Shure Beta 57A Reviews 4.6/5.0 based on 14 customer reviews
Sweetwater Advice
Stuart Niven
The Beta 57 is my favorite mic for snare drums and guitar cabinets in the studio. It has a presence and punch that just cuts through a mix and provides an edge to my sound. It is rugged and durable, ready to survive the most hard-core band and yet able to catch the nuances and the subtleties of the softest, most dynamic performance. I own two of these studio staples and I am still not sure that is as many as I need!
Customer Reviews
Dustinfrom Washington, D.C. May 12, 2013Music Background: Pro Musician Favorite Live Vocal MicI love the focused presence and tight frequency response this mic has. It really brings a lot of clarity into our live vocals. I have to belt out a lot of high harmonies and it be difficult to achieve a nice blend with the lead singer, but the Supercardioid polar pattern of the Beta 57A helps achieve a focused sound between me and the lead vocalist (who also uses a Beta 57A).For whatever reason every now and then we run into sound guys who don't want us to use these because they say that the 57A's feedback and cause issues, and to them I say shut up. Not really, but there seems to be some strange myth out there that these cause issues with feedback, and that is simply not true.
Justinfrom PA May 12, 2013Music Background: FOH engineer Best snare mic for live soundTo get a great sound in live shows you need to pay to get good mics. You have to find mics that can stand up to the rigors of the road and take a few wacks from sticks. This mic, while not hurting your pocket hard at all, sounds more expensive than it is. Great crisp highs, awesome rejection, low profile, very durable. Definitely makes a snare drum that much brighter when used by itself on top. Then if your really into your snare sounding perfect, use one on top and one on bottom...you wont be disappointed!
Tomfrom Montana December 24, 2012Music Background: Musician and Recording Engineer Great on Snare DrumThe Beta 57A gets a much more detailed sound than a regular 57. In addition it rejects toms and cymbals better too. Compared to Heil, a 57 or i5, this one is the best for snare.
Larry Ayresfrom Santa Barbara, CA USA June 22, 2012Music Background: Singer/songwriter Producer/Recording Engineer A truly amazing microphone for recording and live useI bought this mic after using one at a live venue and being amazed at the 'open airy' sound in the vocal range. Then I took it home and did A/B comparisons with my large diaphram condensor mic for recording vocals. They were almost identical in terms of detail, which is truly amazing for a dynamic mic. This mic uses rare earth magnets that are more powerful so it has a higher signal to noise ratio and more detailed sound than the non beta mic.I have found that I actually prefer this for recording my vocals now because it is less sibbilant than the condensor, it doesn't pick up unwanted room and outdoor noise and I can get right up close on it to use the proximity effect to add bass to my voice without getting unwanted sounds. Somehow this mic has the same detail as a condensor close up, but is less sensative a foot or more away. This is good for home recording or a place where there is periodic road noise.
from February 9, 2012 Sexy soundsBeautiful clean crisp sound reproduction.
Bradfrom Moberly, MO June 30, 2010Music Background: Semi-pro musician, amatur recording engineer, occaisional live sound engineer Excellent mic Excellent companyI've never really liked the goofy mid-range sound of the 58's, Beta or otherwise - the annoying pickup of room and stage noise, 'pinging' feedback problems, etc. I bought the Beta 57 A to use as a cab mic for guitar, until I tried it on vocals. This mic truly does cut through the mix. While my bandmates are busy eqing and constantly adjusting levels on their Beta 58's, I set mine and forget it.After 6 years of fairly rigorous gig schedules and bouncing around in a humid band trailers, mic stand being knocked over by drunks, etc. It finally stopped working. I sent it back to Shure with a flat repair fee. They sent me a new mic. If you're in the fence about what Shure mic to get for live use, get this mic. The Beta 57A is very natural for vocals and makes guitar cabinets sound great too. Its VERY versitile and Shure is a rock solid company
Davidfrom london UK December 21, 2008Music Background: Singer/songwriter Really excellent mic.I have had the Shure Beta 57a for a while now and the more I am using it I am realising how it really does cut through nicely when singing live.I know the primary use is more for instruments but it really works with my voice. I find the frequecy responce to be vey smooth even when singing in my higher register, you can really belt out and close mic and it handles things very well. the sound is crisp and clear and warm without any harshness.
