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Does the Shure SM57 Microphone Need Phantom Power

By bestmicrophones.net In , ,

Are you considering the Shure SM57 microphone and wondering whether it needs phantom power? That is a good question to consider before purchasing a microphone like the SM57.

The answer is that because the Shure SM57 is a dynamic microphone, and not a condenser microphone, the Shure SM57 DOES NOT require phantom power.

What is phantom power?

Certain microphones, such as condenser microphones, need external power to work.

Phantom power is the name for the process of providing DC (direct current) power to microphones which require it.

Phantom power is provided to a microphone by a audio interface or a mixing board via the microphone cable.

You will often see phantom power labeled as 48V or +48V on audio interfaces such as those made by Focusrite. To use phantom power, simply connect the mic to the cable and the cable to the interface, then push the 48V button on.

Dynamic microphones such as the Shure SM57, unlike condensers, do not have the same type of active electronic circuitry inside, and therefore do not require phantom power in order to work.

Originally condenser microphones had to get their power from an external, stand alone power supply unit.

Later on, manufacturers such as Neumann wanted to eliminate this extra, often bulky power supply and created a new way of providing it: through the mixing board and via the mic cable.

Because there was no longer a visible extra power supply unit that people could see, they named the new way of providing power “phantom power.”

Additional related information about the Shure SM57 Microphone, and types of microphones:

Be sure to check out our full review of the Shure SM57 microphone

Learn whether the Shure SM57 is good for vocals (you might be surprised)

Find out the difference between condenser and dynamic microphones

Can the Shure SM57 Microphone be Used for Vocals?

By bestmicrophones.net In , ,

The iconic Shure SM57 dynamic microphone is best known for its use as an instrument microphone as it is one of the top microphones for recording electric guitars, snare drums, and acoustic guitars. The SM57 is also well known for its use as a live microphone in both musical and speaking settings.

With this as its primary reputation, it is a very reasonable question to ask whether the Shure SM57 can also be used for vocals.

Shure SM57 microphone for vocals

The answer may surprise you, but perhaps shouldn’t, given the SM57’s further reputation as one of the most versatile microphones in history.

The answer is that yes, the Shure SM57 can be used for vocals, and you, much like we were, might be even pleasantly surprised by how it does.

Firstly, before we get to our test results for the Shure SM57’s abilities when recording vocals, it’s important to mention that the SM57 has something of an established history for use in live, on stage vocals.

Many famous artists have used the Shure SM57 while performing live and these are artists who certainly could have had their choice of any microphone they wanted. So it’s safe to say that they were pleased with its results for live vocals. Additionally, the SM57’s hard earned reputation for ruggedness and dependability makes it a great live microphone in general.

Want to check out an example of the Shure SM57 getting used in live performance? Here is Brad Delp of Boston using one in this performance of “A Man I’ll Never Be”

Now on to our test results for recording vocals using the Shure SM57. We had tested top vocal microphones to determine our Best Microphones for Recording Vocals recommendations. During this testing, we were very pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Shure SM57. So much so that the SM57 ended up making the list!

The Shure SM57’s crisp midrange and pronounced presence provide it with a unique character which does wonders for certain vocal performances, particularly in rock, punk, or blues genres.

In our testing, which we conducted by running the SM57 through a Cloudlifter CL-1 mic activator to add clean gain, we found that the Shure SM57 did very well on vocals. While it was occasionally a little darker sounding and slightly lacking in high end detail, most of the time, there was not a significant difference between the SM57 and the Shure SM58, which of course is used primarily for vocals. Overall, the SM57 did a very nice job on vocals, and you would not know that it was not something that it was not known for. We do not think it would do quite as well, however, if not being run through a mic activator.

Similar to how the Shure SM57 has been used by many famous artists when performing live, there have also been many famous artists who recorded vocals with it. For example, Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers has recorded entire his vocals on entire albums by using the Shure SM57. It was actually considered to be part of his distinctive sound.

So if you are considering an Shure SM57, perhaps because it does so well recording instruments and you wanted to know if it can be used for vocals, and wanted to know whether it can also be used for vocals, the answer is that while there are better mics that are specifically designed for vocals, this one can do both live and recorded vocals, and it does them quite well. Just one more reason why some people believe it is the “one mic to rule them all.”

Does the Shure SM58 Vocal Microphone Need Phantom Power?

By bestmicrophones.net In , , ,

This is a question that people considering a Shure SM58 microphone sometimes ask. And it is definitely a good idea to know whether this iconic vocal mic requires phantom power before you make a purchase.

The answer is that the Shure SM58 is a dynamic microphone, rather than a condenser microphone, and therefore it DOES NOT require phantom power.

One caveat, which would apply only to a smaller group of SM58 users, is that if you plan to use the Shure SM58 in conjunction with a mic activator such as the Cloudlifter-CL, then you would need phantom power as the Cloudlifter does require phantom power. A mic activator adds clean gain.

Most users of the Shure SM58 do not use it with a Cloudlifter-CL, so this would not apply, and as said above, no phantom power is needed. That said, we do think the mic sounds a little bit better with a mic activator. But it is a great mic no matter what, which is why the Shure SM58 made our list of The Best Microphones for Recording Vocals

Also, be sure to check out our review of the Shure SM58 dynamic microphone

Bonus info: How do you use phantom power for a microphone on an audio interface?

If you do ever need to use phantom power for a microphone, it’s easy to do.

First, connect the microphone to the mic cable and the mic cable to the audio interface.

Most audio interfaces have a button to turn on the phantom power. It is usually labeled something such as 48V or +48V. Most of the time, if you activate the phantom power, the button will then light up to show it is turned on and active. Depending on the number of inputs on the audio interface, there may be more than one phantom power button and you have to have the correct one turned on. Often times, each phantom power button provides phantom power for a certain number of the inputs.

If you are using a mic that requires phantom power, you will not get any sound out of the mic until it is turned on. Once the phantom power is turned on and active, you will be able to hear sound coming through the microphone.

Mixers can also provide phantom power.

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