Anyone who’s had any experience with live sound has encountered a Shure SM58 before, or a Shure wireless microphone built on the same platform. They are practically the industry standard for very good reason. They sound fantastic, and they are practically indestructible. Seriously, here’s a video of an SM58 being used as a hammer, run over by a truck and cooked on a grill, and it still works!
The Shure SM58 wired microphone, and its wireless equivalent, are my top recommendations for any mobile DJ needing a no-hassle microphone system. They just flat out work. The sound is high quality and predictable. SM58s will stand up to tons of abuse. The wired version is very reasonably priced, and the wireless is worth every penny.
SM58 Features
The Shure SM58 is just a solid, no-frills dynamic microphone. There’s a reason you see them in every club and bar with a stage. They are fairly cheap and incredibly durable. SM58s will stand up to years of drops, spit, drink spills and whatever other stupid things you do with them.
The SM58 is designed specifically for vocal reinforcement. You get great sound and clarity without any adjustment needed. And, it is designed to just pick up the sound nearby and filter out background noise. It has a built in filter to reduce wind noise and popping breath sounds. All around, it is the best dynamic vocal mic ever made.
Unplug Yourself!
You can get pretty much any Shure microphone in a wireless system. I started with the BLX24 with an SM58 handheld vocal mic. The BLX24 receiver has a 300 foot range and automatic frequency scanning. It can detect the clearest frequency available in your venue, which will cut down on interference and maximize your range.
The handheld mic has all of the strong features you’d find in the classic wired SM58. Even though it’s a wireless system, it’s built with the same rugged design as the classic SM58. A steel mesh grille and a shock-mount system will ensure that your mic survives years of abuse. I’ve had my system over 5 years now. I try to be careful, but I’ve still dropped the mic and had it roll off countertops. It still performs like it just came out of the box. The Shure BLX24/SM58 is one of the best DJ investments I have made.
I was even able to add a clip-on lapel mic and bodypack transmitter for wedding ceremonies and presentations. I started with just the handheld, but too many speakers were fumbling with their notes and trying to hold the mic. Wedding officiants especially like a lapel mic, because it’s what they are used to using.
The Perils of Cheap Wireless
Listen, I know the Shure BLX24/SM58 is an expensive wireless system. Trust me, I tried to go cheaper on wireless microphones. I bought a cheap dual-mic wireless system off of Amazon when I first got started. It was about $100, and it seemed okay at first. I set it up in my living room and it worked just fine. No interference, no feedback, seemed good.
But then I tried to use it in the field, and it was a disaster. I was DJing a friend’s wedding. The mics worked just fine at the DJ booth, because I was right next to the receiver. I walked around during setup and tested them from every corner of the outdoor tent. All good, until people actually started showing up.
You see, I was testing the mics facing the receiver. Once I had a tent full of people, all it took was the best man to turn away from the speakers, and the mic wasn’t powerful enough to work with his body in the way. I had to wave him back over to the booth and hand him a wired backup. It was a total failure, and something that still bugs me over five years later.
After that event, I immediately went home and ordered the Shure wireless system. I’m completely done taking chances with wireless mics. They can be so fickle that the slightest thing can make them stop working. But not my Shure. I’ve used that thing outdoors from 80 feet away with no problems. Never again will I worry about my wireless mic embarrassing me at an event.
Wired Knockoffs
While I wouldn’t go with a cheap wireless system, the wired SM58 has been around so long that there are some really good, cheap copycats out there. There are also some really cheap knockoffs, so you want to be careful.
At one point, I was working on starting a new a cappella group. We were planning on being on individual mics, so we needed a bunch of mics for rehearsals. Because I had no idea if this was going anywhere, I didn’t want to spend a lot to get started. I figured that we could always get better mics if we started doing shows.
So, I found the Behringer Ultravoice XM1800S in a set of three. Right now, SM58s are about $100 each, while this 3-pack is less than $50! I thought I would give them a shot, because I have Amazon Prime. By the way, I highly recommend Amazon Prime for buying and testing DJ gear. It really allows you to experiment, and with free returns you don’t have to stress that you will get stuck with crappy gear.
Boy, was I pleasantly surprised by the Ultravoice XM1800S. They sound nearly as good as a Shure, and they cost 85% less! They have a lot of the same features as well: built in pop filter, metal construction, steel mesh grille. They also have an on-off switch, which costs extra on the SM58.
I’m doubly glad that I chose cheaper microphones, because we never got that a cappela group off the ground. But, now I have a set of durable and inexpensive wired microphones that will be great backups for years.
Tips for Using Wireless Microphones
I have a very specific method for using my wireless microphones at my DJ events. It has kept me for having any major wireless failures, and just makes me look more professional overall.
#1 – Proper Setup
Setting up your wireless mic system properly is a critical first step. Don’t be like me! Always read and fully understand your microphone’s setup instructions before you first use it. I failed to follow this advice, so my first time using the Shure BLX24, I was scrambling to get it to work.
For the Shure BLX24/SM58, you have to get everything in your DJ setup connected and running first. Then, you can do a frequency scan on the receiver to find the best channel. Then, you have to set your microphone to the corresponding frequency. Only after you do all of these steps can you test your levels and range around the venue.
Setup includes the really dumb things that can and will go wrong. Check your batteries. Make sure the receiver and mic are turned on. Plug in the power cord so it can’t be pulled out by mistake. All of those little things will keep you from looking stupid.
#2 – Use It Right
Proper usage will give you better results. Don’t push your wireless system too far, because you never know what might cause a failure. And, any failure looks to your audience like you don’t know what you are doing.
Test your mic thoraghally before your audience arrives. Remember the rules on feedback: if you point a mic at a speaker, you’ll get feedback. Make sure you keep the mic pointed away or far enough away that it can’t pick up the sound from the speakers. If you are giving the mic to other people to speak or sing, it’s a good idea to give them a crash course in where to hold it and what to do if they get feedback.
#3 – Trust Nothing!
As bulletproof as the BLX24/SM58 system is, I trust is only as much as I trust the rest of my DJ gear. Which is to say, I don’t trust it at all when it’s showtime. You must always have a backup plan in place. Literally anything can happen.
Keep a wired microphone ready to go at all times. If the wireless mic fails for any reason while you on someone else is using it, it should take you less than 5 seconds to swap it out for the wired version. You probably want to practice this in advance, so you know exactly what to do when the pressure’s on. Basic procedure: turn the mic level all the way down on your mixer, unplug the wireless mic, plug in the wired mic, turn the level back up, and check it before you hand it off.
In Summary…
The Shure BLX24/SM58 is the best entry-level wireless microphone system you can buy. It’s been a rock-solid workhorse for me for over 5 years. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
Once you know the limits of any wireless microphone, you will know how to use it properly and be prepared for anything that can happen. If you need a nearly-perfect wireless microphone system that will work for decades, go buy a Shure today!