Best Mic For Live Acoustic Guitar (2024 Update)

This is for the #sweepstakes but even without it I would still review this product. I'm a producer that's starting out and originally I bought some cheap mic on some random online service. But once I had more money I bought my SM58 since I knew how much of a classic mic it is. It was a great decision I solely use it now and it sounds great and so clean. It gives this great tone to the sound that sounds more professional and I look cool singing into it in my music videos. Thanks for the classic productBrian C.

Ordered this for our church. Mostly vocals and some speech. Mic is a fantastic upgrade from our older model Shure BG3.1 mics. I know we had these for a long while but this sm58s sounds fantastic and made a huge difference in clarity and crispness. I was told the Shure sm58 is one of the best all general purpose mics for sound quality and build and so far (a few months now) I couldn't agree more! As far as the switch goes, our old mics had them so I kept them the same but I seem to like having the switch in the event you don't have someone at the sound board you can set it up and just switch on when needed. Also bought this in a bundle with a boom stand and mic cable which was a good value. If your in the market for a great all purpose mic def check this bundle out. You won't be disappointed! Thanks AMS!Brent

This is for the #sweepstakes but even without it I would still review this product. I'm a producer that's starting out and originally I bought some cheap mic on some random online service. But once I had more money I bought my SM58 since I knew how much of a classic mic it is. It was a great decision I solely use it now and it sounds great and so clean. It gives this great tone to the sound that sounds more professional and I look cool singing into it in my music videos. Thanks for the classic productBrian C.

Ordered this for our church. Mostly vocals and some speech. Mic is a fantastic upgrade from our older model Shure BG3.1 mics. I know we had these for a long while but this sm58s sounds fantastic and made a huge difference in clarity and crispness. I was told the Shure sm58 is one of the best all general purpose mics for sound quality and build and so far (a few months now) I couldn't agree more! As far as the switch goes, our old mics had them so I kept them the same but I seem to like having the switch in the event you don't have someone at the sound board you can set it up and just switch on when needed. Also bought this in a bundle with a boom stand and mic cable which was a good value. If your in the market for a great all purpose mic def check this bundle out. You won't be disappointed! Thanks AMS!Brent

This is for the #sweepstakes but even without it I would still review this product. I'm a producer that's starting out and originally I bought some cheap mic on some random online service. But once I had more money I bought my SM58 since I knew how much of a classic mic it is. It was a great decision I solely use it now and it sounds great and so clean. It gives this great tone to the sound that sounds more professional and I look cool singing into it in my music videos. Thanks for the classic productBrian C.

Ordered this for our church. Mostly vocals and some speech. Mic is a fantastic upgrade from our older model Shure BG3.1 mics. I know we had these for a long while but this sm58s sounds fantastic and made a huge difference in clarity and crispness. I was told the Shure sm58 is one of the best all general purpose mics for sound quality and build and so far (a few months now) I couldn't agree more! As far as the switch goes, our old mics had them so I kept them the same but I seem to like having the switch in the event you don't have someone at the sound board you can set it up and just switch on when needed. Also bought this in a bundle with a boom stand and mic cable which was a good value. If your in the market for a great all purpose mic def check this bundle out. You won't be disappointed! Thanks AMS!Brent

Firstly it comes in a really nice wooden storage box, very classy presentation I must say. For the prices I can't believe the sheer quality and crystal clear signal processing it contains. I find myself barely having to push my EQ or compression as I would normally with one of my old mics which found better use at a pawn shop! I've only had it about 4 months now, and since then every artist I work with including my own songs have been worlds easier to mix and also sound worlds better. I highly recommend it for any engineer or producer on a budget and need a great input source for their craft to have it's best foot forward.EZ Duzzit

I am more than pleased with the Bluebird SL. The upward curve in frequency response exactly meets my needs (recording a wind instrument whose character lies hidden in the overtones). I can easily imagine voices or instruments that this mic is unsuitable for but if you find yourself boosting the 5khz-8khz with eq to achieve a certain presence, do yourself a favor and let this mic do it for you.Mitchell

I love how clear my Bluebird SLs are on everything I've tried them on. Vocals pop in mixes without being too edgy. There's so much headroom there that I need less preamp gain, making for a much cleaner sound. They also sound nice and clean in various positions on my Guild D25 acoustic… even right up on the sound hole without being boomy. I find Bluebirds are brilliant on hand percussion, as well. I liked my first Bluebird so much, I got a second one for stereo. A pair of Bluebirds made my relatively mellow 7' Steinway B cut through an ensemble mix in much more the way a Yamaha does, so bonus… two grands in one! (For solo piano, I'm preferring a pair of Blue's Baby Bottle SLs due to their additional low end.) All in all, Bluebirds are good for just about anything you want to feature in a track, especially if you're going for a modern sound.Moogman

This is for the #sweepstakes but even without it I would still review this product. I'm a producer that's starting out and originally I bought some cheap mic on some random online service. But once I had more money I bought my SM58 since I knew how much of a classic mic it is. It was a great decision I solely use it now and it sounds great and so clean. It gives this great tone to the sound that sounds more professional and I look cool singing into it in my music videos. Thanks for the classic productBrian C.

