Turn Your SM58 Into an SM7B!!

The last time we tried this, we used EQ and compression to bridge the gap between the two mics.
This time we are actually actually making the SM58 as mechanically close to the SM7B as possible!
If you want to do this as well, it is super easy, but you are going to need a couple things.

NOT THE ONLY TIME I HAVE DONE THIS -

US Links for this work -

UK Links for this work -

Canada Links for this work -

Timestamps -
00:00 Intro
00:50 Tools Required
01:35 Teardown
03:10 Putting it back together
04:25 Altered SM58 vs Unaltered SM58
05:17 SM7B vs Altered SM58
06:23 Compared with EQ
07:45 Mic Reveal
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My Gear -

[RudeRecording]

SM7 & SM5B were favorite broadcast mics due to the large foam windscreen/pop filter. It kept the DJ from getting too close to the capsule and reduced the plosives. The reason that not many made it to the used market is that the foam that Shure used degraded over time tended to crumble away. Replacement foam has never been readily available or easily installed.
The SM7 was originally developed as a movie set boom mic.
The transformer mod for the SM58 has been around for a long time. Typically, it's been touted for use on toms. The removal of the transformer does make the SM58 more sensitive to input impedance variations and it will effect the response.
BTW: I was a Broadcast and studio engineer from the mid 70's to the mid 90's.

[stringstorm]

At this point, it doesnt really matter which mic you use. So I say just get the SM58, use it as is, and save yourself the cash and time. At the end of the day, both are going to be post processed anyway if you plan on using them for something meaningful like podcast or music production.

[Foodgeek]

The altered SM58 sounds very bright, almost to the point of abrasive. I love my SM58 for singing live, but I love the SM7B for voice-overs :)

[WinterWerewolf]

You could hear some vibrations transferred through the table when SM58 was used. It also did not have a windscreen. So adding an arm, some shock mount and a windscreen could make it much harder to discern those two.

[JMLRecording]

I dont know why... there is no answer but I love videos where I learn to do things I'll never need or can even think of a reason to do it. "Just because" is good enough for me. DIY culture

[mattwarrensocal]

I'm a wannabe audiophile (with wax ears) and I easily identified the modded SM58 but darn they were close. A great testament to the legend. Other than bragging rights for the SM7 the 58 is a real contender.

[painkillerjones]

Was in radio for years, mobile DJ before that, I do voice-over's now, and you could take the actual knowledge I have over a microphone and it wouldn't even fill a pamphlet... This helped a little...

[davidsnoswell]

Brilliant video. This inspired me to convert an SM57 and I’ve very happy with the sound. I found the Klark Teknic CT1 mic booster can fit inside the SM57 case after enlarging the internal hole in the mic, so now I have a converted SM57 with built in phantom powered “cloud lifter” style amp.

[jay]

This transformerless mod to the 57/58 has been around for a long time. It just sounds like a brighter clearer 57/58 (kind of too bright IMO for vocals) not a SM7b.

The original idea of removing the transformer was to use the modded mic on a snare drum to get a brighter crack sound not as an SM7b replacement as you are suggesting here.

There are some things one can do to a 58 to make it better for voice over or studio vocals. One is to remove the ball windscreen and instead use either a high quality foam filter like the Shure A81WS or the Windtech Ultra Series. You can also use a standard metal or nylon hoop type pop filter.

Another useful trick is using a micpreamp that has an impedance lower than 1k. A Neve or Neve clone with 300 ohms input is best in my opinion. Loading the 57/58 like this rather than the usual modern micpreamp or interface mic input that tend to be in the 3k-6k range (and transformerless) make the 57/58 a bit more harsh while proper loading smooths things a bit and a micpreamp with transformer input helps as well.

I'd say leave your 57's and 58's alone unless you want to make it into a really bright sounding mic for your snare to crack more or maybe to make an electric guitar really cut.

[TedTremendous]

It seems most ppl guessed correctly with SM58 as B but mainly due to table noise and annoyances from recording making us assume that was a cheaper mic.

In a more straight test with pop filter and shock mount we might not know or prefer SM58 as it's low end is very nice.

The biggest problem is the look of the mic vs having your mouth near the comfy foam of 7B is a much more pleasant recording experience.

[jenshendriks]

I found it pretty easy to tell them apart. The SM7b just has a smoother response from the high mids and onwards. In comparison, the SM58 has a slight 'crooked' high end response that sounds more unnatural to me. Bright S sounds will sound a little harsh and focused on a few frequencies on the 58 whereas they sound more like the desired 'white noise' on the 7b. I was surprised by how well the lower mids match the ones on the real SM7b.

[YPSuperman]

I‘m happy having prefered the mic B during the comparison. To my ears the modded sm58 was ever so slightly rounder in the lows and less harsh.
Will modd mine!

[con_nie]

Seems like there's more top end emphasis on the modified 58, that's how I could tell them apart! Interesting to hear them back to back.

[RuanCowleyArtist]

Dude...you saved me from spending R7000 in the near future. Looks like I will be using my SM58 to record vocals in my little home studio. Thanks man!

[TaoCovillault]

I'm proud that I did get the blind listenning test correctly, eventhough I am still very beginner into sound 🤪
But if it wasn't side by sside comparison, I am not sure anyone could hear the difference.
Impressive !

Thanks a lot for your videos, as I said, as a videographer, I am just starting diving into audio and your channel helps a lot ! 🙏✨

[DIYGuitarMods]

I bought 2 SM57 microphones from someone who had done this and not told me many years ago. I plugged one into a mixer that had phantom power on and it instantly destroyed the capsule. Be wary, you can never accidently plug it in to phantom power or you will destroy it.

[CoachNation]

Good project. This is also a demonstration of how much profit margin there is for many mics!

[jeramiahrossnz]

Great, I am not a singer but I like to sing, I have an SM58 and every time I am happier with it when I sing through it and hear it back than any condenser I have used. The mod gives a really subtle push somewhere in the mids, like a super subtle twang, like the tone knob on the fender strat. SM58s to me are like musical instruments, really comfortable to perform with and you can move around a bit rather than being locked into a mic stand area, and connect to something physical. nice!

[simeonsmith]

I love the sound of the modded 58, so thanks for sharing. What this video really made me realise though is how similar the microphones sound! turns out I probably don't need to upgrade!

[luttiandtutti]

To be dead honest, the SM58 sounds better with a slight bit more high end than the SM7B.Thanks for the tip.I know which mic I would buy and modify.