SM27
SHURE
rumble with the roll-off switch. I’m partial to
well-framed bass note articulation with beefy
low mids, and this mic dialed it up easily. The
SM27 also came in handy during a session
with congas where 57s were working nicely
on the heads and a Rode NT1-A was doing
a great job with room ‘verb from a distance.
We needed something near the floor by the
shells in order to fill out each drum’s low tonal
character and the SM27 worked great, even
eliminating some ground vibration that two
other mics with shockmounts couldn’t eliminate. The mic also worked well for overhead
drums, even in a situation when a room’s ceiling was lower than preferred.
above the mix—is much more involved than
slapping a trustworthy handheld dynamic in
that familiar spot on the grill. So I can’t say
this mic is for just anyone. But, depending
on your experience and willingness to experiment, this could be the ultimate microphone
for a one-mic kind of person with a $300
budget, or a great third mic for someone
looking to evolve a beyond the 57 and the
58. In fact, while A/B’ing this mic with 57 I
ended up really liking it how well it worked
in concert with a 57.
you’re willing to learn what this
mic is capable of.
Buy If...
Skip If...
you’re looking for a no-nonsense,
one-trick-pony.
The Verdict
The SM27 has a wide vocabulary. It is truly
versatile and has a distinct character for
every situation. Learning to use that to your
advantage—for example, harnessing its
pronounced 5 to 8 kHz bump at the right
distance in order to elevate your lead sound
This SM27 is musical and offers a lot pres-
ence that can coax some nice complexities
out of otherwise typical signals. I can’t
say I experimented with vocals enough to
have found its strong points in that regard,
but its applications for guitarists and its
general versatility in the studio has me
convinced that Shure has designed another
microphone worthy of its place in the for-
midable SM line.
Shure
Street $299
shure.com
or use a mobile
device to read
this QR code
to share your
comments and
ratings at
premierguitar.com/dec2010
