Best Mic For Recording Guitar Amp (2024 Update)

This microphone is one of the best suited for handling guitar amps and other louder close mic applications, especially where a low profile is advantageous, such as on stage or in a cramped studio setting. The mike can be hung/slung over a speaker cabinet or mounted on small footprint stand and placed directly in front of speaker cone/grill. The flat design allows for setup in extremely tight spaces. The frequency response of 40-18k works well on most amplified instruments. It is designed optimally to handle high sound pressure levels (loud) without pads. Response is fairly flat and even across the entire range. It is also super-cardroid pattern meaning crosstalk can be kept to a minimum, important when mic'ing multiple cabs. I found these to be superior to the standard sm-57 type mics for guitar cabinet pickup, more bottom end, crisper high end and very low profile. They are also fairly durable. I've been using mine for a long time and they have held up well.Steviebone

Works great as a guitar-amp mic. You can hang it over the top of the amp, or use something like the K&M 25950 (or 25900) stands. I'm not enamored with Sennheiser's mic clips, but they function; I'd be concerned about repeatedly attaching/removing mics from those clips. That could be unwarranted, but time will tell. Otherwise the mic sounds perfect for my needs (micing guitar amps)Dan

I looked up and down everywhere to see what's the best mic for all around, Like the hidden gem in the cornfield. People told me the rodemic, Razer and snow xlr mic, But from looking past the "Normal" I seen the sm57. A famous hidden mic no one really knew about, Basically has the same tone sm7b just a little different. $100ish instead of $400 count me in, I been using it for zoom calls, Twitch, Discord and everyone i talked to said i went from a very noisy and outland voice to a solid nice tone. I personally use mine with a boom arm, the a81ws, focusrite. No issues with it and i had it for about 3 months, I'm not the gentlest on it either so I feel comfortable using it on a day to day basis. Who would i recommend this to? To be totally honest everyone, You want it to do something? Trust me it will. 10/10Bradleigh, K

I've only had chance to do a quick sound check miking my Bugera V22 and recording the sound using my new Tascam DP-008 EX 8-track recorder. Sound quality was very good, especially for a basic home office recording setup. I can see why this mic is so popular in the industry. For perspective, I am a hobbyist and don't perform, but like to have the best sound for my limited budget to make recordings for myself and maybe friends and family. This mic lives up to its rep for being a great value for what you pay, punching above its class, no doubt.Steve

I looked up and down everywhere to see what's the best mic for all around, Like the hidden gem in the cornfield. People told me the rodemic, Razer and snow xlr mic, But from looking past the "Normal" I seen the sm57. A famous hidden mic no one really knew about, Basically has the same tone sm7b just a little different. $100ish instead of $400 count me in, I been using it for zoom calls, Twitch, Discord and everyone i talked to said i went from a very noisy and outland voice to a solid nice tone. I personally use mine with a boom arm, the a81ws, focusrite. No issues with it and i had it for about 3 months, I'm not the gentlest on it either so I feel comfortable using it on a day to day basis. Who would i recommend this to? To be totally honest everyone, You want it to do something? Trust me it will. 10/10Bradleigh, K

I've only had chance to do a quick sound check miking my Bugera V22 and recording the sound using my new Tascam DP-008 EX 8-track recorder. Sound quality was very good, especially for a basic home office recording setup. I can see why this mic is so popular in the industry. For perspective, I am a hobbyist and don't perform, but like to have the best sound for my limited budget to make recordings for myself and maybe friends and family. This mic lives up to its rep for being a great value for what you pay, punching above its class, no doubt.Steve

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

This microphone is one of the best suited for handling guitar amps and other louder close mic applications, especially where a low profile is advantageous, such as on stage or in a cramped studio setting. The mike can be hung/slung over a speaker cabinet or mounted on small footprint stand and placed directly in front of speaker cone/grill. The flat design allows for setup in extremely tight spaces. The frequency response of 40-18k works well on most amplified instruments. It is designed optimally to handle high sound pressure levels (loud) without pads. Response is fairly flat and even across the entire range. It is also super-cardroid pattern meaning crosstalk can be kept to a minimum, important when mic'ing multiple cabs. I found these to be superior to the standard sm-57 type mics for guitar cabinet pickup, more bottom end, crisper high end and very low profile. They are also fairly durable. I've been using mine for a long time and they have held up well.Steviebone

Works great as a guitar-amp mic. You can hang it over the top of the amp, or use something like the K&M 25950 (or 25900) stands. I'm not enamored with Sennheiser's mic clips, but they function; I'd be concerned about repeatedly attaching/removing mics from those clips. That could be unwarranted, but time will tell. Otherwise the mic sounds perfect for my needs (micing guitar amps)Dan

