Is it me or are sm57 mics scooped?

[Kapo_Polenton]

I can see these as a must for modern brutalz but it is killing me in my home recording. I have a ton of 57's due to mic'in my drums but I just have never bonded with these on my recordings. They just seem to cut mids and sound like a blanket is over the speaker if moved a fraction off a clear spot. I am looking to record some good classic 70 and 80's style tones. Anyone know what mics were used on some famous recordings ? I know I see seinheiser e609 or 906's on a lot of cabs live and I guess they are easier to place hanging off the edge of the speaker and I know these are sometimes combined with an MD421.(as are the sm57's). Anybody know what the VH , Guns N Roses stuff or any of the hair bands were recorded with? Some of you guys seem to have insight into the biz. I know verb goes a long way in taming the fizzies and making things bigger and more distant but the initial tone is important too.

 

[JTyson]

Hmmm..... I dont think I've ever heard one and thought it cut mids.. Not sure what to tell you
I usually have a 57 in there to add them to a 421 (which does seem to slice mids)

 

[killertone]

It's you

 

[blackba]

As you are finding mic placement is important with an SM57, however I don't find them mid scouped at all. I like to mix an SM57 with an E/V N/D468 (which are good tom mics as well)

 

[mboogman]

Getting too far off center will start to make it sound kind of scooped, IMO. I like to get mine just past the edge of the dust cap. Nice blend of high end attack and no icepicks. YMMV.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Do you guys favour combining them with other mics or are you running just one?

 

[Phrygian]

Not exactly scooped. They're actually quite flat in the mids, but factor in the boost at 6k, I can see how someone would call the mic scooped. They can be very boring in the mids if not placed right. Once you get it right though, magic! I always multi-mic cabs with a 57. I'm not a fan of it as a stand-alone cab mic. I'll do it if I have to, but I prefer not, especially when recording.

The 57 will get you the bite and punch in your sound. Add a Senn 421 and you'll get the body and sweetness. Great combination of mics.

Funny enough, I like using 57's on vocals live.

 

[blackba]

Do you guys favour combining them with other mics or are you running just one?

I like combining the SM57 for recording with another mic. I can then mix them to taste. For live I have just used one mic.

I have tried the SM57 for vocals just recently, it was okay, but I still like an SM58 or one of my EV vocal mics better.

 

[daveg62]

doesn't look scooped at all in the mids to me. I've recorded pletty with this mic and always thought it was kind of on the dark side. I hardly ever use them any more on guitar cabs, although I never thought they were bad at all. Could be just about anything else in the rest of the recording chain that's affecting the eq also.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

"dark" or "lack of mids" I think is perception but I do hear a crap load of crunch and that my mids aren't as prominent. "Scooped" may not have been the right word. I have been doing some reading and seems like the 57 and 421 are a classic one two punch so I might rent a 421 and see how I like it. I have my 57 off the grill and off center on a slight angle. Is this how you guys more or less run yours? Any tips on placement of the second mic to avoid phase cancellation?

 

[killertone]

I like the immediacy of a 57 blended with a large diaphragm mic like a 4050 or something comparable. I always have a 57 going no matter what other mic I am using.

 

[supersonic]

I find the 57 to be "focused" and cutting when in the right position. Personally I like a 906, it has a sweeter, broader range to my ears.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

scooped would be an audix i5

 

[JTyson]

Do you guys favour combining them with other mics or are you running just one?

I like it with a Senn 421, lots of history with that pair, or if I can get my grubby paws on one, a Royer R121 Ribbon
The Royer is great on its own, but a 57 paired with it in the sweet spot adds some snarl
Honestly, the mic-pre's you are running them into are everything.

 

[JTyson]

"dark" or "lack of mids" I think is perception but I do hear a crap load of crunch and that my mids aren't as prominent. "Scooped" may not have been the right word. I have been doing some reading and seems like the 57 and 421 are a classic one two punch so I might rent a 421 and see how I like it. I have my 57 off the grill and off center on a slight angle. Is this how you guys more or less run yours? Any tips on placement of the second mic to avoid phase cancellation?

This may not be the best way, but I isolate each one at first and place it according to how it sounds best. I try to keep them exactly the same distance from the speaker, this gets rid of a lot of PC, but you can always move the tracks on your DAW and time-align the waveforms to make sure there is no phase cancellation at all if needed.
I usually setup the 57 where it has the most mids, somewhere in the cone, then set the 421 between the cones edge and the outer edge.
This way your using them in the areas their strength's lie

 

[fluff191]

scooped would be an audix i5

Yup. Even made a video comparing that mic to a SM57. The SM57 is not scooped whatsoever.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Nice vid, I can big time hear the differences there. Ok, I'm now looking at my mic pre instead. Working with a presonus... cheaper mic pre's and quality perhaps?

 

[fluff191]

Thanks! And yeah I have recently realized my mic per is taking a dump. Gotta keep em in check!

 

[lordriffenstein]

"dark" or "lack of mids" I think is perception but I do hear a crap load of crunch and that my mids aren't as prominent. "Scooped" may not have been the right word. I have been doing some reading and seems like the 57 and 421 are a classic one two punch so I might rent a 421 and see how I like it. I have my 57 off the grill and off center on a slight angle. Is this how you guys more or less run yours? Any tips on placement of the second mic to avoid phase cancellation?

I´ve highlighted your problem. I have been doing a LOT of mic testing recently with my SM57 and whatever I try, it never sounds right if it is angled. Try putting it straight on and not to close to the speaker and then move it around to find a good spot.

 

[CaseyCor]

I find the 57 scooped when improperly placed on the speaker (unless you like it that what, of course) and depending on your mic pre. Try staying with the same mic pre and playing around with mic placement more. I tend to like the 57 off center, and straight on.
Maybe some post-EQ can help too, if the aforementioned doesn't do it for you. Good luck!