59 bucks is insane for that stage right. Monoprice has the best cost to performance ratio in gear taking I to account their amps and speakers. Hidden gems all through their product line.
Chapters: 0:00 - How Much Dough to Go Retro? 1:02 - Shure Super 55 vs 55SH Series II 1:40 - Test Setup: Focusrite 2i2 & Cloudlifter 2:17 - Vintage Unidyne Mic Stands 3:20 - Monoprice StageRight Memphis Blue Intro 5:24 - Other Budget Retro Mics, Build Quality, & Finish 6:20 - Three Way Comparison Test 7:18 - Memphis Blue Plosives & Sound Quality 8:00 - Shure Super 55: My Favorite of The Three 9:08 - Quick Side by Side Comparisons 9:26 - Which Sounds Best? 10:43 - Mounting Options/Struggles 12:07 - My Conclusion
A vocalist for an old band of mine used one of the Shure’s, can’t remember which. These mics sound great with a hardcore punk band behind them. Made the punk aesthetic pop more I feel.
@@tombuck ….. let’s just say it’s been thrown against a couple of brick walls… and besides the dents still works like a dream! We also found it really wasn’t as noisy as some mics could get when a venue didn’t have great power either. I’m curious to try out the Monoprice for studio work because I really only noticed a subtle difference between that and the regular 55 so I’ll probably swipe it tomorrow. Thanks for the video!
A little help would be much appreciated. I purchased both the Shure super 55 and the Rode PSA 1 and I can't figure out which adapters I need to mount it. Anything you share would help. Thanks in advance.
Oh yeah, that's a tricky one. I started with a ball arm like this: bhpho.to/3aFqzcd From there I just added different 1/4", 3/8", and 5/8" adapters to connect one end to the arm and the other to the mic at an angle that let's it be vertical. Shure also makes this extension tube, which can be really helpful: bhpho.to/3o1jeXF
I think a microphone history video would be awesome! (Kinda like the worker bee video you made, the story of the companies and marketing and all that.) kinda like what Philip bloom does, but for mics! But, more of a highschool teacher vibe instead of cinema vibe… like: “shure sm57: the biography” lol
Hello Tom, Your demonstrations are really informative. I also used the headphones to hear the subtle differences in the microphones. You mentioned that performers put their hands around the microphone while using them. This totally destroys the polar pattern. When used on a PA system, that polar pattern was the magic because it allowed for more gain before feedback. In the case of pod casting cardio pattern really reduces room sound and picking other talking across the table from the microphone. Those stands were mostly used for paging and for dispatchers in two way radio. There was a push button in the front of the stand to activate the transmitter. If you got one with a hole in front for a push button, that is what it was for.
Super cool to know! I'm definitely not a fan of putting hands all over my mics, but I know that sometimes when people are performing live they get lost in the moment. I don't think you're supposed to swing microphones around by the cables either, but I've seen that happen more than a few times on stage too 😱
@@tombuck YES! That's why they sell those replacement screen covers, especially for the SM 58 that gets lots of abuse. Encounters with the floor are usually very destructive.
Tom, thanks so much for doing this, and especially for demonstrating the surprising value and quality of the Monoprice Memphis Blue. I am so comfortable with my SM7B that I could not justify buying the pricier Shure or Heil unidyne "Elvis" style mics just for looks or for fun -- but for 60 bucks, the Memphis is a real hoot! Sounds good too. I place it hanging upside-down near my face from a Blue Compass (an arm I otherwise don't like, but perfect for this), sort of Good Morning Vietnam style, and I can't wait to use it in my next web presentation at work. I'll still use the SM7B for recording, but for fun "live" on-camera events this is my new go-to set-up.
I have always appreciated your interest in the way that microphones look. For my ear, I agreed with your order from best to worst. I was really surprised by the quality of the Memphis mic. Thanks for the great video!
I have a show on a local low power oldies fm station, and I use the 55SH II in my home studio on a boom arm. It hangs upside down. At the station, we use a similar style Pyle microphone mounted much the same way. This was a common setup in radio stations years ago.
