Walter

26 de febrero de 2026

The best Swiss Army knife of microphones

I just picked up a Shure SM57 in February 2026, and honestly, I’m blown away.It solved one of the most frustrating problems in my home studio: recording a guitar amp without picking up outside noise. My “studio” is just a bedroom, and I’ve always battled traffic sounds and general room noise creeping into my recordings. With the SM57, that problem practically disappeared.This mic is incredibly focused. I can place it right up on the amp, and it captures the tone I want without dragging in the rest of the room. I’ve even had a TV playing off to the side and still recorded clean guitar tracks with no noticeable bleed. That’s something I couldn’t pull off with other mics I’ve tried.The SM57 just does what it’s supposed to do. It handles high sound pressure levels without flinching, so you can crank your amp and it won’t distort. The midrange presence is perfect for electric guitar. It gives you that punch and clarity that sits right in a mix without much extra work.There’s a reason this mic has been a studio standard for decades. It’s affordable, built like a tank, and sounds right. If I’d bought one 30 years ago, I probably would’ve made a lot more music instead of fighting my setup.Plain and simple, the SM57 is the sound of electric guitar. And it turns out, it’s exactly what my home studio needed.Ver más

9 personas la encontraron útil

Wattie1096

7 de marzo de 2011

The industry standard.

If you have used Shure SM57's before, you can probably skip this review.If you are new to the wide-world of audio recording, this mic should be the first mic in your mic box. Get one of thee NOW if you haven't already. (I just paid $65 for mine here, used). It is a great mic for recording pretty much anything and will produce an acceptable sound. It is also great for live use as well. I have been into audio engineering as a professional for over 20 years (as well being a musician) and played hundreds of shows, been in dozens of studios, and have home-recorded for a long time. You know what microphone I run into more than any other? The Shure SM57. It has been used in the studio and on stages for decades- to mic up guitar cabs, drums, and pianos among other things. I have seen a lot of metal/thrash/punk bands use them for vocal mics. Yet they are subtle enough where I have seen people record acoustics guitars with great success. There is a reason for that- while yes, there are better sounding mics out there, when you buy a Shure SM57 ($100 new), you know EXACTLY what it is going to sound like and that the sound is unbeatable for the money. They are virtually indestructible as well, and when they do crap out (IF they do- I have a few that have been dropped numerous times, one took a beer bath, general abuse, and they still worked great) you can usually just get a new capsule for them for around $30-40, solder it in and BAM! it's as good as new.Yes, there are other mics out there for the same money that sound as good (the Audix i5 comes to mind), and while they have their place and some have the same sound quality as a SM57, I highly urge anyone thinking of getting into audio engineering as more than a hobby start out with a 57. Why? Because it is the mic that ALL other <$200 Dynamic mics are judged by. It's just that popular. At every major concert I have attended, there was at least one SM57 microphone on the stage, if not a bunch. Same as for every recording session I've attended.Usually I would NEVER by a used microphone sight unseen, but since it was a Shure SM57 and the seller had good feedback, I didn't hesitate to snatch it up for $65 as I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GETTING and EXACTLY HOW THIS MIC IS GOING TO SOUND WHEN I PLUG IT IN. I used to have a mic arsenal of well over 50 microphones. The Shures were among the cheapest and they saw the most general use. You will always find a use for an SM57, even once you start buying $800 LDC mics, $600 matched pairs of SDC pencil mics, etc etc. I guarantee you will be pulling out your 57 for something on every job. I had to sell my old mic arsnal and have started to re-assemble a mic box, and I bought six of these first thing, it was a no-brainer.In the past, I have recorded a few punk bands using nothing but SM57's (aside from a Shure Beta52 for the kick drum mic) and ended up with GREAT sounding recordings that were released on Indy labels, one record has sold over 10,000 copies to date. Talking with people about this, they are either amazed or they just smile and nod their head, as they know the versatility of these microphones.They say the road to a good recording is having a good signal path from the sound coming from an instrument to the recorded track, and if you use an SM57, you can be assured that the mic will NOT be the weakest point in that chain.Yes, there are some engineers who think of the SM57 as a lowly piece of equipment which isn't much good for much else but to use as a hammer (which I have done incidentally, and it still worked no problem) and yeah, if I have $40,000 of microphones, I might finding myself being a bit snobbish myself. But unless you have that kind of money to spend on mics, the SM57 is indispensable. As I said, there are (finally) now mics out there that are VERY comparable price and sound wise which is a great thing (having options is a good thing), and down the road, yeah, try some of them. But if you are a novice and getting your first "real" mics, depending on what you are recording, an SM57 is a worthwhile investment. You won't have to worry about upgrading your mic box (that is, aside from adding more mics to it as money allows) with 57's. They will always have a place in the world of microphones.They are also great for stuff like podcasting, although for this I would suggest an SM58, which is pretty much the same mic, but with vocals in mind (they are a bit more omnidirectional).But if you want an industry standard instrument mic, buy a SM57, I promise you won't be disappointed. Thousands of records have been recorded using SM57's, as well as hundreds of top-earning tours.Ver más

60 personas la encontraron útil

Rjay

2 de octubre de 2026

Best Valued Microphone

Professional sounding microphone. The treble and the bass will work wonders for any type of voice.