This microphone is fantastic for recording vocals. It picks up everything in the room clearly including the air conditioner. This is no problem as the mic has a built in filter that can get rid of the noise from the air conditioner. The included manual has a description for all of the different pickup patterns and their uses. The manual also says the C414 XLII is recommended for vocals, whereas the C414 XLS is recommended for overheads.Jared

Not sure I even received the right mic. The box was not for this product. No owners manual or any mfg.'s materials included and the box was for a different mic. Overall mic condition was good at best!Terry

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

"Arturo Sandoval's Mic of choice! The Mic used most for High Quality Trumpet Recording! With a Life-Like realism to the sound as if you were hearing it played live. A warm outstanding Ribbon Professional Microphone.thevintagehorn

This R-121 is incredibly versatile for a ribbon microphone – I never fear putting it in front of guitar cabs, raucous horn players, even drums. The sound is incredibly clear and true to what my ears are hearing (a little less abrasive top end). Without a doubt worth having in my microphone closet… or out of it which usually the case. A great microphone investment!Excellent microphone – I will be purchasing more. Worth every penny I paid for this – it is a go to microphone in most every session I do these days… which is to say it is paying for itself. My clients dig the sounds = my gear pays for itself.Fester Spunk

Great mic. works magic on guitars. however you do need a good mic and pre and a decent compressor to place in front of mic! If you can get this mic for a good price (less than $1300) I would buy it! make sure you read the manual before use! If you don't you can damage the ribbon and make the mic sound bad!!!surfgreen101

I looked up and down everywhere to see what's the best mic for all around, Like the hidden gem in the cornfield. People told me the rodemic, Razer and snow xlr mic, But from looking past the "Normal" I seen the sm57. A famous hidden mic no one really knew about, Basically has the same tone sm7b just a little different. $100ish instead of $400 count me in, I been using it for zoom calls, Twitch, Discord and everyone i talked to said i went from a very noisy and outland voice to a solid nice tone. I personally use mine with a boom arm, the a81ws, focusrite. No issues with it and i had it for about 3 months, I'm not the gentlest on it either so I feel comfortable using it on a day to day basis. Who would i recommend this to? To be totally honest everyone, You want it to do something? Trust me it will. 10/10Bradleigh, K

I've only had chance to do a quick sound check miking my Bugera V22 and recording the sound using my new Tascam DP-008 EX 8-track recorder. Sound quality was very good, especially for a basic home office recording setup. I can see why this mic is so popular in the industry. For perspective, I am a hobbyist and don't perform, but like to have the best sound for my limited budget to make recordings for myself and maybe friends and family. This mic lives up to its rep for being a great value for what you pay, punching above its class, no doubt.Steve

This microphone is one of the best suited for handling guitar amps and other louder close mic applications, especially where a low profile is advantageous, such as on stage or in a cramped studio setting. The mike can be hung/slung over a speaker cabinet or mounted on small footprint stand and placed directly in front of speaker cone/grill. The flat design allows for setup in extremely tight spaces. The frequency response of 40-18k works well on most amplified instruments. It is designed optimally to handle high sound pressure levels (loud) without pads. Response is fairly flat and even across the entire range. It is also super-cardroid pattern meaning crosstalk can be kept to a minimum, important when mic'ing multiple cabs. I found these to be superior to the standard sm-57 type mics for guitar cabinet pickup, more bottom end, crisper high end and very low profile. They are also fairly durable. I've been using mine for a long time and they have held up well.Steviebone

Works great as a guitar-amp mic. You can hang it over the top of the amp, or use something like the K&M 25950 (or 25900) stands. I'm not enamored with Sennheiser's mic clips, but they function; I'd be concerned about repeatedly attaching/removing mics from those clips. That could be unwarranted, but time will tell. Otherwise the mic sounds perfect for my needs (micing guitar amps)Dan

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

Overall: Seeing the pictures online made me think one thing. But then seeing in my hand made me think another. This is a rather small microphone in comparison to what I've used in the past. Transitioning from a monsterous Sterling Audio ST-79 to the TLM-102 made a HUGE difference. The depth of the vocal is outstanding. The frequency range is great and the Higher SPL makes it able to withstand some of the loudmouth vocalist rappers it will be used on. I myself have a deeper raspier voice and this mic works wonders on the clarity of it. In the mix there is much more control on dialing in to get the sound you want. This little Big Dog is now my Go to mic for Vocals out of my collection which includes: a. (1) ST-79 -Sterling Audio – Condenser b. (1) ST-55 – Sterling Audio – Condenser c. (1) MXL 990 and (1) 991 – MXL – Condensers d. (2) Fathead I – Cascade – Ribbon e. (1) TLM-102 – Neumann – Condenser (these are just my Vocal specific mics) All in all I love the mic and the mixing flexablity, its smaller size, and its versatility in use. Sure there is not a bass roll-off, or pad switch so it may not be best for SOME RANDOM VERY SPECIFIC NEED. But for the typical use of a microphone this thing has become my best friend.Chris