Yes! I was just watching a clip from Good Morning Vietnam yesterday and notices that how they had Robin Williams' Unidyne mic mounted. Definitely gave me some ideas...
Great video (as ever) and mic review Tom. I've been waiting to see your review of the Memphis Blue ever since I noticed it lurking in the background of your original video about the Shure 55s! Now you just need to get your hands on a The Fin by Heil. That's a nice looking retro mic too, it's the one they use in the Hunger Games movie ("may the odds be ever in your favor!") and it's one I've had my eye on for a while now! Keep up the great work. Look forward to your next video!
My rating for sound is the same as you. I also have to say the super only has a very slight edge and I’m not Shure it’s worth the difference in money. The one thing on the negative side would be the weight. Thanks for the review. Have a great day and be safe out there!
Thanks for reviewing the Monoprice! I was surprised how good it sounded. I haven't had a chance to use mine yet. I bought it a few years ago when my band was supposed to go back out playing shows again. That never happened. I always wondered how it would sound. I'm impressed. I got mine for 25 cents technically. I was gifted a couple Amazon gift cards for Christmas so thats all I had left to pay. I also own a 50's Shure 55s. I wonder how that sounds compared to the more expensive reissues of the original. You should review the actual vintage one vs the new one.
Great video. The Super 55 sounds really rich with your voice. I was also impressed with the Monoprice (for the price). Have you ever looked at the mics from Ear Trumpet Labs? We use one for our bluegrass band. They are very highly regarded and have a classic old-school vibe. We use the Myrtle which is a larger profile, but there are a couple of other mics that would look cool on a desk.
It’s so strange that you say that because one of my friends was just testing the Myrtle last week and it was super neat. I had never heard of them before that!
Great review, love the Memphis, to be honest I have never found the need to grab the mic once its set in the mount but that's just me so fingerprints are never a problem.
You know…I’ve never though of using a retro style mic for a gaming mic but I’ve been wanting a good solid mic instead of just a headset with a mic but I never really knew what I’ve wanted I’ve always thought the retro mics were outstanding and I love older music and the sound from retro mics are amazing so I just want to say thank you for helping me
Hi, I own all 3 of those microphones as well as many other vintage microphones, but I have never used cloudfilters, I connect the microphones directly to my Soundcraft Signature 12 mixer, obviously for some I have to use the Phantom port but in your opinion it is better to use one anyway sound card like Focus and cloudfilters? If so how should I connect everything together? in this sequence? PC - Focus - Mixer - Cloudfilter - Mic ??
Looking to buy the Memphis. Will this mic work with the Zoom P4 Podtrak or P8 with out have gain issues or have to add a cloud? Getting ready to start my podcast and I love the visuals effects of this mic. Going to run 4 of them. I looking for looks, sound quality and don’t want to break the bank. Thanks.
@@tombuck thanks for the information I bought 3 of those mics and a Zoom Podtrak P4. My voice is not soft by any means. I definitely have volume to my voice and it’s on the lowers scale but it’s not deep and booming like Sam Elliott. Thanks again for the information and wish me luck!!!
Can you get the Carol CLM-101 and see how that fits with these 3? It boost a super cardio dual capsule ....just curious how it sounds and handling noise.
Not normal, but it can be common. Dynamic mics usually require a lot more gain to get good levels, which means any interference will also be amplified. The buzzing itself probably comes from the XLR cable or interference from a phone/other electronics. Sometimes just moving the cable around to be sure that it's not running near other electronics can fix it, and other times switching to a newer/higher quality cable can help. There are definitely other things that can cause buzzing, but in my personal experience, it's been the cable most of the time.
Hey Tom! What are your rodecaster pro mic settings for the Super 55? I can not get my settings right for my noise gate etc. Any help would be great. Keep the videos coming!
@@tombuck I’ve just been getting this sound drop off like the audio drops out. I have two of these mics and they both do it. It sounds like the gate is just shutting it down.
