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Post by cowboycoalminer on Oct 15, 2014 10:35:48 GMT -6
I saw something that got me thinking...a modification to an sm-57. Now hold on here fellas, what's wrong with a 57? It sounds like a...57. Tried and true. The debate might go something like this, "it sounds good, but if we just did a little of this, and a little of that, then it would sound like THIS!" Errm, as many choices as there are in pro audio, pretty sure something already sounds like THAT  Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying exploration is bad, but come on, a 57?? Sounds the way it should to me. Are we getting a bit crazy with this thing??? Should be a fun thread! |
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 15, 2014 10:36:35 GMT -6
Yes
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 15, 2014 11:40:42 GMT -6
I have 2 answers, 1st is when ur happy, 2nd is at john Kennedy's work bench bwaaahaaaha 8)
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 15, 2014 11:43:21 GMT -6
But seriously, a 57 is great, one without a tranny is a different color, why not if u have a bunch of em, just don't let it cut into ur creative time.
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Post by popmann on Oct 15, 2014 11:51:10 GMT -6
I can't think of any particularly good use for an sm57. So....I say mod away. I know removing the resonator makes it infinitely more useful. I've never used the very popular mod of removing the tranny. But, you know--if you find a stock 57 useful, I get your point. I feel that way about all the people who mod 67s. Removing the feedback....opening the top up....skinning it thinner....WTF are they messing with such a unique design? Answer? because they don't LIKE 67s....how I feel about 57s.
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Post by svart on Oct 15, 2014 13:19:42 GMT -6
I have 5 sm57's of various vintages(unidyne, shure bros, etc). The older ones are smoother and the newer ones a bit more bright. I have one I pulled the transformer out of too. Honestly there isn't enough difference between them to warrant continued investigation.
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Post by formatcyes on Oct 15, 2014 13:58:50 GMT -6
Drop one it rolled across the stage fell off onto a cement floor. After the mod I cannot say it sounds any different.
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Post by mdmitch2 on Oct 15, 2014 14:11:33 GMT -6
Early on I bought about (6) 57's for extra drum mics, and now that I have a lot of mics that I prefer on drums, I never use more than two or three of them at a time (if that). So, I'm thinking about a couple of them, or selling them. Make $50 or spend $50?
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 15, 2014 14:23:37 GMT -6
I once had a record made in my studio(early 90's) with all 57's, we had other good mics, but they were going after a vibe, I'd be lying if I said it didn't sound good, that engineer went on to be very successful.
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Post by mdmitch2 on Oct 15, 2014 14:25:04 GMT -6
I once had a record made in my studio(early 90's) with all 57's, we had other good mics, but they were going after a vibe, I'd be lying if I said it didn't sound good, that engineer went on to be very successful. I think the big Bon Iver album was done the same way. You can tell... but not necessarily in a bad way. |
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Post by matt on Oct 15, 2014 14:25:53 GMT -6
In spite of it's "iconic" reputation, it is a $90 USD mic. I would argue that any sub-$100 mic, or piece of gear, is not worth modding. There are too many choices out there these days, at all price levels, to warrant the time/expense involved. Unless you are into Frankensteining things, which is another subject.
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Post by Randge on Oct 15, 2014 14:46:28 GMT -6
The Oliver mod with their transformer makes them quite a bit more robust than the stock one. I much prefer a Miktek PM-5 or PM-9 for duties I used to use a 57 on. Now for live acoustic music, it really doesn't get any better, just more feedback.
R
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Oct 15, 2014 15:07:41 GMT -6
I like 57's on guitar amps. Of Coarse my tone is generally for shit so It probably doesn't matter much what I use!
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Post by wiz on Oct 15, 2014 16:16:16 GMT -6
I love 57s.. so much, I put the word SM57 into a song on my last release... seriously 8) I love them on Toms, I love them on guitar amps, acoustic guitar vocal..snare.. I have used them on Kicks and Overheads. Very cool on resonators For me, the SM57 came alive, when I stopped plugging it into interface preamps and plugged it into a really good one, like a Great River or Neve. THEN it became a different mic and I got what everyone was on about... before that I thought they were crap. You can buy one for 100 bucks, use it for 10 years and immediately sell it for 50 bucks if you need to. Great Great Mic Also, paired with my JLM TG500 preamp, its just a no brainer guitar amp mixing rig for me. Many tracks I have cut like that have gotten through the production with very little tweak age to get them to fit. ( here ya go, the song with the mention of SM57s... I had had shoulder surgery, and developed frozen shoulder.. as soon, and I mean AS SOON as I could get my arm across my guitar again, I recorded an EP of just acoustic and voice.. I was so overjoyed to be playing again, there was a time I thought it was over.. so this song and the album is intentionally live and raw.. you can even hear a dog bark near the end.... dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13120658/01%20Aching%20Bones.m4a) |
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Post by mrholmes on Oct 15, 2014 18:56:45 GMT -6
I saw something that got me thinking...a modification to an sm-57. Now hold on here fellas, what's wrong with a 57? It sounds like a...57. Tried and true. The debate might go something like this, "it sounds good, but if we just did a little of this, and a little of that, then it would sound like THIS!" Errm, as many choices as there are in pro audio, pretty sure something already sounds like THAT Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying exploration is bad, but come on, a 57?? Sounds the way it should to me. Are we getting a bit crazy with this thing??? Should be a fun thread! The whole gear discussion is crazy in a way because sound is a totally subjective topic. We can debate for years without agreeing… I am here because one or the next comment inspires me to try something different. Once again we should talk also about the process, why and when you used a specific mic, compressor or any other tool. With this in mind it makes more sense to talk about gear. PS: It stops if you want to, just switch off your PC. |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,952 
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Post by ericn on Oct 15, 2014 19:45:59 GMT -6
I have done the Frankenstein (AMI transformer & Grannelili ) everytime I do some somebody falls in love and has to buy them, if they new I was buying used ones and chargei g new prices they might learn to DIY!
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Post by lpedrum on Oct 15, 2014 20:08:37 GMT -6
…or something like this. link |
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Post by dandeurloo on Oct 15, 2014 20:19:44 GMT -6
I use the transformer-less 57's a lot. They sound better IMHO and have less gain which is nice for the sources you use 57's on the most. That way I can get my pres into a better gain stage.
BTW, it takes 15 mins to do.
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Post by mdmitch2 on Oct 15, 2014 20:20:53 GMT -6
…or something like this. linkConversion kit for $50... not bad. Thanks for the link. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 15, 2014 21:37:55 GMT -6
I use the transformer-less 57's a lot. They sound better IMHO and have less gain which is nice for the sources you use 57's on the most. That way I can get my pres into a better gain stage. BTW, it takes 15 mins to do. yup, i always like it on snare, its got more to it. BTW, that mods been around forever. |
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