I think we should all go over to Johan's house, and compare the UA-cam recording with the live sound from his wall of vintage Marshalls. I'll bring beer.
I agree! The next round is on Johan and we can all sit back and enjoy a concert. I really like the sound of all the mics. Different flavors for every occasion. Believe it or not, the differences were very similar to what I get when I change mic and mic placement on my Firehawk FX. Now, all we need is for Johan to do a comparo with all the mics off-axis to show a completely different tone for each one. Happy Friday! Rock on Johan!
David Woods YES !!! I'm in. Just need a plane ride to Sweden from Pennsylvania, USA.. Anyone have Bruce Dickinson's # ?? I hear Air MAIDEN is fantastic.
Johan Segeborn Another great & thought provoking video. U are like an investigative journalist of guitars & amps. Always fascinating info. Thanks & Cheers !!!
I've been using your microphone videos for a few months now to build up my mic cabinet. These are all *extremely* helpful. Thanks for the valuable resources you provide for the music community! Cheers!
I must say I preferred the juicy sound of the 1970s Unisphere 565SD. It's always going to be difficult comparing vintage stuff to modern stuff because of the wear and tear on the vintage stuff. Maybe in 40-50 years time the modern gear might sound more like the vintage stuff does now 👍
Your Shure 545 isn't in very good condition I don't think. I've owned about 6 Shure 545 microphones and compared them directly the SM57 and the good ones have way more high end than a normal SM57 and better bass. I think your mic has gone bad. A lot of them have. I've bought ones that sounds like yours as well, but one in good condition doesn't sound like that.
Instantly subscribed when I saw one of your amp videos and then I find gems like this. Awesome comparison! Can't believe how different the vintage mics are. They almost have a nice warmness to them compared to the 57's modern top-end.
great to hear the pl-6 in a comparison. i use it for long years on guitar avoiding the harshness of the sm57. i put on my own taste's presence frequency on it - and sounds perfectly
The SM57 has an upper mid spike that may not sound warm and round on its own, but cuts in a mix or in a live situation. Also, it can take the Sound Pressure Level (SPL) of a Marshall full stack turned on 10 (or 11) while other mics choke or brake! That's the main reasons its so popular with guitar amps. Another plus is that its great for snare drums (very popular choice for cut through and handling the snare attack and volume) and for vocals. So its a very useful mic to have and that adds to the popularity, along with the low price! I liked the MD421, too! More balanced sound than the others. Cheers!
the main thing i like about the sm57 is it captures what the instrument sounds like in the room. when i record people it's easy to record them and keep there tone with minimal adjustments
Love the Electro Voice RE10! The 57 has a very strong presence boost which I find ear piercing, and too much low end proximity build up for me. Thanks so much for posting this awesome video!!
In Regent sound the 4-track studio for the basics tracks, they had neumanns u67, m49, u64 and akg c12a. In Island studios for guitars they used a combination of sm57, u47fet and c414. www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-black-sabbaths-paranoid-376405
Hello sir. I was watching your video and was wondering if you have properly replaced the foam inner pop filters in your vintage mics before comparing them to the SM57? I ask because these foam filters degrade and need replacing otherwise the vintage mics will not sound as they were originally intended to sound.
The 2003 sm57 sounds modern. Crispy high end with balanced mids and lows. I loved to hear them all. The important thing is that different mics give your sound color and texture. What a great lesson! Always enjoy your playing!
One thing I remember from 'the day' about a 57...you could grab one, use it to drive a nail or beat some bent drum hardware back into shape, plug it back in and continue. We called it a 'utility' mic for many reasons!
Funny how I have two newer 421s and they don't sound like yours at all. I mean, same ballpark, but yours has much more clarity. Anyways, what works for me is the combination of a 57 with a 421 in the same speaker. Brilliant as always, Johan. Thanks!
To me, the sm57 has a sound reminscent of a tubescreamer.. it doesn't color the sound in a bad way, it pushes the upper mids like a TS does and puts the amp up in front where it should be.. awesome comparison!
Johan; great comparison. I can hear a difference on my iPad with a little ilive external speaker. I really wanted not to like the SM57, but sounds like the best overall mic. I do like the Uni III 565 and the sennheiser MD421 U5. But the rest seem to cloud the freq. response. I have a Shure SM58 from 1970 and it sounds considerably better than a new, made in Mexico SM58. The old one has better clarity and is also louder. To my ears the Shure mic's made before they moved production to Mexico sound better. I don't know what year that was but something was lost in the overall sound quality of their mic's after the move. It's not Mexico as they could have moved production anywhere. It's just something's not there with the quality of the materials used since the move.
Unidyne 548 sounds very complete, almost "produced", meaning no further eq'ing needed, ready to print (record). I have recorded with a Unidyne lll 57 and it was just wonderful. I'm still looking for one, but maybe I should look for an IR now, since I've gotten heavily into Helix now ;-) Great Job Johan :-)
I've been experimenting with pairs for cab recording. Seems SM57 is a clear winner and mic one. But what to put in the Mic2 slot? Have paired it with a Cascade Fathead Ribbon to good effect. Dying to try a Royer 121, Sennheiser MD421 and Sennheiser E609. I'll let you know how it turns out :).
