SM 57 is not a vocal mike...
...is a big-time misconception. It is one of the best all-around workhorse vocal mikes made, especially for the price. Shure list vocals as one of it's primary uses in their own instructions. I do live sound, and I highly prefer them to 58's, as they reduce feedback and help keep the mix clean. But 58's are good because most singers don't know how to sing within the ideal pickup pattern of the 57, or at least don't know how to stay there throughout a set. You can just kind of sing anywhere within a reasonable range/angle to the 58 and you will get a decent-sounding signal. Move off from a 57 or sing into it at a funky angle and the tone gets bad and the volume gets quiet. Additionally, you can easily fine tune the EQ of a 57 by changing your distance from it. Not so much with a 58.
