Shure SM58

The SM58 is the most successful microphone ever made. That is not hyperbole — it is a statement of fact. Since 1966, it has been the default vocal microphone on live stages worldwide, and there are good reasons for that beyond mere tradition.

Here's what you actually need to know.

Specs

Sonic Character

The SM58 is not a flat microphone. It was never designed to be. There is a deliberate presence peak between roughly 5 and 10 kHz that pushes vocals forward in a mix without any EQ intervention. Below that, the low end rolls off gently — it does not reproduce deep bass with any authority, and that is entirely by design.

The result is a microphone that makes voices cut through loud stage monitors, brass sections, and drum kits without sounding harsh. It handles enormous SPLs without complaint. It rejects off-axis noise competently. And it does all of this whilst being nearly indestructible.

The steel mesh grille contains a built-in pop filter that handles plosives better than most stage microphones. The pneumatic shock-mount system reduces handling noise to a level that is genuinely impressive for a handheld dynamic.

Is it detailed? No. Is it airy? Absolutely not. The top end rolls off above 15 kHz, and the midrange has a thickness to it that condensers simply do not. But that thickness is precisely what makes it work in a live setting — it fills space rather than revealing it.

What It's For

Live vocals. That is the primary use case and the one where the SM58 genuinely excels. It was designed for this, optimised for this, and it remains the benchmark for this.

Beyond live work, it serves as a perfectly acceptable studio vocal microphone when the budget is tight. Podcasters and home recordists on a budget could do far worse — and frequently do, by spending their money on cheap condensers that reveal every flaw in their untreated rooms. The SM58's tight cardioid pattern and rolled-off top end are assets in bad acoustic spaces.

It also works well on guitar cabinets, snare drums, and brass instruments. The presence peak that flatters vocals does similar work on these sources.

What It's Not

It is not a studio condenser. It will not give you the breathy intimacy of a large-diaphragm condenser on a whispered vocal. It will not capture the shimmer of an acoustic guitar or the air around a string section. If you want detail and transparency, look at the SM7B for a dynamic option with more top-end extension, or step into condensers entirely.

It is not flat. The presence peak is baked in. You cannot switch it off. If you need an honest, uncoloured representation of a source, this is the wrong microphone.

It is not a microphone that rewards distance. The proximity effect is significant — move back beyond 15 cm and the low end thins out rapidly, leaving you with a nasal, midrange-heavy tone that no amount of EQ will fix elegantly.

Common Mistakes

Using it too far away. The SM58 wants to be close. For live vocals, lips should be nearly touching the grille. For studio use, 5–15 cm is the working range. Beyond that, you lose the bass warmth from proximity effect and gain nothing but room noise.

Not using the presence peak. Some engineers instinctively reach for the EQ to flatten the SM58's response. Don't. That presence peak is there because it works. If you flatten it, you have removed the very thing that makes this microphone useful. Work with it, not against it.

Buying a cheap condenser instead. A £50 condenser in an untreated bedroom will sound worse than an SM58 in the same room. The SM58 rejects room reflections; the condenser captures them faithfully. Know your environment before choosing your microphone.

Expecting studio-grade results without processing. The SM58 benefits from compression and EQ in a recording context. A touch of high-shelf boost above 10 kHz and gentle compression will close much of the gap between this and more expensive alternatives.

See the frequency ranges that matter →

Recommendations

Further Reading

• Shure SM58 Official Page
• Sound On Sound: Dynamic Microphone Guide
• TAPED: SM7B Encyclopaedia Entry