Ordered this for our church. Mostly vocals and some speech. Mic is a fantastic upgrade from our older model Shure BG3.1 mics. I know we had these for a long while but this sm58s sounds fantastic and made a huge difference in clarity and crispness. I was told the Shure sm58 is one of the best all general purpose mics for sound quality and build and so far (a few months now) I couldn't agree more! As far as the switch goes, our old mics had them so I kept them the same but I seem to like having the switch in the event you don't have someone at the sound board you can set it up and just switch on when needed. Also bought this in a bundle with a boom stand and mic cable which was a good value. If your in the market for a great all purpose mic def check this bundle out. You won't be disappointed! Thanks AMS!Brent

This is for the #sweepstakes but even without it I would still review this product. I'm a producer that's starting out and originally I bought some cheap mic on some random online service. But once I had more money I bought my SM58 since I knew how much of a classic mic it is. It was a great decision I solely use it now and it sounds great and so clean. It gives this great tone to the sound that sounds more professional and I look cool singing into it in my music videos. Thanks for the classic productBrian C.

Ordered this for our church. Mostly vocals and some speech. Mic is a fantastic upgrade from our older model Shure BG3.1 mics. I know we had these for a long while but this sm58s sounds fantastic and made a huge difference in clarity and crispness. I was told the Shure sm58 is one of the best all general purpose mics for sound quality and build and so far (a few months now) I couldn't agree more! As far as the switch goes, our old mics had them so I kept them the same but I seem to like having the switch in the event you don't have someone at the sound board you can set it up and just switch on when needed. Also bought this in a bundle with a boom stand and mic cable which was a good value. If your in the market for a great all purpose mic def check this bundle out. You won't be disappointed! Thanks AMS!Brent

This is for the #sweepstakes but even without it I would still review this product. I'm a producer that's starting out and originally I bought some cheap mic on some random online service. But once I had more money I bought my SM58 since I knew how much of a classic mic it is. It was a great decision I solely use it now and it sounds great and so clean. It gives this great tone to the sound that sounds more professional and I look cool singing into it in my music videos. Thanks for the classic productBrian C.

Ordered this for our church. Mostly vocals and some speech. Mic is a fantastic upgrade from our older model Shure BG3.1 mics. I know we had these for a long while but this sm58s sounds fantastic and made a huge difference in clarity and crispness. I was told the Shure sm58 is one of the best all general purpose mics for sound quality and build and so far (a few months now) I couldn't agree more! As far as the switch goes, our old mics had them so I kept them the same but I seem to like having the switch in the event you don't have someone at the sound board you can set it up and just switch on when needed. Also bought this in a bundle with a boom stand and mic cable which was a good value. If your in the market for a great all purpose mic def check this bundle out. You won't be disappointed! Thanks AMS!Brent

This is for the #sweepstakes but even without it I would still review this product. I'm a producer that's starting out and originally I bought some cheap mic on some random online service. But once I had more money I bought my SM58 since I knew how much of a classic mic it is. It was a great decision I solely use it now and it sounds great and so clean. It gives this great tone to the sound that sounds more professional and I look cool singing into it in my music videos. Thanks for the classic productBrian C.

Ordered this for our church. Mostly vocals and some speech. Mic is a fantastic upgrade from our older model Shure BG3.1 mics. I know we had these for a long while but this sm58s sounds fantastic and made a huge difference in clarity and crispness. I was told the Shure sm58 is one of the best all general purpose mics for sound quality and build and so far (a few months now) I couldn't agree more! As far as the switch goes, our old mics had them so I kept them the same but I seem to like having the switch in the event you don't have someone at the sound board you can set it up and just switch on when needed. Also bought this in a bundle with a boom stand and mic cable which was a good value. If your in the market for a great all purpose mic def check this bundle out. You won't be disappointed! Thanks AMS!Brent