My wife bought me the Monoprice Memphis Blue microphone for work to do our Zoom events, since I'm not one to do anything "normal". ;-) Love the mic and have gotten several compliments on the looks. One thing somewhat upsetting is that the snazzy blue windscreen has faded to a snoozy gray windscreen. Do you know if & how one can replace the windscreen? I do see four tiny Phillips screws at the corners of the front grill. Are replacement windscreens even available for this mic? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Wow, great review! Question about price point mics - being relatively unable to invest much into a mic... I was thinking about the Lacleus sm55 style mic on aliexpress. If you ever want to shoot that out, it would be realyl cool! It's hard to come to a decision knowing that some stuff from ali is trash, and sme is great, haha.
I haven't seen that mic and can't find it on their site, but I'd definitely be wary of buying a mic from them. There are lots of cheap "retro style" mics out there, but the internal components are not great (so they look cool but sound bad). If you're looking for an XLR mic on a budget, I've had really good luck with mics from both Fifine and Pyle on Amazon. They usually sound much better than you'd expect for the price.
Thanks for the video. I’d next lice to see a comparison of higher end USB mics like the AKG Lyra or Blue Yeti against these moderately priced XLR mics. On another note: What lens did you use to shoot this video? It looks like a Tamron lens hood, but I can’t be sure.
I love using condensers for podcasts! Honestly, I think it's more important to go with what sounds best on your voice rather than worry too much about dynamic vs. condenser. I know there's a lot of talk about condensers picking up more environmental sounds, which is true to an extent...but as long as you're not recording in the middle of a highway or something, it really doesn't make a massive difference.
Good video Tom. The Memphis seems to be great value for the money. Do you think these mics would need the Cloudlifter when plugging them into the Rodecaster Pro?
Hi Tom, I was so taken by the beautiful blue Shure 55 I bought it and a quality XLR cable, but then realized I have know way to connect it to my computer. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Hi Tom, is there any possibility of you making a video about the setting up of a Yolo Ultra Box Ultimate and Rhode PRO 2? By the way what courses do you offer?
@@tombuck they are, but sadly I found a vintage MD 21 with stand for 150€ ... trigger finger is itching.... we can postpone Christmas for a month, right?.... Right?? 🤔
Being primarily a photographer the 55sh is my choice because I do not like the blue windscreen although I'm sure that could be changed. I do however on occasion shoot video and record audio of musicians and I still think the 55sh still fills that need as well.
Wow! That Monoprice Memphis is pretty impressive, especially for the price. Looks awesome, too. Hmmmm, is this the nudge I need to ditch the lav? Would need a pre-amp, and could maybe use the new Coda MB-Stealth that Jared Spink reviewed earlier this week... Hmmmm. Or, pay my bills. Curse you, adulting!!! Thanks for the comparisons and bringing another mic to my attention that I knew nothing about.
I have the Stealth! It's really great, but I almost think it has TOO MUCH gain. It's perfect with the SM7B, but on other mics like the PodMic or Super 55, I have to turn things way way low.
From my own experience I can tell that the 55SH sounds awful. The Super 55 is ok, but if it weren´t for it´s looks I wouldn´t buy it cause it has just an ordinary Beta 58 capsule inside.
I guess is really depends on the amp. I wouldn't expect them to sound good through and instrument amp, but you should be able to get ok results if they're running into the head of a PA system or something like that.
@@tombuck ,how about the Memphis blue, husband has 3 amps. He runs a shure microphone thru it. Just looking to get him something to try before he moves into big bucks!
Honestly, I enjoyed the sound of the Memphis way over the 55SH. The Super 55 had more "Weight" to it and was the "best" to me but the 55SH just sounded like my ears were plugged up.
The super 55 sounds way better than the other two. The Memphis sounds good if you're short on money. But if you have the cash go with the super 55. The mounting is a pain for all 3. Thanks for the info on the psa1. Good to know the Memphis is too heavy for a psa1.
Sm7b? No way. In my channel I compare sm7b with Electrovoice RE20 and Neumann U87Ai, sm7b is not a great mic. In the radio if the radio is a good one never you are going to see a sm7b or other sure models
I definitely understand not being a fan of the SM7B, but it's objectively a great mic. And having worked in multiple TV/radio stations, I can guarantee that it's absolutely used in professional environments.
