Customer Reviews

Shure SM94 Instrument Microphone

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This mic is truthful. If you are a really good singer, this mic will make your voice sound professional; if you are not, then this mic will reveal your flaws. It has a flat frequency response and very low distortion, as well as very low handling noise. It must be used with the A3WS windscreen to prevent breath pops. Also, it should be held about four inches away.

I do not recommend this mic for rock or rap, as it works best at a distance, which would increase the chance of feedback. Other Shure mics such as the PG-58 are better for rock.

This mic runs on an AA battery, or phantom power. It is an ELECTRET condenser mic, which means it is not humidity sensitive like regular studio condenser mics.

I play acoustic guitar and banjo professionally. Often I have had to use an acoustic electric guitar for convenience and to get my sound across through a line in. Whenever I can I will use the Shure SM94 to get the real acoustic sound out of my Martin D28 or my OME Southern Cross Banjo. I have found nothing that can reproduce the true sound of my acoustic instruments as well as this microphone.
It is very sensitive, so you need to position the instrument about 9" to a foot away. Because of this you can sing through it and play at the same time and it picks up your voice very well. Often I will use an SM 58 for voice separately, depending on the sound system and amount of inputs. If you use the SM94 for the instrument with an additional voice mic. you will need to aim them in slightly different directions because of it's sensitivity.

I have had many professional recording artists ask me about this microphone --people who have been playing professionally for many years and who have access to much more expensive equipment. They have always complimented me on the sound reproduction.

As a professional musician, I use this mic anytime I need to amplify or record solo strings or string sections. It does not modify the sound like vocal mics which amplify low frequencies. It is perfect for acoustic instruments (Woodwinds, Strings).

I bought a pair of these for our dance group. We do English Country Dance with (sometimes) live sound. We typically use these are violin and flute. They work really well. But I've never done recording. One nice thing is that they can use an internal battery for mixers that don't have phantom power.