Recording Rap with a Shure SM58: Get the Most Out of It

Most people know the Shure SM58 from the stage. But it works just fine for recording your raps at home too. It's tough, doesn't need phantom power and often picks up less of your room than a condenser mic. Here's how to get the most out of it.

What you need

• An XLR cable. The SM58 has no USB, so you connect it to an audio interface.
• An audio interface with a mic input.
• Closed-back headphones, so the beat doesn't leak into your recording.
• A mic stand. Recording handheld quickly adds handling noise to your take.

1. Connect it: no 48V needed

The SM58 is a dynamic mic. It doesn't need phantom power, so the 48V button on your interface can stay off. Plug the XLR cable into your interface's mic input and select that input in your DAW.

2. Set your gain

A dynamic mic gives a quieter signal than a condenser mic. So you'll turn the gain on your interface up further than you might be used to. Rap your loudest part and slowly turn the gain up until you're nicely in the green, with no red. How to do that per interface: Scarlett Solo, Scarlett 2i2, Audient EVO 4 and Behringer UMC22 and UMC202HD.

3. Distance: how close you can get

Shure gives two guidelines in the user guide:

• Less than 15 cm (6 in.) from your lips, or even touching the grille: a full sound with extra low end.
• 15 to 60 cm (6 in. to 2 ft.), just above nose height: a more natural sound with less low end.

That extra low end up close is called the proximity effect. According to Shure, frequencies below 100 Hz can get 6 to 10 dB louder at a distance of about 6 mm (1/4 in.). For rap you'll usually be on the close side. Pick a distance and stick to it for every take, or your tone will jump all over the place.

4. Straight in, not from the side

The SM58 is cardioid. It picks up the most from the front and the least from the back. So rap straight into the top of the mic. Something humming in the room, like a computer or a fan? Point the back of the mic toward it.

5. Plosives and breath

The ball-shaped grille already has a filter against wind and breath. If you rap really close, hard P and B sounds can still pop. Angle the mic slightly, or use a pop filter. Read what a pop filter actually does and how to set up your mic for rap recording at home.

6. In the mix: watch the low end

Because of the proximity effect, your recording can sound a bit thick at the bottom. A low cut in your EQ usually fixes that. To build a full chain, read the rap vocal chain for Ableton Live or GarageBand, or FL Studio vocal chain: the perfect plugin order.

FAQ

Is the SM58 good for rap?

Yes. It handles loud voices, picks up relatively little of your room and sounds full when you rap up close. That makes it a solid choice for home recording.

Does the SM58 need phantom power?

No. It's a dynamic mic, so you don't need to turn on 48V.

SM58 or SM7B?

Both are dynamic. According to Shure, the SM7B needs around 60 dB of gain, so not every interface drives it easily. Read Shure SM7B too quiet? for the details.

Source: the Shure SM58 user guide.