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New Gear Review: Shure PG Alta Studio Starter Kit

Shure_PGA_Kit

The entry-level PG ALTATM line has 14 new products ideal for small venue performances, aspiring musicians and home recording sessions.

The Shure PGASTUDIOKIT4 microphone kit consists of four Shure PG ALTA microphones thoughtfully selected for their utility in modern home/project studios.

At $299 MSRP, the PGASTUDIOKIT4 comes with one PGA52 dynamic microphone, a single PGA57 dynamic microphone and two PGA181 side-address, cardioid-only condenser micro- phones. Also included are mic clips, stand adapters and four 15-ft (4.5m) XLR mic cables.

I tried the PGA52 on a kick drum in the studio and it compared favorably to the studio’s Shure
Beta 52—the PGA had more output level. The side-address PGA181 condensers look like old-style lollipop microphones in miniature. I placed them overhead of my drum kit and they sounded open and full. The PGA57 worked awesome as a close snare drum mic as well as on my Fender Blues Junior amp—just like its uncle, the venerable Shure SM57.

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Barry Rudolph is a recording engineer/mixer who has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs, and more. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contributing editor for Mix Magazine. barryrudolph.com