Det verkar som om 57an har ett mera "direkt" ljud som om du står mitt framför högtalarna medan de andra har ett lite "bakom" ljud på olika sätt, tänkte därför att om man sätter 57an på ett snett eller annorlunda sätt i relation till högtalarn kan den också ge lite av den dynamiken som de andra verkar ge?
The Sure is the standard for sure, lol , get it. Ha, ha...with the Unidyne 545, a close second. I find the Sure just gives you the most to work with as far as post production goes, more frequency range to work with. I found this with my experience as well. The others make good supporting microphones. But you would probably need more aggressive eq'ing to fill in the blanks if using them on their own. In my experience to much eq can get you in trouble, and you can end up with what I call audio weirdness. Great comparison once again Johan, very insightful, nice playing as always, it brings out the details or lack of in each microphone. Cheers, well done.
The Shure has a lot of high end clarity. Backing the mic away a few inches and tilting it at a slight angle from the cone can roll some of that off if need be.
Excellent test. I preferred the two vintage Shures and the Sennheiser to the modern SM57 but it was just different. Not really worse or better. I wonder. Do you have a Heil PR20? That would be interesting to compare, too.
As long as you keep using a room microphone in conjunction with the SM57 then it will give the most honest representation of what you are hearing. If I'm not mistaken you've panned each mic track left and right before? Example: SM57 left and room mic to the right. Similar to what Eddie Van Halen does.
+David Perez Yeah the 57 is a great complement to a room mic. I usually place close mic 25% left and room mic 95% right and add slight.reverb to either of them. Cheers
Nice comparison. I hear many great usable tones all around. The least bit of EQ would make any of them useful. What do you call that finish on the SG? Great looking guitar.
The 70's Unidyne IV really has so much character. Of course my ears immediately went to the hype of the modern SM57 but while it will sit in the mix really nicely I think the Unidyne IV will take nicely to EQ to lift it a bit but still have a smoother overall sound. It's still hard not to love the 57 though. You can mic up a cab, play baseball with it and pound nails into a floor all day and still come back and record with it. Indestructible, cheap and just great. A classic for a reason!
For the money, you just cannot beat a 57 when it comes to miking a cab. Sure, it sounds a little harsh on it's own, but in the mix it's like magic. I can easily tame a harsh top end in the box, I can't add what isn't there though. The MD421 always sounds great too,... but at about a third of the price, the 57 shines!
what a fantastic and timely comparison......I'm trying to figure out why my recordings, while not bad, just dont have that fullness we all like.....I have great amps and guitars, I think I need different mics....I use a sennheiser e609 and a Audio-Technica ATM63HE.....we'll see, learning from each of your videos...thx Johan have a great weekend....
They all sound great, different but great, maybe shows that the original sound you're recording is more important than the mic. Would be interested to hear Royer R-121 and Heil Sound PR30 with same set up if you have access to either? I use the PR30 for extra presence in a live setting over an SM57 but it's difficult to tell how effective it is when I'm playing.
Have you ever seen the Heil PR30? It's a clearer sounding dynamic, my son who is into recording doesn't like it but on my mellower sounding amp I like it for live work. You can of course move it slightly further from the dust cap more onto the cone for a mellower tone...
You always have an interesting video under the sleeve! That's pretty cool. I love the landscape videos as well! Beautiful places... Cheers from the south of the south!
I'd suggest you have to check out the Telefunken M80. It has become my numer one go-to mic in the studio for recording guitar. Very clean and open sound with a little top end boost.
545s are switchable and old ones had a 4 pin cable that used a 4 pin to 1/4 cable or 4pin to XLR.... What you had with the 4th pin was an extra Hi Z transformer tap, and the wiring was changed by what cable was used and how it was wired. At some point that changed and they were 3 pin XLR....you remove the XLR connector and change the transformer tap connected to the output....then you can use an XLR to 1/4" cable into Hi Z... Standard wiring on new ones is low Z.
The 57 won for me, the others often sounded a bit nasal and some slightly muffeled, the 57 was clear and airy. Sound is a preference thing to a degre though.
The Shure Unidyne IV 548 and MD421 U5 are like instant 70's hard rock fairy dust; remarkably recognizable as "that sound". It would be interesting to compare a new 548 to the one you have here.
Years ago (early 90s) I ended up getting two or three of those old Unidynes in a big trade. I was in my late teens and didn't know ANYthing about recording, to me they were just some dirty old mics. I ended up GIVING them away. Now that I'm entering middle age I think back to all the old gear I had and got rid of, and I know exactly how my Dad felt when he used to talk about all the old cars that he wished that he had kept. "They were nothing but old cars back then!" he would say. I remember buying an original Ibanez 808 in a pawn shop for about $30, taking it home plugging it up and saying "this thing sucks!". Kids! (shakes head, rolls eyes)
great video! every microphone has it's own sound, but none of them is really bad sounding, so it is a matter of taste, or which one fits best into the mix.
To my taste the Unidynes and the Unisphere are the best. I used to have a vintage Unidyne, it was my main vocal mic for live shows and rehearsals, until someone dropped it and it stopped working.
+cein o'dowd Its got a lot of upper mids, but less of the lower mids. I think in newer mixes all instruments have a lot of high end so the individual instruments blur together.
