The Mercenary Audio Modded SM57

[Dangerous C]

Hey there,

http://www.mercenary.com/smmiwitatr.html

Sounds interesting, poor mans SM7?

Does anyone out there Sydney side have one? I would love to try one. I am looking for a darker dynamic mic for loud amps. Just putting the feelers out before I contemplate buying blind.

Cheers,

C

[Bent my VU]

That will be brighter than the standard sm57 so if you're after a darker mic look elsewhere imo.

[13thbeach]

Just get an SM7!!??

[Chinagraf]

I think that mod is a little like putting marshmallows on a biscuit and calling them Iced Vovo's. Get the real Vovo...there is no substitute.

[13thbeach]

I think that mod is a little like putting marshmallows on a biscuit and calling them Iced Vovo's. Get the real Vovo...there is no substitute.

YEEEEEHAAAAA!!!!!

[Dangerous C]

All are fine suggestions my chaps but an unmentioned crux in the quandary is that I am a live sound engineer and the format of a SM57 is just too good to pass up. I would buy a ribbon, but I think the road would kill it, not to mention getting a very cheap, Chinese pair is as costly. An SM7 pair is too bulky to sling in a backpack and airlines are all about $$$ for freight these days and I can't be a guy who adds weight to a freight arrangement when on tour, and not to mention significantly more expensive.
I am conscientious of price here, if I could afford the absolute best I would not hesitate to buy it... But that would be to change the topic slightly ( it would be about 409s and 4047s then) I am just curious as to weather these things are as good as they have promised to be, my skepticism is fairly healthy, but I just want to know if anyone else out here has experience with these guys.

Cheers

Chad.[/b]

[ChrisW]

I think that mod is a little like putting marshmallows on a biscuit and calling them Iced Vovo's.

Fantastic!

I'm sick of hearing the 'lipstick on a pig' line.

[tunetown]

If it's the mod I've heard of, the new transformer is done by Oliver Archut. An $80 retrofit. It gets a good rap. I'm thinking of modding mine too but would also like to hear some first hand experiences. I have an SM7 and 3 SM57's. If this mod gets the SM57's closer to the SM7's I'd be happy.

Cheers

[Kurt]

If a standard 57 isn't "dark" enough for you how would one with increased top end response be better?

Hey there,

http://www.mercenary.com/smmiwitatr.html

Sounds interesting, poor mans SM7?

Does anyone out there Sydney side have one? I would love to try one. I am looking for a darker dynamic mic for loud amps. Just putting the feelers out before I contemplate buying blind.

Cheers,

C

[Dangerous C]

[quote="Kurt"]If a standard 57 isn't "dark" enough for you how would one with increased top end response be better?

Does the mod increase the presence in the top end? I have no idea yet, most people seem to say different. Also, the idea of top end is relative, the top end of a 57 is around 8kHz, after that it rolls off dramatically.

I don't consider the 57 to be a dark mic, something like a black faced Sennheiser 609 is a dark mic. The information I have been able to find seems to say that the mic offers a better overall balance, so that 200 Hz rollof and H U G E spike in the upper mids (10dB @ 2.5kHz? Anyone else care to hazard a guess??) would have evened out, making the mic sound darker.

It's all relative to your perception though, one mans idea of 'dark' may not necessarily carry over to anyone else.

Cheers

[Kurt]

From the link you posted it seems it does nothing different in the bottom end. The standard 57 has a 6db peak at 6K (rising smoothly from 2K) with another, smaller peak at 8.5K. It rolls off fairly smoothly to be -10db@15K (Info from sure website)

The venerable 57 and 58 have been a staple of the audio industry for so many decades I think we've all lost count. They're good, solid mics that are wonderful in the fact that they never "suck". However, having been designed primarily for live use and application the original design is rolled off by a measure on the top.

The AMI T58 microphone output transformer was developed as a high resolution transformer upgrade for existing SM-57 or SM-58 microphones to give the same solid character without restricting upper mid and high end response.

Does the mod increase the presence in the top end? I have no idea yet, most people seem to say different. Also, the idea of top end is relative, the top end of a 57 is around 8kHz, after that it rolls off dramatically.

I don't consider the 57 to be a dark mic, something like a black faced Sennheiser 609 is a dark mic. The information I have been able to find seems to say that the mic offers a better overall balance, so that 200 Hz rollof and H U G E spike in the upper mids (10dB @ 2.5kHz? Anyone else care to hazard a guess??) would have evened out, making the mic sound darker.

It's all relative to your perception though, one mans idea of 'dark' may not necessarily carry over to anyone else.

Cheers

[aside]

a mate of mine has one and really digs it, i like it too. why do people have strong opinions of gear they've never tried??

[Dangerous C]

Hi Anton,

Would you care to expand on your impressions of the mic?

I'm pretty tempted to just pull the freakin' trigger. Would you say it is worth the admission price, considering it's US$185?

Cheers.

[aside]

just buy it man if you have the spare coin, it sounded good to me on the cab at the time. less peaky than a regular 57, but you really don't want my opinion do you?

it matters what you think after using the thing for a few weeks ;)

not a big outlay / risk for a cool spin on the world's greatest mic/

[adamcal]

if your 57's are destined for loud sources like drums and amps (as most are) you can just take a standard 57 and remove the transformer for an improvement smoothness. it sounds like a much better version of itself. however you will need an extra 10db of gain on your mic pre's.

I've done a few of mine and have other stock, usually go to the modded ones first.

I've also heard demos of stock vs telefunken transformer vs no transformer and and the modded ones are quite close with the exception of gain

[Dangerous C]

Hi Adam,

Would you be interested in posting a sample of a transformerless 57? I looked into it sometime ago, but I am pretty lazy and totally not DIY so I lost interest pretty quickly. But I would be keen to hear what they sound like... We'd need a normal 57 sample for reference.

Cheers

Chad.

[adamcal]

there already are examples out there, somewhere on either GS, PSW or 3db forums

but if your not into DIY and Lazy, then just get the pre modded one, not exactly expensive and doesn't make a mess.

[TimS]

That quad looks like it has speakers missing!! What the?? Look at the top L) where the 57 is - you can see straight thru the grillcloth into the back and see the bracing in the cab!!

[adamcal]

That mic stand looks like its been on the front of a ship for the last 10 years.

[reddirt]

Looks like an Apex 205 ; I have one modded by Michael Joly and it is terrific and un-hyped in many spots - some vox , acoustic , clarinet , piano , guitars, front of Kit ; significantly better for mine than a 57 on all those sources.
Probably the best $450 (landed) i've spent in a long time - bought it after listening to a piano recording by Dr Bill on GS. Having said that, I imagine the re-trannied 57 would be a useful mic.
Cheers, Ross Muir (Alice springs)

[Chris H]

I think that mod is a little like putting marshmallows on a biscuit and calling them Iced Vovo's. Get the real Vovo...there is no substitute.

......come on! Let's get real here. What about the desicated coconut?