Shure - SM58

A microphone by itself will not work, you need something to connect it (a cable) to the device that is connecting it (an interface) to whatever they are using to record it (a computer). The Shure SM 58 is a good mic, I use it for everything. Last time I bought one they were about $100usd.  This is a thoughtful gift but if you don't know what they are recording with and they don't know, may as well get them a gift card to a music store. 

For the Roland SP-404MKII, you’ll need a dynamic microphone that plugs straight into the 1/4” jack. Most ultra-compact mics (like mini shotguns or lavaliers) actually require power, which the SP-404MKII doesn’t provide. So, most tiny mics won’t work directly—people usually recommend standard dynamic mics like the Shure SM58 with an adapter, but that’s not exactly “short.” Among the smallest options mentioned on forums, the Saramonic SR-XM1 is worth a try—it’s designed for cameras, but some users have reported it works as a mini mic with the SP. However, there’s no 100% guarantee it’ll work perfectly. Generally, the recommendation is to use a compact dynamic mic (something like the Akai ADM-80/40/60 or similar with a short body), but there aren’t many options that are truly tiny “stubs,” due to the lack of phantom or plug-in power. If you want that OG 404 vibe, the closest option is the Saramonic SR-XM1, or maybe an old-school dictaphone mic with a built-in battery (so it provides power).

It can be a combination of both, though it depends. If the vocals are always harsh, then it's usually due to the quality of the microphone. Low end condenser capsules tends to be harsh in the top end. I much prefer a vocalist using an SM58 to almost any sub $500 USD condenser microphone. If the vocals are only hash during the esses, then it's possible that the singer is lacking in technique. I have a lot of experience with this, also being a professional singer myself. I can adjust how I deliver an ess sound if it sounds too bright or too loud. It could also be that the mic is not a good match, though less likely, IMO.

Scarlett 2i3 and Shure Sm58. Why would you want a USB mic?

You probably don't need a 1000$ mic but if you get that it would of course probably a be a great mic. A 100(ish)$ Shure SM58 might do. It is designed as a stage mic so it is very well shielded from noise from 'behind the mic' if positioned well with regards to the pickup pattern, and it generally makes pretty good audio and is widely considered to be unbreakable.

A cheap interface (say a Scarlett 2i2) and a cheap mic (sm58 or sm57) will take you a long way. You can find both of those things used for very low prices.

Depends on your setup. For USB: Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica ATR2100x. For XLR: Shure SM58 or Rode PodMic. I us an ATR2100x with Podcastle AI for podcast editing - . Unless you're doing in-person interviews regularly, start with USB and upgrade later if needed .

Get a second hand sm58

I use a Shure SM58

It doesn't need to be that expensive, either. The Shure SM-58 has been a standard vocal mic since the beginning of time. It's around $100 US. Every music store should have it. They will also want a Mic Cable (XLR Cable) and an audio interface sot they can plug the mic into their computer. A Focusrite Scarlet Solo is a little over $100. Altogether, I think you're at $250 for a complete setup. \- [https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM58-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B000CZ0R42/](https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM58-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B000CZ0R42/) \- [https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/](https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/) \- [https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Basics-Microphone-Speaker-Conductors/dp/B01JNLUA5G/](https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Basics-Microphone-Speaker-Conductors/dp/B01JNLUA5G/)

Best I can do is SM58 (on vocals)

I'd find a midrange condensor akg with pop filter + the se electronics reflection screen will get you a long way. Way better than a dynamic shure sm58 which are great mics for performing live but lack a bit of detail for true voice over work imo. I'm no professional but I do own a shure sm58 and a midrange akg condenser mic. There is a huge difference in clarity between these two.

Why not the sm58, same mic with a windscreen on top made for vocalists?

Depends on what you're looking for. A great dynamic XLR option is a Shure SM58. If you want an XLR condenser, get Rode NT1 signature series. For USB I don't have many exact recommendations as it's been a while since I've researched that market srgment, but literally any ~$100 mic with good reviews will sound about as good as the SM7b for casual use. Iirc the Samson q2u is really good

not a huge fan of the at2020 or 2035 for much. Theyre a bit harsh, and id take an sm57 or 58 any day over em

The Yeti is a fine mic. But if your issue is background noise you should look at a dynamic mic vs condenser - SM58 is a good choice. If only speech a PG58 would work as well. Also, beyond the mic, what are the acoustics of the room? Any sound baffles to limit noise? The mic needs to match the room and the use. And as someone already said, this is a problem that can be solved for well under $1,000

The u 87 are mediocre microphones in the recording studio and not suitable for live use! A measly S58 m wins hands down! And it costs 1/10! Grown-ups use high-end and sometimes mid-range microphones but never that stuff! Maybe someone has used it in the past!

