Shure SM57 Switched Transformer Mod w/ Audio Tests - pt.1

[@iamcookbook]

The example at 8:20 is great. The right channel is much clearer and the highs and feels less compressed. There's just a lot more clarity and it feels more balanced overall.

[@DcSoundOp]

Thanks for the message Cory!

[@PumpkinSeed17]

Very cool! I'm planning to try this with the SM57 predecessor, the 545SD, which already has a switch installed. I just need to convert the switch to bypass the transformer. Hopefully the stock switch has three poles to use as an on-on switch :)

[@beardoe6874]

A couple ideas: First, rather than boiling, I would stick the mic in a freezer and then use a hammer and dowel to try to knock the glue loose. If that works it would be much less messy. Second, rather than add a switch, I would wire in a 5 pin XLR connector and make 2 adapter cables to select between transformer and no transformer or one cable with a switch. You could carve a couple grooves on the side of the glue to get the new wires from the capsule around the transformer to the connector. If you don't mind making cables, doing it that way would be 100% reversible and wouldn't require an extension for the mic body. It might add a little cost but it would be all off the shelf.

[@MrNicknayme]

I like the stock better than the transformerless. It has a pleasing “compression” and (maybe because of the compression) a more robust, lower mid weighting to it.

[@joshua.merrill]

It seems like removing the transformer kind of gets rid of the reason to use an SM57... the high end. If I wanted a more mellow sound, I'd just pick a different mic. Plus, I'd imagine having to add all the extra gain would raise the noise floor.

[@minisecraft]

great initiative I which more test are done like this and share to the word

[@quentzy]

Reckon you could use a relay instead and activate with phantom?

[@LydonThorpe]

That's actually a kinda cool idea! I wonder if you could progress from this idea to using phantom presence to change the pickup pattern of a mic or something?

[@Vegetox]

Thank you very much !! Please for me : can you test with a voltmeter the impedance between 2 and 3 without the transformer ? i'm curious about the capsule real impedance

[@mikejones-nd6ni]

Loved the follow up to this pointless video

[@DcSoundOp]

Thanks for the positive feedback, it really means a lot 🥹

[@wienerstein2817]

Thank you for the practical advice. Pretty noticeable loss in high end without the transformer.

[@elnyoutube123]

You were listening to the wrong channel

[@thill47]

I bought a SM58 from ebay and wondered why it sounded toppy. When I pulled it apart, I found it had all the looks that there was a transformer in there but further investigation after pulling it apart, I found the so called transformer was just the casing and the wiring went strait from the XLR to the capsule. The danger with doing this is if you accidently turn the Phantom power on, you can cause damage to either the capsual or desk.

[@DcSoundOp]

That sounds like you got a fake possibly? Also, other than older ribbon mics, there is no extra risk plugging this into a phantom powered input - here’s a good article over at Sound on Sound that will hopefully give some more insight. - www.soundonsound.com/sound-advice/q-phantom-power-on-dynamics

[@thill47]

@@DcSoundOp It was a fake im sure. It works ok and I only use to use it to talk to performers when doing sound checks but now with my digital console, I can do all that on stage with my Ipad. Thank you so much for your reply. Appreciate it.

[@thill47]

@@DcSoundOp Also thank you for the article. Very interesting.

[@danielsvensson5298]

@DcSoundOp Can I buy this moded shure sm57 from you? Because I´m not very good at soldering but I want that microphone! :)

[@DcSoundOp]

Sorry, not taking any sales, repair or mod orders unfortunately. Thanks for watching & being subscribed though!

[@TrevorHigginsDustysqueak]

I’m totally going to put a switch in one of my 57’s. Thanks for the shout. Happy to send some prototype extensions your way.

[@DcSoundOp]

We’ll get something to work, I’m scouring the internet for better switch options. If it all goes wrong, there’s always these right angle mod kits for only $30 - www.adventurepedals.com/accessories/2020/6/12/6z22hndvbsqd4w9hcyjj7cay7ydkuq

[@Crapgame619]

How can you use a mono microphone yet get stereo output?

[@DcSoundOp]

I'm not sure I understand the question? Are you asking about something specific in this video or is this just a general question you are wondering about? Thanks.

[@Crapgame619]

@@DcSoundOp It’s regarding the video… you use a mono microphone but get stereo output, watch the video with headphones and listen carefully.

[@DcSoundOp]

It's kinda a long video with a bunch of examples, but if you're talking about the part at 8:33, that's the mic recorded both ways, then synced in editing and panned so you can hear the transformer in one ear and no transformer in the other. If that's not what you mean, can you give me a timestamp reference? Thanks.

[@dawsonraehn8380]

Thanks for making great videos! your test request form is a little broken. I can only select 2 options for the multi answer one.

[@DcSoundOp]

I have fixed it now, thanks so much for the heads up on that!

[@dawsonraehn8380]

@@DcSoundOp your welcome. Also, have you ever used the Shure 588sdx? I think it sounds like the 57 without the trasformer.

[@DcSoundOp]

I can’t remember ever using a 588sdx - they seem pretty popular online though, I might have to keep an eye on eBay for one to check out. Thanks!

[@JohnLRice]

Cool mods! 😎👍

[@DcSoundOp]

Thanks 👍

[@nescello2154]

Does the transformer also reduce the chance of feedback?

[@DcSoundOp]

No not at all, thanks for the question 👍🏼

[@nescello2154]

@@DcSoundOp thank you!!

[@Fizzilord]

What’s the Name of the second track? Really like it.

[@DcSoundOp]

I grabbed that one from the KZbin library to be sure I didn't have any copyright issues - here's the link - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn3ElauEgsZlmdk

[@jamescranefinecarpentry7146]

Put the switch in the extension.

