Shure SM58-LC Dynamic Vocal Microphone

Description

Recording a spoken account

Ask a speaker to describe the event in their own words. Connect the SM58-LC with an XLR microphone cable, aim the grille toward the speaker, and listen through headphones while setting input gain. Keep a consistent speaking distance to avoid a marked change in level or bass.

What to check before buying

Allow for a separate XLR cable with the LC version. A phone headset socket or the small stereo input on a pocket recorder needs a suitable interface. For a distant sound across a room, choose a microphone placement closer to that sound.

For field technique, read the HauntGears guide to white noise and audio review. See the manufacturer’s specifications and instructions.

Product photograph by Iain Fergusson, cropped by Binksternet, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.5. Resized and padded for square display.