This microphone is the gold standard for vocal recording, and I can't believe that I used anything else before now. What's the secret to the sauce? While besides the decades of experience backed by the Shure name, this microphone features a VERY defined cardioid pickup pattern. What's a cardioid? Why do I care? If you're asking these questions, I'll simplify it by saying this: if you're recording in a situation where you want the least amount of background noise, this is the pattern for you. Especially vocal recordings, podcasters, and the like, will enjoy the dynamic range that won't clip or cut out at loud sounds like you do with condenser microphones. The pickup range is not directional, but you do need to be conscious of distance, as I'm sure you'll find once you start using it. I did use this microphone plugged into an audio interface into my computer, so that may have introduced a tiny bit of noise, but I was blown away by the results I got from recording. This is nothing like the lower cost and less dedicated microphones I have used in the past. Very well made, as you would expect from a microphone at this price point, and the frequency response modes are set by sliders on the back of the mic. The mounting and cable connector are set up for a boom arm or a stand. Because of the integrated pop filter cover for this microphone I toyed with the idea of using it without a pop filter, but I think i'm just too "spitty" for that, so I've shifted to using one. I highly recommend this microphone. If you're someone who records vocals, spoken word, etc, this will change your game.dronedad

The Shure brand is synonymous with quality microphones, and with the SM7B comes the top-notch build as well as the dynamic range appropriate for multiple applications. Its versatility, craftmanship, and overall reliability make the Shure SM7B a must-own for serious recording. Out of the box you'll notice the mic comes with only a few accessories (cover plate, large foam windscreen, thread adapter) and no XLR cable. You should be familiar with your own audio applications and interfaces to use this mic, as it is no joke. It is pretty weighty and should be mounted on a good microphone stand or hung firmly from a boom. The swiveling bracket adjusts easily for precise positioning. The SM7B feels great, slim and smooth, and its construction feels reliable and sturdy, though I personally limited my usage to studio and workspace recording. In my testing, the SM7B sounds amazing. It has just a very clean output for my instruments and vocals alike. It performs exceptionally well in my small, soundproofed studio affixed with foam wall fixtures. But I was more impressed with the sound quality in a non-optimal, unfixed bedroom environment. The flat, wide-range frequency response is unmatched; there is zero feedback and no static interference whatsoever, even around several operating laptops, two external monitors, and numerous electronic devices. The included windscreen makes up-close vocals and whispers move without the pops and crackles of lesser microphones. Bottom line, this is the microphone that provides the professional performance you need to be taken seriously in any recording environment. Shure's SM7B is everything you need in a dynamic microphone, with its rugged build, versatile application, and unparalleled quality. The brand you should trust with your recording needs did it again, and it isn't a surprise. This is the mic you want to have. Full disclosure, I received this product for my honest, unbiased review.NJRY

SUMMARY: As we dip our toes into the world of podcasting, we all start with an elementary setup that might be as simple as aiming your face into your cell-phone camera and talking into its microphone. But if you get serious, you will soon want a better audio/video setup. The Shure SM7B cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone will be a fine choice until you’re so famous that you have your own professional studio with a production crew and your name on the building. Honestly, most people’s hearing and their listening equipment can’t hear any improvements as you advance beyond this level of studio mic. FEATURES: • The switches under a cover at the back end allow you to set up the dynamic response of the mic. Shifting curves give you a visual indication of what frequencies you are pushing or reducing. • Excellent sound reproduction. • Fits standard mic mounts. • The Cardioid sound pick-up pattern is very direction and ignores sounds coming from anywhere in the room except the front making it a VERY quiet mic for studio use. • Two Year Limited Warranty. PROS: • Pop Filter, Air Suspension and Shock Isolation assure only the voice gets through without ambient studio noise. • Advance electromagnetic shielding prevents interference or hum from monitors and computers in the studio. CONS: • At this level of mic, it’s assumed you’re probably upgrading your system, so if you don’t already have certain other audio items like Mic Stand, Cable or Mic Activator, you’ll have to purchase them separately to begin using this mic. It won’t simply plug into your cell phone. CONCLUSION: The SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone won’t hold you back in creating excellent sound quality.JimF

I bought to of these to run as a stereo pair for guitar amplifiers in a live environment. They are terrific! They handle whatever two 100 watt amps can throw at them and do not color the sound in any sort of negative manner. They definitely let the amps tone shine right through. I went from two classic Sm57s to these and I just notice more clarity and detail than I did with the 57s. Mic placement is a breeze. I spent all of 5 minutes with a pre-recorded loop figuring out the most natural sound and its very easy to find the large sweetspot with these mics. Again, the 57 does not have a huge sweet spot.Blakemore

These mics came highly recommended by another sound engineer I know and, having owned the lesser e609 mics, I decided to take the plunge when I found these at a fantastic price. Pros: Excellent sound quality. Have used it in front of a few different types of bands guitar amps and found it did a fine job whether they played the blues or rock. The filter suggestions in the manual worked and I look forward to trying it with a heavier band to see how it does. Cons: None so far, but if the quality of the 609's that I own, one for over 20 years, is any indication, then this mic will provide years of quality sound reproduction. Brand new, these come with a soft cloth mic bag, mic clip, mic stand euro-adapter and manual.yankeemuso

