Why Is The Shure SM58 Such A Popular Microphone?

May 8th is officially Shure SM58 day! To celebrate this legendary microphone, Sam try to answer the question "Why is the SM58 so popular?"
Find out more about the any of the mics featured in this video at PMT Online...
Shure SM58 Vocal Mic: bit.ly/3FrhLBQ
Shure SM57 Instrument Mic: bit.ly/3ynRRNE
Shure Beta 58A Vocal Mic: bit.ly/38YjhiH
00:00 Introduction to the Shure SM58
01:35 Shure SM58 history
02:42 SM58 vs SM57 comparison
03:54 Shure SM58 tech specs explained
05:36 What makes the SM58 so tough & durable?
07:43 The influence of the Shure SM58
08:42 Using a Shure SM58 for Podcasting & Recording
09:47 Where to by Shure microphones
If you’ve ever been to a live gig, watched a stage show or ever seen anyone hold a microphone while speaking - you’ve likely been looking at a Shure SM58 dynamic microphone. Everyone from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, Run-DMC to Henry Rollins have championed this mic. You’re not only in good company when you decide on one, but you’re essentially joining the “big leagues” in terms of live sound.
But why is the Shure SM58 so popular? Why does everyone use it? Why does every stage have one and what else can I use it for?
The SM58 is so popular among musicians and speakers alike thanks to its versatility, almost indestructible construction, built-in pop filter, and a cardioid polar pattern that rejects unwanted noise, transparent sound and balanced frequency response. Not to mention extremely high SPL and replaceable parts. In a nutshell, it’s the only live vocal mic you’ll ever need for a career in live music or speaking.
The major benefit of the Shure SM58 is the fact that it is a dynamic microphone. This means it can handle a really loud sound source, like a screaming vocal or brass instrument without the capsule distorting.
Dynamic microphones are also less sensitive than condenser mics so they’re not going to start breaking up in sound quality the louder you get. In fact, the Shure SM58 has a max SPL of around 150-180dB which is the equivalent of a space shuttle launch. So live vocalists and engineers will appreciate that they can push the vocals and the mic a little harder onstage.
Reliable, robust, hardwearing, industry-standard - these are all qualities associated with the Shure SM58. You’ll be forgiven for thinking that it looks, well, boring at first glance, but behind its humble and slightly understated design is a workhorse of a microphone complete with a detailed capsule, impressive frequency response and high SPL that can handle a jet engine taking off, all wrapped up hidden inside the almost indestructible, ergonomic handle.
The solid die-cast steel body is weighty, yet not so much that it becomes cumbersome, and houses an internal shock mount system that protects the capsule and reduces noise from mechanical vibration. This means that even if you hit the mic with your teeth (it happens) or you hit the mic stand, you’re far less likely to hear it through the PA.
Another major benefit and a key reason the SM58 is so popular is down to the cardioid polar pattern. This polar pattern effectively rejects off-axis noise, which makes it ideal for live singers and vocalists as it rejects all the sounds around and behind the mic, focussing solely on your voice. This is especially useful in the live arena as the mic won’t pick up the drummer or guitars around you, allowing the engineer to effectively mix your vocals. It also helps reduce monitor feedback too.
The Shure SM58 is not as sensitive in terms of frequency response as some other studio mics, but that’s a good thing. Clocking in at 50Hz-15kHz, this is a deliberate design feature designed to bring out the best in vocals in all applications without too much top-end detail. The bass attenuation of 40-100Hz reduces the proximity effect or “boominess” which sometimes creeps in when you are too close to the mic. This is why you see a lot of vocalists rest their mouth on the Shure SM58 when they’re singing - it can handle it, whilst providing a fairly flat transparent tone that doesn’t bring out any frequency in particular.
If you want a hard-wearing vocal microphone for live shows that you will never have to upgrade, the SM58 is a classic option. Should you want greater detail, it might be worth comparing it to the Shure Beta58A but this is an essential piece of kit every musician should own. Turn up, plug in and play, confident this mic won’t let you down.
#SM58day #ShureSM58 #SM58
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[@jaemez3247]

In my 20's I was a fairly successful rapper and producer that was on tour a few decent times. Every show I did these mics were all over the place. Not only the mics that were labeled and ready for us..but the mics that were just laying about on the ground and all over the place. I imagine this is the reason the "mic drop" lives on to this day. Because these things get dropped and tossed about and STILL function as a professional level mic. After all these years I finally put one in my home studio to use with my MPC for sampling vocals. Incredible mic.

