Shure SM58 Microphone Review

It is unusual for a microphone to have legendary status among DJ’s, but the Shure SM58 vocal microphone is just such a device. The Shure SM58 is an extremely popular microphone because of its high-quality of sound, and it is one of the best-selling microphones around the globe.

Even four decades after its first introduction, the microphone is still considered the industry standard for live performance microphones. The microphone is extremely versatile and can be used for studio recordings, on stage performances, and sound reinforcement. Several famous artists use the microphone and it has even won awards.

The Shure SM58 Specifications

The Shure SM58 microphone is a professional cardioid dynamic microphone. This means that the microphone is unidirectional, only picking up sounds for one direction and disallowing sounds from others. Consequently, the microphone eliminates feedback from monitors and background noise from onstage.

They work through electromagnetic induction and are resistant to moisture, fairly inexpensive, and sturdy. The microphone works on the principle of moving coils to generate audio signals. The consequence is that the SM58 is one of the highest qualities of microphones and its popularity among DJ’s and performers only reinforces its reputation.

The Shure SM58 also includes other features. The microphone is available in both wired and wireless versions with or without an on/off switch. The frequency response is tailor-made for vocal performances with a heightened midrange and bass roll off. The shock-mount system reduces handling noise from the microphone, and it has a built-in spherical wind and breath pop filter. The microphone also comes with a stand adapter that is resistant to breakage and rotates a full 180 degrees. It has a steel mesh grille that improves its durability. The SM58 can be used both indoors and outdoors.

How the SM58 Microphone Works

Dynamic microphones are those that work on the principle of moving coils, which is the same principle that loudspeakers are based on, only in reverse. There is a very small induction coil which is located inside the magnetic field of a magnet and then it is attached to the microphone’s diaphragm. When the sound enters the mic, the waves move the diaphragm, which in turn moves the coil. The coil moves in the magnetic field which produces an electromagnetic current. Dynamic microphones also have a high gain before feedback, meaning that they can be amplified to a large degree before causing audio feedback.

The Shure Company

Shure Incorporated has been producing SM58 microphones since 1966. Shure is an American company that began all the way back in 1925 in Chicago, Illinois. They first began making kits of radio parts but have grown over the years to produce both consumer and professional audio electronics. Their products include microphones like the SM58, wireless microphone systems, mixers, discussion systems, phonograph cartridges, and digital signal processing systems.

In addition, the company produces several listening products like headphones, personal monitor systems, and high-quality ear buds. The SM series of microphones began to be produced by Shure with the release of the SM57 in 1965 and the SM58 a year later. This series was originally designed for the TV studio market but is now used for all kinds of vocal performances.

Musicians Who Have Used the Shure SM58

The Shure SM59 continues to be popular among musicians. Here are just a few of the artists and bands who have used this particular microphone:

The Who
Michael Jackson
Robert Lockwood, Jr.
U2
Clay Aiken
Alejandro Manzano
Madonna
Bruce Springsteen
Coldplay
The Civil Wars
Bonnie Riatt
Jennifer Hudson
Maroon 5
Foster the People
The Band Perry
Paul McCartney
Rihanna
Katy Perry

Awards the Shure SM58 has Won

The Shure SM58 is not only popular among Dj’s but has won a handful of awards from the music industry. The SM58 microphone has also been used for important events for musicians and artists like the Grammy Awards. Shure SM58 microphones took the stage for the 2012 Grammy Awards show. Shure SM58 microphone won the award for best live microphones according to the MI Pro Retail Survey in both 2007 and 2008. It also has been given the gold medal from Acoustic Guitar magazine’s Player’s Choice Awards in 2011. In 2009, the SM58 was honored with a PSW Reader’s Choice Award. Even the music industry itself has recognized the superior quality of these microphones.

The Shure SM58 microphone is such a high-quality piece of performance equipment that it has garnered its own reputation over the years. The microphone has been around since the 1960s, yet it still remains one of the most popular choices for musicians and artists for vocal performances both in the studio and for live shows. In fact, the microphone is so popular that it has won a variety of awards and has been used for major events in the music industry like the Grammy Awards.

The Shure SM58 is produced by Shure Incorporated, an American company that has been producing high-end audio equipment for almost a century. The Shure SM58 proves that microphones can have a large impact upon the quality of music, and this specific microphone is an industry leader.