Shure
Introduction
If there is a classic American professional audio manufacturing company that has made microphone models which have been used on perhaps every great hit song since the 1950’s, it is Shure Incorporated which was founded in Chicago in the early 1920s— making it one of the oldest continuously operating professional audio equipment manufacturers in the world of music recording. Known primarily for their dynamic microphones, Shure also manufactures both fine condenser and ribbon microphone offerings as well. Shure products not only sound great and are easy on the wallet, but its classic microphone models are also famed for their versatility and their durability.
Which products from Shure that were used by the great engineers and recording studio facilities of the past would be a great fit for the educational space?
During my stint in the professional music recording industry and while working as a teacher, I consistently used Shure microphones. As an assistant engineer, I always carried a handful of SM57s with me to set-up for a tracking session, as these microphones were used on every snare drum track and also on each of the electric guitar and steel guitar tracks that we recorded, as well. As a teacher, I used the SM58 to record narration and as a public address announcement microphone for our school programs— including proms, celebrations and graduation ceremonies. I have a number of friends in engineering— some of them legends— who love using the SM7B as a vocal microphone and it is famed for its use in both radio broadcasting and in podcasting, too.
Shure SM57
The Shure SM57 is a classic dynamic microphone. It has been used on just about every single snare drum and electric guitar amp in every major hit song in every genre of popular music since its introduction by the company in 1965. It is inexpensive, versatile and might be just the most rugged microphone ever produced. It is legendary for its handling of screaming vocals, volcanic guitar amps and thunderous snare drums. It is an excellent microphone for the educational space.
Image: The Shure SM57
Image courtesy-- Shure Inc.
Shure SM58
The Shure SM58 is another classic dynamic microphone. I used it in my classes for recording narration and as a public address announcement microphone. Though I have never seen an SM58 used in a recording studio application, I have seen it used quite often as both a live vocal microphone and as a microphone for podcasting and even radio broadcasting— which would make it extremely valuable for the educational space.
Image: The Shure SM58
Image courtesy-- Shure Inc.
Shure SM7B
The Shure SM7B is a classic dynamic vocal microphone that has become a staple for both radio broadcasters and podcasters. It has been used as a classic vocal microphone for some of the greatest hits in popular music and is incredibly valuable for handling screaming vocalists with ease. It would make an excellent teaching tool in the educational space and just like its siblings— it is extremely durable and easy to use in a number of different applications.
Image: The Shure SM7B
Image courtesy-- Shure Inc.
Why should an educational institution invest in products from Shure?
Shure products are made by a company which has been in business since the dawn of the world of professional audio. Their products are versatile, durable and sound fantastic. Plus, Shure products are always an excellent value for the money and will last you a lifetime. The microphone offerings— including any of the other microphones in their line-up which were not highlighted in this article would also be great offerings for an educational institution. Each of the three microphone models discussed in this article are some of the most famous offerings from the company and are true classics in the world of professional audio for both music recording and live sound reinforcement, too.
If you would like more information about Shure and the amazing products that were discussed in this article, please use the following links which are listed below.
The following link will take you to the Shure website where you can learn more about this legendary corporation and also, find an authorized dealer for their fabulous products in your area.
Special Note: Each of the images in this article appear through the courtesy and generosity of the wonderful people at Shure.
Special Thanks— At The Recording Session Vault Educational Website Project, we would like to take a moment to express our thanks and appreciation to both Justin Boller and Dane Roth at Shure for their time and assistance with this article.