I play acoustic fingerstyle guitar and I was looking at some mics options to do some recordings… this mic is absolutely brilliant ! It captures amazingly the sounds of an acoustic guitar, very detailed and all nuances can be heard. Very rich and natural sound and exactly what I was looking for acoustic guitar recordings. Furthermore the look is stunning and the quality amazing. Love it! I am now considering getting another one so I could pair it nicely with the one I owe. Highly recommended!! Here is a recoding I've made with this mic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIThVYPlJ5MReviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: I just bought Neumann TLM 102 for a few sessions on my vocals and nylon & acoustic guitar. I do noticed, TLM 102 does have a little more presence and somewhat compressed on the bass. If you want to tame the bass, then you'll be happy with TLM 102 (note: There’s no cut low/high filter switch). If you're asking a flat sound, it's not here. Presence is strong? "yes." A lot more than mine Oktava MK 319. Treble? a little less than mine. If you want a little more treble for your vocals, you might want TLM 103. But remember, 103 is two times for you to pay. Do you want something "warm'ish" in your vocals? It's all right. It's not the best for a warm warm sound. BUT it is good though. You may have to turn up the mid a little more when you mixed. On my vocals and nylon & acoustic, I had to decrease -10 db on the bass. After my recording and testing, I decided to return mine TLM 102. For me, It's just not worth it –especially it’s 8x than my MK319. I really expected a lot more, but I know there are a lot of people that they love it. They say, they would pay 10 times. For the rest of my sessions, I went back to my MK 319. RECOMMENDATION?? Well, if you have a budget….sure. It would be nice recording a few acoustic rhythms. But, I know there are few more mics that are a lot cheaper than TLM 102 with the same quality sound.Xylor

I spent a long time going through reviews and videos trying to decide between this microphone and a C414. Honestly, after buying this microphone I'm really glad I chose this one. Not only it is better on the wallet but the sound quality is insane for the price. Using the spirit I found no frequency gaps in my voice and acoustic guitars that I sometimes notice when using cheaper microphones. When I'm singing and have a live feed into my headphones. I can hear every single detail of my voice, it's actually crazy and as a result, it's helped me improve my singing performances whilst recording. This microphone really does show you what you put in and adds a little high-frequency sparkle to get that modern pop vocal sound. On the acoustic guitar, the spirit is natural and picks up a lot of the wood sound of the body, again no frequency gaps. It picks up my room beautifully as well even in cardioid mode. The microphone looks great and is very robust too. Personally, I cannot recommend trying the Aston brand and these microphones enough, and will definitely purchase more in the future. Watch the videos, do the research, and happy microphone hunting 🙂Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I might be slightly premature giving this mic such a high rating since I have only had it a relatively short time, but as of right now…this is a solid add to my studio. I have owned a mid sized studio for around 30+ years. I mainly record Acoustic based music up to about Medium Hard Rock styles. I have a decent Mic Locker that includes about 40 or so mics including some higher end Name Brands all the way down to the simplest of anything that works solid for my needs. I buy and only keep what works for me. I have Dynamics, Ribbons, Small and Large Diaphragm transformerless and transformered Condensers, as well as tubed versions. I had seen and heard many You-Tube reviews reviewing the Spirit and liked what I heard, but the quality of those reviews were all over the place, so I was a little skeptical. So far I have only did some preliminary vocal tracks and some Upright Bass tracks for a good friend of mine that is a Texas Singer Songwriter. On Voice the mic was clean, clear and weighty. The louder the singing the more weighty it got while staying clear and in control… no issues with overload or distorting. It also handled my soft Baritone Vocals with equal aplomb. I am predicting this is going to be a really good all-rounder in the studio and the Multi-Pattern option really are useful. I hope to write additionally once I get more time under my belt. the only nit I have… lol… is the shockmount. Looks great, the design is solid… but… the spring loaded pads,while extremely convenient, need to be slightly tighter while holding the Spirit as it allows it to lean a bit and not hold it upright solidly. If there is a way to tension up the springs a bit, it would be super excellent. Oh… and the Black finish is major cool!t_mix