I have a Demeter Silent Speaker Iso Box that I have been using a 57 and a 58 in with semi-satisfying results. I built a second box to put the Demeter in to even further cut down on the sound levels in my studio. I have taken the door off of the Demeter to let it breath and it takes away all the boxiness of the sound. The only thing missing was this mic! It sounds so much better I can't even believe it! It's so much more balanced and it has smoothed out the mids that have a tendency to build up in a small space like this. Blending the 58 in brings back a little of the "mid scoop" present in the 906. The super cardioid polar pattern of this mic is perfect for this application. From clean to crunch to distortion, my iso rig now sounds like a mic'd up cab in a dead room. All of my stomp boxes and guitars are now in play as they sound like real guitars and not mid range and nasally toys. I am blown away! Buy this mic and follow this recipe if you want an iso box to sound like an isolation room. I'm sure it sounds great in a room as well but the iso box is a more critical situation that only this mic works in. Buy it!radguitars

As a home recording artist, this mic definitely met my needs. For the longest time, I've owned the AKG Perception 120 (the old model), and I've never had a problem with this mic. The main reason to why I bought the P220 was so I can change my setup to have one mic for recording vocals (the P220) and the other mic for recording YouTube videos (Perception 120). The shock mount for the P220 is being used for the Perception 120, and it fits the mic perfectly. Both mics are basically the same size, so I figured that it would work. The build quality on the P220 is rugged and tough, and the functions are very simple. You have 2 main settings: the bass roll off, which is great if you want to record without having to deal with any unnecessary low end frequency that the mic picks up. The other setting cuts off the signal by 20db. From my experience, it's best use is if you have a noisy background, and you don't want that to bleed into the mic. It basically isolates the signal to only be heard right in front of the mic as opposed to everything in the environment. I would be lying if I said that were some things I don't like about it (because I simply LOVE AKG products) but for other people, this might be too simple of a mic compared to other more expensive mics. The sound of this mic is warmer and more direct than the AKG Perception 120, so I felt that it was better for recording vocals. However, the Perception 120 still crushes it in the studio. Some people might consider a different taste in sound compared to other mics, but for me, this mic suits my needs perfectly. The AKG Perception 120: AKG Perception P120 Professional Studio Microphone, Sliver So, here are my pros and cons: PROS: – inexpensive – simple settings – versatile (vocals, guitar, etc.) – rugged CONS (possible opinions of others): – too cheap – too simple (not enough settings) – not preferred taste of sound – too heavyA.D.W.

For the past couple of years, I had been using a Nady SCM-800, as circa 50 had been the most I could spare for a vocal mic – but in the more affluent interim, I had not bothered to wonder if I could do better. Recently, I started to notice that that mic was prone to sibiliance of the "crispy" variety, though it did serve the low end of a baritone voice rarther well. I also came to realize that it was not, in fact, a "large-"diaphragm mic, but rather a "medium," and that a larger diaphragm would surely capture more nuance and presence of a voice. This time, I my budget permitted spending up to 150 on a mic. One reviewer compared the P220 to the AKG C214 as being identical in sound and performace, so I gravitated toward this one, though all the reviews of the P220 were nothing but positive. Once I got the P220 set up with my preamp/interface and my DAW, I recorded a vocal track. My suspicions about a larger diaphragm and my expectations about an AKG-brand mic were affirmed: I could hear my own voice in so much greater detail that it MADE ME A BETTER SINGER. That's how it felt, and sounded, anyway. I kept the first take, with a couple of small re-take parts. I was elated. Now I wish that I had bought the AKG P220 a LOT sooner (if it's not a new production model; I don't know). I regret not having recorded so many songs with a much better microphone for vocals. At the time, the SCM-800 had been a big "step up" from the USB mic I'd been using. Not to denigrate the Nady brand – fine manufacturer. The SCM-800 was so inexpensive because it's not exactly their best. The bass-rolloff switch on the body of the P220 reduces the "proximity effect," whereby sounds get louder as they approach the mic. For a baritone voice, this is an important detail, to avoid boominess. Sibilance with this mic is easy to tame. Home-recording vocalists: BUY AS GOOD A MIC AS YOU CAN AFFORD; EVEN GO INTO DEBT FOR AN EVEN BETTER ONE! You'll sound better now and have far fewer regrets later.Guy Dudeman

I went into B&H on a recommendation from a friend who lives in the area, didn't know what to expect. It's like Santa's Workshop in there. Super busy, packages going around above your head on like a chute/train track vibe. I was still easily able to get the attention of an associate who talked to me for a while about different condenser mic options. Actually had decided on a different mic but it wasn't in stock at the store and I couldn't wait for shipping because I needed a mic that week, so went with the AKG and honestly don't even notice that it wasn't my "first choice" because it does everything I want it to. I use it for singing and I'm really pleased with the quality of sound I get. I also use a Rode NT USB mic that I love too but I needed a mic that connected through XLR and this one is definitely at least as good as the Rode, probably better but I haven't done a comparison test.Paula