[@petecollins4925]

SM58's which were made between 1966 and 1984 were dual impedance 50/150 ohm, something I only learned of recently. After that date they were single 150 ohm impedance to comply more with industry standards for sound equipment. I still have my old dual impedance mic which is well battered as it spent many years out on the road in my mobile disco days. I haven't used it for years as moving into club and radio work meant that all the sound gear was provided so the mic was 'retired' a long time ago. Very recently however we needed an extra radio studio mic as our trusty (SM58!) guest mic was needed for an outside broadcast. I duly dug out my old mic, was horrified to see the state of the grille and foam insert which had somewhat perished/tarnished over the years. I only noticed then as I was fitting a shiny new grille that it was marked as dual impedance. I noticed then that the sound level through the studio mixer was somewhat lower than our guest mic, which is probably the result of the impedance mismatch. There is no switching for the different impedances, apparently it is taken care of by the way in which the mic XLR connector is wired internally. Apparently one of the wires has to be either disconnected or swapped, I'm not sure which, in order to eliminate the 50 ohm option. I've hunted high and low for some sort of instruction for doing this but can't find details anywhere. Is it something your mic experts at PMT would be aware of? I live not far from the Romford store, would it be worth me popping in to have a chat?

[@Dodger24]

I love this microphone. Last year I worked for a pro indoor lacrosse (NLL) team as their public address announcer, and the microphone that the arena supplies is an SM58S. It was absolutely perfect and my voice sounds better thru that microphone than any other one I've used before. I've now bought my own SM58S to use when announcing hockey games from various leagues, from youth hockey tournaments to the USHL and NCAA D3

[@ghostterminal5127]

I grabbed a Lewitt 240 pro and the Shure beta 57a, both are absolutely fantastic mics. Very inexpensive mics, with top quality sound and build. Great review btw.

[@aliciabauduin1922]

I was trying to find the best vocal mic and this review was great!

[@gregwright6281]

Just bought one today and it's fantastic

[@johnheiser2604]

Update to a more professional studio microphone you say. This is the standard upon which others came and it stands its ground. That's why I love it.

[@TransplantHelper]

I just bought a 57 with its official wind shield. I love it for my video podcast. The mat black looks great on camera and the sound it perfect for my untreated room.

[@robertmoderow7145]

Yup, love my Beta 87, but my Beta 58 has been with me for at least 25 years. Tried and true, Shure, a company you can rely on!

[@stevemaslin1003]

Thank you for this info. Great stuff.

[@SuperJemser]

I still use the shure 565, and have done since the 70s, still perfect sound

[@EliaForce1984ita]

As an owner of a Shure SM57 and an SM7B, I can say that Shure really makes good microphones! I have yet to try the 58 tho

[@DeWittPotts]

I have had my SM58 for about 10 years now. I have used many different clones of this mike over the years. While some are fairly close I don't have any that really compare to my SM58.

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

Try Mojave MA D dynamic mic.

[@KTHKUHNKK]

great review it makes me want to go buy one.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Enjoyed this 👌

[@rajeshgumber363]

I'm not Shure!

[@andhewonders]

But it Shure is.

[@rajeshgumber363]

@@andhewonders lol!

[@adamshatwell]

😅🔥

[@GinaVadanaArtist]

:)))

[@BeautifulL1fe]

😂

[@jonathansoko1085]

I use it in its budget alternatives for making 90s style hip hop. It just gives that feel that that style of music needs. A lot of people like to emulate the 90s style but they use really clean modern equipment and software and wonder why their music doesn't sound like it's from the 90's

[@jynx5533]

I’m thinking of picking up one specifically for making 90’s style hip hop. I’d like to capture that sound as close as I can without time traveling back and recording you know? So seeing your comment is definitely nice and reassuring.

[@androsingdo3755]

I’m looking for a mic for rapping not necessarily 90s style but this comment has sealed the deal for me I think

[@darkcoldforest]

Thank you for this video. I'm on the hunt for the perfect mic & I think I just found it.

[@enzomax2553]

Hi, what stand or boom arm would you recommend for the SM58?

[@jaym5118]

I just ordered this microphone. So it's good to hear such positive things about it. I'm surprised it's been around for so long. When I ordered this (to replace my audio-technica AT2005), I was thinking it was something new. I just hope this works on my computer with my XRL-to-USB cable I bought. Or I'm gonna feel like crying.

[@actioncameraspro]

Does it work?

