Square One 
by Not posting my name from Greensboro, NC, January 2008
Music Background:  Hobbyist? Aspiring musician?

I've just recently started building a home studio, and this has been my first real mic. I'm SO very glad I did the reaserch and came out with this instead of Guitar Center's "Let me sell you this AMAZING MXL Mic Starter Pack! Only $85! Buy it! BUY IT! BUY IT NOOW!"

All of you who have been out to GC know what I'm talking about. You walk in and say, "I'm looking for a microph-" "OH! HERE"S the thing for YOU! MXL 990/991!!!!! DO IT!"

Alright, most of you are not that stupid, but three months ago I was! ALMOST bought it. Almost. Then I read up at places like tweakheadz.com (great site) and came out with this. It is such a good starting point. I've been using it for acoustic, electric, vocals, etc. Give it some attention in editing, and it can sound amazing!

  The One Mic Wonder 
by Brandon from Dallas TX, November 2007
Music Background:  Audio Engineer

I've always known this mic was great, and have often used it for drums and guitar. But today I was in a session and the ONLY condenser I had brought started doing some goofy things. So I busted out a good old 57, and recorded all the vocals, harmonies, and guitars with it. And it heres the kicker... it sounded AMAZING. Not just GOOD, but it blew me away. It DID take work though. For use on vocals you really have to crank up your upper mids (3k or so) to clean it up, roll off some lows, and maybe add a dash around 100Hz for some extra body. I used it through an LA-610... for money, it doesn't get any better than that. Don't buy into all the imitations out there. there are some good mics, but this is a workhorse.

  This is it. 
by Nate from Miami, FL, October 2007
Music Background:  Recording Engineer, Drummer

Listen kids...the SM-57 microphone has been around forever, and it's been used by everyone.

You can use them on virtually anything with great results (that is...if you know how to play your instrument, write good music and put the microphone in the right place!)

And guess what - you can pick one up for less than $100!

You could get a set of 12 for less than the price of 1 "Rolls-Royce" condenser mic and be set for life.

  Shure SM57: The "Semper Virens" of Microphones 
by Craig Whipps from Arcata, CA, USA, October 2007
Music Background:  Playing the fool, and bass since 1964

I bought a pair of SM57's in 1974. They were the lead singer's mics, and when the band split up, I kept 'em. They got stuck in a suitcase with a bunch of cables until I got a gig with a disco band in '78. The lead singer would twirl it around (ala Roger Daltry) and I'm sure he hit the stage with it at least once.

In '84, I drug them back out, and used them in a bunch of different jazz bands. They became horn mics. (Fabulous tenor sax mic.)

Then I lost one, and the one I had left turned out to be a really great live string bass mic. I rolled it inside a piece of foam and stuck it in between the legs of my bridge. (Make sure you deal with the feedback.) Turned out it worked really good on cello live, too.

Then, in '94, (after I got clean and sober) I produced a live album and we used it with my piezo on my stand-up bass going into an ADAT. When we mixed down the tracks, I begged the guy to kill my piezo channel, but he liked the edge on my solos. (He's a rock player, no offence) but, it ruined the tracks. (The 57 sounded much better by itself.)

About eight years later (2004) after I "retired" (or, got to fat to want to carry a $10,000 instrument into a restaurant only to make enough money to buy my girl friend a meal,) I decided to find out what recording on a computer was like.

So I drug out my SM57 again and used in on bass, nylon string guitar, and some vocal overdubs. The client on the vocals asked me to do it again with a pop filter (hey, how I was I supposed to know, I'm a bass player) He was right, and, I've noticed you really have to pay attention to the "proximity effect" with these mics. It doesn't just get boomier, it gets... compressed, sort of.) It's probably why they sound good on electric guitar amps, off axis.

Anyway, a friend of mine (who is a real sound guy) was storing my stuff for me, and when I went to pick it up, he offered to trade me his brand new 57 for my old one, which didn't make sense because his new one (same exact mic) sounded EXACTLY LIKE my old one. And I couldn't figure it out until recently, since I've started really getting into recording and reading what engineers always say about microphones.

This one recording guru says: "My favorite microphone ever made is the Shure SM57. It's rarely ever "genius" but it never ever totally sucks. You can point one in the general direction of a sound and you'll get a pretty decent representation of that sound that can be recorded and pounded to death later."