I had a different favorite for each riff. Well, that answers that question. When the Unidyne IV came on at riff #3 I actually yelled at the computer, "I need that for my ringtone!". So.....Can I snip a loop of your video and use it for a ringtone? My guitar buddies would be envious.
What an interesting video, I really liked that Shure, but if I was on a studio, I would probably doble track my guitars using a very defined mic and then something like the PL6, to give it a sense of depth. Also, some of those mics gave the impression of listening to an old radio... Very interesting!
The modern SM57 sounds almost too accurate if your trying to replicate the sound of a classic rock era recorded guitar tone. I thought the video you did with different speaker cabinets using the same speakers blew my mind, you just did it again. If I'd have to guess off hand the most significant factor between these mics, it would be the magnet strength. Thanks Johan! You've once again turned my preconceived notions on it's head.
There is a reason the sm57 is the standard for close cab mic. A good cheap alternative is the Digital reference DRI100 mic, especially if you can get it on the buy one get two free deal. I got 3 of them for $49 and use them everywhere I would use a 57. But a regular sm57 is a great deal too for the price.
Erik Ross Yeah, I agree about the DR100's. Bought 1 on $ale & it sounded so good I got the 3-pack for $50. I use them on my drumkit in the home studio, old-school ambient room mic style & they capture all the frequencies & details with amazing accuracy and uncolored tone.
545s are switchable and old ones had a 4 pin cable that used a 4 pin to 1/4 cable or 4pin to XLR.... What you had with the 4 pin was an extra Hi Z transformer tap, and the wiring was changed by what cable was used and how it was wired. At some point that changed and they were 3 pin XLR....you remove the XLR connector and change the transformer tap connected to the output....then you can use an XLR to 1/4" cable into Hi Z... Standard wiring on new ones is low Z.
The Sennheiser and the Shure get my vote - that Sennheisser was soooooo goood back then?!?! ‘spect y’all! Good one Johan - great playing and lovely amp collection too.
My go to mic is a Sennheiser 421 U5, but I usually second mic with either the 57 or an e609. But I'm really loving that 545 right now. A true 70's 548 is like a $400 mic these days. You can still get great MD421's for around $250.
Most EV dynamics take really well to EQ’ing. I think the RE-15 is one of the greatest mics for accurately reproducing a particular sound. But, sometimes you want a little color too. I’m just glad we have so many great choices to play with!
Cool one brother! I think the SM57 sounds "modern" and by that I mean "brighter and a little more full range sounding". With that said, I kinda dug the Unidyne sounds! Darker, yes but pretty cool and tamed the mids kinda nicely! Nice work as always Johan!
So, I’d have to say: sounds like it’s in the hands of the recording artist. And which one of these mics would sit right into a mix the best?!? Could change your favorite immediately . For live sound: that 57 has great ProCo Rat modern sizzle and energy. But that 70s Unisphere at the end takes me right back into Sabbath World. Now a guy this good: could he move the 57 back and get a smoother sound, like the 60s and 70s mics? I’d bet he could. And would one of these plop right into your ensembles mix without too much EQ and compression magic? Great video/ THX
Johan, great test, but loved to have seen a Beyer M160. I now realise it's a dynamic, cardioid only test, my mistake. Love the 5k boost, and the 200 Hz roll off of the SM 57, which gives it its cut and clarity.
EV sound very dull to me. Sm57 cuts right through in the mix. Maybe to harsh for your kind of gain stage and playing. The unidyne 548 sounds perfect to me! Nice vid as always johann
Yes, I think there's a reason why the Shure SM57 is almost the 'standard' for recording guitar (and drums)! It's great, I think. I use it too, haha! Cool to see it compared to vintage mics! They all have a different character! Great vid, great riffs, like usual!
I think I like the Unidyne III the best, your one doesn't quite have that typical harsh upper mids like typical 57s. I do think a combo of the PL6 and the 57 could be cool
Isn't it great to see an audio product like the 57 that has a well deserved reputation as a great sounding product, by a great manufacturer at a great price? Any of us would be more than happy to proudly use the 57. And, yet the sad commentary on me and probably some of the rest of us is that; were the same exact product put out by Pyle or Nady, we would probably feel like we were riding a moped when we used it.
Hi from Tadcaster, UK Johan! - when you have a moment, it would be good to hear SM57 vs Sennheiser e906...; I switched a couple of years ago and find the e906 a bit 'fuller'. I have also had great results from the ultra-budget Behringer XM8500 (£16!)
Interesting video as usual ! I always found the sm57 lacks mid-range and bass ... but it's bizarrely enough, a excellent base to EQ the sound afterwards ... I use mine in conjunction with a large diaphragm static mic like Rode NT1, it compenses the lack of bass of the sm57 without losing the top-end precision.. I enjoyed the Unidyne III from the 60's, very nice rounded tone straight out of the box !
I thought the Unidyne III 545 and Unisphere 565SD sounded the best. I've never been too crazy about SM57 mics on cabs. I always thought the SM58, although a vocal mic, sounded better on cabs myself. They cut off some of the harshness.