This thing is such a huge improvement for my home studio. Arrived safe and in perfect condition. Packaging was done well. It has some versatility, which you can read about online in the electronic manual, but it works great right out of the box as a plug-n-wail upgrade. Worth every penny.Evan Vacek

It has a reputation, because it is that good. Takes any vocal and places it at a higher level. Clarity, warmth, presence, yep. If you could only buy 1 piece of gear and youre doing vocals, forget everything else and get this microphone. Run through any interface with a daw, and youll see the difference. Its expensive, yep, but its an investment. Been doing more serious recording over the past 2 years, now I want to go back and re-record all the prior vocals.wdalgabbar_0

An ultimate aspirational mic for me. I have compared this with a vintage u87. For vocals, the vintage U 87 has a slightly more noticeable presence. By presence, I mean that you feel like the microphone is a noctilux-level macro lens focusing in on the singer's articulation and bringing them up close to your ear. All that, but it doesn't sound like it's trying. The new U 87 Ai is almost the same as the old U 87, but a bit more neutral. Less emphasis of sounds like ch (as in, chess), and the specs say less noise. That's my two cents, at least! The U 87 Ai is an amazing sounding mic and lives up to its name. I'd agree with so many reviewers who say that it's just plain good on anything.Peter

I own a lot of microphones for an individual (not a studio), from SM57-58 types, up to the AKG 414 XLII and a bunch in between. As I prepared to move to a greater focus on writing and recording, I decided it was time to purchase a couple of microphones that were the type I have used in a professional recording studio. The first of those that came to mind was the Neumann U87. It was one of two mics (the other being the AKG 414, mentioned above) that I have seen in literally every professional studio I have ever walked into. To say it is a recording industry standard is quite the understatement. Let's talk cost: yes, it costs more than many others. In the world of professional microphones, it's actually on the cheaper end of the spectrum when compared with tube microphones, and it costs many times less than vintage originals. But is it expensive? NO, IT IS NOT. Expensive is a relative term, and refers to the amount of money an item costs… relative to what it is. When what it is happens to be one of the most meticulously built, most heavily copied, and highest performing microphones out there (that is in the estimation of the top-tier professionals in the business, not Joe Equipment-reviewer on your local forum) , the cost is reasonable, and as mentioned, low in comparison to others in its peer group. And how does it sound? Clear and honest. If you sound bad or ameteurish, you will get a very clear rendition of a bad and ametuerish sound. Don't blame the mic. If you put great sound into it, you get incredibly great sound out, and you can hear every nuance. In testing at home, it was sometimes shocking how much more revealing the U87 was. I can only compare it to my experience with any other top of the line equipment. It just keeps surprising you with "oh yeah" moments. Ultimately, nothing is for everyone. And if you don't have the ears to hear the difference, don't waste your money. But if you're up to it, I promise you this mic is up to it as well.Rick In TX

It has a reputation, because it is that good. Takes any vocal and places it at a higher level. Clarity, warmth, presence, yep. If you could only buy 1 piece of gear and youre doing vocals, forget everything else and get this microphone. Run through any interface with a daw, and youll see the difference. Its expensive, yep, but its an investment. Been doing more serious recording over the past 2 years, now I want to go back and re-record all the prior vocals.wdalgabbar_0

An ultimate aspirational mic for me. I have compared this with a vintage u87. For vocals, the vintage U 87 has a slightly more noticeable presence. By presence, I mean that you feel like the microphone is a noctilux-level macro lens focusing in on the singer's articulation and bringing them up close to your ear. All that, but it doesn't sound like it's trying. The new U 87 Ai is almost the same as the old U 87, but a bit more neutral. Less emphasis of sounds like ch (as in, chess), and the specs say less noise. That's my two cents, at least! The U 87 Ai is an amazing sounding mic and lives up to its name. I'd agree with so many reviewers who say that it's just plain good on anything.Peter

