Hi,
The KSM 32 is a single diaphragm cardioid pattern mic whereas the 44 is a multipattern one offering selectable variable patterns of cardioid, figure-of eight and omni. Both are A-class FET's (not tubes) in their electronics and have 1 inch diaphragms.
The 32 is a bright hi-definition mic very suitable to instruments of all types. It is good on vocals too but is not as flattering as the 44.
The 44 is a dual diaphragm superlative mic (highest standards) specially tailored to vocals. It also sounds exceptional on most instruments. Very present and bright on male as well as female voices. The sound is clean without offering any artificial color.
Hope this suffices.

Sorry, forgot to reply to the last part of your question.
If you are into pro recording then the 44 is certainly worth the extra 200!

Thanks, I think I´d better spend the extra 200.

Will anyone agree if I use the KSM44 for vocals, Drum overheads, and Guitar Amps, and get good results for all?. (I know I will in vocals for sure). Im trying to figure out which mic to buy that can give me multiple uses (with good results).

KSM44

Supercharry,

I have a KSM44 and have had very good results on numerous applications, including drum OH, guitar cab miking, as well as vocals. It's just about the quietest mic I've ever heard as well. Very good for acoustic instruments, really shines on acoustic guitar, full, present and detailed - my Martin guitar almost glows in the track. If I had the money, I might pick up another one....

Shawn

The entire KSM line is quite good. I like the sound of the 44 the most. It is a bit bigger and rounder sounding than the 32 (probably because of the diaphragm size). Anyways, I find the 44 works on lots of stuff- brass instruments, guitars, drums (although I may add a bit of high-end- I think the 32 and 27 are better drum/perc mics), lots of stuff... If I could get only one, though, I'd probably go with the 44.

--Ben

A little KSM knowledge for ya....here it comes.....

The KSM32 was the first of the LDC KSM line. The idea behind it was to have a mid-level priced studio workhorse to compliment the other "industry standard" mics that weren't primarily geared toward the studio market (SM57 and 58).

Next came the KSM44....Shure's big momma....a quiet, pristine, versatile studio mic. Designed different from the KSM32 electronically and capsule wise.

Then came the KSM27. Obviously to fit the budget home/project studio audience, but it was designed and built with the KSM44 in mind. Shure tried keeping true to the KSM44 as much as possible in the KSM27, but made the adjustments to the product to fit the price.

I've spoken with tons of people that actually like the KSM27 over the KSM44 for certain applications such as drum overheads. A lot of people have said that the KSM44 is boring.....probably because it is pristine. Kinda like Sytek pres are described...clean and good.

What do you get from a Shure mic? Good to excellent overall performance and they are built like tanks.

This is my completely unbiased opinion as comparing mics is like comparing apples to donkeys in a lot of cases. For the money you can't beat a Shure mic .

therecordingart wrote: A little KSM knowledge for ya....here it comes.....

The KSM32 was the first of the LDC KSM line. The idea behind it was to have a mid-level priced studio workhorse to compliment the other "industry standard" mics that weren't primarily geared toward the studio market (SM57 and 58).

Next came the KSM44....Shure's big momma....a quiet, pristine, versatile studio mic. Designed different from the KSM32 electronically and capsule wise.

Then came the KSM27. Obviously to fit the budget home/project studio audience, but it was designed and built with the KSM44 in mind. Shure tried keeping true to the KSM44 as much as possible in the KSM27, but made the adjustments to the product to fit the price.

I've spoken with tons of people that actually like the KSM27 over the KSM44 for certain applications such as drum overheads. A lot of people have said that the KSM44 is boring.....probably because it is pristine. Kinda like Sytek pres are described...clean and good.

What do you get from a Shure mic? Good to excellent overall performance and they are built like tanks.

This is my completely unbiased opinion as comparing mics is like comparing apples to donkeys in a lot of cases. For the money you can't beat a Shure mic .

Count me as one of the people who prefers the KSM27 over the 32 and 44. The 44 is a nice mic, but it almost sounds a little flat, and not in a good way. Very clean, but it doesn't -do- anything to the sound. The 32 doesn't sound as nice on the top end, but it's the same way to me. It just does nothing for me. The 27 on the other hand, doesn't sound as "good" as the 44, but it actually has a high mid peak that really makes certain things stand out, and actually a wierd low end thing that doesn't sound good for close-up applications, but really stands out as a room mic.

Granted, this is for my little project studio that I record into a Roland VS-1824, and the KSM27 is my best mic.. but I've always got my friend's paired KSM32s around.. and I always end up using my KSM27. It always sounds better. My friend with the 32s even thinks so and borrows my 27 often.

Your mileage may vary, but really.. they're all good mics, but if you're looking for a -great- mic and would spend $700 on a KSM44, why not get a BLUE Blueberry Baby Bottle or Dragonfly, Neumann TLM103, AKG C414, Rode NTK, or a Groove Tube GT66/GT55, instead? They'll have more character.

The only disagreements I have is choosing a TLM103 over a KSM (subjective opinion of course). The TLM103 is a $1k mic that doesn't sound any better than some mics in the $200-$300 range.

Cool.

Should you spend the extra $200.00? If you have a decently-treated room where you can take advantage of the multiple patterns, yeah. If you haven't got the right environment, you are wasting your $$$.
BTW, nobody has pointed out that these Shures are electret condensers...