[@ChrisCebelenski]

Honestly not hearing much that would make we want to pull the transformer out. The gain difference is obvious, but to my ears (a bit abused after recording for 40 years) there's not a "usable" difference. There may be a difference, but nothing there that would say to me "Pull out that transformer and we'll get something new".

[@mr.tommyguns8805]

I'm with you. I like that kind of mod but this is definitely not for me

[@UC3Music]

As far as I understand your wiring, you will suffer "tone suck" as non-truebypass guitar pedals suffer. Due to loading on the primary of the transformer..

[@DcSoundOp]

Definitely planning to do some rough measurements of the element alone vs. wired in this arrangement in part 2. I’ll include measurements and some more audio files you can download in directly as a baseline before I send it out to for others to try. Making a bit more space to work with inside will really open up the options for different configurations once we sort that out. Thanks for the message!

[@dwmfty3111]

The funny thing is they use to make sm57 without the Transformers they were a cheaper version but the problem was if you switched on (phantom power) you would cook the diaphragm and therefore the microphone would go straight in the bin. That's why the sm57 and sm58 are so robust and just don't die because of that Transformer

[@DcSoundOp]

Unless you have a damaged cable or otherwise short one of the pins to ground, there is no issue with using phantom without the transformer. Even then any issues would fall a good bit short of cooking the element. I linked an article from sound on sound on another comment here. This thread covers a lot of common questions related to a 57 specifically as well if you read down to the end, including one user who intentionally shorts his to test it & reports that it’s still fine. www.gearslutz.com/board/geekslutz-forum/609331-no-transformer-sm57-phantom-protection.html Thanks for the message.

[@jimcamp2423]

I probably would only do this to a SM57 that was out of warranty. I just don't see the percentage in modding a Shure SM57, an $ 8 clone maybe, but not the $ 100+ authentic Shure. Seems to me, it would be easier to add resistors somewhere and attempt to make a clone sound darker with a treble bleed for lack of a better description. Clones generally trend towards the Shure across the range of frequency as close enough anyway.

[@God-yb2cg]

I don't think I care about warranty on an SM57, they are passive devices with essentially no electronics, physically are built like tanks, it's almost impossible to break them, the only realistic way I can think of it breaking one is if some electrical accident that fries the transformer coil, at that point it would be considered user error and not covered by warranty, It has no switch either, so no switch that can fail. If some wire somehow manages to get lose inside it's also trivial to solder it back, so the only in the extremely rare situation that there's some problem with the capsule that causes it to degenerate over time would I send one to warranty, but to me that seems extremely unlikely to happen, I would be willing to take the risk. Usually what fails are active electronic parts like transistors or mechanical parts.

[@jimcamp2423]

@@God-yb2cg Pretty much where the cost effectiveness of a more affordable brand falls. You can buy several mics for less than the Shure passive mics. this is a world of can something be done for seamlessly less. And unless Shure would guarantee their warranty for a product would be available 24/7 even in a warranty claim, you're still buying a spare with those for your own coverage and peace of mind for the repair time. When a Chinese branded microphone is $ 12, you can buy 8 of those & have 7 spare mics or mic vocals, instruments. And the Chinese brands are providing mic, cable & stand clip. I don't see how Shure can really compete. with that. I went with Pyle Pro for this reason, I won't allow my insecurities of a failed product allow me to make a poorer decision for product. It's almost like Shure really has a $ 15 microphone and their warranty is $ 84.99 of the MSRP. I mean everyone else on the planet can make a $ 15 microphone, but Shure can't ?

[@God-yb2cg]

@@jimcamp2423 Well, what I mean is that a dynamic microphone in general is very unlikely to fail, from a working principle they are extremely simple devices, of course the Chinese always manage to cheapen the construction to the point that even the simplest and roughest design fails... One thing I've noticed with cheap gear of any kind is the lack of quality control, while one sample may be excellent in both terms quality and durability, another one not so much. I personally don't like playing lotteries much, of course most times I can't afford quality products anyway, and have to go with a cheap version. As for the Pyle Pro, I didn't like the sound of it when I watched a comparison video, ended up getting an used SM58 for 50 eurobucks, but now I'm paranoid that I got a fake copy and I'm thinking of returning it and get a Behringer xm8500 instead (which as a bonus it's much cheaper). Problem is, I really like the sound of this mic I got (either if it's original or a fake), if I switch to a xm8500 I may regret it, so I will probably keep this one instead so I don't have to play the lottery again.

[@jimcamp2423]

​@@God-yb2cg I think you'll find the Behringer is voiced not appreciably different than a Pyle Pro, Samson or even a Shure.dynamic. And the 1st thing anyone does with the mic is to enhance it with an amp & vocals effects. Does any mic have the output range to become one or another with EQ ? I hope your's is a real Shure & provides a reliable service life. I hope mine hold up too. I went with Pyle Pro, a year into that leap of faith and they're at the warranty's end, there are no problems to report, no degradation of signal or catastrophic failure. I hope that it lasts as long as any Shure. If not, I can buy several of them. Would a Shure have survived what took any Pyle out of action just the same ? A longer warranty is a nice thing, but with a malfunctioning or dead mic & a warranty, you're still shutdown for production for the shipping & handling & repair process. And in that case with the Pyle, I can buy a spare mic or even have the additional mic to use for other vocals, instruments & cabs. I find myself playing the mind game with myself, the uncertainty that somehow the Shure is several times better than the Pyle Pro. FOMO really. That's the thing with these Tube videos. Every mic comparison, it's not a Shure, but it's pretty darn good. And then they go back to whatever it was they were using anyway. You're right about dynamic mics, simple, no phantom power required. They are what they've always been, solid & reliable.