If I could give you a like for every pun I would. Great review!
Haha, I appreciate that!
59 bucks is insane for that stage right. Monoprice has the best cost to performance ratio in gear taking I to account their amps and speakers. Hidden gems all through their product line.
Totally! It's like treasure hunting over there.
Shure 55SH maybe good for my drumset
Wow. The monoprice sounds great, really didn’t expect that.
I forgot to mention too that it comes in this super heavy duty road case. Really neat!
Man I freaking love your videos
That means a lot coming from you Ron! Thanks!
Chapters:
0:00 - How Much Dough to Go Retro?
1:02 - Shure Super 55 vs 55SH Series II
1:40 - Test Setup: Focusrite 2i2 & Cloudlifter
2:17 - Vintage Unidyne Mic Stands
3:20 - Monoprice StageRight Memphis Blue Intro
5:24 - Other Budget Retro Mics, Build Quality, & Finish
6:20 - Three Way Comparison Test
7:18 - Memphis Blue Plosives & Sound Quality
8:00 - Shure Super 55: My Favorite of The Three
9:08 - Quick Side by Side Comparisons
9:26 - Which Sounds Best?
10:43 - Mounting Options/Struggles
12:07 - My Conclusion
Super gorgeous retro microphones! Just the colours alone got my attention. Love your B roll footage, simple and really sharp
Thanks so much! I really appreciate the kind words!!
A vocalist for an old band of mine used one of the Shure’s, can’t remember which. These mics sound great with a hardcore punk band behind them. Made the punk aesthetic pop more I feel.
I love that. They're also built like tanks, so I'm shure it stood up to being used in a punk show 😁
@@tombuck ….. let’s just say it’s been thrown against a couple of brick walls… and besides the dents still works like a dream! We also found it really wasn’t as noisy as some mics could get when a venue didn’t have great power either. I’m curious to try out the Monoprice for studio work because I really only noticed a subtle difference between that and the regular 55 so I’ll probably swipe it tomorrow. Thanks for the video!
I’m still very satisfied with my Shure SM7B, but now seeing these mics makes me want to have one. I like the Shure Super 55.
The SM7B will last a lifetime but the Super is super fun 👍
A little help would be much appreciated. I purchased both the Shure super 55 and the Rode PSA 1 and I can't figure out which adapters I need to mount it. Anything you share would help. Thanks in advance.
Oh yeah, that's a tricky one. I started with a ball arm like this: bhpho.to/3aFqzcd
From there I just added different 1/4", 3/8", and 5/8" adapters to connect one end to the arm and the other to the mic at an angle that let's it be vertical. Shure also makes this extension tube, which can be really helpful: bhpho.to/3o1jeXF
I think a microphone history video would be awesome! (Kinda like the worker bee video you made, the story of the companies and marketing and all that.) kinda like what Philip bloom does, but for mics! But, more of a highschool teacher vibe instead of cinema vibe… like: “shure sm57: the biography” lol
This is a really fun idea! I like it.
Yeah, a little storytelling & tech!
Hello Tom,
Your demonstrations are really informative. I also used the headphones to hear the subtle differences in the microphones.
You mentioned that performers put their hands around the microphone while using them. This totally destroys the polar pattern. When used on a PA system, that polar pattern was the magic because it allowed for more gain before feedback.
In the case of pod casting cardio pattern really reduces room sound and picking other talking across the table from the microphone.
Those stands were mostly used for paging and for dispatchers in two way radio. There was a push button in the front of the stand to activate the transmitter. If you got one with a hole in front for a push button, that is what it was for.
Super cool to know! I'm definitely not a fan of putting hands all over my mics, but I know that sometimes when people are performing live they get lost in the moment. I don't think you're supposed to swing microphones around by the cables either, but I've seen that happen more than a few times on stage too 😱
@@tombuck YES! That's why they sell those replacement screen covers, especially for the SM 58 that gets lots of abuse. Encounters with the floor are usually very destructive.