What's the method? I don't see the mics being swapped. My ears tell me there is a huge difference between each mic that seems exaggerated to me. I am suspicious of this video.
Johan Segeborn Johan, I agree. Thanks for another great installment in the Encyclopedia of Guitar Tone! Played alone, SM57 was my least favorite of the bunch. That jives with my own mic comparisons. Those EV mics give a fantastic 1970s vibe to the sound, the Senn 421 was my overall favorite, but the older Shures were all really nice too. The vintage Shures picked up what I like about the SM57, but without that buzzy sizzle. I suggest you try the Beyerdynamic M201tg, the best Marshall amp mic, to my taste, by far! To my ear, the 201 sounds like a dual mic combo of a Shure SM7b and Royer 121.
I think we should all go over to Johan's house, and compare the UA-cam recording with the live sound from his wall of vintage Marshalls. I'll bring beer.
David Woods I think that's a great idea.
+David Woods hahaha! Cheers David!
I agree! The next round is on Johan and we can all sit back and enjoy a concert. I really like the sound of all the mics. Different flavors for every occasion. Believe it or not, the differences were very similar to what I get when I change mic and mic placement on my Firehawk FX. Now, all we need is for Johan to do a comparo with all the mics off-axis to show a completely different tone for each one. Happy Friday! Rock on Johan!
David Woods
YES !!! I'm in. Just need a plane ride to Sweden from Pennsylvania, USA.. Anyone have Bruce Dickinson's # ?? I hear Air MAIDEN is fantastic.
Johan Segeborn Another great & thought provoking video. U are like an investigative journalist of guitars & amps. Always fascinating info. Thanks & Cheers !!!
That 70's Unidyne is killer!!
I've been using your microphone videos for a few months now to build up my mic cabinet. These are all *extremely* helpful. Thanks for the valuable resources you provide for the music community! Cheers!
+Zac F Glad to hear that it's put to good use! Cheers Johan
I love how simple your recording chain is. Goes to show that a good guitar tone doesn't need to be complicated.
+Joseph Bruley Thanks Joseph :-)
0:52 2003 Shure SM57
1:00 1970s/1980s Sennheiser MD421 U5
1:07 1970s Shure Unidyne IV 548
1:14 1970s Electrovoice PL6
1:21 1970s Electrovoice RE10
1:28 1960s Shure Unidyne III 545
1:35 1970s Shure Unisphere 565SD
1:46 2003 Shure SM57
1:57 1970s/1980s Sennheiser MD421 U5
2:13 1970s Shure Unidyne IV 548
2:28 1970s Electrovoice PL6
2:44 1970s Electrovoice RE10
3:00 1960s Shure Unidyne III 545
3:16 1970s Shure Unisphere 565SD
Thanks man, I really appreciate it!
@@JohanSegeborn You know... that's the least a drummer could do for a guitar tone guru
I must say I preferred the juicy sound of the 1970s Unisphere 565SD.
It's always going to be difficult comparing vintage stuff to modern stuff because of the wear and tear on the vintage stuff. Maybe in 40-50 years time the modern gear might sound more like the vintage stuff does now 👍
Gorgeous sound to it!
SM57 0:52 Senheiser 1:00 shure iv 548 1:07 Electrovoice pl6 1:15 electrovoice re 10 1:21 shure unidyune 3 1:28 shure 565sd 1:35
🔥Sennheiser MD-421
unidyne and 57. i just figured when i die i wanna be buried in a marshall cabinet instead of a coffin.
+Tone Fingerz Hahaha! Sounds like an arrangement for me too :-)
Johan Segeborn with a pillow and my les paul. hahaha cool man. thx so much for the musical riffs u give us.
jcoulter43 man my picks wud have so much tone.
Unidyne and SM57.
totally agree
Your Shure 545 isn't in very good condition I don't think. I've owned about 6 Shure 545 microphones and compared them directly the SM57 and the good ones have way more high end than a normal SM57 and better bass. I think your mic has gone bad. A lot of them have. I've bought ones that sounds like yours as well, but one in good condition doesn't sound like that.
Instantly subscribed when I saw one of your amp videos and then I find gems like this. Awesome comparison! Can't believe how different the vintage mics are. They almost have a nice warmness to them compared to the 57's modern top-end.
Hell yeah I love that riff you were playing... Hope to be on your level one day.
great to hear the pl-6 in a comparison. i use it for long years on guitar avoiding the harshness of the sm57. i put on my own taste's presence frequency on it - and sounds perfectly
The SM57 has an upper mid spike that may not sound warm and round on its own, but cuts in a mix or in a live situation. Also, it can take the Sound Pressure Level (SPL) of a Marshall full stack turned on 10 (or 11) while other mics choke or brake! That's the main reasons its so popular with guitar amps. Another plus is that its great for snare drums (very popular choice for cut through and handling the snare attack and volume) and for vocals. So its a very useful mic to have and that adds to the popularity, along with the low price! I liked the MD421, too! More balanced sound than the others. Cheers!
the main thing i like about the sm57 is it captures what the instrument sounds like in the room. when i record people it's easy to record them and keep there tone with minimal adjustments
Love the Electro Voice RE10! The 57 has a very strong presence boost which I find ear piercing, and too much low end proximity build up for me. Thanks so much for posting this awesome video!!
