SM-57- Real vs Fake and Mod Links

The following is  multi-purpose, multi-topic, Shure sm-57 and sm-58 post.   Real vs Fake (I like mine real), modifications, and random info to help you (and me) not get ripped off and make better records.

 Real vs Fake   

-A pdf with German and English on Fake vs Real- 

-A site that does a good run down of Fake vs Real- 

Mods

-DIY Recording Equipment List of Mods- this led me down the 57 Rabbit Hole-

-GearSlutz Take on the 57 TAB-Funkenwerk Transformer Mod- (buy the transformer here from Mercenary Audio)

-GearSlutz Take on the TapeOp Mod-

-The Hux Capacitor's take on the TapeOp Mod- 

-TapeOp Message Board on the Mod- with instructions on making a remote transformer insert

-Recording Mag's Impedance Mod Article- Really indepth

-The Granelli G5790 Mod Kit- Elbow/90 degree 57

-Recording Hacks General Info on 57- Excellent Resource and FAQ

Using Reaper like Sonic Foundry Acid

Other Links- cause I am stuck in 2002 and love Sonic Foundry's Acid

-Rants the Cockos Forum-

-this is the dudes site that made the video-

-from the SubSquare Blog-

Side note- I have been using Reaper for my multitrack recording adventures of hipster and non hipster bands for the last few months.  I am sold on it.  It is a legit program, that crosses platforms (Windows, OSX, and PPC), and has a small foot print.  I recorded last night with a powerbook G4 with no problems.

RIP Earl Scruggs

One of the greatest banjo players passed away.  This WSJ blog called him the Babe Ruth of Banjo. RIP

Warhol's Polaroids

from ABCnews article linked below

Back in the Fall 2009/Winter 2010, the Spencer Art Museum at Kansas University had a special exhibition featuring some of Andy Warhol's Polaroids of famous people.  This was part of a bigger national tour of the photos.  I went to the event (I was at least partially there, although many objects and buildings were melting all around me) and really enjoyed it.  Feb 22 is the day he died.  I saw ABCNews did an article on his photos to mark the anniversary of his death, and it reminded me of the exhibit I (kind of) veiwed.

-Spencer Museum of Art "Big Shots" exhibition main page- 

-Spencer Art Museum Media Release- 

-LJworld Article on event- 

-ABCNews article on Warhol's Death Day- 

Ric Flair and Wolves

I made the above pic after an Ad Astra Arkestra conversation at practice one night.  It was a strange conversation.  4 horsemen.

Free Jam Rishi @ a Farmhouse

This is a distortion mix of an Rishi improv session with drums (me) and sax (Rolf from Karma Vision).  Two mics, one in the bell of the sax, one on the drums, live in a farmhouse in Kansas.  Lots of post recording crunch added.

-----Farmhouse Free Jam January 2012 mp3 download-----

Microphones in Places They Should Not Be

Word on the street says Zappa used to put Pignose Amps in all sorts of very uncomfortable places, like filing cabinets.  The last couple of times I have recorded, I tried to put an extra mic in places they didn't belong.  For one group I put a mic in a dryer, covered it with a busted cymbal and turned the gain way up.  In another, we built a little steel sweat box for an amp.  Both created very strange timbres and frequency mashing that I am using in both projects.  I plan on putting more mics in places they shouldn't go.  Samples are below.

Neumann U87 in the Dryer sample

Mini Guitar Amp in Sweat Box sample