[@jaym5118]

@@actioncameraspro ​ @Action Cameras pro Hi! Sadly, it DIDN'T work with the XRL-to-USB cable (on my PC or my laptop). I could hear my voice in the recording, but it was barely picking up, even with the volume all the way up on Audacity. Sounded terrible, and also had a hissing sound. SO....I ordered a Focusrite Scarlett Solo Audio Interface. With this (and an XRL Male to XRL Female cable I ordered separately), I was finally able to get my microphone to sound good on my PC. But it took some experimenting and I had to manually download the Focusrite Control etc. before it would work. I haven't tried doing any singing with it yet. But I'm sure it'll sound good when I do. 😀

[@actioncameraspro]

@@jaym5118 oh sht this scarlet mixer is like 120 euro, why did u go with the so expensive you coul probably work out with 40 euro mixer

[@jaym5118]

@@actioncameraspro Yeah, I spent around 110 USD for this. I was going to get the dual one that could have 2 mics plugged in, but I didn't really need that one. Plus it was 40 or 50 dollars higher. This was the first (and only) audio interface I knew about at the time, which I saw in a KZbin video. So I just went with that one.

[@actioncameraspro]

@@jaym5118 yeah i need something for beatbox at home for like under 150 euro will search more, thank you !

[@IvanSergio1984]

Good explanation!

[@PMTVUK]

Thanks!

[@blow1906]

Thanks for this great video! Two little questions: Is it possible to connect the SM58 with a pc with a xlr to 3.5 cable and record some things with for example audacity? And does anyone know if the "head" of the beta (what is it called? Capsule? Mean the round metal thing) would fit also on the sm58? I like the blue stripe, but would prefer the sound of the sm58 I guess... ;-)

[@kiiroMADE]

Better late than never.. 1) It is possible but not recommended. AFAIK the audio level would be so low it'd be rather unusable. If you ask me there are two ways to go: 1) Buy a USB microphone such as the Audio Technica AT2020, it's a condenser mic though so it won't have the same characteristics as these dynamic mics do. You don't need to buy anything extra with this microphone as it even comes with a small stand. 2) Shure SM58 with a complete setup (Microphone, pop-filter (Shure A58WS), microphone stand, cables, preamp, audio interface and highly recommended if you do any live streaming: Mic processor such as the DBX 286s. It's expensive if you want a complete setup but it's worth it if you like good sound. As for the question about the grill I can only speculate. Just looking at the picture of the grilles (Shure RK 143 G (SM58) vs Shure RK323G Beta 58 Black (Beta 58)) it seems to fit and have the same dimensions. Also the fact that Thomann sells a replacement grill (the t.bone SM58 Replacement Screen Silver) that fits both tell me that it will work.

[@georgeetherege8347]

I have used many broadcast mics since the 1960s and listened to a lot of live material where the vocal mics are SM58s. I think engineers need to be care using the SM58 and similar microphones. I swear the SM58, with it's relatively high output, can overdrive (most likely) the first preamp stage enough that the midrange sounds a bit torn. I've hear other types of mic in the same gig that (for whatever reason) deliver cleaner vocals. It's almost as if the preamp can't handle the combination of loud rock & roll singing and the the mic's output characteristics. Anyone else encountered this?

[@goaway2174]

Yes, and will use a PAD to cut 10 or 20 dB in front of the preamp. The 58 isn’t as sensitive as newer designs employing Neodymium magnets.

[@carlgrainger2669]

Great video

[@Prinas07Studio]

Can I use the mic for podcast?

[@videoclip1324]

Hello, I wanted to ask a question that I have wanted to ask for a long time: I have the sm58 microphone that I bought about a year ago. The whole time I use it, I have 3 problems. 1. The volume is very low even when I'm close to the microphone. 2. When I speak, a weak "white noise" starts playing in the background, which is only disturbing when speaking. 3. Even if I connect it to phantom 48v still remains the same. Do you know what to do in such a situation? I would be happy to answer if you can.🙏 Thank you in advance.

[@55Gonzales]

It may be an mixer issue, try another mixer.

[@dixonantony4813]

Original shure sm 58 which country

[@abdosoviet7696]

Excuse me, mate! I'm a teacher of foreign languages and a big fan of languages and dialects. Firstly, your review is really cool! Secondly, you're British - I guess - but from which city?

[@TrueShayari]

sir i want to do voice over I want professional quality. But my room is not sound proof. I want to record poetry. Whose emotional low voice and high voice have to be recorded. Which audio interface and microphone would be best for me? My budget total is $400. In which the complete studio setup is done. i have laptop

[@wakawaka430]

How loud can it get? I realize in the studios Im not singing loud enough and my voice is getting drowned out by the live instruments. Can it amplify your voice to be audible enough over instruments?

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

Instruments should sound at lower volume.

[@tweetydx9967]

Galaxy Attack game music 🔥🔥

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

My question is why isn't the PG58 more popular? More handling noise, sure, but there's a power switch, and the response curve is flatter. Looks exactly the same as an SM58 too, same company, same quality, but slightly cheaper if I remember correctly. When I first got a studio put together a couple years ago, that was my only mic. I recorded Stairway with it on every instrument and the vocals, and it came out absolutely heavenly. No pun intended.