I own a lot of microphones for an individual (not a studio), from SM57-58 types, up to the AKG 414 XLII and a bunch in between. As I prepared to move to a greater focus on writing and recording, I decided it was time to purchase a couple of microphones that were the type I have used in a professional recording studio. The first of those that came to mind was the Neumann U87. It was one of two mics (the other being the AKG 414, mentioned above) that I have seen in literally every professional studio I have ever walked into. To say it is a recording industry standard is quite the understatement. Let's talk cost: yes, it costs more than many others. In the world of professional microphones, it's actually on the cheaper end of the spectrum when compared with tube microphones, and it costs many times less than vintage originals. But is it expensive? NO, IT IS NOT. Expensive is a relative term, and refers to the amount of money an item costs… relative to what it is. When what it is happens to be one of the most meticulously built, most heavily copied, and highest performing microphones out there (that is in the estimation of the top-tier professionals in the business, not Joe Equipment-reviewer on your local forum) , the cost is reasonable, and as mentioned, low in comparison to others in its peer group. And how does it sound? Clear and honest. If you sound bad or ameteurish, you will get a very clear rendition of a bad and ametuerish sound. Don't blame the mic. If you put great sound into it, you get incredibly great sound out, and you can hear every nuance. In testing at home, it was sometimes shocking how much more revealing the U87 was. I can only compare it to my experience with any other top of the line equipment. It just keeps surprising you with "oh yeah" moments. Ultimately, nothing is for everyone. And if you don't have the ears to hear the difference, don't waste your money. But if you're up to it, I promise you this mic is up to it as well.Rick In TX

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

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.

If you go to certain sites that shall remain nameless, you would think this is the worst microphone of all time. I don’t get it and I never will. Was my first nice mic in 1999 and this mic continues to amaze me. The lowest noise you will ever hear. Super dynamic. Sounds amazing. It needs the correct preamp (Rupert Neve Designs 511 or any of the portico line is a great place to start- they sell those here). It has a huge proximity effect so mic placement is paramount to good results. I think that’s why a lot of people don’t like this mic. It requires a little effort to find optimal placement. If you hate this mic, you’re just a lazy engineer and that’s all there is to it. Find the sweet spot and it’s golden on more than it isn’t. U87ish sounds at a fraction of the price. Fantastic on vocals of all flavors (hint- give the capsule some room!). Unbelievable as drum overheads and room on drums. Not my fav on acoustic guitars but certainly acceptable. One thing I don’t hear mentioned enough about this mic is how it stacks! Among the best I have ever heard stacking guitar amps or backing or lead vocals. Takes EQ phenomenally well.Steve

This is obviously a good vocal mic as it is highly regarded and a modern classic. However, it's not a one size fits all as most all mics are not. This is not overall bright as others have mentioned. With eq you can give it a more modern sound, but if you want something bright with a nice top end from the start you may need to look elsewhere. Overall a good mic though for the price.Anthony

I’ve used the TLM 102 for a long time for home recording. I made the decision to upgrade to the TLM 103, and I won’t look back! The detail this microphone gets is stunning! I’ve used this on both male and female vocals, as well as acoustic guitar, and sax. WOW!!! This purchase has taken my home recordings to a new level. It must be said though that B &H was fantastic to deal with. Their customer service is second to none! Thank you B & H!!!Christopher

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

I got this as my first "real" microphone on eBay. Sounds reeeeeeeally good for such a cheap no brand microphone. There's a nice review video on YT by Landon27 comparing it to the AT2020. It sounded really good when recording his Vox AC10. I've used it to record vocals, percussion, acoustic guitars (6 & 12 string), drums and guitar amps. Very little EQ needed, from what I could tell. I also use it for my radio show, with pop filters.

Note: you WILL need phantom power to use this. I use a Behringer UM2 USB audio interface that works really well for solo recording (one track/instrument at a time, since both inputs – one XLR and one 1/4" – are summed into mono). Sure, you could buy better mics, but why when these are just as good?CJ Costa Rica

The microphone itself work like a charm on a 48v hantom power professionnal console, I compared with my newmann and the difference is not big enough as the price is,$ 2Knewmann compared to a 20$ microphone, the result ia finally VERY VERY good, not to low or high pitch in frequency, perfect for voice over, or other applications, not tested for signing, coz I don't want to destroy the microphone hehh!. The boom coming with that microphone is not really good, the suspension to hold the mic is cheap, but do the job perfectly, the li'l grip for the boom to a table for an example, is loose ans very not good for heavy application, the op up filter screen is good, the attachment is a bit fragilem but good enough for that purpose. So, in general this purchase is very very good, price/performance 100/100 Perfect, good purchase 😉ve2cnl1-0

When my mic came in the mail I was super excited, I opened it up and took everything out. when I opened the instructions it was just a bunch of blurry pictures, and nothing to explain them. after a good hour and a half I finally got the stand set up. I plugged the mic in and placed it in the stand and had to read the instructions again, this time there actual words. I plugged the usb in that was connected to the mic wires and I selected it. I couldn't hear myself so I went on a call and nobody could hear me either. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone except my enemies. Don't buy this for the life of it.leigko70