Thanks.

[@davidgann3251]

I would give you a thumbs up, but it's on 666. 🤘 Very nice indeed!!!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I completely understand. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@davidgann3251]

@@RecordingStudioLoser I’d love to see a video on how you mixed the vocals on that song. 👍🏻

[@68Snaps]

"One mic, it's do-able for Shure"... Ok I'm outta here. (but seriously, the mix sounds dope, and you got an important message through: you can create music without a sky high budget. But still, your AEA RC44 was lying around the drum set ;-) )

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Different brushes for different pictures man!

[@zvkryblkhrt8915]

My instructor in college told us there are two things KSM32'S are good for overheads and door stoppers.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Ooff.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I would strongly disagree. And warn against most people making statements like that of anything.

[@zvkryblkhrt8915]

I like them on overheads. I never heard them on guitars until your vid. I like the sound I would get a matched pair for sure.

[@paradoxcal]

My music instructor also didn't know anything about what he talked about. 😆