Nice video, I love the Shure vintage stands. But I expected the Fin by Heil to appear in this video as well.
One day I hope it will!
Tom, thanks so much for doing this, and especially for demonstrating the surprising value and quality of the Monoprice Memphis Blue. I am so comfortable with my SM7B that I could not justify buying the pricier Shure or Heil unidyne "Elvis" style mics just for looks or for fun -- but for 60 bucks, the Memphis is a real hoot! Sounds good too. I place it hanging upside-down near my face from a Blue Compass (an arm I otherwise don't like, but perfect for this), sort of Good Morning Vietnam style, and I can't wait to use it in my next web presentation at work. I'll still use the SM7B for recording, but for fun "live" on-camera events this is my new go-to set-up.
The Compass really would be the perfect arm for the Memphis since it's so heavy! Sounds like a fun combo with the SM7B 👍
Thanks Tom one thing I always love are mic reviews!!
Well I’ve got plenty more where this came from! 😁
@@tombuck ohhh I know...soon to be the wall of mics!😁
I have always appreciated your interest in the way that microphones look. For my ear, I agreed with your order from best to worst. I was really surprised by the quality of the Memphis mic. Thanks for the great video!
The memphis is a really pleasant surprise- the biggest potential downside is really just its size and weight, but that's totally subjective.
I have a show on a local low power oldies fm station, and I use the 55SH II in my home studio on a boom arm. It hangs upside down. At the station, we use a similar style Pyle microphone mounted much the same way. This was a common setup in radio stations years ago.
Yes! I was just watching a clip from Good Morning Vietnam yesterday and notices that how they had Robin Williams' Unidyne mic mounted. Definitely gave me some ideas...
Thanks for the video Tom, and extra thanks for detailing the mounting setup. 😉
Glad it was helpful! 👍
Great video (as ever) and mic review Tom. I've been waiting to see your review of the Memphis Blue ever since I noticed it lurking in the background of your original video about the Shure 55s! Now you just need to get your hands on a The Fin by Heil. That's a nice looking retro mic too, it's the one they use in the Hunger Games movie ("may the odds be ever in your favor!") and it's one I've had my eye on for a while now! Keep up the great work. Look forward to your next video!
Someone offered to introduce me to the founder of Heil, so I'm hoping that might help me learn more about the Fin or even get one to try out!
My rating for sound is the same as you. I also have to say the super only has a very slight edge and I’m not Shure it’s worth the difference in money.
The one thing on the negative side would be the weight.
Thanks for the review. Have a great day and be safe out there!
Sound-wise I'd be happy with either the Super 55 or the Monoprice, but I really love the styling and smaller size of the Shure.
Thanks for reviewing the Monoprice! I was surprised how good it sounded. I haven't had a chance to use mine yet. I bought it a few years ago when my band was supposed to go back out playing shows again. That never happened. I always wondered how it would sound. I'm impressed. I got mine for 25 cents technically. I was gifted a couple Amazon gift cards for Christmas so thats all I had left to pay. I also own a 50's Shure 55s. I wonder how that sounds compared to the more expensive reissues of the original. You should review the actual vintage one vs the new one.
It would be awesome to get my hands on a true vintage one!
Great video. The Super 55 sounds really rich with your voice. I was also impressed with the Monoprice (for the price). Have you ever looked at the mics from Ear Trumpet Labs? We use one for our bluegrass band. They are very highly regarded and have a classic old-school vibe. We use the Myrtle which is a larger profile, but there are a couple of other mics that would look cool on a desk.
It’s so strange that you say that because one of my friends was just testing the Myrtle last week and it was super neat. I had never heard of them before that!
@@tombuck That's cool! I'd love to see you test out the Edwina model. It looks to be the one most suited for your setup.
2:35 THE PUNS 💀💀💀💀
Such a great video Tom! Retro mics are the best!!
You're the master of vintage mics!
