So lemme get this straight... You and 5 other guys took time out of your lives to have a ginormous "SM57 Shootout!" with some 30 other mics involved.
+sigh+
Evidentally the results are in--I, for one, was completely wrong.
I ask only this:

In the future, when the Fantastic Five meet again ...

Good for him for having an opinion that you feel comfortable with copping...

If you have advanced to a state to where the shure sm57 is completely useless to you, then kudos. As far as your confidance that I will feel the same, sadly, you are wrong. I like the sm57, and as said, youd be hard pressed to find a better more consistent mic for 75 freaking dollars, IMHO. Thats ...

Well, I think that the SM57 is a fantastic mic. I really dont understand the hate for it. I could understand not particularly liking the sound, but to dismiss it as a bad mic is a bit silly to me. Ive found nothing in its range that is so flexible, durable, and predictable. For 75 bucks waddaya want?

Youll get a better sound using multiple mics...This is one of the reasons you can get such a varied palette...Optimize each path, phase em in, and bam. The trick after that will be picking the right compressers and settin up the path in a musical manner that breathes with the song...

One approach I use to get a varied breakup is a two pronged one...
A) Setup your normal vocal mic(s) as you would. Clean and, as I said, normal... Setup another mic going into an amp, with or without pedals to get a desired crunch. Phase it all in, so at the console you can run all mics ...

I think that this is a cumulative thing...A) The singer should work the mic a little B) The engineer should use a signal chain that showcases the artist/performers better side..If youre using a DAW, obviously, you can edit thebejezzus out of anything, when working from tape I would edit pre mix. I ...

I employ more than one microphone for vocals a lot of the time... Sure, there are phase issues to pay attention to, but its not that big of a deal. Usually 3 mics will be employed and generally will take these broad roles: #1 for top end clarity and tone #2 for body and meat and #3 gets sent to an ...

Hey you gotta start somewhere. I think that the issue here may be of diminishing returns for what you spend on that make/model recorder. The real thing is to be honest with yourself. I know when I started, ADATs and 2"s ruled the scene. I used tape, went digital, and I now use both. When I went back ...

ive never really understood what the point of this "Analog vs. Digital" argument is...Honestly. It comes down to this: differnet methods of capturing sound. Different pros and cons. They can both make great records, as well as awful records. You choose. I use 2" tape, and love the sound. I use ...