Shure SM58 Microphone Frequency Response

Before you start

The SM58 is a cardioid dynamic microphone. Its published frequency response is shaped for close vocal use, with a presence rise in the upper midrange and a controlled low-frequency roll-off. You do not need an online service to check this specification. The information is provided by the manufacturer and applies to both the standard SM58 and the SM58S switched version, whose response curve is the same.

For comparing the microphone with another input device, treat the frequency response graph as a descriptive curve rather than an absolute quality score. Two microphones can have different measured ranges and still suit different voices, rooms or output devices. The response also does not by itself predict the input level sent to a computer audio interface.

Step-by-step instructions

• 1. Find the official frequency response curve for the SM58 in the manufacturer's published specification or data sheet.
• 2. Read the horizontal axis as frequency in hertz. It usually runs from about 50 Hz at the low end to 15 or 20 kHz at the high end.
• 3. Read the vertical axis as relative output level in decibels. A higher line position means more output at that frequency.
• 4. Look at the broad low-frequency area first. The line falls away below roughly 100 Hz, which reduces handling noise, breath thumps and low room rumble.
• 5. Look at the area around 2 to 10 kHz. The SM58 curve rises across this region, which is the presence peak that helps a voice cut through background noise and sit clearly in a mix.
• 6. If your interface or recording software shows a frequency analyser, use the published curve as a reference only. The displayed result also depends on room acoustics, distance from the microphone and input level settings.

No software installation is required to read the specification. The process is local and reversible because you are comparing a published chart with your own recording settings, not changing the microphone.

Check the output

A useful check is whether your recording decisions are consistent with the response curve, not whether the microphone matches any single target line. For example, if a sampled voice sounds thin at close range, the low-frequency roll-off and presence rise may be contributing factors rather than a fault.

Any measurement from a video call or quick recording is affected by audio processing in the operating system, the video call application and the analogue-to-digital converter. Compression, automatic level control and background noise reduction can change the apparent response. Do not treat an informal computer recording as a laboratory measurement of the microphone.

The relevant limitation is that the SM58 frequency response should be understood as a manufacturer specification, not as a claim that every setup will reproduce that curve. Sample rate changes do not alter the microphone's acoustical response, but low-quality conversion, clipping or an incorrectly set input level can affect the recorded sound.

Common problems and next steps

If the captured voice is boomy or muddy, reduce excessive low-frequency content at the source first: move slightly farther away, use a pop filter to soften close-mic low-end buildup or engage a high-pass filter in the recording software at around 80 to 100 Hz. This works with the microphone's existing roll-off instead of trying to make the SM58 behave like a flat measurement microphone.

If the voice sounds brittle or harsh, avoid assuming that the presence peak is the only cause. Lower the input level, reduce any treble boost or presence boost in the channel strip, and test at three to eight centimetres from the grille. Close positioning increases proximity effect and low-frequency level, which can restore balance without adding harshness.

If the recording is noisy, check background noise sources before changing microphones. The SM58 picks up less sound from the sides and rear because of its cardioid pattern, but it still picks up nearby fans, keyboards and room reflections. Position the microphone so the rear of the grille points toward the main noise source and keep the voice within fifteen centimetres of the front.

For a noisy call or recording session, compare the microphone with another dynamic vocal microphone only after setting both input devices to the same recording path and level. A frequency response curve does not tell you which device will sound better in a particular room or with a particular output device, so treat it as one piece of evidence alongside handling noise, polar pattern and isolation.

Confirm the SM58 is connected to the correct interface input and that phantom power is not required. The SM58 is a dynamic microphone and does not need phantom power, although accidentally enabled phantom power on a correctly wired balanced input should not damage it. If an interface has a line or instrument selection, use the microphone input and set gain so the loudest voice peak remains below clipping.