Audix I-5 Instrument Microphone

Affordable dynamic, cardioid instrument microphone

This is a great price for a great microphone. It is being compared to Shure’s SM57 as a great microphone for snare drums and guitar cabinets.

The I-5 has a very pronounced proximity effect meaning that there is a notable bass boost when the sound source is close to the microphone.

Audix I-5 Instrument Mic: The New SM57?

Tried and true as Shure’s SM57 and visibly sturdier. It feels psychically substantial and has less noise due to handling than the 57. It’s a reasonable price for a great microphone.

The Audix I-5 Instrument Microphone has often been compared to Shure’s SM57 because of its sleek design and excellent handling of high SPL levels.  For live sound, it can’t be beat.  Exceptionally rugged, you can probably drop it off a building and it would be fine.  The body of the microphone is a precision cast zinc-alloy case that will protects it from the crushing blow of a drummer’s stick.  On a snare drum, it is comparable to the legendary 57 and the I-5 has considerably less self-noise because of its fixed grate.  Having a couple of these mics around the studio is a great idea.  Throw them on drums and guitar cabs as an alternative to the 57.