Shure KSM313/NE — Editorial Review
The Shure KSM313/NE is a premium bidirectional ribbon microphone with a clever dual-voice design: its two sides are tuned differently, so flipping the mic gives you two distinct sonic characters. It's built around Shure's tough Roswellite ribbon rather than fragile traditional foil.
Featured Video Review
Two ribbon voices, road-ready durability
RecordingHacks and Mix describe a front (logo) side with the classic thick, creamy ribbon sound and a brighter back side closer to a vocal condenser, all on a Roswellite element that survives plosives, high SPLs, and even accidental phantom power that would kill a normal ribbon. In Podcastage's review and test — featured above — it's compared against the SM7B, M160, KU5A, and U 87.
Honest cons
- Low passive output. Like most passive ribbons, it needs a high-gain, clean preamp to shine without hiss.
- Monocle mount transmits noise. The included lever-arm mount can exaggerate low-frequency stand/floor vibration.
- Asymmetric pattern. The dual-voice tuning degrades the figure-8 null versus a symmetric ribbon.
- Room-sensitive. The bidirectional pattern picks up rear reflections, so it rewards a treated space and careful placement.
Where this microphone fits
- Studios wanting a rugged, worry-free ribbon as a smooth alternative to condensers and dynamics.
- Engineers recording amplified instruments (electric guitar, brass) who exploit the two voices.
- Vocalists after intimate ribbon warmth with the option of a brighter side.
- Not those without a strong clean preamp, untreated-room recordists, or anyone needing a pristine figure-8 null.
Sources & Citations
- RecordingHacks, "Shure KSM313 Review," recordinghacks.com (accessed 2026-05-26)
- Mix, "Shure KSM313, KSM353 Ribbon Mics Review," mixonline.com (accessed 2026-05-26)
Last verified: 2026-05-26
