Audix i-5 Reviews

Great alternative to SM57

I bought this microphone as a test how will it stand up against SM57 on recording snare, guitar amps or even vocals and toms.

I made a couple of recordings (Sonor snares, Marshall cabs and Fender combos) and I found that it has more open and natural top end than SM57. Maybe SM57 would be better on some other snare or guitar amp, but I think that i5 is a better sounding microphone. In aspect of sound rejection from sides and back, I think that SM57 is a little better.

It is well built, like SM57 but a little more attractive to look at (not that it matters very much, but still)

A must!

Audix i-5 is a must for your studio or taking with you on the road!

This microphone is my first choice when the subject are snare and guitar sound for rock and metal music.

It has personality and a full sound but if you´re looking for a flat mic, this might not be your choice. It has wide peaks on 100-300Hz and 2-5 kHz range giving a lot of colour in the sonority field.

The construction is very rugged which avoids feedback and unwanted vibrations coming from the floor and stand.

It also comes with a nice bag for keeping it and an original mic clip for attaching it to stands.

Great alternative to the 57

Having already owned a few of the classic '57 dynamic microphone I was in the market for some more low budget mics that could compete. I'd read many reviews about the i-5 microphone being a great contender, some even calling it the '57 "killer". I was slightly skeptical about it all, but being somewhat cheaper than the '57, and cheap for any mic in general, I thought it would be worth taking a chance and give it a go.

I've had chance to try it out both live and in the studio and as expected it works great for snare and guitar cabs, vocals too. It is a somewhat transparent sounds with a less aggressive presence peak than some similar microphones in its price category. I'd say it is a sturdy, great value microphone, well worth the money and praise it's received.

Great Snare Mic

I use the mic for the underside (bottom) of the snare, and it does an top job, would probably be just as good on the topside (and better at noise rejection than an SM57).

Thoroughly recommended.

like an sm57 with more clarity and more low end / top end

nice snare mic , adds a bit of brightness, nice transient as well

thought it a bit fizzy on guitars

also nice on smaller toms

tough build as well.

good mic - should be more famous .

Well built and great for snare drum.

The build quality is very good. It's very similar to a shure sm57 with more top end. Currently I'm using it on bottom snare to pick up the snap with a beyer mc201 on top snare. For the price it is great value over similar mics with great performance.

Excellent addition

I have been recording my drum kit in a home studio and the snare drum was seriously lacking feel and punch despite my best efforts in post production. I have an SM57 on the top head and this mic (although slightly cheaper) on the bottom head added so much more to the mix I was blown away. The depth and clarity of the snare drum (even during fast blast beats) has been improved tenfold. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone wanting to record snares, guitars or any instrument or sound within its comfort zone.

A Solid snare Drum Mic!

Bought one of these as an alternative to an sm57, the construction is very impressive extremely solid and sounds as good if not better than a 57

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