I think this microphone works incredible for recording my combo amplifier using it in conjunction with my SHURE SM57. Even the AKG P120 alone is a great sound, but together you get all the right highs, mids, and lows for a sweet smooth guitar recording for Rock N Roll and Steve Vai style solo playing. I bought this B stock and its flawless and even came with the basic mic clamp. I'll get a shock mount later. Would I buy this again or another AKG? Oh yes! It records the sound facing the amp very well while blocking out surrounding noise behind it. Built like a tank, sweet look to it, great sound, what more could you want? Pick one up. You will not be disappointed.nancy_acker77

Overall: This is a pretty good all-rounder condenser mic. I find that it seems to give a fairly pleasant tone to most sources. It sounds very good on weaker voiced vocals. The built-in optional low cut and attenuator is also nice for this price point – I bought this microphone for only 79 dollars! It's not quite the cheapest condenser on the market but I'm very happy with the price spent versus what this mic can produce. If you're on a budget this is probably one of the better mic choices, without sacrificing too much on sound quality.Eric

The AKG P120 has very good dynamic range for a budget microphone. Excellent for voice, and quite good for instrumentals (cello and guitar), too. I listened to every microphone in the $150-250 dollar range before making a decision, and this handily outperformed every other mic in this class. Very nice build quality, heavy and robust.Brian

I think for the price this is a decent mic. It gives a clearer sound then what I had in my arsenal for my acoustic guitar. I've not tried it on anything else, so I haven't had a need to use the pad. I was trying large condensers on the acoustic and they were too muffled. This comes across much cleaner, maybe a little on the bright side but that's better than muddled. I'm using it to mic at the fingerboard and it gives a better, cleaner and more full bodied sound. I would note it's a little sensitive to being bumped. I found if I bump it I have to readjust the connection to get rid of a bit of hum it seems to pick up after the bump.Z

I used this product on a number of things. Timbale,Drums Overheads,Acoustic Guitars,String Quartets, Vocal Choirs,Steel Drums and well as room mic's. It comes with a 20db pad which is very helpful when recording loud percussion like Timbale,Steel Drums, and loud Drums. Make sure you have a low noise pre amp and you get really good results. I only wish it came with omni capsules or at least had that option. These mic's are great for the money.Joseph

I was reluctant to believe that I could make any type of Splash using this microphone to do my first ever voice over gig, but honestly it was all I could afford at the time. It came out smelling like a rose! Of course at that price point you're not going to get anything close to a u87ai. And the noise floor in my opinion leaves quite a bit to be desired, but with the little bit of offset compression and some other tweaking, this mic can sound as good as anything Shure has on the market, or possibly even the sm58 for voiceover work.RB

A few years ago I was cutting vocals with my AKG 414 TLII when a friend came by with 2 of these 214’s his church had bought. We decided to cut the harmony vocal with the 214 and compare to the 414TLII. It sounded terrible and I trashed the takes and used a TLM 67 instead. The 214 sounds like a Chinese condenser from Amazon. I understand people want the AKG pedigree for an affordable price point, but this mic is not it. You may not be able to hear it right now, but trust me and the other experienced ears that have said similar. This mic is the sonic equivalent of a sugar loaded donut. It sounds good if you have few examples to compare it to, but the sound has no “nutritional value” and will fatigue you fast. Especially if you use this for most of your tracks. It is very much worth it to not skimp on microphones. I have bought and sold many, many mics in my career so trust me and save a little longer and get something a little better. No matter what price point you’re buying at.Marty

. Used this on and off for a few years, but was never really happy with it. Very average sound…better on piano, weaker on vocals. Sold it on Ebay and picked up the C414 XLII. WOW!! On the piano it is fantastic. Vocals are excellent too. Much more detailed, nuanced, smooth sound. Really, really like the C414 XLII .Daniel

This was my first condenser microphone that I have purchased for my small in home studio. After months of research I decided upon this mic based off the price and versatility of the product. I am a full time guitarist and vocalist but have never been much on the production side, pretty much saying I know what sound I am looking for. I use this mic mainly for vocals and I’ve got to say that the recordings sound so good out of the mic that I really don’t have to do much as far as mixing goes which I love. This mic has definitely helped boost my confidence in my recording ability and I know that if the track doesn’t sound great it’s from my personal error not the mic. Overall would definitely recommendBrennan

I've been recording my music and vocals with my phone for a while now, and I bought an SM7B last summer to replace my basic earbud mic I've always used. I wasn't aware at the time that I'd need an interface to get it working with my phone. Looking for interface suggestions online turned into a ton of mixed results no matter which brand or product I read about. Scarlett, Presonus, Focusrite, etc. Pros of those products were all met with users commenting plenty of cons involving all sorts of different issues. So, I emailed Shure and asked if their MVi would for sure work my iPhone. They responded quickly and told me that it's exactly what I needed to get the mic working. It came in the mail three days later and it's perfect for what I do here at home. Simple to set up and use with my phone. It works with my recording app as well as with recording videos or voice notes. I know very little about recording music beyond the very basics, but the MVi has made it possible for me to finally get to use my actual studio mic to start recording and learning with.David K.

