Shure SM58 vs Beta 58 – What's the Difference? 🎤

It's one of the most common questions that we're asked here at Sweetwater — what's the difference between the Shure SM58 and Beta58 handheld vocal microphones? Mitch Gallagher explains.

Many people wonder what the difference is between the Shure SM58 and the Shure Beta 58 microphone. The Shure SM58 and Shure Beta 58 microphones can easily be described as phenomenal microphones due to their outstanding sound and performance. Although both Shure microphones are great, each microphone has fundamental strengths for various settings.

The main difference between the Shure SM58 vs Beta 58 is the microphone’s polar pattern. The Shure SM58 is built with a cardioid polar pattern. The Shure Beta 58 is built with a supercardiod polar pattern. The different polar patterns in the Shure Sm58 vs Beta 58 ultimately affect the appropriate application of the microphone in different settings.

Shure SM58 Handheld Dynamic Microphone Features:
• The most popular handheld dynamic microphone in the world
• Perfect for use live onstage or in your studio
• Presence peak adds warmth and clarity to vocals and removes low-frequency rumble from all instruments
• Cardioid pickup pattern isolates the main sound source, minimizes background noise, and provides high gain before feedback
• Internal pneumatic shockmount system cuts down handling noise
• Effective, built-in spherical wind and pop filter reduces breath noise and plosives
• Includes break-resistant stand adapter that rotates 180-degrees
• Legendary Shure quality, ruggedness, and reliability

Shure Beta 58A Supercardioid Dynamic Microphone Features:
• Super clear live vocal dynamic microphone
• Frequency response tailored for vocals
• Legendary Shure quality, ruggedness, and reliability
• Uniform supercardioid pickup pattern minimizes background noise
• Bass roll-off minimizes proximity effect
• Effective, built-in spherical wind and pop filter
• Supplied with break-resistant stand adapter which rotates 180 degrees

Microphone Polar Patterns Explained
Microphones with cardioid polar patterns, like the Shure SM58, will reject sound the best from the back of the microphone. Microphones that are designed with supercardiod polar patters, like the Shure Beta 58, reject sound best from the sides of the microphone. When it comes to picking up sound from the front, the Shure SM58 vs Beta5 8 perform similarly but the Shure Beta58 has a slight advantage due to this microphone being a bit more directional. The directional polar pattern is less vulnerable to feedback. In all, both the Shure SM58 and the Shure Beta 58 are great microphones.

0:00 - Intro
0:11 - Shure SM58 Specs
1:04 - Shure Beta58A Specs
2:04 - Sound Demo
2:50 - Thanks For Watching!

#Sweetwater #Shure

[sweetwater]

🎤 No matter which one you pick, you're getting a terrific microphone! Which do you prefer?

[DojoOfCool]

The SM58 is better for less experienced singers who don't how to properly sing into a mic' or singers who are moving around a lot and waving the mic' around. The Beta's super cardiod pattern means the singer needs to keep in the right position for best sound.

[learnerforever]

Wow great content Sweetwater 😍 well done; your channel is doing real improvement and addressing consumer needs. And as a suggestion for future videos: please keep comparing similar products, such as RODE NT1 vs NT1A, Focusrite Scarlett vs Clarett, etc. Thanks with love to Sweetwater!

[elbettto]

Both are great! i own a beta 58 since the 90's, and it's still working great! Love it!

[dougp]

My SM58 has been my Always mic for over 20years.
Sweetwater Rocks!!!

[zadkieladdae]

Hoping to get the SM58 soon, that is my choice. Thank you for the good review.

[roqueeeeeeeee]

The Beta 58A is more clear, perfect for lower and baritone voices which require to increase the levels a lot. Finally I can hear myself in my band's rehearsals, and also, much more clear voice now.

[OnlineMD]

I have both of these microphones. I mostly use the Beta 58A. Oh, I must say: I use a pop filter for both of these; have to! I use a Shure PS-6 "Popper Stopper" device that I clamp on to my microphone stand's boom. And oh, I can't help but say: when I plug my SM58 or Beta 58A into my Bose S1 Pro speaker (which I bought from Sweetwater) the volume is pretty piss poor low. So today I got a Lo-Z to Hi-Z transformer, (I purchased the Shure A85F but not from Sweetwater; they only sell the Little IMP brand which I'm sure is just as good) which does not need phantom power. Wow, it gives such a nice boost to the volume! I've had to use a Mixer ever since I bought the S1 Pro which I no longer will need! Super! You plug your microphone cable's XLR into the transformer, which plugs directly into one of the XLR/Line inputs of a PA speaker. I do not plan to use it with a mixer; there is no need.

[djxhakaza]

I have been using SM58 for the past 85 years and still going strong, probably i will still use it in the next 85 to 90 years to come

[Verbsdescribeus]

i have been using the sm58 for 12 years now :)

[Chrisdan]

I’ve only used a shure sm58 microphone i now have 2 shure sm58 mics and im quite happy with both of them

[cmcg]

I prefer the SM58 for my voice--it's smoother and more "natural" sounding curve.

[classroombrew]

Great video. Would love a Beta58A vs SM7B comparison

[raulenriquemoya]

Appreciate your technical delivery - cheers

[SFShoim]

I've loved my Beta 59 for over 20 years!!! It's a bit hotter IMO... ;^>

[M_E_T_R_O__]

If its helps, i sang with a SM58 for years and decided to upgrade to the Beta58, and man what a difference, it takes far less effort to get this to sound good in terms of vocals, its easy to get the higher output and dynamics you need with less strain, im choosing the beta everytime, I went back to the SM58 a few times but i miss the sound of the beta now, so that's my choice going forward. After a good bit of trying both, i can tell which mic i used in certain recordings now just by listening, there's a fair bit of difference once you hear them side by side. On a boom arm the beta is also awesome just for streamers and so on, super crisp but keep in mind its pick up pattern is very narrow, good on stage but maybe not so good for other applications where you move around.

[dylanbrown]

I prefer the SH 55, I know it’s the same as a 58 but it has more mojo for the singer. There is something about that style of that mic that makes you want to rip a song, almost like a cool looking guitar for a guitar player

[LOFIGSD]

Vocals sound better through the SM58 beta, BUT, on stage, if playing guitar and singing, it is easier to use the 58. For recording at home, I use a Zoom recorder, the sensitivity and range is incredible and it can also be used as an audio interface.

[clintonblake]

Thank you. I definitely learned something here. Sounds like the Beta 58 would be best for me.

[tholy]

Excellent Speaker . You are awesome.I have had two of them.Thanks.