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Model BETA 57A User Guide
8. Add a windscreen when using the microphone outdoors.
9. Avoid excessive handling to minimize pick up of mechanical
noise.
APPLICATIONS AND PLACEMENT
The most common applications and placement techniques
for the BETA 57A are listed in the following table. Keep in mind
that microphone technique is largely a matter of personal
taste-there is no one ?correct? microphone position.
APPLICATIONSUGGESTED MICROPHONETONE QUALITY
PLACEMENT
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MODEL BETA 57ATom-TomsOne BETA 57A on each tom, orMedium attack,
between each pair of toms, 2.5 tobalanced sound.
SUPERCARDIOID DYNAMIC
7.5 cm (1 to 3 in.) above drum
PERFORMANCE MICROPHONE
heads. Aim each mic at top drum
heads.
GENERAL
On double head toms, you canMedium attack,
The Shure BETA 57A is a high output supercardioid dynamicalso remove bottom head andbalanced sound.
microphone designed for professional sound reinforcement andplace a mic inside, pointing up to-
project studio recording. It maintains a true supercardioid patternward top head.
throughout its frequency range. This insures high gain beforeSnare Drum2.5 to 7.5 cm (1 to 3 in.) above theMost ?snap? from
feedback, maximum isolation from other sound sources, andrim of the top drum head. Aim thedrumstick impact
mic at the drum head.
minimum off-axis tone coloration. A completely new grille design
lets you take better advantage of proximity effect. The BETA 57AIf desired, place a second micMore ?snare?
just below rim of bottom head.sound.
is an exceptionally versatile microphone. Typical applications
include drums, guitar amplifiers, brass, woodwinds and vocals.Guitar &2.5 cm (1 in.) from speaker, on-Sharp attack;
Bassaxis with speaker cone.emphasized bass.
FEATURESAmplifiers
2.5 cm (1 in.) from speaker, atSharp attack;
" Tailored frequency response provides drums, guitars,edge of speaker cone.higher frequency
vocals, and horns with studio quality soundsound.
15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in.) awayMedium attack;
" Uniform supercardioid pattern for high gain before feed-
from speaker and on-axis with-full, balanced
back and superior rejection of off-axis sound
speaker cone.sound.
" Hardened steel mesh grille that facilitates use of proximity
2 to 3 ft. (60 to 90 cm) back fromSofter attack;
effect and resists wear and abusespeaker, on-axis with speakerthin, reduced
cone.bass sound.
" Neodymium magnet for high signal-to-noise ratio output
" Minimally affected by varying load impedanceVocals2.5 to 15 cm (1 to 6 in.) from theRich, warm
vocalist?s mouth.sound.
" Advanced pneumatic shock mount system that minimizes
Brass &Brass: 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 ft.)Bright, clear
transmission of mechanical noise and vibration
Woodwindsaway, on-axis with bell of instru-sound.
" Legendary Shure quality and reliabilityment.
Woodwinds: 2.5 to 15 cm (1 to 6Bright, clear
GENERAL RULES FOR MICROPHONE USE
in.) away, on-axis with bell of sound.
1. Aim the microphone toward the desired sound source and
instrument.
away from unwanted sources. Since supercardioid micro-
Bell of the instrument 90° off-axisSofter, mellow
phones such as the BETA 57A have narrow pickup patternsfrom the front of the mic.sound.
and can pick up sounds from the rear, this may not be ob-
vious or intuitive. Refer to Figure 1.PROXIMITY EFFECT
2. Place a microphone as close as practical to the desiredUnidirectional microphones such as the BETA 57A pro-
sound source (refer to the table in the facing column).gressively boost bass frequencies by 6 to 10 dB at 100 Hz
3. Work close to the microphone for extra bass response.when the microphone is at a distance of about 6 mm (1/4 in.)
from the sound source. This phenomenon, known as prox-
4. Use only one microphone to pick up one sound source.
imity effect, can be used to create a warmer, more powerful
5. Keep the distance between microphones at least three
sound. To prevent explosive low frequency sound during
times the distance from a microphone to a sound source.
close-up use, the BETA 57A bass response gradually rolls
6. Use the fewest number of microphones as is practical.off. This provides greater control and helps the user take ad-
7. Place mics as far as possible from reflective surfaces.vantage of proximity effect.
¤ 2005, Shure Incorporated
Printed in U.S.A.
27C2797 (Rev. 4) |
ACEC
