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The best
By: roosevelt_cunningham@yahoo.com
Submitted: 2/5/2024
Product Rating
Product Review
This Mic here is the absolute king especially when it comes to recording acoustic guitars you can’t go wrong with this one . Through the years I have used different mics and to be honest with you some of them was OK but this one right here I see nothing else that can be better than this might as especially when it comes to recording acoustic instruments acoustic guitars or anything acoustic it is absolutely Hands-down the best .
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SM81 - Good? Great?
By: Ben01930
Submitted: 10/19/2023
Product Review
I bought this mic based on it's review history, and recommendations from more experieced users. I had never heard it in person.
In all transparency, this is the first (and only) small diaphragm condenser mic I've owned in my modest home studio, so i can not compare it to others for you. However, what i can tell you with confidence is that i have no desire to try others for the same duties it serves for me. I bought it for one intended pupose, which is acoustic guitar.
I'm new to recording, but I'm also a seasoned musician with a picky ear. When you find the sweet spots for your specific instruments, in my case a couple Taylor's (224ce, and a 414ce) this thing sounds ruler flat, but with a hint of flattering character. It doesnt color, or "change" the tone of my Taylor's, but it seems to sweeten them up with just the right amount of sheen. I've put it through my Pacifica, Capi, and Audient preamps, and while they all impart their own signature subtitles, the SM81 retains it's "flatness".
With the 81 pointed at the lower bout angled away from the sound hole, the transients are perfect for finger and hybrid picking. I do a lot of that. For strumming, the traditional 6 to 12 inches straight on between the 12th/15th frets somewhere, its predictable (in a good way). It sounds big, but with a tightness that a LDC won't give you. I have a few LDC's (Shure KSM32 & 42, Roswell K67x, and an Austrian OC818). All great mics, but i keep coming back to the 81 for acoustic. It just seems to sit in the mix better with less EQing. And AMS got it to me basically overnight. Im on the North Shore coast. Pretty close, but still.
Hope this helps someone!
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A Workhorse Classic
By: Lorenzo
Submitted: 12/5/2022
Product Review
This mic can be used on almost anything. Fairly neutral, but lacks "presence" compared to higher-end mics like Neumann KM184s. The newer Shure KSM137/141 have probably a bit more depth and definitely more top end detail. But where this excels - percussion, overheads, certain styles of piano playing....it does well. I haven't tried it, but you could probably used them as snare mics, and they'll probably sound pretty good on Viola, which sounds better when the highs aren't over-hyped (which a lot of microphones will do by default these days).
And it's built like a tank. You could use these as batons if you needed a weapon. There are much better microphones out there now, but these are still a classic-sounding microphone that always performs, if you know how to set them up well to get the best sound.
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Great One !
By: J.G.
Submitted: 11/5/2022
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
Best for acoustic guitar but can serve many tasks. High frequency string instruments really shine and works also great as an overhead. I like using it with any large condenser for a complete acoustic guitar sound. I have tried many pencil mics and this one always wins.
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Great for classical guitar
By: Francois Wiss
Submitted: 12/16/2020
Product Review
OMG! This mic can hear clear and well. I was using a AKG C1000 to record a classical guitar and was never satisfied. It always sounded artificial and hollow; but not anymore! Out of the box I couldn't believe my ears when I plugged in. What was I doing all those years without that mic?! What a waste of time.
It can seem like the mic has a low input level and that you might have to crank up your preamp, but in reality you just need to find the sweet spot with the right ratio noise/level. Double the track, add reverb and you'll have the best acoustic guitar recording you can dream of.
The low cut switch is awesome for recording guitar or any instrument that has a big sound hole. I found that I can point the mic slightly closer to the sound hole, around the 15th fret (instead of recommended 12th fret) or so and have a richer tone that isn't boomy.
Also very interesting to hear my voice through that mic. It sounds very "realistic" (meaning, not processed) and with a lot of nuances. It tells me that recording speech might be a good way to test a mic; I'll remember that for the future.
I also love the way that mic is built. It's like a tank and it looks soooo good.
I plug it into a Pro MPA II preamp and a Scarlett 2i2 interface (all classics), and it's just perfect.
Treat yourself for Christmas, you won't regret it!!!!
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Industry standard
By: Ricardo Roper
Submitted: 12/9/2020
Product Review
Wow! After 40 plus years, this SDC is still a “must have” for every musician, engineer, producer and wanna be. This mic shines on EVERYTHING from percussions, cymbals, strings, and acoustic guitar.
Put it at the 12th fret on your acoustic and go to heaven, or pair it as an overhead on your drums, and u will still make it to heaven, albeit after the guitar player.
Forget reading.......just go get the mic, and buy it from AMS. I have been shopping with them for 20 years and have not been disappointed.