Shure SM58 will get the job done. Can double for playing live gigs too. There are also some sub 150 audio technica mics that may work as well.

I use a Shure SM58S (has a off on switch) and a 1 foot XLR to 1/4th cable. It works just fine for me. You could also get a 1/4th male to XLR female adapter that would connect most dynamic mics the way you are visualizing the setup. I just dont know if it will look okay and not be angled down.

Shure SM58 will be the closest to an SM7b for a cheaper price, literally the same microphone diaphragm inside of it that the SM7b has, just a different housing. (so basically you'll sound exactly the same on a SM58 and SM7b, just a difference in pickup pattern) I personally use a Sennheiser e835, similar price as the SM58 and also a "stage handheld" style (which you can still mount to boom arms just fine) and is also a wonderful mic, basically the SM58's main competitor.

Most decent mics are around the $100 mark, which is already half your budget. These would be things like the Lewitt LCT 240, Audio Technica AT2020, heck even an SM58 would be fine. If you can find them on sale, that will help with the rest of your budget. Alternatively, a USB mic like the Wave:3 would get you mic + interface in one go and it's a decent enough mic (it's also made by Lewitt). You just have no upgrade path and if the drivers go wrong or something, you're out both a mic and an interface. With a condenser mic, just about any interface would be good enough in terms of quality. Again, most decent ones start at around $100. What you get by paying more is not just better quality but also more features and driver support. My favorite pick for streamers is the Audient iD 14 mk II. It has really good quality, but it also has the ability to route your audio to 3 separate outputs that you can mix separately for yourself vs OBS. You could also do this using Wave Link with the Wave:3 or Wave XLR, but you'll get additional latency and the quality on the Wave XLR is lacking by comparison to most other audio interfaces. Unfortunately, good audio gear is not cheap and these recommendations are pretty much the low end price wise. I'm not saying you have to go nuts, $200 will get you a decent mic and interface, especially if you wait for sales or shop used, but it'll be hard to get mic and interface and arm and cables etc, so you may need to shop around and buy things piecemeal.

I second this. I have had my SM58s for about half a decade, and they have NEVER failed me or given me bad audio. They're not the greatest mics in the world, but they are THE most respected, used, and beloved mics around. Theres a reason why schools, music halls, comedy clubs, and other public events with live sound tend to have MANY SM58s.

If you have iPhone or flagship Samsung or Pixel you already have great mic. If you recording in non treated room better yo use dynamic mic. I use SM48 and I absolutely love it but people prefer SM58 for unknown to me reasons (it seems to look better on graph but thats it as my voice sounds absolutely neat with SM48), I bought used and have no regrets.

Bro you can be like everyone else and buy SM58 go for it lol Im staying with SM48. I like its frequency response, it fits me better.

Do you have a way to record a microphone? The microphone itself can be $70 but you also need an audio interface to plug it into and record with. Do you have a computer? A Used AT2020USB just USBs into a computer so you don’t need an interface. We use one at work for voiceovers. You can get them super cheap used.

The SM58 is “the” microphone. It can do just about anything and lots of major artists have used it for recording. It is good at everything. It’s not the best at everything though. It’s a dynamic microphone so its pick up pattern is pretty tight, as in you have to be close to it for it to pick up sound, so it is good in live and studio environments. Only downside to the SM58 is it can be dark and muddy on its own without any processing. You also need an audio interface to plug it in to. The AT2020USB is a microphone with a built in audio interface. It’s a condenser microphone so it is more sensitive which means more background noise. It does have a pick up pattern where it only picks up sound in one direction. It’s also got a brighter sound with no processing needed. Like at home in my home studio recording drums, vocals and amps with my audio interface and DAW where I play audio engineer I use the SM58 for basically everything. At work when my co worker needs to record a voice over for a commercial, I use the AT2020USB because I can just plug it in to a computer position it, hit record and have a great sounding vocal track without all of the other hardware or processing.

