beta 57 vs SM57

[secondhandstereo]

Hi Guys

Im wanting to buy a Dynamic mic. The two mics im looking at are the SM 57 and the Beta 57, both made by shure. Ive been told the Beta 57 is a better mic for home recording than the SM57. Is this true? What are your thoughts?

cheers

[brandondrury]

Ive been told the Beta 57 is a better mic for home recording than the SM57.

No. It's COMPLETELY false because it implies that any mic may be better across the board. That simply does not happen. You've got a crayon box. A SM57 is a blue. A beat SM57 is blue but maybe 1/10 a notch darker.

In pro circles you seldom here mention of the Beta stuff. The standard SM57 is a great microphone, holds it's value, and sounds excellent on a number of sources. Even to this day it is extremely popular on snare drums, electric guitars, and even makes it's way onto vocals.

I wouldn't bother thinking about it. Go with the SM57. The Beta is a fine mic too but simply sounds SLIGHTLY different, not better.

Brandon

[String7th]

I agree, if you are buying new, they are equal. I own a SM58 and a Beta58. I can hear slight differences on guitar amps, but not on vocals. I bought it used for $60. To me, mics in this $100-200 range are not the pinnacle of my collection, it's another option

[richiebee]

They aren't equal. The SM57 is a cardioid and a Beta 57 is supercardioid. This might mean nothing to you, or it could mean the world.

Brandon is right, neither is out and out better, but they are most definitely different and one will definitely serve better than the other in any given situation.

Personally, I think the beta 57 is better suited to vocals than the SM57. Is it worth the fairly significant price difference (relatively speaking)? I dunno.

[secondhandstereo]

thanx for the reply's... which mic will give more ****th when micing up a amp?

[drago]

I'd go with the 57. In my experience the beta series is mostly ignored except for a couple mics.

[MetalDave]

The beta is better for vocals from my experience but the good ole sm57 can't be beat for the price on any speakers miking app. If you are playing an electric guitar and miking the amp use the sm57. If you are playing acoustic, neither would be my choice get a 1 or 2 hundred dollar condenser mic. I have been staying away from the MXL series lately I like my behringer B1 for acoustics and vocals. An sm57 at the sound hole and a condenser back about 12 - 16 " at the 12th fret sounds pretty good with the right mix. The thing with the sm57 is it sounds good on alot of things. it is one of my favorite mics for Drums. Awesome snare drum mic! pretty good on toms also. I haven't even tryed the beta on a snare to this date. I had a beta and sold it because I like the sm58 better for vocals. One mans opinion.... take it or leave it.

[brandondrury]

Personally, I think the beta 57 is better suited to vocals than the SM57. Is it worth the fairly significant price difference (relatively speaking)? I dunno.

Don't take this too far out of context. There have been many HUGE albums done with a SM 57. Off the top of my head, the engineer who did Blood Sugar Sex Magik said he just slapped up an SM57 on that album. (The Chilli Peppers are famous for using the SM7 the most, though). Does this mean they would have had better results with a Beta 57? Who knows!

With this interent gear advice it's always complex when you hear someone say "The Beta 57 is generally better than the 57 for vocals". "How much better?" is the right question to ask. In the end, the two are much closer than the difference between an SM57 and a AT4050 or Nady ribbon mic.

Generally speaking, I tell people not to get too excited about your first mic.
A $100 Microphone Is Like Your First Girlfriend

The thing with the sm57 is it sounds good on alot of things. it is one of my favorite mics for Drums. Awesome snare drum mic! pretty good on toms also.

I 100% agree.

Brandon

[Jordan63]

FWIW, I recently picked up a beta 57, and compared to my regular 57, I think the beta is great on snare. I have recorded several drum sets lately and have been using the beta over the regular 57. When I a/b'd them, the beta seemed to have a quicker transient response, the sm57 seemeed slower and chunkier versus the beta. I think the sound of the snare translates better with the beta 57, although it is not night and day difference, but I do notice it and for my tastes I like the beta better. I have been using ribbons on guitar amps lately so have not tried it there, but for snare drum my vote goes to the beta 57.

[engineroom]

I own both as well and I use both for pretty much about everything. Vocals, Electric guitar cab micing, snare and toms, you name it. I use BOTH mics to double guitar tracks every time I record heavy, thick guitars... I usually use the Beta on one of the top speakers in a 4x12, and the sm57 on one of the bottom speakers.

I would definitely go with the sm57 for a first mic. Its is the hammer or screwdriver of all mics, gotta have it.

As far as differences, In my experience I think the Beta has a little more high-end freq response, however, not enough to really set it apart... and for the 30$ more for a new Beta, its worth it to stick with the ol' sm57.