[@mojorisin8368]

Check out the samson Q8. Half the price for the same mic.

[@bodhibrn]

You can get the SM58 with a on/off switch too

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

The SM58 is much more well built than the cheaper version.

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

@@fixedfocusmediaofficial I have both, and no it isn’t.

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

@@CraigFlowersMusic Internal and external durability are two different things.

[@goaway2174]

Just a minor correction. Steel is rarely if ever die cast outside of some esoteric ultra expensive application due to the high temperature and atmosphere that would be required, not to mention a die that could handle it. It would definitely not be done for a stage microphone. The main housing of the SM58 is made from die cast zinc, you can test it as steel is magnetic and zinc is not. The head basket is steel with I believe a nickel plating. I’ve used 100s of microphones to make recordings. If you can’t make a good recording using this microphone (SM58), it is 1. Inappropriate for the application, 2. You are incompetent, ignorant or both!

[@Lengsel7]

Great comment. Probably about the only intelligent one on this vid.

[@ServingMyJesus]

There are two SM58 days. America has May 8th and the UK has 5th August.

[@graemepearson7481]

You could build a house with one of these. Only ever need to replaced when lost.

[@malcolmgordon2988]

Couldn’t agree more… bought one in 2005 for about £60… completely beat up, but works perfectly.

[@justinellison4214]

Simple its a legand! Tough rugged sounds nice the noise is not from the mic itself its from noisey preamps

[@godschild5587]

Thank you

[@jackieskitchenukph]

I LOVED SHURE ANY OF THEM BUT SHURE, BUT WHEN I SANG THEY THOUGHT IT CAME FROM THE CD, YOU DON'T NEED TO HIGH YOUR VOICE, AND AFFORDABLE IT WON'T LET YOU DOWN, HIGH QUALITY PERFORMANCE IS PHENOMENAL.

[@mojorisin8368]

Samson Q8.

[@rihannaimvu8834]

How do you connect the microphone?

[@gillihansmobilewelding6318]

You haven't lived until you step up to an sm58 in a full venue with bad wiring. It's a shocking experience.

[@blktrd0837]

Shure I'll buy one

[@mrmackee123]

Sam looking the part 🧔‍♂

[@puterapermatachannel5273]

where switch on off at mic?

[@Samson1]

It's funny, to my ears both sound like £20 gaming headset mics would if they had higher clarity and no noise cancellation, or most under £50 condensers but without noise. I've never liked the sound these mics produce and avoid them like the plague. If only there were more mics with the 58's specialties! I cringe whenever I see them used in high budget productions. For studio environments there are better mics for second hand you can have for cheaper, but favourites will be favourites. That, and the fact that they're often paired with awful outdoor 'that'll do' boxes and mixed in a way they sound a bit... off.

[@desvonbladet]

There wouldn't be Volvos or Ferraris without the Ford Model-T, but no one says "everyone should own" the latter.

[@totallyfrozen]

Here’s a little red pill of truth that a lot of guys don’t want to swallow. The Shure SM58 frequency response follows the same EQ profile that an audio engineer would dial in for human voice on a flat response condenser. Meaning, the SM58 is already ideal for human voice spoken or singing right out of the box! Another little red pill is that the “SM” stands for Studio Microphone. So the claim that it was originally designed for live stage vocals is a myth. It was originally designed for radio and TV. The music industry realized how ideal it was for live vocals so it became ubiquitous for that. But it’s ideal for voiceovers and general studio recordings (including instruments). In fact, I’ll toss you a 3rd red pill. According to Shure, the SM57 and SM58 are the same mic except for the grille on the end. The 58 has a pop filter in a mesh ball and the 57 does not. The pop filter affects the frequency response SLIGHTLY, but they are the same mic…according to Shure.

[@LeRoySL-nk4hp]

So Muddy 58.

[@heathercollins4432]

Why? Because it's a workhorse as well as super-reliable...

[@LeRoySL-nk4hp]

I run live sound and I absolutely cringe when bands insist on me using SM58's for vocals! The whole time I'm just thinking about how much better they would sound with a Sennheiser, AKG, sE, etc. I have to EQ the mud out of the 58's unlike most any other dynamic mic. The 58 is an outdated mic in sound quality for shure 😉

[@diggler2002]

I have a knock off.

[@HiFiASMR]

After having studied audio for 20 years. The SM58 is nasally funky piece of garbage like all handheld stage dynamic mics. The 5kHz peak on these things are a bad tuning and they should be able to make a better tuning by now. SM7b is too dark and still retains the 6khz lump from SM57.

[@KVMUSICLEGENDAXXI]

😂😂😂 Hsiwosozoos dbsksoowos ebeiosooow d sjskososod shsjksks Чушь

[@tricogustrico]

Not a fan of people talking over music