Shure
Shure Beta 56A
Dynamic (moving coil), supercardioid, compact drum and instrument mic with built-in locking stand adapter
Power None: a dynamic mic needs no power. Low output: it needs a lot of preamp gain.
- Type
- Dynamic
- Pattern
- Supercardioid
- Sensitivity
- −51 dBV/Pa
- Among 78 dynamics: more output than 86%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 30%
- Rated range
- 50 – 16k Hz
- Released
- 2002
vs 44 end-address dynamics
More output than 93% of 44 end-address dynamics.
Each stripe is one end-address dynamic with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
Instruments sources recommend it for most
5 of 7; all under Recommended for.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the spec sheet, p. 1.
Titled "Frequency Response"; relative dB. Room and smoothing not stated.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the spec sheet, p. 1.
Titled "Polar Pattern"; two circles (250 Hz to 1 kHz, and 2500 Hz to 10 kHz), 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring, innermost ring -20 dB.
In practice
All specs
| From the user guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −51 dBV/Pa (2.8 mV/Pa)1 kHz, open circuit. "-51 dBV/Pa (2.8 mV)". | p. 6 |
| Output impedance | 290 ohmactual; rated 150 ohm. The guide gives "290 Ω"; the 2015 spec sheet gives "150 Ω"; the older guide: "Rated impedance is 150 Ω (290 Ω actual)". | |
| Rated frequency range | 50 Hz to 16 kHz | p. 5 |
| Connector | XLR-3 male, built into the stand adapter"Three-pin professional audio (XLR), male, balanced". | p. 6 |
| Weight | 468 g"0.468 kg (1.6 lbs)"; 0.468 kg is 1.03 lb, so "1.6 lbs" is wrong. The older guide gives "468 grams (16.7 oz)" (16.5 oz). The spec sheet prints "0.468 lg". | |
| Supplied accessories | 95A2050 5/8" to 3/8" (Euro) threaded adapter; 95A2314 zippered carrying bag"Furnished Accessories" (page 7). The older guide lists storage bag 26A21. | p. 7 |
| Housing | Silver blue enamel-painted die-cast metal with hardened, matte-finished steel mesh grille | p. 6 |
| Shock mount | Pneumatic shock mount system | p. 3 |
| Magnet | Neodymium | |
| Replacement parts | Cartridge R174; grille RK320; plug (connector) assembly 90J1984 | p. 7 |
| PlacementShure | Toms and snare: 2.5 to 7.5 cm above the head (or the rim), aimed at the head. Greatest rejection at 120° from the front: put monitors there, not directly behind. | p. 4 |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 2002 | |
| From the user guide (Recording Hacks copy) | ||
| Stand adapter | Integral, dynamic locking, adjustable through 180°, standard 5/8"-27 thread | p. 2 |
| From the spec sheet | ||
| Optional accessories | A1WS foam windscreen; A56D drum microphone mount | p. 1 |
Documents
- BETA56A Instrument Microphone, user guideversion 4.1, 2023-I
- Beta 56A Supercardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone, Product Specifications
- Beta 56A Product Specifications2010
- Model BETA 56A Compact Supercardioid Dynamic Microphone, user guide
- Shure Beta 56A | RecordingHacks.com
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Shure, unchanged, with its original address.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.