Good recommendations, except for the microphone. 57 works best with loud instruments, 58 is a live vocal mic. The AT2020 has a very weak bottom end, but that’s usually the way you’ll mix pop/rock/metal vocals anyway. Still, I’d probably go for something more neutral and learn the common mixing habits. Behringer and some other brands make large diaphragm condenser mics that really are pretty ok, as low as $50. Scarlett Solo is a solid choice.

As others have said, dynamic mics don't magically reject noise. It's just that they are less sensitive than condensers, so people tend to work closer. One of my personal favorites for the past 40+ years is the EV model 666. However, they're becoming rather scarce. The RE20 is very popular for good reason. Or, if you don't want absolutely the best pro studio quality, you can literally have a Shure SM58 touching your lips, turn the gain down, and hear almost no background noise. The frequency response is intentionally tailored to compensate for proximity effect so you won't end up sounding boomy or muddy. For years it was a go-to mic for live stage bands.

On the go I use the DJI Mics, they're convenient and sound ok. At the desk, depends how lazy I am...sometimes I just grab the DJI ones, sometimes I use my Yamaha audio interface and will plug in one of my live sound mics - I have SM58's, Beta58's, Beta57's, SM57's, Beta87's, SEv7's, SEv3's, Audix OM11, and obviously a bunch of instrument mics that don't make sense for vocals :) Personally I like the sound of my voice on the Beta87.

Size alone is no predictor of performance. (where have i heard this before?) A handheld SM58 might pick up your voice, but do poorly with surrounding environmental sounds. And its fricken heavy for field work. A decent iav mic is the best option to meet your stated requirements. Buy a fuzzy windscreen to reduce the noise from wind.

To do this properly, you'd really need a professional vocal booth in your house and your PC somewhere outside of it. No amount of filters is going to make up for a crappy recording space, but you CAN make your space as recording-friendly as possible. Move your mic away from your PC. If you're singing, you're better off standing anyway. Put your mic on a stand and point it away from your PC to reject as much fan noise as possible. Add soft furnishings to the room to absorb reflections. Hand blankets on walls and put carpets on the floor. For best recording results, pony up for a decent quality dynamic vocal mic, XLR cable and a USB audio interface. Go talk to someone at your local pro audio store (NOT BestBuy, Walmart or other "gamer gear" retailer). A Shure SM-58 runs about $130 and is a classic live vocal mic. I've used a Sennheiser e845 for decades for both live vocals and recording. It's been rock solid for me. A Presonus AudioBox USB interface will run you about the same as the mic. Add a $10 XLR cable and you're in business. Focusrite interfaces have had issues with OBS. Behringer is a great budget-friendly option as well. Once you've got your gear, instal the obs-asio plugin to allow your interface to talk to OBS using the studio-quality ASIO protocol. Yes, many USB interfaces will also work as plug and play devices on Windows PCs but ASIO is a superior protocol and it allows you to use each input on your interface as a separate input device in OBS (instead of the single stereo track Windows drivers will give you). Do it right once. Pay for it once. Enjoy it for years.

$100 is the bottom end of what you'll spend. The only suggestion I'd have is to buy it used and you'll probably save $50 or so. They last forever. But yeah, don't buy cheap chinese knockoffs, they will not be legit.

People tend to go for condenser USB mics, which are good.. but you need more faffing about in an untreated room to sound good. A mic like the Samson or SM58 will sound absolutely fine in more noisy conditions so that a beginner can focus on their craft and not the gear.

Both, and it's not always a question of the microphone being cheap, in my experience C414s pick up a lot of sibilance because they are detailed and fairly bright. If it's a big issue you can try a ribbon mic or a dynamic. The Electro Voice RE-20 is a great dynamic mic for vocals, but it is a bit pricy. Depending on the singer and the genre an SM58 or equivalent can actually do a good job. You can also pair a dynamic and a condenser and the slight phase between them can really thicken up the vocal and give you more textures to work with.