I bought Shure MVi thinking it would be 'ready to use out of the box' to use with an iPhone. Was I ever wrong! The older ones came with a 'micro usb to a lighting cable'. The newer ones do not. The cables are hard to find and in the $30 to $40 range. Shure don't tell you this. (The tech. support person at Shure said he didn't know this.) There is a work around to this. Get a 'usb C to a lighting adapter and a 2 input adapter for a second power input. This will supplement the power loss at the adapters. I know it sounds crazy, but it works! Come on, Shure, get with the program and send the correct cable!Joe S

Ok the mic makes GREAT reproductions. Especially for a usb mic! And the connectivity to iphones, and androids, and computers & tablets whooo buddy. I don't know of anything else on the market that can accomplish this laundry list. It's visually beautiful and a work horse to boot! This device solves so many problems for me! But there is one big draw back here… A draw back I can cope with due to this mics other strengths, but one wold really like to see redesigned on the next release of this mic. You can't adjust the mix between mic monitor signal – and audio that is being played back over USB. Nor can you adjust the monitor levels independently. You can accomplish this by altering settings in whatever app you're using, but the onboard controls leave something to be desired. I'd much rather have control over the monitor mix rather than all the DSP, compression & EQ features that they offer on board. MORE DETAILS BELOW ON WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE: V So let's say you're on a zoom call and you want to monitor your own voice in your headphones while you talk to a friend… The MV51's functionality allows you to monitor your self with no latency, fantastic!…. but to adjust the volume of your friend on the other end you have to do this via the output settings within the zoom app… and if your chosen app doesn't have out put settings, well you're out of luck because the MV51 is an audio interface – so you can't adjust the output volume via your system settings… at least on a mac, because the mv51 overrides these controls.Dan P

Well, I was very impressed with the sound quality of my voice using the Shure Beta 57a. Even though many recording engineers use this mic as an instrument (guitar) mic I think it is also a great vocal mic as well. Now, I just recently used it for my Zoom meetings. People were amazed by the sound quality of my voice. I am constantly getting compliments using the Shure Beta 57a. Great mic at a great mic. You can't go wrong with Shure's quality. Ron Ajemian – Audio Technology EducatorRonald

I have always used the standard SM58 for my vocals and have also strongly suggested that others in bands that I've been in use it also. In terms of sound, having that quality, consistent sound was important to me. It made doing sound from the stage a lot easier. A friend of mine who is a sound engineer suggested that I try using a Beta 57 for my vocals in particular because he was having a tough time getting my vocals to come through the mix as much as he wanted. I hesitated but figured that since it was so similar to the SM58 that I could probably 'bend' the rules a bit and buy a Beta 57 to throw into the mix. I think he was right and here's why: because everything about the Beta 57 sounds as good as the 58 – *BUT* I think it is just a little "hotter" and as a result my vocals have been a bit more present in the mix. I suspect that is a combination of my mouth being slightly closer to the mic capsule (as the wind screen is flatter and closer) and maybe since it is a "Beta" model unit – the mic capsule itself might be a bit hotter. Regardless – it is a quality mic – just as you would expect if you are used to the legendary SM58. One last note: I actually removed the little blue ring around the windscreen because I wanted to keep the mics on stage looking as similar as possible. (silly I know) I'm from Minnesota – and we have a reputation as being "plain folks" up here. Having that showy "tell tale" blue ring around the windscreen just screams "ostentatious show-off!" (it is just rubber and can be put back on very easily.) Great mic!Scooter

I've been a professional musician for over 40 years. At one point in time, a band I played in owned a Shure Vocal Master PA…..yes indeed! I have purchased the Beta 57 twice. Why? Because the first one was stolen. I rely on the specs of this mic because I'm a drummer who sings lead and BV's. I need a powerful, durable microphone with a tight pattern as to battle against bleed from instruments. This product does EXACTLY that. Never a problem. Always solid right out of the box and consistent performance after performance. For the price point, it is the best option. I had purchased the Beta 87 after seeing KD Lang & Elton John using one. It just wasn't right for my needs. The 57A is perfect! Thanks for listening! Larry Grano……#sweepstakesLarry G.

