ShureKSM44A Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone - Large Diaphragm Side-Address Mic with Subsonic Filter, Prethos Advanced Preamplifier Technology and 3 Polar Patterns for Great Recording Flexibility

This mic is completely worth full price, imo but it goes on sale twice a year for 20% off which makes it an incredible value. Go listen for yourself on audio test kitchen. Put it against anything and you'll find it always works. Yes, you can match a specific mic to a specific source to get a more complimentary sound but you won't find another mic in this price range that works on everything from Rap and Rock male vocals, female acoustic vocals, piano, drums, and whatever else. I can't understand how the other reviewer would say it's only worth "4 stars at $450". You'll never find a mic this good for that price, I've looked. The closest you'll get is something like the lower KSM Shures or the lesser Audio Technica which are equivalent in sound quality but voiced in their own way. I've found the Shure to be the most versatile overall.

Ever since I bought the Shure KSM44a for my studio, I also bought two KSM32 units for my startup label artists to work with at home. The mic does come in a different case than pictured, but includes all of the same elements. I loved the way the mic sounds right out of the box and how little EQ I need to run on it. What I love about the sound is that it's near identical to the $3600-4000 U87Ai from Neumann, at a fraction of the cost. The KSM32 sounds near identical to the $1100-1300 TLM103 at also a fraction of the cost. I highly recommend the Shure KSM32 and KSM44a. I have not yet bought the KSM42, but that is on my shopping list.

Ignore Sweetwater listed prices. A phone call gets a great discount. Humans can be awesome! Bots? Not so much.

Very good.

Many of Shure's products have become industry/studio standards throughout the years because they just work, and work well. Their mics seem to "get the job done", without frills. Shure products remind me of 'military grade'; constructed to be functional and to last. I've read somewhere they actually test/torture their products way beyond other manufacturers. I have no affiliation with the company--this is an honest review.I recently purchased the KSM44a and am in the process of selling my AKG c214 (which I bought on a whim). I have owned about 10 different mid-range mics..most I consider good, but over time I ended up getting tired of them, and selling them. I mainly used them for vocals /acoustic guitar.-Build quality-This Mic is heavy and seems built like a tank.-Sound- The best subjective way I can describe the KSM44a (in cardioid) is having somewhat of a slight color. Of the 3 polar patterns, cardioid is the hottest(+6db) and brightest. Mids are accentuated, giving the vocalist a very present 'up-front' sound; but it's a mid-lift without any harsh high end. I've become allergic over the years to mics with any kind of harshness to them. The sound of this mic is really pleasing to my ears...more than any other mic I have owned.Unlike other mics I owned that seem to plasticize and shape their sound to be appealing; this one gives you back what you put into it, but in a more mid-forward / flattering way. The additional patterns add to the functionality as they have (of course) different frequency responses (and are not as 'hot' as the cardioid mode).This is NOT a 'WOW' mic, but more of an 'A-HA' mic -- gives me back what I've imagined I am supposed to sound like; only slightly better. Put another way, although this mic can be used as a home studio mic, its main purpose is as a STUDIO mic. You'll know the difference if you've used many other 'home studio' mics.Remember; NO one mic that can fit everyone/everything; but this is a very, very good honest mic that is especially well tailored for vocals. Unlike so many audio companies, when Shure say a product of theirs is 'professional'; they mean it, because it really is. The KSM44a is a high end studio microphone. I give it 5 stars and I ain't sellin' this one. Shure really did their homework.

you know the nice metal case they advertised that is SUPPOSE to come with it? well it doesn’t. You get a black that looks much cheaper. I know it’s about the microphone not the case but I hate being lied to. Especially when I drop a thousand dollars on a product. This is ridiculous.

Really thought i was buying a huge upgrade in condenser microphones. Mediocre performance at best. Has some great features such as a -15 db pad, and flat/low end rolloff, but form the money, it sucks. I have microphones at half the price that sound better, and i can add the pad, and EQ from my daw. Save yourself 500 bucks and buy another brand for $500 instead of $999 So disappointed in this purchase... I don't understand how including a velvet cover and a case justifies the crap performance for an additional 499 bucks.Ripoff. save for a better known brand for condenser mics, and stick with the 57s for everything else. Shure's forte is not vocal microphones, and judging by this product for the price, never will be in the ballpark.

This is a nice mic however in a ocean of mics the Shure is overpriced imo, at least new.Used I had these for 70% cheaper, without the case and overpriced shockmounts.Theres so many mics better deals can be found but the Shure 44/a is a decent mic, built in Mexico and China (they are no longer a USA built brand....so that price cut was not transferred to the buyer/customers).Shure has kind of lost their brand name a bit imo, its just another mic made at some factory somewhere cheaper and they seem embarrassed to print MADE IN CHINA or MADE IN MEXICO....as the originals stated MADE IN US years ago.It would be 5 star at maybe $350 ...4 star at $450.....but at $999...3 star