Shure
Shure SM58
Cardioid dynamic vocal mic with a ball grille and built-in pop filter
Power None: a dynamic mic needs no power. Low output: it needs a lot of preamp gain.
- Type
- Dynamic
- Pattern
- Cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −54.5 dBV/Pa
- Among 78 dynamics: more output than 45%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 16%
- Rated range
- 50 – 15k Hz
- Released
- 1966
vs 25 handheld dynamics
More output than 25% of 25 handheld dynamics.
Each stripe is one handheld 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 13; all under Recommended for.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the spec sheet, p. 6.
Titled "Frequency Response"; relative dB. Distance, anechoic or not, smoothing and typical-vs-individual are not stated.
That unit is from the Multi-Angle, Multi-Distance Microphone Impulse Response Dataset (CC BY 4.0), measured at 1.25 m and set to 0 dB at 1 kHz, from 136 Hz up. Not the manufacturer's curve.
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. 6.
Titled "Polar Pattern, Measured at 1000 Hz" (as printed, though it shows six frequencies); two plots, 125 Hz to 1 kHz and 2 to 8 kHz; 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring down to -20 dB, centre -25 dB. Measuring conditions not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the spec sheet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −54.5 dBV/Pa (1.85 mV/Pa)open circuit voltage, 1 kHz. "–54.5 dBV/Pa (1.85 mV)". | p. 6 |
| Output impedance | 150 ohmrated; 300 ohm actual | |
| Rated frequency range | 50 Hz to 15 kHzTolerance not stated. | |
| Connector | XLR-3 male | |
| Weight | 330 gnet. The August 2014 edition of the same brochure says 298 g. | |
| Dimensions | 162 × 51 mm"162 mm L x 51 mm W". | |
| Finish | Dark grey enamel-painted die-cast metal; matte silver spherical steel mesh grille | |
| Supplied accessories | Stand adapter; Zippered pouchSM58-LC. | |
| Polarity | Positive pressure on the diaphragm gives positive voltage on pin 2 with respect to pin 3 | |
| Pop filter | Built-in spherical wind and pop filter | |
| Models | SM58-LC; SM58-CN (with 7.6 m cable); SM58S (with on/off switch) | |
| Replacement parts | R59 cartridge (as the SM57); RK143G screen and grille | |
| Optional accessories | A58WS windscreen, A55M isolation mount, A25D clip, A26M dual mount, C25F 7.6 m cable, S37A/S39A desk stands | |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 1966 | |
Documents
- SM Wired Microphonesspec sheet for the SM range; SM58 on page 6
- Multi-Angle, Multi-Distance Microphone Impulse Response DatasetJuan Carlos Franco Hernández, Bogdan Bacila, Tim Brookes, Enzo De Sena, University of Surrey
- Shure SM58 | 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.