It's not as full as my sm58 but for half the price, it's worth getting a few more. I use it for live streaming and karaoke. All 3 works great. You might need to get the pop shield to prevent the extra pops from some singers though. My friends are loving my set up with these and they're asking to get them set up with these mics as well. It's worth mentioning that you should get the switch version for these applications.Duan

I bought three for my rehearsal studio for Vocals. My opinion is for the price they can't be beat. Yes a 58 sounds a bit better with a little more mid range punch and a little smoother quality sound. But the deal I got for three brand new ones was excellent and can't beat the value. One of the gigs my band plays regularly the soundman absolutely loves my Mike's. I personally use a 58 and our lead singer uses a sure wireless mic but the other three guys are on my 48's and the sound man compliments them every time!!Dev the drummer

I read the reviews and recommendations on the legendary Sure SM58, but didn't really need to buy another mic. I have an AKG, an MXL and a Samson at home, and I work with the Sennheiser 421, EV RE-20 and Heil mics at work. But I saw the B & H price on this, and decided to give it a whirl. WOW.. seriously? Less than $35 for a mic of this quality? Unbelievably good deal! This little Sure SM48 sounds so good, crisp, clean.. blows the Heil and the EV RE-20 out of the water, even sounds better than the Sennheiser! I do a slight EQ contour to shift the bass energy a little lower, with a -1.5db dip @ 378Hz, and a 2db bump around 90 Hz, a little bump at 900 for presence.. and this sounds perfect every time! I don't have to wrestle with that bass tip-up that you always get with the condensers like the AKG and the MXL. For pure voice stuff, this one is a gem. I'll grab it first now before messing with the other mics.. this is a more direct line to getting a great result without the intermediate adjustment stops the other mics need. The RE-20 is retired now. I won't even use it with the SM48 to choose from. I use this for VO work, mostly with commercial spots at a major market radio station. Totally recommend this mic. At this price? A no brainer! Bargain of the century.L. A. Radio Guy

I've had the Lyric in my Gibson L 00 for about a week now so I've not fully tested it in a small gig yet as I mostly do home recording, but it sounds great. Sounds like my parlor guitar and that's what it is supposed to do. It is prone to feedback being is a microphone in the body of the guitar, but not bad really. No more than any other pickup hardly. Anytime you deal with a microphone it will sound better but feedback more. I would definitely get this pickup again,. I may put one in my husband's guitar toy never know.Sarah

Hi: I enjoy playing and have admittedly not tried all pickups, but I have heard and gone thru many in my time, always not-so-happy with plugged- in sound vs a dynamic mic for live and a small condenser mic for recording. The best I have heard in my experience was a tape-on (yes, that is how they work) condenser that cost the artist a whole lot and sounded wonderful. I participate with a volunteer sound crew doing set-up and mixing for small auditorium concerts in my area, and (Probably most of you out there already know this) experience has always told us to line-in and mic most acoustic artists, with generally lots more emphasis on the mic. I frequently discuss with performers what they are using in their set-ups and listen closely to their thoughts re equipment, mix preferences and performances. I most recently had a stick-on under-the-saddle transducer in my guitar(I play finger-style on steel strings). It was a definite improvement over other pickups, I still always had to fuss with an EQ/DI to try and minimize the quack and exaggerated bass. I eventually noticed the Lyric(A pressure-zone condenser mic) obtained one, traded out the transducer in one evening and immediately got lots closer to what I had been searching for all along….my guitar's true sound when lined-in and amplified. There is definitely less feedback, you know what I mean if you have ever tried to dial-in a hot condenser mike for a performer on an acoustic instrument facing the stage monitors. Notes: 1)If you need to practice more or change your fingering habits, this pick-up will demonstrate that to you immediately. It will not make our poor guitar habits sound better, just louder. 2)You will likely have to adjust the presence control to suit your tolerance of string squeak, and sensitivity to every little unmusical noise you make, and if you want a louder bass you will have to bump that up to your liking on your amp or mixer. These will be minor quick adjustments in comparison to adjusting to reduce piezo quacks and booming bass. For the money, the ease of installation, live sound adjustment, condenser-mike-instrument- faithful sound quality, better feedback control and no piezo-quack, this is a good pick, and better than anything else I have tried so far.Radiotone