Great videos man! I'd love to hear a single mic on drums of the 55 series
I've used it on drums before, but I don't know how good it would sound solo 🤔
(probably worth noting that I'm awful at micing drums too haha)
Great review, love the Memphis, to be honest I have never found the need to grab the mic once its set in the mount but that's just me so fingerprints are never a problem.
That's great! It's an awesome mic for sure!
Just love the classic look and sound. It looks like a mic Don Draper would use.
Same
The style is absolutely awesome 👍
Very cool look and sound. Well done!
"Vibes" as the kids say.
Solid review. Super 55 is my dream 🎙️
It’s a beautiful mic!
The memphis blue is advertised as being a super cardioid. Also what is the difference between the memphis blue and the Shure S1940 ?
Puns are on point! Great video!
You might say I’m “Killian it.” 😬
You never Buck character
How do you connect vintage mic to the computer cause they don’t have the 3.5 or 6mm jack. You appear to be using some kind of converter
You know…I’ve never though of using a retro style mic for a gaming mic but I’ve been wanting a good solid mic instead of just a headset with a mic but I never really knew what I’ve wanted I’ve always thought the retro mics were outstanding and I love older music and the sound from retro mics are amazing so I just want to say thank you for helping me
which microphone is the overhead hanging microphone for drama on stage ?.
Hi, I own all 3 of those microphones as well as many other vintage microphones, but I have never used cloudfilters, I connect the microphones directly to my Soundcraft Signature 12 mixer, obviously for some I have to use the Phantom port but in your opinion it is better to use one anyway sound card like Focus and cloudfilters? If so how should I connect everything together? in this sequence? PC - Focus - Mixer - Cloudfilter - Mic ??
Looking to buy the Memphis. Will this mic work with the Zoom P4 Podtrak or P8 with out have gain issues or have to add a cloud? Getting ready to start my podcast and I love the visuals effects of this mic. Going to run 4 of them. I looking for looks, sound quality and don’t want to break the bank. Thanks.
That's a bit tough to say. I think it's right on the edge of needing a booster, so it really depends on how loud your voice is.
@@tombuck thanks for the information I bought 3 of those mics and a Zoom Podtrak P4. My voice is not soft by any means. I definitely have volume to my voice and it’s on the lowers scale but it’s not deep and booming like Sam Elliott.
Thanks again for the information and wish me luck!!!
Thanks for this review. I wish i can afford to get one of these!
The Super55 is my favorite of the bunch and definitely the one I'd recommend!
OMG the puns!! LOL. great work as allways.
Thank you!
I recently bought both and can't wait to give them a thorough workout.
The video I was looking for 😍😍😍😍
So glad to hear it! They're all awesome mics, but the Super 55 is my personal favorite.
Can you get the Carol CLM-101 and see how that fits with these 3? It boost a super cardio dual capsule ....just curious how it sounds and handling noise.
I’m deciding between the SR vs the Carol , still checking reviews on both.
How do they sound with the Rhode caster 2?
They work great with it since there's so much built in gain!
Tom, where can I get the light blue and silver table mount? They look nifty.
They’re vintage Shure stands. If you search “Shure S36” on eBay you should fine some. I painted the blue myself but the silver is original.
@@tombuck Thanks!
Is it normal to hear a buzz in the background with a dynamic mic? I have a condenser I run through the same interface with virtually no noise.
Not normal, but it can be common. Dynamic mics usually require a lot more gain to get good levels, which means any interference will also be amplified. The buzzing itself probably comes from the XLR cable or interference from a phone/other electronics.
Sometimes just moving the cable around to be sure that it's not running near other electronics can fix it, and other times switching to a newer/higher quality cable can help. There are definitely other things that can cause buzzing, but in my personal experience, it's been the cable most of the time.
@@tombuck thank you! I will definitely try swapping out cables.
Hey Tom! What are your rodecaster pro mic settings for the Super 55? I can not get my settings right for my noise gate etc. Any help would be great. Keep the videos coming!
I've just been using the generic dynamic mic setting. I think Noise Gate success is going to depend a lot on your environment/background noise/etc.
@@tombuck I’ve just been getting this sound drop off like the audio drops out. I have two of these mics and they both do it. It sounds like the gate is just shutting it down.
