Shure manual Model Beta 57A, Supercardioid Dynamic Performance Microphone, Features

Model BETA 57A User Guide

MODEL BETA 57A

SUPERCARDIOID DYNAMIC

PERFORMANCE MICROPHONE

GENERAL

The Shure BETA 57A is a high output supercardioid dynamic microphone designed for professional sound reinforcement and project studio recording. It maintains a true supercardioid pattern throughout its frequency range. This insures high gain before feedback, maximum isolation from other sound sources, and minimum off–axis tone coloration. A completely new grille design lets you take better advantage of proximity effect. The BETA 57A is an exceptionally versatile microphone. Typical applications include drums, guitar amplifiers, brass, woodwinds and vocals.

FEATURES

•Tailored frequency response provides drums, guitars, vocals, and horns with studio quality sound

•Uniform supercardioid pattern for high gain before feed- back and superior rejection of off–axis sound

•Hardened steel mesh grille that facilitates use of proximity effect and resists wear and abuse

•Neodymium magnet for high signal–to–noise ratio output

•Minimally affected by varying load impedance

•Advanced pneumatic shock mount system that minimizes transmission of mechanical noise and vibration

•Legendary Shure quality and reliability

GENERAL RULES FOR MICROPHONE USE

1.Aim the microphone toward the desired sound source and away from unwanted sources. Since supercardioid micro- phones such as the BETA 57A have narrow pickup patterns and can pick up sounds from the rear, this may not be ob- vious or intuitive. Refer to Figure 1.

2.Place a microphone as close as practical to the desired sound source (refer to the table in the facing column).

3.Work close to the microphone for extra bass response.

4.Use only one microphone to pick up one sound source.

5.Keep the distance between microphones at least three times the distance from a microphone to a sound source.

6.Use the fewest number of microphones as is practical.

7.Place mics as far as possible from reflective surfaces.

8.Add a windscreen when using the microphone outdoors.

9.Avoid excessive handling to minimize pick up of mechanical noise.

APPLICATIONS AND PLACEMENT

The most common applications and placement techniques for the BETA 57A are listed in the following table. Keep in mind that microphone technique is largely a matter of personal taste–there is no one “correct” microphone position.

APPLICATION	SUGGESTED MICROPHONE	TONE QUALITY
	PLACEMENT
Tom–Toms	One BETA 57A on each tom, or	Medium attack,
	between each pair of toms, 2.5 to	balanced sound.
	7.5 cm (1 to 3 in.) above drum
	heads. Aim each mic at top drum
	heads.
	On double head toms, you can	Medium attack,
	also remove bottom head and	balanced sound.
	place a mic inside, pointing up to-
	ward top head.
Snare Drum	2.5 to 7.5 cm (1 to 3 in.) above the	Most “snap” from
	rim of the top drum head. Aim the	drumstick impact
	mic at the drum head.
	If desired, place a second mic	More “snare”
	just below rim of bottom head.	sound.
Guitar &	2.5 cm (1 in.) from speaker, on–	Sharp attack;
Bass	axis with speaker cone.	emphasized bass.
Amplifiers	2.5 cm (1 in.) from speaker, at	Sharp attack;
	edge of speaker cone.	higher frequency
		sound.
	15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in.) away	Medium attack;
	from speaker and on–axis with-	full, balanced
	speaker cone.	sound.
	2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) back from	Softer attack;
	speaker, on–axis with speaker	thin, reduced
	cone.	bass sound.
Vocals	2.5 to 15 cm (1 to 6 in.) from the	Rich, warm
	vocalist’s mouth.	sound.
Brass &	Brass: 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 ft.)	Bright,	clear
Woodwinds	away, on–axis with bell of instru-	sound.
	ment.
	Woodwinds: 2.5 to 15 cm (1 to 6	Bright,	clear
	in.) away, on–axis with bell of	sound.
	instrument.
	Bell of the instrument 90° off–axis	Softer, mellow
	from the front of the mic.	sound.

PROXIMITY EFFECT

Unidirectional microphones such as the BETA 57A pro- gressively boost bass frequencies by 6 to 10 dB at 100 Hz when the microphone is at a distance of about 6 mm (1/4 in.) from the sound source. This phenomenon, known as prox- imity effect, can be used to create a warmer, more powerful sound. To prevent explosive low frequency sound during close–up use, the BETA 57A bass response gradually rolls off. This provides greater control and helps the user take ad- vantage of proximity effect.

2005, Shure Incorporated	Printed in U.S.A.
27C2797 (Rev. 4)