Shure / SM57

Shure SM57 — the most-recorded microphone in history

Snare drums. Guitar amps. Brass. The Presidential lectern. The SM57 has been on more recordings than probably any other microphone ever made — and it’s ~$110.

TypeDynamic, cardioid

ConnectionXLR

Price~$110

Released1965

What it is

A dynamic instrument mic with a flat-top grille

The Shure SM57 is the SM58’s sibling — same capsule, different grille, different presence shaping. The SM57 has a flat top and a tighter cardioid pattern, voiced for instruments instead of vocals. It’s the most-recorded microphone in history.

Where it lives

On every snare drum. The default snare top mic since 1965.
In front of every guitar amp. An SM57 stuck against the grille of a Marshall stack is an industry default.
On brass and woodwinds. Trumpet, sax, French horn — the SM57 handles loud horn-section recording without breaking.
On the President’s lectern. The Presidential mic since LBJ. Two SM57s at every State of the Union, every White House press briefing.

Should you buy one?

Get an SM57 ifYou record drums, electric guitar amps, brass, or any loud instrument. At ~$110, you should probably own at least one even if you don’t know what you’ll use it for yet — eventually you’ll find a use.

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