I just got my first boom arm is a screw adapter necessary without a shock mount
Shock mount is entirely up to you. The adapter is just if your mic doesn’t fit on the arm straight away. 👍
My wife bought me the Monoprice Memphis Blue microphone for work to do our Zoom events, since I'm not one to do anything "normal". ;-) Love the mic and have gotten several compliments on the looks. One thing somewhat upsetting is that the snazzy blue windscreen has faded to a snoozy gray windscreen. Do you know if & how one can replace the windscreen? I do see four tiny Phillips screws at the corners of the front grill. Are replacement windscreens even available for this mic? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Liked the sound of the monoprice. Have you tried OSL (Oliver Systems Limited) OS-X3 retro microphone?
I haven’t! Thanks for the recommendation though!
Wow, great review!
Question about price point mics - being relatively unable to invest much into a mic... I was thinking about the Lacleus sm55 style mic on aliexpress. If you ever want to shoot that out, it would be realyl cool! It's hard to come to a decision knowing that some stuff from ali is trash, and sme is great, haha.
I haven't seen that mic and can't find it on their site, but I'd definitely be wary of buying a mic from them. There are lots of cheap "retro style" mics out there, but the internal components are not great (so they look cool but sound bad). If you're looking for an XLR mic on a budget, I've had really good luck with mics from both Fifine and Pyle on Amazon. They usually sound much better than you'd expect for the price.
I just bought a Memphis Blue, and it is a Super Cardioid pattern, not Cardioid. Nice vid Tom
Definitely a greta mic!
Thanks for the video. I’d next lice to see a comparison of higher end USB mics like the AKG Lyra or Blue Yeti against these moderately priced XLR mics.
On another note:
What lens did you use to shoot this video? It looks like a Tamron lens hood, but I can’t be sure.
In your opinion, can I use a recording studio, condenser mic for podcasting?
I love using condensers for podcasts! Honestly, I think it's more important to go with what sounds best on your voice rather than worry too much about dynamic vs. condenser. I know there's a lot of talk about condensers picking up more environmental sounds, which is true to an extent...but as long as you're not recording in the middle of a highway or something, it really doesn't make a massive difference.
3:36 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Great video. Very informative. I have a question. Is the S36 mic stand compatible with the Monoprice Memphis Blue? Thanks.
Yes! It's not quite as perfect of a fit as the Shures, but it does work.
Good video Tom. The Memphis seems to be great value for the money.
Do you think these mics would need the Cloudlifter when plugging them into the Rodecaster Pro?
They can all benefit from a Cloudlifter for shure. The Super 55 is the easiest one to get by without it because it's a really "hot" mic.
@@tombuck that's shure good to keep in mind. Thank you
super55 uses a beta58 capsule and the 55sh uses a sm48 capsule (its supposed to be a sm58 capsule but it actually is way closer to the sm48 capsule).
Thanks for the interesting info! I didn’t know that.
Hi Tom, I was so taken by the beautiful blue Shure 55 I bought it and a quality XLR cable, but then realized I have know way to connect it to my computer. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
You’ll need some sort of XLR interface. The Focusrite Scarlett 4th gen is a great option. Or something even simpler like the Elgato Wave XLR 👍
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the information and prompt response. What about the Rhode Duo?
Hi Tom, is there any possibility of you making a video about the setting up of a Yolo Ultra Box Ultimate and Rhode PRO 2? By the way what courses do you offer?
What are those retro table stands you use for the shure at the beginning? Asked and answered. 😂
Haha, they are really fun! And pretty easy to find on eBay. 👍
@@tombuck they are, but sadly I found a vintage MD 21 with stand for 150€ ... trigger finger is itching.... we can postpone Christmas for a month, right?.... Right?? 🤔
Being primarily a photographer the 55sh is my choice because I do not like the blue windscreen although I'm sure that could be changed. I do however on occasion shoot video and record audio of musicians and I still think the 55sh still fills that need as well.
Why does the 55SH have that "boxy" sound?