The electrovoice sounded so much like “Black Sabbath - Paranoid” that I’ll just assume that’s exactly what was used on all of Iommi’s parts.
Yeah the PL6 and RE10 have cool high end roll off. Cheers
Once you understand a Mic's strongpoints, you're good. The EV would work great on a source that sounds shrill..
That’s exactly what i thought wtf
@@DeadKoby The PL6 has a girth to it that's not muddy. It works really well on an amp in tandem with a brighter mic.
In Regent sound the 4-track studio for the basics tracks, they had neumanns u67, m49, u64 and akg c12a. In Island studios for guitars they used a combination of sm57, u47fet and c414. www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-black-sabbaths-paranoid-376405
Hello sir. I was watching your video and was wondering if you have properly replaced the foam inner pop filters in your vintage mics before comparing them to the SM57? I ask because these foam filters degrade and need replacing otherwise the vintage mics will not sound as they were originally intended to sound.
WOW! Sennheiser MD421 U5 sounds so great !
The 2003 sm57 sounds modern. Crispy high end with balanced mids and lows. I loved to hear them all. The important thing is that different mics give your sound color and texture. What a great lesson! Always enjoy your playing!
+Brandon Simpson Thanks Brandon, great to hear that!
One thing I remember from 'the day' about a 57...you could grab one, use it to drive a nail or beat some bent drum hardware back into shape, plug it back in and continue. We called it a 'utility' mic for many reasons!
+TheDogpa hahaha! Yeah its built like a tank
TheDogpa to be fair I grabbed my 2 or 3 year old 57 out of a flood and once dried out it worked fine.
I don’t know why I don’t hear more about the Unidyne 545, i love it!
Funny how I have two newer 421s and they don't sound like yours at all. I mean, same ballpark, but yours has much more clarity.
Anyways, what works for me is the combination of a 57 with a 421 in the same speaker.
Brilliant as always, Johan. Thanks!
+Álvaro Escribano Thanks Álvaro!
I loved the SM57 ... to my surprise however my ears found the PL6 has something additional in the sounds it captured I liked.
To me, the sm57 has a sound reminscent of a tubescreamer.. it doesn't color the sound in a bad way, it pushes the upper mids like a TS does and puts the amp up in front where it should be.. awesome comparison!
Johan; great comparison. I can hear a difference on my iPad with a little ilive external speaker. I really wanted not to like the SM57, but sounds like the best overall mic. I do like the Uni III 565 and the sennheiser MD421 U5. But the rest seem to cloud the freq. response.
I have a Shure SM58 from 1970 and it sounds considerably better than a new, made in Mexico SM58. The old one has better clarity and is also louder. To my ears the Shure mic's made before they moved production to Mexico sound better. I don't know what year that was but something was lost in the overall sound quality of their mic's after the move. It's not Mexico as they could have moved production anywhere. It's just something's not there with the quality of the materials used since the move.
Love the second riff :) Also I had no idea that the mic would have that much influence on the sound, your videos are always instructive!
+Nils P Thanks Nils! Great to hear that
Brilliant as ever Johan.
You are the scientist of art.
The SM 57 wins here.
And I win three times a week! Every time you do a video!
Or he proved: there is no winner (?) maybe: I’m new here
Unidyne 548 sounds very complete, almost "produced", meaning no further eq'ing needed, ready to print (record). I have recorded with a Unidyne lll 57 and it was just wonderful. I'm still looking for one, but maybe I should look for an IR now, since I've gotten heavily into Helix now ;-) Great Job Johan :-)
+Christian Boddum Thanks man, Yeah IR is great for many styles
My favourite would have to be the SM57 all day. The Unidyne IV 548 comes in second in my opinion.
Excellent video as always Johan!
+Olav Isak Sjoflot Thanks Olav!
I've been experimenting with pairs for cab recording. Seems SM57 is a clear winner and mic one. But what to put in the Mic2 slot? Have paired it with a Cascade Fathead Ribbon to good effect. Dying to try a Royer 121, Sennheiser MD421 and Sennheiser E609. I'll let you know how it turns out :).
Det verkar som om 57an har ett mera "direkt" ljud som om du står mitt framför högtalarna medan de andra har ett lite "bakom" ljud på olika sätt, tänkte därför att om man sätter 57an på ett snett eller annorlunda sätt i relation till högtalarn kan den också ge lite av den dynamiken som de andra verkar ge?
The Sure is the standard for sure, lol , get it. Ha, ha...with the Unidyne 545, a close second. I find the Sure just gives you the most to work with as far as post production goes, more frequency range to work with. I found this with my experience as well. The others make good supporting microphones. But you would probably need more aggressive eq'ing to fill in the blanks if using them on their own. In my experience to much eq can get you in trouble, and you can end up with what I call audio weirdness. Great comparison once again Johan, very insightful, nice playing as always, it brings out the details or lack of in each microphone. Cheers, well done.
+Xosis Glad to hear it! Cheers
The Shure has a lot of high end clarity. Backing the mic away a few inches and tilting it at a slight angle from the cone can roll some of that off if need be.
+Bumblefritz Yeah this setup is a bit bright when a room mic is not used
So many variables.
