Shure microphones: Difference between SM and Beta

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 12:37 pm

Hi,

I searched, sort of.

This should be an easy one. I curious what the difference is between the SM series and Beta series.

How different is an SM58 from the Beta58?

I've tried to decipher the information from the sure website, but I'm just not all that smart.

Thanks

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:01 pm

SM's have a more uniform rise in their frequency response from about 2k on, whereas the Beta series have a sharper increase around 3.5k and a bit wider frequecy response that doesn't start to slope off until about 13k (SM's drop sharply past 10k).

In a nutshell, SMs are built more for sibilance cutting (and are better at high freq. feedback rejection) whereas Betas are clearer and more even on the highs.

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 3:27 pm

The Beta series also uses neodymium (sp?) magnets which produces a higher output level. But I have had bad experiences with Beta 58's I used to have 4 and now I only have 2 because 2, died, in the middle of live recording! So I'll never use them on anything of any primary importance again. I'll stick with the SM 58's, my favorites. Maybe I should buy a few, since I don't own any? I do have a bag full of SM 57's with foam pop filters. Those qualify as 58's. Besides, you can save plenty of money if you stick with the SM series. No one will think you're cheap, even if you are like the rest of us.

Cheap and easy
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 3:37 pm

Agreed, I'll take my SMs over Betas any day!
- Though I do like to occasionally put a beta on the top o' the snare...

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 6:11 pm

VonRocK wrote:

Hi,

How different is an SM58 from the Beta58?

I've tried to decipher the information from the sure website, but I'm just not all that smart.

Thanks

SM58= Cardioid
Beta58= Supercardioid

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 12:29 am

And if you don't understand cardioid or what that means...it's simply the pick up pattern, which is heart shaped (cardioid...cardio...get it?)

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 12:35 am

Ya know what bugs me about this thread?

The title is misspelled!
That's bugging the piss out of me!
Grrrrrr!

"Want a mic? Sure."
"Oh, what kind?"
"I just told you."
"No you didn't, you said sure. Do you mean, Shure?"
"Sure I do!"

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:14 am

Ok, the spelling is all fixed.

Thank you for the replies.

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:31 pm

I don't know is on second. Or is that who?

No balls to play with
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:38 pm

TVPostSound wrote:

VonRocK wrote:

Hi,

How different is an SM58 from the Beta58?

I've tried to decipher the information from the sure website, but I'm just not all that smart.

Thanks

SM58= Cardioid
Beta58= Supercardioid

SM= Cardioid (except SM63, SM11, SM87A, SM93)
Beta= Supercardioid (except Beta91, Beta53, Beta87C)

The Beta dynamic mics (Beta56, Beta57, Beta58, Beta52) have neodymium magnets.

That is really it.

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