I really don't know, but I definitely prefer the Super 55's sound.
Wow! That Monoprice Memphis is pretty impressive, especially for the price. Looks awesome, too. Hmmmm, is this the nudge I need to ditch the lav? Would need a pre-amp, and could maybe use the new Coda MB-Stealth that Jared Spink reviewed earlier this week... Hmmmm. Or, pay my bills. Curse you, adulting!!! Thanks for the comparisons and bringing another mic to my attention that I knew nothing about.
I have the Stealth! It's really great, but I almost think it has TOO MUCH gain. It's perfect with the SM7B, but on other mics like the PodMic or Super 55, I have to turn things way way low.
@@tombuck Oh! Interesting…
From my own experience I can tell that the 55SH sounds awful. The Super 55 is ok, but if it weren´t for it´s looks I wouldn´t buy it cause it has just an ordinary Beta 58 capsule inside.
Can you use these with video recording? Anyone know how he’s syncing it with the video?
You can run them through and XLR interface and then just sync the audio in your editing software.
I'll be SHURE to leave a LIKE for this Showdown -- Thanks, Tom!
Shurely they're all nice mics in the end!
Will they work just through an amplifier?
I guess is really depends on the amp. I wouldn't expect them to sound good through and instrument amp, but you should be able to get ok results if they're running into the head of a PA system or something like that.
@@tombuck ,how about the Memphis blue, husband has 3 amps. He runs a shure microphone thru it. Just looking to get him something to try before he moves into big bucks!
Hi
Where can I buy the stand?
I found it on eBay by searching "Shure Unidyne Base"
Does the Monoprice StageRight Memphis Blue work in the united kingdom?
Looks and sounds good..!
I agree!
Honestly, I enjoyed the sound of the Memphis way over the 55SH. The Super 55 had more "Weight" to it and was the "best" to me but the 55SH just sounded like my ears were plugged up.
Yeah, I'm not a fan of the SH either really, but the Memphis is a surprising winner!
Noticed CAD A77
VERY similar style 👍
Only thing you don't list is what that headset is
It's the Meze 99Neo- a super nice, comfy set 👍
That be a fun mic to have
They should’ve called the Memphis the Super 59 bc that shure is a super (mono)price for that mic.
Nice! Although since the price does change from time to time, I guess that means it's not truly a mono-price 🤔
Haha and that’s why you’re the pun master and I’m not
They are priced at 249 and 199 respectively. And have been for years.
The super 55 sounds way better than the other two. The Memphis sounds good if you're short on money. But if you have the cash go with the super 55. The mounting is a pain for all 3. Thanks for the info on the psa1. Good to know the Memphis is too heavy for a psa1.
I think the Super 55 is the best of the bunch. You can't go wrong with any of them, but in my experience, the Super 55 sounds the best 👍
@@tombuck thank you!!!!!! I hate making decisions like this!!! Hahahah!!!!
It be better if they also made you sound like the old radio broadcast
so good
I own all of those... plus other classic mics. The Monoprice is a good value, although it looks like a toy in the line-up of all the mics.
I think your SH is broken, has a weird ring/resonance. That or it's just a poor mic. The other two are great though!
Who names these things? Seriously I want to redo the video and say the full name every time...LOL
They're definitely not names with the intention of "someone can easily say this repeatedly". Tongue twisters!
Fistances.
The dad jokes are cringe. I love it.
I'm probably the only person who does not like the look of those mics. I'm from the U87 school.
The cheaper mike has slightly less lower midrange…
Sm7b? No way. In my channel I compare sm7b with Electrovoice RE20 and Neumann U87Ai, sm7b is not a great mic. In the radio if the radio is a good one never you are going to see a sm7b or other sure models
I definitely understand not being a fan of the SM7B, but it's objectively a great mic. And having worked in multiple TV/radio stations, I can guarantee that it's absolutely used in professional environments.
I Subed you like a sub tank in Mega Man X
😬
Lol Shure was Funny
Gahhhhhhhhhh I can't choose and this video helped and made it worse hahahahahahahhahahahah
Your Cute