Excellent test. I preferred the two vintage Shures and the Sennheiser to the modern SM57 but it was just different. Not really worse or better. I wonder. Do you have a Heil PR20? That would be interesting to compare, too.
As long as you keep using a room microphone in conjunction with the SM57 then it will give the most honest representation of what you are hearing. If I'm not mistaken you've panned each mic track left and right before? Example: SM57 left and room mic to the right. Similar to what Eddie Van Halen does.
+David Perez Yeah the 57 is a great complement to a room mic. I usually place close mic 25% left and room mic 95% right and add slight.reverb to either of them. Cheers
Nice comparison. I hear many great usable tones all around. The least bit of EQ would make any of them useful. What do you call that finish on the SG? Great looking guitar.
The 70's Unidyne IV really has so much character. Of course my ears immediately went to the hype of the modern SM57 but while it will sit in the mix really nicely I think the Unidyne IV will take nicely to EQ to lift it a bit but still have a smoother overall sound. It's still hard not to love the 57 though. You can mic up a cab, play baseball with it and pound nails into a floor all day and still come back and record with it. Indestructible, cheap and just great. A classic for a reason!
i have to say...they all sound really good to me.. which did you like best?
+STEVE LEITNER Thanks Steve, I like the Unidyne 548 and the Sennheiser MD421 the best. Those are the ones I use most frequently in the videos.
I have to agree completely
Unidyne 548 and the Sennheiser MD421 the best
For the money, you just cannot beat a 57 when it comes to miking a cab.
Sure, it sounds a little harsh on it's own, but in the mix it's like magic.
I can easily tame a harsh top end in the box, I can't add what isn't there though.
The MD421 always sounds great too,... but at about a third of the price, the 57 shines!
The 57 is fantastic but I’m not sure if it’s the best. Some classic albums used different mics and they were amazing as well.
Great comparison as always. What is that huge cabinet behind you?
4x15?
+Magnus Hardt Thanks Magnus! Yes it is. Its a model 1979A from 1972
Johan Segeborn I see. Thanks.
what a fantastic and timely comparison......I'm trying to figure out why my recordings, while not bad, just dont have that fullness we all like.....I have great amps and guitars, I think I need different mics....I use a sennheiser e609 and a Audio-Technica ATM63HE.....we'll see, learning from each of your videos...thx Johan have a great weekend....
+rcolang1 Thanks, you too!
Elias011203 TF2 thank you!!
Shure SM57 is one badass microphone. Has taken on new challengers for years, and still shines the brightest. especially for the $
Thanks Johan again, love your videos. Seems the sm57 is gonna be my first mic
The 421 has the best eq profile for this cab and guitar!
They all sound great, different but great, maybe shows that the original sound you're recording is more important than the mic. Would be interested to hear Royer R-121 and Heil Sound PR30 with same set up if you have access to either? I use the PR30 for extra presence in a live setting over an SM57 but it's difficult to tell how effective it is when I'm playing.
+Nick Benjamin Thanks Nick, the Royer is a great mic indeed. I'll keep it in mind. Cheers
Have you ever seen the Heil PR30? It's a clearer sounding dynamic, my son who is into recording doesn't like it but on my mellower sounding amp I like it for live work. You can of course move it slightly further from the dust cap more onto the cone for a mellower tone...
You always have an interesting video under the sleeve! That's pretty cool.
I love the landscape videos as well!
Beautiful places...
Cheers from the south of the south!
I'd suggest you have to check out the Telefunken M80. It has become my numer one go-to mic in the studio for recording guitar. Very clean and open sound with a little top end boost.
+GreenDay3366 cool, I'll check it out!
Johan, does the Unidyne 545d need a different cable to connect into the audio interface? Or a standard XLR cable would fit? Awesome video, btw!
545s are switchable and old ones had a 4 pin cable that used a 4 pin to 1/4 cable or 4pin to XLR.... What you had with the 4th pin was an extra Hi Z transformer tap, and the wiring was changed by what cable was used and how it was wired.
At some point that changed and they were 3 pin XLR....you remove the XLR connector and change the transformer tap connected to the output....then you can use an XLR to 1/4" cable into Hi Z... Standard wiring on new ones is low Z.
545 for me. Didn't sound harsh like some of them did (57, 421) and wasn't so mellow that it started to sound boring, like the electrovoice mics.
The 57 won for me, the others often sounded a bit nasal and some slightly muffeled, the 57 was clear and airy. Sound is a preference thing to a degre though.
+Stefan Sjöberg Thanks man, Yeah there is no right answer indeed
Thank you for doing the comparison, quite interesting !
The Shure Unidyne IV 548 and MD421 U5 are like instant 70's hard rock fairy dust; remarkably recognizable as "that sound". It would be interesting to compare a new 548 to the one you have here.
Years ago (early 90s) I ended up getting two or three of those old Unidynes in a big trade.
I was in my late teens and didn't know ANYthing about recording, to me they were just some dirty old mics.
I ended up GIVING them away.
Now that I'm entering middle age I think back to all the old gear I had and got rid of, and I know exactly how my Dad felt when he used to talk about all the old cars that he wished that he had kept. "They were nothing but old cars back then!" he would say.