If this is a mic-system why does Sierra's Guitar sound piezo. You can only really hear the difference between piezo and mic systems in the attack moment. Piezo goes clack, quack and not only robs you of your skill it feels like an insult to your hard work in the use of dynamics. The ideal is a great mic, a great engineer, and quality monitors…what we all want to hear is the sound of the guitar that a person hears ACOUSTICALLY. LR Baggs amazed me with the Anthem…because it, too, sounded overly-piezo and I know not why? In decades of seeking the best compromise I found their dual source the best but you still need – in order of importance: 1. Exceptional technique (the internet/youtube is infested with clumsy players who, sadly, don't know they don't know. Often you can tell what it's going to sound like just by looking at the right hand position – all guitars have an optimal 'strike point' – this appears to be a mystery to most Youtubers – apologies if this sounds a little right-wing but I've become absolutely exhausted by noodling nightmares. 2. A decent guitar! Apologies but Taylors et al look pretty, appeal to those found in point 1. and sound like total plop (Don't get me started on Lowdens!)…Ideally you need old wood – the newer the wood the better player you need to be. 3. A blend system and GOOD EARS 4. A valve Di 5. An engineer who understands acoustic guitars…the ratio is about 30:1 against this so good luck. 6. Understanding EQ yourself. 7. Monitors/In Ear Monitors…if you have to use a wedge with a blend system it needs to be positioned like a wing-mirror on a car…kinda pointing almost behind and past you…often, having positioned said-wedge like this the sound engineer (one of the 30) will come and unhelpfully 'correct' its position! Rude words! It's all a compromise but – bad playing is just going to increase in badness – logarithmically – so don't expect miracles if you've not spent 10 000 hours of self-criticism BEFORE you plug in. QEDTortured Listener

It’s only the practical issue of size! There is no real indication of size for this mic and I understand why. Yet it’s HUGE, I can’t have it centered in front of me even. It’s the same size as a very large orange, so 10 cm across and on its 20 cm high stand it is a very large black bobb! It also has a very bright red light when it has power and this annoying light at night has no function at all. As ounce it’s plugged in, it’s always on. So why advertise the fact with such a large bright light? Needless to say, it does have two very important redeeming features; very good sound quality and because of this alone it’s then very cheap. My son actually sounds exactly as if his in the same room with no distortions. Yet 3 stars is still a very good achievement in my opinion. Recommend this as it can be placed to one side. Yet due to the two problems and the fact that it has no switch 3 star rating.MajorBrighton01

Really good mic. I really love it. it's a very big upgrade over my 20 dollar wireless headphones. and I continue to use my Corsair HS35with it, just like my old wireless headphones. the plug and play with absolutely nothing avoiding its path are very amazing. Zero Complaints One thing though is if you do have background noise you should consider going with another microphone like the Razer Seiren Mini, Or a HyperX. Really love this microphone though. the sound quality of the voice is outstanding. I got it on sale for 50$. But if you are looking for a really good mic and good price (wait for it to go on sale) id say pull the trigger if you don't have background noise and want an awesome mic! Thanks Bestbuy!MysteriousPlxyz_YT

Meh and letdown would be the words to describe this. First of all they need to remove the $20 Ubisoft part of the item description. The codes these contain are all from 2020/2021 and well expired. But we don't buy microphones for whatever dollar off codes they contain – this was meant to be used in place of a full-on gaming headset – hoping the mic quality would be better than a my laptops mic array, without looking like a knob on conference calls while working from home with a cumbersome gaming headset on. Mission accomplished? Nope. Well. You at least look normal speaking – the downside here is this mic picks up EVERYTHING. Like. Everything. Typing? Kids? Someone in the house on the other side of the same floor flushing a toilet? Yep, check everything. To the point co-workers asked how I even got any work done. I can't have that while working. And being a Blue product, I expected some customization in voice and some sort of background canceling – but the software is limited to showing you your iCE mic and controlling only the gain. And even then unless I was on top of the thing, it wasn't picking up my voice very well – but had no problem with everything else leaking through in my house. Disappointing. Back to the store this went. I could only see low end streamers using this in a sound proof room. Otherwise I'd highly recommend skipping.NikS

I set up in my basement with it a few weeks ago and started messing around, have found nothing to be disliked. The overall sound is good, it has strong low end for my growls, and it doesn't have any problems with recording at any volume. I even put it in front of my drumset to see if it'd pick up okay, which it did surprisingly well with. I haven't been doing vocals for very long, but from what I can tell it easily competes with mics twice the price. 10/10 would recommend, worth it. P.s. get a pop filter toothe wheat man

I have one first generation version, which lacks the headphone jack, and this is my 2nd of the newer generation. If using this in an application where you want a shock mount, be sure to buy the Audio Technica shock mount that is made for this exact form factor. I have both of mine on boom arms. I like the side address form factor and the ability to get cheap pop filters that are semi-cylindrical. Compared to the much more expensive gold standard Shure SM7B, this sounds a bit brighter and has a wider, flatter frequency response. That makes the AT2020 better suited for instrumentals and other sound sources, whereas the SM7B tends to be very specifically suited to voices. I own USB and XLR versions of this mic, and the integrated analog-to-digital conversation seems very good, not introducing detectable noise.Matthew