Need opinions: SM57 vs AT2020

[km-r]

hi guys,

im torn between the two: Shure SM57 and the Audio Technica AT2020

setup ko lang naman for home recording. mic upgrade eh.

ive seen this thread
www.gearslutz.com/board/rap-hip-hop-engineering-production/409815-shure-sm57-vs-audio-technica-at2020.html
and it looks like SHURE ang nanalo. pero i wanted to ask similar question here.
most of the responses dun kase are one-sided, like, shure lang ang na try.
i wanted to know if meron dito naka try both.

conditions ko and sa sa bahay:

i record primarily vocals.
i usually record at night, remote area no reverb not much ambient noise. you can literally hear the small wall clock
tick when the PC is off.
i fancy side-address condenser mics.
i move around the mic a lot.
the shure is more expensive [>500] than the AT. [provincial price]

[BAMF]

I don't think these two mikes are in the same class. They have different "prescribed" uses.

Given your needs tho, and if you had to choose, go for the AT2020.

[bellhaus]

magkiaba yung isa dynamic, yung isa condenser   at2020 ako

[km-r]

thanks for the replies mga pre,

follow-up question lang.

WHY? hehehe

[jamming_papu]

mas flat ang frequency response ng AT2020 for vocal applications. more preferable than the instrument tailored frequency response ng SM57.

[proud07christian]

the shure is more expensive [>500] than the AT. [provincial price]

How much does it cost? I have stocks of AT2020's comming mid july. Cheaper than store prices.
What are you looking for? the XLR version or the USB version?

WHY? hehehe

Condensers are sensitive. Good for capturing almost everything.
Dynamic mics are usually found on stage because of their rugged design, while condenser mics are often found in studios.

[km-r]

roughly 6k for the xlr.

marami din kase nagsasabi na "no, every studio must HAVE an SM57 on board!"

[stoopidrice]

correct me ho if i'm wrong pero the sm57 is a guitar amp mic. if you're gonna use it on vocals, you might have to put in a lot of gain and unless you have a good mic pre-amp mejo ndi bagay yung sm57 for vocals. Mas ok yung at2020 for vocals siguro kasi yun nga condenser at saka if you're getting the usb version mejo aus ka na dun sa phanton power. But yun nga we always hear na essential yung sm57 for recording, but if you're interested in recording vocals get the condenser mic. haha i hope mejo useful yung sinabi ko before rin kasi yun rin siguro question ko, i got the sm57 kasi mas kelangan ko ng guitar amp mic e. Goodluck ho with the decision.

[stilljey]

get them both 

[MixMan]

better ang condenser sa vox...
pero kung talagang maingay sa area mo... at sa recording mo nasasagap ng mic ung ndi dapat, that means go with 57..

or get them both... meron dito sa philmusic yan..
me, i have both...

[acidtest]

planning to get both but my money is only for one so i got myself the at2020. i use it both on vocals and guitars - acoustic and electric. satisfactory pareho.

[km-r]

torn parin ako. hahaha jologs.

i cannot get both napakasakit na nyan sa budget.

for those who own an AT2020, how big is the condenser element?
LDC yan diba?

im looking at the M audio Nova too which is a 1.1" gold sputtered blah blah eklat microphone.

sobra na to!

[jamming_papu]

another solution is try to borrow the microphones first to someone and test them in your setup.you can make a better decision after. 

[alvincflorentino]

torn parin ako. hahaha jologs.

i cannot get both napakasakit na nyan sa budget.

for those who own an AT2020, how big is the condenser element?
LDC yan diba?

im looking at the M audio Nova too which is a 1.1" gold sputtered blah blah eklat microphone.

sobra na to!

AFAIK, the AT2020 only has a 3/4" diaphragm, not LDC. But since it's a small diaphragm condenser, it's got it's uses too: for example on a guitar that's too boomy. Actually, while it's true they are two different beasts, why don't you give them both a whirl? (It's no secret that Michael Jackson was known to use the 57s on his vocals on so many albums). Most importantly, consider your own voice and how it sounds like on either mike then go for that one. You'll never go wrong.

[Xelly]

Sa tingin ko sir masOK icompare yung SM58 sa AT2020. Pero based dun sa needs nyo sir, AT2020. SM57 is instrument mic. Ang AT2020 pang vocals talaga. IMHO 

[KitC]

correct me ho if i'm wrong pero the sm57 is a guitar amp mic.

Not necessarily. Take a good look at the US president's podium mic whenever he gives a speech. The SM-57 can be a good vocal mic when wind noise is non-existent.

[stilljey]

Not necessarily. Take a good look at the US president's podium mic whenever he gives a speech. The SM-57 can be a good vocal mic when wind noise is non-existent.

even Malacanang palace used sm57

[km-r]

well, paul mcartney uses an SM57 live and studio...

anyway, i shall take those two for a spin. i actually thought that the mixer i have that provides phantom power isnt really that good sonicwise.

OT, i went to a meeting a month ago in a university. dun sa venue each of the 8 mics were genuine shure SM58's i unscrewed the capsules to verify them. parang inatake ako ng pagka klepto ko that time...

[Xelly]

well, paul mcartney uses an SM57 live and studio...

anyway, i shall take those two for a spin. i actually thought that the mixer i have that provides phantom power isnt really that good sonicwise.

OT, i went to a meeting a month ago in a university. dun sa venue each of the 8 mics were genuine shure SM58's i unscrewed the capsules to verify them. parang inatake ako ng pagka klepto ko that time...

[triciaaruba]

how abt sennheiser e604?

[NS10 Reborn]

I don't think these two mikes are in the same class. They have different "prescribed" uses.

Given your needs tho, and if you had to choose, go for the AT2020.

I would agree kay BAMF... AT2020 brad kunin mo... since studio recording ka mostly i assume,  this mic suits your needs best.  Don't get me wrong Shure sm57 is a good one too but popular applications for this mic are for drums/percussion.  I've read somewhere that No human voices and the same, and no mic will be the perfect fit for every voice -  so how do you find the best match for the vocalist?  Big question... could be a thread...

[Soundrover]

If you are going to use it for vocal recording and your on a tight budget, you can use a dynamic vocal mic like the Sennheiser e835. The e835 is a good vocal microphone that gives an "as is" vocal output. It does not give any bassy nor a low mid sound unlike most other brands. For recording purposes, the ideal sound should sound "natural". Imagine someone speaking infront of you inside a recording studio without any microphone - that is exactly what you should hear in your recording once you listen on good quality headphones. If you have more budget, you can use the Sennheiser e914. Its a condenser mic mostly used for choirs, but also gives a very good vocal output. It adds more clarity  and presence compared to the e835.

[Xelly]

If you are going to use it for vocal recording and your on a tight budget, you can use a dynamic vocal mic like the Sennheiser e835. The e835 is a good vocal microphone that gives an "as is" vocal output. It does not give any bassy nor a low mid sound unlike most other brands. For recording purposes, the ideal sound should sound "natural". Imagine someone speaking infront of you inside a recording studio without any microphone - that is exactly what you should hear in your recording once you listen on good quality headphones. If you have more budget, you can use the Sennheiser e914. Its a condenser mic mostly used for choirs, but also gives a very good vocal output. It adds more clarity  and presence compared to the e835.

NOted sir!!! Magkano inaabot ng e914 dito sa Pinas sir?

[triciaaruba]

http://www.wowvideoke.com/sennheiser/wired_e835.php
http://www.wowvideoke.com/sennheiser/wired_900series_e914.php

[tjlimjoco]

SM 57