Walk into almost any club, rehearsal room or recording studio and there is a good chance a Shure SM57 is pointed at a snare drum or a guitar amp. It is not glamorous and it does not need to be. The SM57 is the microphone engineers reach for first because it simply works, show after show, and it has been doing that job for roughly six decades.
Here is what the SM57 is, why it has lasted so long and where to buy one.
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What it is
The Shure SM57 is a dynamic instrument microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern. Dynamic means it needs no external power, so you plug it into a mixer or audio interface with an XLR cable and it is ready to go. Cardioid means it hears mostly what is in front of it and rejects sound from the rear, which is exactly what you want on a crowded stage where drums, amps and vocals all fight for space.
Shure describes the SM57 as having a contoured frequency response tuned for clean instrument reproduction and rich vocal pickup, with a presence rise that helps instruments cut through a mix. Its quoted frequency response runs from 40 to 15,000 hertz (Hz). Inside, a pneumatic shock-mount system cuts down handling noise, and the mic ships with an A25D swivel stand adapter and a storage bag.
Why engineers love it
The SM57 is designed to handle the high sound pressure that comes off loud instruments and amplifiers without distorting. That is why it ends up so close to drums and speaker cabinets. Shure says it has pretty much dominated snare drum recording for the better part of 60 years, adding low-end weight while keeping the crack and presence of the drum.
It is also famously tough. Shure puts its microphones through a stress-test gauntlet that includes sweat and extreme heat, and the company points out that a hit from a kick or a flying drumstick will not shut an SM57 down. Plenty of working musicians own SM57s that are older than they are.
What to use it for
- Snare drum. The classic use. Angle it over the rim, a few inches from the head, pointed at the center.
- Guitar and bass amps. Place it close to the speaker grille. Moving it from the center of the cone toward the edge changes the tone from bright to warm, so experiment before you hit record.
- Horns. Shure lists saxophone and trumpet among the instruments the SM57 is made for, since it handles loud, punchy sources well.
- Toms and percussion. Small enough to squeeze between drums and rugged enough to survive the occasional stray stick.
- Vocals in a pinch. It is an instrument mic first, but it can handle a vocal, especially loud ones. For a dedicated singing mic, its sibling the Shure SM58 is the better match.
SM57 vs SM58
The two mics share a lot of their DNA, and Shure itself says the choice is a matter of application. The most obvious difference is the grille. The SM58 has the familiar ball-shaped mesh grille with a built-in pop filter for vocals, while the SM57 has a smaller, flatter head that is easier to position close to a drum or a speaker. If most of what you record is guitar amps and drums, get the SM57. If you mostly sing, get the SM58. Many home studios end up with both.
SM57 vs Beta 57A
Shure also makes the Beta 57A, a step-up instrument mic. According to Shure, the Beta 57A adds a tighter supercardioid pattern, higher output, extended response, a more protective grille and improved handling noise control. It is a fine microphone, but the classic SM57 sound is what most people want, and it is the one you will see on countless records and stages.
Why it belongs in a home studio
For anyone building a first recording setup, the SM57 is one of the safest purchases you can make. It does not need phantom power, it rarely goes out of style and it is useful for nearly every instrument you will want to record. Pair it with one of the picks in our guide to the best audio interfaces for home recording, add a pair from our best studio headphones list and you have the core of a working studio. Our home studio starter gear guide fills in the rest.
Buying tips
Because the SM57 is so popular, counterfeits exist. Buy from Shure or an authorized dealer, and check that the listing is sold by an authorized seller. Shure lists the model as SM57-LC, which means it comes without a cable, so budget for a good XLR cable if you do not already have one. If you need a few mics for a drum kit, Shure also sells the DMK57-52 drum microphone kit, which bundles SM57s with a kick drum mic.
Where to buy
The SM57 is sold direct by Shure and through authorized dealers worldwide.
More recording gear lives in our home studio hub.