I remember buying an original Ibanez 808 in a pawn shop for about $30, taking it home plugging it up and saying "this thing sucks!". Kids! (shakes head, rolls eyes)
great video! every microphone has it's own sound, but none of them is really bad sounding, so it is a matter of taste, or which one fits best into the mix.
+spacebeach23 Thanks, yeah it's a great way to EQ the guitar tracks
Hej Johan, all of them sound great. The EVs sound more vintage, you're a lucky man.
does age affects condenser mics sound? It has to, right? Capacitors change their specs with age...
To my taste the Unidynes and the Unisphere are the best. I used to have a vintage Unidyne, it was my main vocal mic for live shows and rehearsals, until someone dropped it and it stopped working.
The sm57 seems to have less mids is that possibly why newer tracks seem to have the guitars cut through less?
+cein o'dowd Its got a lot of upper mids, but less of the lower mids. I think in newer mixes all instruments have a lot of high end so the individual instruments blur together.
I had a different favorite for each riff. Well, that answers that question. When the Unidyne IV came on at riff #3 I actually yelled at the computer, "I need that for my ringtone!". So.....Can I snip a loop of your video and use it for a ringtone? My guitar buddies would be envious.
What an interesting video, I really liked that Shure, but if I was on a studio, I would probably doble track my guitars using a very defined mic and then something like the PL6, to give it a sense of depth. Also, some of those mics gave the impression of listening to an old radio... Very interesting!
The modern SM57 sounds almost too accurate if your trying to replicate the sound of a classic rock era recorded guitar tone. I thought the video you did with different speaker cabinets using the same speakers blew my mind, you just did it again. If I'd have to guess off hand the most significant factor between these mics, it would be the magnet strength. Thanks Johan! You've once again turned my preconceived notions on it's head.
Thanks! Glad to hear it
@@JohanSegeborn Your the best man, keep it up!
Man, that MD421 U5 sounds fucking amazing. Some vintage can't be replaced. In your opinon which is better, the MD409 U3 or the MD421 U5?
All sounded really good , but your shure 57 has great sound, greetings from mexico Johan
+Aaron Laorrabaquio Thanks Aaron! Cheers
There is a reason the sm57 is the standard for close cab mic. A good cheap alternative is the Digital reference DRI100 mic, especially if you can get it on the buy one get two free deal. I got 3 of them for $49 and use them everywhere I would use a 57. But a regular sm57 is a great deal too for the price.
Erik Ross Yeah, I agree about the DR100's. Bought 1 on $ale & it sounded so good I got the 3-pack for $50. I use them on my drumkit in the home studio, old-school ambient room mic style & they capture all the frequencies & details with amazing accuracy and uncolored tone.
They sound really good in a 90 degree stereo pair on a hammond's leslie cabinet too. One lives on my snare drum.
That 60's 545 is amazing! I guess they aren't XLR though? Is that a problem generally?
545s are switchable and old ones had a 4 pin cable that used a 4 pin to 1/4 cable or 4pin to XLR.... What you had with the 4 pin was an extra Hi Z transformer tap, and the wiring was changed by what cable was used and how it was wired.
At some point that changed and they were 3 pin XLR....you remove the XLR connector and change the transformer tap connected to the output....then you can use an XLR to 1/4" cable into Hi Z... Standard wiring on new ones is low Z.
2:12 That 548 has the hells bells guitar sound nailed for sure !
The Sennheiser and the Shure get my vote - that Sennheisser was soooooo goood back then?!?! ‘spect y’all!
Good one Johan - great playing and lovely amp collection too.
My go to mic is a Sennheiser 421 U5, but I usually second mic with either the 57 or an e609. But I'm really loving that 545 right now. A true 70's 548 is like a $400 mic these days. You can still get great MD421's for around $250.
Yeah and in many applications 421 is better than the 548. Cheers
Which applications would you think it is better then the 548? I appreciate you answering and your expertise would be really appreciated too...Thanks.
I liked the 565SD. Nice vintage warmth and retained tthe top end clarity that the 57 has.
+D1m3b4gD4rr3ll Thanks :-)
I really like the controlled top and on the Electro voice models. Not as fizzy as a lot of the other models. Great video and comparison.
Most EV dynamics take really well to EQ’ing. I think the RE-15 is one of the greatest mics for accurately reproducing a particular sound. But, sometimes you want a little color too. I’m just glad we have so many great choices to play with!
Lord of the Mound absolutely, and most of them are really affordable.
Surprisingly the one mic i liked the least was the Sennheiser MD421UD. They're all so close.
Cool one brother! I think the SM57 sounds "modern" and by that I mean "brighter and a little more full range sounding". With that said, I kinda dug the Unidyne sounds! Darker, yes but pretty cool and tamed the mids kinda nicely! Nice work as always Johan!
The SM57 holds up well. The Sennheiser is my favourite, but the SM57 in second place.