Ethan

6 de agosto de 2024

still popular for a reason

I’ve had my Shure SM57 for a while now, and I’ve got to say, this mic is like the Swiss Army knife of the audio world. It’s been through a lot with me—live gigs, studio sessions, and even some impromptu jam sessions in the garage. Honestly, if this mic could talk, I’m sure it would have some wild stories to tell.First off, the build quality is rock solid. I’ve dropped it, knocked it, and generally put it through its paces, and it just keeps on going. It feels like it’s made out of some indestructible alloy that laughs in the face of accidents. And the sound quality? Oh boy, it’s impressive. The SM57 captures instruments with such clarity and detail—it’s like it has a built-in magic filter that makes everything sound just right.It’s versatile too. Whether I’m miking up a snare drum or an electric guitar amp, the SM57 delivers every time. The dynamic range is fantastic, and it handles high volumes without distorting. It’s like having a reliable friend who always knows what to do, no matter the situation.One thing to keep in mind is that it’s not the fanciest mic out there, but for the price, it’s an absolute steal. It doesn’t need phantom power, which is a nice plus. If you’re looking for a mic that gets the job done without fuss, the SM57 is your go-to.In summary, the Shure SM57 is a classic for a reason. It’s tough, reliable, and always delivers top-notch sound. If you don’t have one in your collection yet, do yourself a favor and grab one—you won’t regret it!Ver más

25 personas la encontraron útil

Adam Nelson

The Ultimate Sound Solution - Shure SM57 Instrument Mic Delivers Every Time!

The Shure SM57 Dynamic Instrument Mic has completely blown me away with its exceptional performance and unparalleled versatility. This microphone has quickly become an indispensable tool in my audio setup, and I'm excited to share my five-star review.First and foremost, the sound quality captured by the SM57 is nothing short of phenomenal. Whether I'm recording vocals, instruments, or even amplifiers, this microphone consistently delivers a crisp, clear, and natural audio reproduction. The depth and clarity it captures have elevated my recordings to a whole new level, making each project a true auditory delight.The versatility of the SM57 is a game-changer. It seamlessly adapts to a wide range of applications, from studio recording to live performances. This microphone can handle virtually any instrument or sound source with precision and accuracy, ensuring that every nuance is captured in exquisite detail.But what truly sets the SM57 apart is its exceptional value. It's not just a microphone; it's an investment in unparalleled sound quality and performance. The durability and build quality of the SM57 ensure that it will be a reliable workhorse in my setup for years to come, making it an excellent long-term investment.Whether I'm miking up a guitar amp for a roaring rock sound or capturing delicate nuances in an acoustic performance, the SM57 delivers consistent and outstanding results. Its adaptability has made it a go-to choice in my microphone collection.In conclusion, the Shure SM57 Dynamic Instrument Mic is an absolute gem for anyone seeking top-tier sound quality, versatility, and lasting value. Its exceptional performance across various applications has left me thoroughly impressed, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. If you're looking to take your audio recording and performance to the next level, the SM57 is an easy five-star recommendation. This microphone truly lives up to its reputation and then some!Ver más

19 personas la encontraron útil

Christopher Tune

13 de enero de 2024

Shure SM57 The Ultimate Mic in Value and Application

I have been around SM57 for many years as a musician, and also as a sound person typically either with small groups, or in churches. Although the SM57 is touted as an "instrument" mic, and it is perfect for that use, it may also be used for vocals when some other mic is not available, or not working right. The SM57 also makes a fantastic mic for spoken word like with podcasts. For years i used this next to my PC as the input mic for online audio input of spoken voice. The upshot of this is that the Shure SM57 is an extremely versatile microphone and a fantastic value selling at roughly $99 (in beginning of 2024).This mic uses the Unidyne III capsule, which was an award winning advanced mic capsule design from the 1950's, and which appears in several of the most popular Shure microphones over the years including the SM57 and SM58. The SM57 was designed to be slim profile, extremely rugged, and to provide CARDIOID (heart shaped; this rejects side and rear sound quite well making feedback handling easier) pattern dynamic microphone use in a wide variety of applications. You will see this used on snare drums, on guitar cabinets, covering brass players and on lecterns (like at the White House which has hundreds of these mics along with the Shure windscreen). Part of the appeal of this mic is that it is not large, so it does not detract from the subject when doing video or filming of a person speaking into a microphone.I use this mic on spoken voice, trombone music performance, and on big band wind player parts (sax and brass). The output of the mic is not powerful but should work on most consoles with around 60db of channel gain. Output seems a bit better than the SM7B which is so popular with podcasters today.Ver más

22 personas la encontraron útil