Chris Thorntonfrom Idaho/Wyoming March 6, 2008Music Background: live and recording engineer, guitarist, vocalist If I could have a sack full of one kind of mic......this would be it. For live vocals, snare drum, and amps, this thing is the best affordable jack of all applications. I work as a live sound engineer, and this has been my first pick for vocals for a while now, and the artists, including grammy winners, have been digging it too. Get yourself a sack of 'em!
Adamfrom USA July 14, 2006Music Background: Producer / Songwriter / Mix Engineer What a mic!!!Superb Vocal mic next to being a great percussion / instrument mic. I bought this mic for studio recording, and chose it over the Beta 58A. I much prefer a dynamic mic for vocals in my studio, it picks up less noise from surroundings, i.e. computers, etc. The Beta 58 had a midrange bump that made my voice sound hard / agressive. The Beta 57A has a very natural sound and is more relaxed on vocals. Its sits perfectly in the mix and requires very little if No Eq. The vocals do come out very warm sounding with females i have tried it on, and its sounds extremely smooth. On my vocal i get a very rich open sound with no signs of top end sizzle or sibilance. The 57A is a very good pick up for a dynamic microphone I thing this has to be the best dynamic Vocal mic...period, and a great instrument mic after. Maybe sure need to swap the 57A for being a 'Vocal' mic instead.
Mickfrom July 2, 2012Music Background: Recording Engineer, Pro Musician GreatThis thing kills in the studio on snare drum. Well worth your extra $50 compared to an SM57.
from LAS CRUCES, NM November 1, 2011Music Background: LIVE AND RECORDING ENGINEER ONE OF MY TOP LIST MICSTHE BEST MICT FOR ALL MY NEEDS IN THE LIVE MUSIC SCENE.
Mike T.from Toledo, OH December 14, 2012Music Background: Southern Gospel Vocalist Decent MicGood sound on instrumentals, fair at best for vocals. As a guitarist/bass singer, this mic was great for the low end. However, it was muddy on the mids and harsh on the highs. You will have to constantly change the EQ settings to use this mic. Low handling noise and high gain before feedback make this mic workable, but definitely not the best mic I've used.
Neilfrom Cleveland, Ohio November 5, 2006Music Background: Engineer/Musician It's ok...I bought this mic intending to use it on top of snare drums for rock records mostly. I end up using it on the bottom with a 421 on top more often. It doesn't get much use anywhere else. I like it for live vocals for some reason. One of the selling points made to me was the hypercardioid polar pattern. I was supposed to get less hihats and cymbal leakage, because of it. In use, however it seemed to be more leak than my 421s, SM57s, and even some SDCs on snare. Thinking about it, I realized that hypercardioid patterns always have this litte area at the back that picks up, almost making it a lop-sided figure 8 mic. So not pointing it directly away from the hats actually helps, but then there's the sound...ehhh I like the SM five sevens better. The response sounds pinched to me... and sorta "honky" in the upper mids. I thought about getting rid of it, but I think i'll hang on until 90 dollars will help feed the kids. If I would have done it over though, I'd have saved my cash up for another 421 or something. Seems like everytime there's something that you think to put a 57 on and you actually want it to sound good, put a 421 there instead.
Benjamin L Backus
from Chandler, AZ July 1, 2005 Great MicrophoneI am not the largest fan of the SM57 or SM58, but the Beta 57a is by far my favorite dynamic microphone for vocals and bass guitar. It is also excellent on snare drum,very durable windscreen can take the knocks well. A definate for your short list of must have microphone. |
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