So, I’d have to say: sounds like it’s in the hands of the recording artist. And which one of these mics would sit right into a mix the best?!? Could change your favorite immediately . For live sound: that 57 has great ProCo Rat modern sizzle and energy. But that 70s Unisphere at the end takes me right back into Sabbath World. Now a guy this good: could he move the 57 back and get a smoother sound, like the 60s and 70s mics? I’d bet he could. And would one of these plop right into your ensembles mix without too much EQ and compression magic? Great video/ THX
Johan, great test, but loved to have seen a Beyer M160. I now realise it's a dynamic, cardioid only test, my mistake. Love the 5k boost, and the 200 Hz roll off of the SM 57, which gives it its cut and clarity.
+POG FROGULPOP Thanks, I compare the 57 to a M160 in this clip
ua-cam.com/video/QFZduEjW4ok/v-deo.html
Cheers Johan, great comparison.
EV sound very dull to me. Sm57 cuts right through in the mix. Maybe to harsh for your kind of gain stage and playing. The unidyne 548 sounds perfect to me!
Nice vid as always johann
+Altmühltal Sessions Uncut Thanks man!
Which sounded closest to what you were hearing in the room?
+James I think the 421 comes closest
Johan Segeborn Thanks, great video as always
Yes, I think there's a reason why the Shure SM57 is almost the 'standard' for recording guitar (and drums)! It's great, I think. I use it too, haha! Cool to see it compared to vintage mics! They all have a different character! Great vid, great riffs, like usual!
+AscarinVin Thanks! :-)
Are you using an Audio Interface?
the second riff is very nice!
+Davide Franchin Thanks David, glad to hear that!
I think I like the Unidyne III the best, your one doesn't quite have that typical harsh upper mids like typical 57s. I do think a combo of the PL6 and the 57 could be cool
Isn't it great to see an audio product like the 57 that has a well deserved reputation as a great sounding product, by a great manufacturer at a great price? Any of us would be more than happy to proudly use the 57. And, yet the sad commentary on me and probably some of the rest of us is that; were the same exact product put out by Pyle or Nady, we would probably feel like we were riding a moped when we used it.
Hi from Tadcaster, UK Johan! - when you have a moment, it would be good to hear SM57 vs Sennheiser e906...; I switched a couple of years ago and find the e906 a bit 'fuller'. I have also had great results from the ultra-budget Behringer XM8500 (£16!)
+Nick Brown Hi Nick, I compared them in this clip
ua-cam.com/video/b_dbHUS68ks/v-deo.html
What a man! - Many thanks!
I like the Unidyne III and the SM57. That would probably change with other instruments in the mix though.
+ElectricLabel Thanks, yeah all these mics have applications where they come out on top.
Very good review! Thank you!
Glad to hear it! Thanks
Interesting video as usual ! I always found the sm57 lacks mid-range and bass ... but it's bizarrely enough, a excellent base to EQ the sound afterwards ... I use mine in conjunction with a large diaphragm static mic like Rode NT1, it compenses the lack of bass of the sm57 without losing the top-end precision..
I enjoyed the Unidyne III from the 60's, very nice rounded tone straight out of the box !
+Jean-Baptiste Heuclin Thanks Jean-Baptiste! The 57 is indeed great to combine with fuller mics
Looks like I'm going to have to dig up an MD421 from somewhere!
Brad's Guitar Garage yes, it sounds in my eyes, but thrre bunch of version
I have to say Johan, the SM57 to my ears is the clear winner. It seems to be the brightest and clearest one.
+Puppatweena it has the most prominent top end indeed
I thought the Unidyne III 545 and Unisphere 565SD sounded the best. I've never been too crazy about SM57 mics on cabs. I always thought the SM58, although a vocal mic, sounded better on cabs myself. They cut off some of the harshness.
Im happy to say that after this I still prefer the 57
they're all usable!
+Peter Osipov Thanks man
Hi johan , does the sm58 works for guitar recording?
+Emilio Navarrete Hi! Yes it does
I like the Unidyne 3 most. But that may also be the one closest to the 57.
I know I like the md421 so I didn't count that in 😁
What's the method? I don't see the mics being swapped. My ears tell me there is a huge difference between each mic that seems exaggerated to me. I am suspicious of this video.
the sm 57 is the only one that brings across the bite of the marshall
+silvio santapaola that extra bit is needed in dense mixes but gets a bit fizzy in open mixes to me. Cheers
Johan Segeborn Johan, I agree. Thanks for another great installment in the Encyclopedia of Guitar Tone! Played alone, SM57 was my least favorite of the bunch. That jives with my own mic comparisons. Those EV mics give a fantastic 1970s vibe to the sound, the Senn 421 was my overall favorite, but the older Shures were all really nice too. The vintage Shures picked up what I like about the SM57, but without that buzzy sizzle. I suggest you try the Beyerdynamic M201tg, the best Marshall amp mic, to my taste, by far! To my ear, the 201 sounds like a dual mic combo of a Shure SM7b and Royer 121.
Is this with that 1977 Superbass again? SO ROCK with a Gibson! I liked the 1960s Shure Unidyne III 545.
+Robert Sattler Thanks man, yeah that's the 77 Superbass! :-)
Hmmmm....that Unisphere has something I like
+Robert Barry Cheers Robert
the unisphere and sennheiser have a really nice tone, but the sure is king for a more modern tone for sure.
+petez0r Yeah for metal it's perfect
No room mics.... Right?
+Revelry 1969 yeah only the close mic
🤓SM57 & Sennheiser👍👍