How important is recording quality to you? Fortunately or unfortunately, you'll usually get the quality that you pay for, and so if recording quality is very important, then a small outlay of funds for decent equipment would be well worth it. I'd suggest getting a decent mic, even a well cared for used mic could do well, something like an SM58 which is practically indestructible. I'd also recommend that you consider getting a USB audio adapter, one that has a semi-decent mic preamp, such as one made by FocusRite or even Behringer, and again, some can be obtained on the used market. You would plug your mic into this and then plug this into your laptop via a USB cable. Option 2 is to record using a digital piano and a cheap DAW such as Reaper. This would allow you to edit the notes after recording them, but would require you to purchase a decent piano VST instrument. Edit: Although there are some semi-decent free piano VST instruments available if you want to play with the idea, and they aren't that hard to find with Google. Myself, I've dived off the deep end and have bought too many VSTi's though, including pianos, synths, physically modeled instruments,...

You need a decent mic and interface to do any kind of reasonable recording. Small, cheapo, consumer grade microphones are trash. I would steer you towards getting a USB interface with XLRs and a regular old condenser or dynamic mic. Not a USB mic. You can probably find like a used Scarlett and an Sm58 for like $100 bucks.

I have the sm58 mic , since I am a traveler I need something durable, also it’s a great price and it’s a great sound imo, no it’s not so sensitive like a cardioid condenser mic but on the plus side it’s not as sibilant 

I would spend that money on a good interface and a Shure SM58 (XLR) and bypass any USB mics. SM58s are workhorses and last forever. You could literally use one for a hammer. They are the GOAT of of mics because of rugged construction, excellent sound quality, and ability to reject unwanted noise. You can get a new one for $99 bucks and get a nice USB interface with the rest of your money.

I've been using SM58s for 48 years as a musician. If you google "artists using SM58s" you'll see everyone from Paul McCartney to Henry Rollins. They literally are the GOAT of microphones and have been the industry standard for live vocals for many decades, which is amazing for a mic that's less than $100.

The SM58 is dynamic so it's not as sensitive to every little noise as a condenser. It's also designed to be used close to your mouth, and that alone cuts ambient noise no matter what type of mic it is.

This is how I got an SM58 for my podcast. It's very old used and still works well but I may go wacky and get new. There are a lot of counterfeit versions on line so I'll suggest sweet water or guitar center for a legit SM58.

Unless you have a sound treated room I would suggest getting a dynamic mic. I use an SM58 and cheap USB interface for it and it sounds more than fine. Should be less than $100 if you get second hand.

Yeah, it’s absolutely enough for vocal performance and live settings. The SM58 is one if not the most popular microphone for live performances and some singers even prefer them in studio as well. The interface is really just a means to an end of getting the analog mic to work with a laptop and shouldn’t really ever become obsolete or need replacing outside of a failure. Other things to consider would be some decent headphones to serve as a monitor. I prefer open back for this as it lets me clearly hear my environment while singing. And lastly a reverb pedal is essentially a must for me when using headphones as I dislike dry mic’ed vocals. This would probably double your costs but it could be considered for later. As for software, you will need a DAW (Digital Audio Workspace) for recording. Protools is somewhat of an industry standard so everyone knows it but costs $$. There are free and inexpensive products that work just as well. If you’re hooking up to a Mac, GarageBand is excellent and free. If you’re on Windows then Cakewalk studio is also free. Audacity has come a long way too but still as of current only supports VST2 so it’s fairly limited in plugin functionality.

Get a shure sm58 with a good interface and you will get an excellent audio quality without overspending

Neumann U versions AKG 414 Sennheiser 441 Electro voice RE 20 Shure 57 and 58 versions Beyer Ribbon mic. I'm from the 1980s era so that's why I have no modern mics in my list. I edited out some mics because I realized we were only talking vocal mics. There were some days in my 3000 plus sessions where I had time to set up all these mics for a vocalist and then let them run down some of the song in each one. The Neumann i had was a U87. All late 1970s era mics. Within just a few minutes i knew what mic fit their vocal pre EQ. Miss those days..

Good mics are good no matter the age, people still recommend and use the sm58/57 even though they are super old at this point because they're very solid mics

I'd beg to differ, many many many great albums have been recorded with them

They work for drums and other instruments too, quite versatile. And if so many people say they're good for vocals, then obviously they are and you're the exception not the rule

Of course, with any mic it all depends on the exact sound you want. Same with vocals, each mic sounds different for each person. The sm57 is often put in many lists for great beginner mics and is generally described as being "good at everything, but not _great_ at everything". It's a good budget mic that's very versatile. You will get a better sound on an $8,000 neumann but not everyone needs that for every use case

Hard to over-rate the 57/58 tbh. Obviously it has its place, but it’s a pretty broad place.