Shure SM57

The Shure SM57 is a cardioid dynamic instrument microphone that has been in continuous production since 1965. It is one of the most recorded microphones in history — found on guitar amplifiers, snare drums, brass, and acoustic instruments in virtually every professional studio and live venue on the planet. Two SM57s are standard issue at the White House for presidential podiums. At £115 new, it represents one of the most cost-effective pieces of recording equipment available.

Who Is This For?

The SM57 is for anyone recording or miking instruments live or in the studio. It is the default choice for guitar amp miking, the go-to snare drum mic, and a reliable option for brass, woodwinds, and acoustic guitar. Its cardioid pattern rejects off-axis sound, making it equally useful on noisy stages and in live rooms. Beginners will find it forgiving and versatile; professionals keep them in multiples.

Sound Character

The SM57's frequency response is tailored rather than flat — a presence peak in the upper midrange (around 5–10kHz) adds clarity and articulation to instruments, while a gentle roll-off below 100Hz keeps low-end rumble in check. This voicing suits close-miking applications where proximity effect would otherwise cause muddiness. On guitar cabs, positioning the SM57 on- or off-axis to the speaker cone is a fundamental technique for shaping tone.

Build and Reliability

The SM57 is built to a standard that few microphones at any price match. The die-cast metal body, pneumatic shock-mount cartridge, and legendary Shure build quality mean SM57s routinely survive decades of touring and daily studio use. The same basic capsule design has been in production since the 1960s, and used SM57s from the 1970s and 80s are still in active service in studios worldwide.

SM57 vs SM58

The SM57 and SM58 share the same capsule but differ in housing. The SM57 has a low-profile head that allows close placement to speaker cones and drum heads. The SM58 has a built-in spherical pop filter designed for vocal use. Some engineers use the SM57 for vocals precisely because of its brighter, less filtered character.