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Classic Mic Is Still Best
By: Steve Jones
Submitted: 8/31/2020
Product Review
I know this mic has been around forever. But, for drum overheads...I still love the response I get and I haven't found anything better. Ive always got really good compliments on my drum sound and the good news is...they have come down in price over the years and are very affordable. In Nashville, you will see mostly Sure mics on drums.
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SWEET!
By: TG
Submitted: 12/27/2019
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
So warm, so clear just the best for the money. You can't go wrong on acoustics with this baby!
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Industry standard
By: Silvasound
Submitted: 5/25/2019
Product Review
Love this mic on hi hats and acoustic guitar!
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I love it!
By: Dave
Submitted: 4/26/2019
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
Been looking for a great mic for recording Acoustic guitars and I've found it. Big difference from other mics I've tried. Not to say they were bad, but there's just something with the SM81 that sets it apart from the rest. Very happy with my purchase.
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Super way to pay for all the best gear!
By: Steve Michael
Submitted: 1/5/2019
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
The Shure SM81 is the standard for micing a drum kit overhead. And more! Acoustic instruments, and choirs as well.
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This mic is the Bum
By: Erickson Smith
Submitted: 11/14/2018
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
A mus have.
Any musician or sound engineer should have this mic in there collection.
Great versatile mic for hi hats an overhead cymbals. Clean ,crisp sound.
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Great lil Mic
By: Paul from Vermont
Submitted: 6/5/2011
like all there mics real well built
play in a bluegrass band and have always had problems getting a good sound from any mic's including the SM-57 so a friend of ine had one and I used it for my mandolin
I have more sound than I could ever need or use so it may cost a little bit more but I am getting one forsure and you should too
dont get any easier plug in and use!!!!
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Don't compromise - buy quality
By: cjs102460 from San Diego, CA USA
Submitted: 5/10/2010
Weight, heft, solid feeling, and beautiful finish are all incorporated into this mic. This is a Shure mic we're talking about here.
The features meet my requirements. I trust a company with the history and experience of Shure to choose appropriate features for a mic.
Connecting, turning on and off - these are simple tasks and Shure has not made them difficult. As with any mic, complexity comes with learning mic placement. Shure is available to help with that.
This is a mic which "hears" everything that my Taylor acoustic wants to "say", and reproduces it with integrity and clarity. In other words, it does its job exceedingly well. For tone, color and character, I look to my various preamps, eq settings, and effects. I choose my instruments for their unique sound. I choose my instrument mic for its ability to capture every nuance of that sound. For my money the SM81 fits the bill.
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Indispensible
By: alex from Santa Fe, NM
Submitted: 2/5/2008
1 person found this review helpful.
Your general opinion of this product.
STYLE:
Orchestral
MUSIC EXPERIENCE:
lifelong
OVERALL:
I've had a pair of these for years and I've ended up using them for nearly everything. I record an enormous variety of instruments and sounds. These always sound great: live recording, drums, strings, speech, any accoustic sound. Properly EQed they will get exactly the sound you want. I've bought lots of other flavor of the month mikes, but I end up using these all the time. These have been around for ages, so they don't get much hype, but they're the real thing. I wouldn't use them for close-miking vocals or kick drums, nor would I take them on the road. I've banged them and dropped them a few times with no ill effects, but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it.
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The best mic I know of
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
1 person found this review helpful.
Your general opinion of this product.
The Shure SM81 is the best microphone available for instrumental pick-up. Very well suited for the violin, as well as most other stringed instruments
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A Studio Standard
By: AW from Nashville
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
QUALITY:
Excellent
EASE OF USE:
Put it on your source and record.
VALUE:
Worth double the price
SOUND:
A great mic and is perfect for over heads and guitars. I love this mic and wish I had a 100 of them.
Don't think about it, GET IT!!!!
STYLE:
Many
MUSIC EXPERIENCE:
Pro
OVERALL:
Buy 2 so you can have them for multiple mic set ups.
You won't be let down!
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Great, Period! I own a pair, my roommate owns the
By: Dave Schenck from Portland Oregon. USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
1 person found this review helpful.
Your general opinion of this product.
QUALITY:
I give it a ten on quality, features & performance
FEATURES:
Db cut & high pass filter. New rubber clip is much better although the old spring clip was o.k.
SOUND:
Some pro studios use these as overheads, as I do. The semi-famous fusion/jazz drummer Dave Weckl uses them as his overheads for live & studio work and they sound great. Check out his bands album "Synergy" to hear how well they record.
STYLE:
Rock, bluesy stuff, Trippy stuff.....
MUSIC EXPERIENCE:
Drumming since 1978, recording since 1986.