News &Updates

“Which Shure microphone is best for me?” is one of the most common questions our product support team receives. While it’s true that sound is subjective, that doesn’t mean the answer is, “I dunno [shrug]. Good luck.”

Our in-house experts advise that considering two factors— application and budget—will narrow down your list of contenders from every mic in the catalog to a manageable handful. Once you do that, the next step is to trust your ears. If you like the way it sounds, then it’s the right mic for you. Also, think about where the mic fits in your overall sound system. If you’re using a basic system, for example, it doesn’t make sense to connect a top-of-the-line microphone to it. The basic system won’t allow for the expensive mic’s rich feature set to be heard. It’s both cheaper and more effective to match apples to apples.

Check out this handy list, organized by application, and you’ll be able to mic the core instruments of most bands. We’ve included both the why and the what in our recommendations, with products on a scale from value-priced to feature-rich.

Part 1 : Vocal Microphones

Polar Pattern:
Cardioid polar patterns help control feedback and reduce ambient sound in most cases. If you’re on a tight stage, consider a microphone with a supercardioid polar pattern, which is narrower than the cardioid.

Frequency Response:
Most mics for close-up vocals share a similar frequency response that features rolloff of the extreme high- and low-end frequencies that are outside the normal vocal range, plus a boosted mid-range. This is called a shaped frequency response.

Cartridge Type:
Dynamic cartridges contain fewer components that could fail, and they don’t require phantom power, so they’re often preferred for live sound. Condenser mics require phantom power, but if you need a brighter sound with extended highs, then a condenser might be a better option.

Tips:
As a general rule, the more you spend on a vocal mic, the less handling noise and breath noise you’re likely to experience due to improvements in the mic’s shock mount and pop filter. Leaving the mic in the stand rather than holding it can mitigate handling noise, however, and using a windscreen can reduce breath noise.

Product suggestions from value-priced to feature-rich:
PGA58, SM58®, SM86, BETA 58A®, Super 55, BETA® 87A, BETA® 87C, KSM9, KSM9HS