I realize now, that my friend just wanted to have a 57 that looked "that old" because... it would make him look like he'd been "that smart", for "that long". (It's got some major rust on the screen and the grey part on the barrell has worn off where it slides into the stand adapter.

Anyway, I nixed the trade. The memories alone would make me keep it, even if it didn't sound so good. This mike will be making someone else happy long after I'm long gone.

Buy five, (trust me.) You won't be sorry.

  SM57 mic 
by Cody from Denver, CO USA, April 2007
Music Background:  Recording engineer, musician

i think this mic is a must for every musician and engineer, it is tough as hell and can be used on practically anything

  What can I say... 
by IMAGO RECORDING STUDIOS from Lexington, Ky, February 2007
Music Background:  Recording Engineer, pro musician, and Independant producer.

The 57 is a traditional utility mic. It's not made to make anything pop or stand out. It just is what it is. A trusted workhorse mike that gives great results especially when blended with other mics of better tonal quality.

  A classic 
by Joe from NJ, October 2006
Music Background:  home recordist

I got this mic back in 1997, and I still use it on every session. At this point, I am only using it on guitar cabinets. I used to use it close up on snare, but I now only use 3 mics on a drum kit, so it doesn't get used in that application anymore -- but it does a decent enough job on snare.

Combined with a 421 or a Royer 121, you can get some really nice guitar sounds happening. My 57 seems to have gotten better with age. Since mine is now almost 10 years old, it's hard to say whether a brand new one will have the same magic...but there is a good chance it will. I don't honestly know how you could NOT have at least one of these laying around. A great mic to have around...

  I Mean, C'mon, it's a 57 
by John B from Nashvile, TN, September 2006
Music Background:  Recording/Mix Engineer

So it's the Shure SM57. It's a great mic that works for pretty much everything. Almost every snare and electric in the past... long time... have been recorded with this. Great for live too. It handles pretty much anything you can throw at it and has a little midrange bump for that grit you been longing for.

  the cornerstone 
by Jimi Krystofiak from san Leandro Ca, September 2006
Music Background:  recording enginer w/ BA

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE OF THESE AND YOUR IN AUDIO, WELL YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN AUDIO. IF YOU GOT ONE, GET SOME MORE CUZ YOU'LL SWEAR BY THEM, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DO LIVE SOUND. THEY WORK GOOD ON EVERYTHING AND TAKE A BEATING. WHEN DECIDING WHAT MIC TO USE WHEN RECORDING, I ALWAYS TRY THE 57 ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHERS AND IT IS USALLY ONE OF THE TOP 3 PICS. SWEET MIC AND FOR THE PRICE PICK UP 2

  Everybody's got at least one, don't you? 
by Dean Drake from Bellingham, WA, July 2006
Music Background:  Semi-pro musician/recording engineer

Studio and live sound staple. I have three, maybe four of these. I'll probably pick up a few more in my lifetime. I mostly use them on guitar cabs, snare and toms. They are as tough as nails and just keep doing the job.

Honestly, there's nothing really exciting about an SM57, they're just there, they always work and they sound good. I've picked other more "exotic" mics for guitar cabs and drums, but for some reason I keep coming back to them.

  A druable reliable microphone found everywhere in the world. 
by Clayton from St. Louis MO, July 2006
Music Background:  Live and Recording Engineer and student

I have used many SM57 microphones in my life, and see them everywhere. They wear really well, and when they do get broken, can usually be fixed, or replaced at any pro audio store. They work well and last a long time, but they dont sound great. They are good but not as good as my Audix i5 that i recently bought. I've been using my i5 for everything i use to use my 57 for, and it has been working out better than i thought it would.

The most trusted mike in the biz 
by abe tolow from nc, usa, August 2005

toured three years with 5 57's.one for lead and 4 for backup singers two bose 800 and a shure vocalmaster not one problem not one.

Sound Manager/SilverFlair Entertainment 
by Trevor George from San Diego, CA USA, September 2004

If it was legal to marry a microphone, I would have little baby 57's running all around. Go with the $1500.00-$2000.00 mic's if you wish, but if you want the best of the best, get the SHURE SM57. Can't beat them on snares, overhangs, Piano, and in some situations can do a great vocal pick-up. (If the U.S. President uses it there must be something good about it) SM57's are like a dream come true to me. Hope they will be with you.

A Must Have... 
by Mike Pope/MixCritique.com from SoCal, March 2004

Every studio needs at least a couple Shure SM57's. Simply great on snares, toms - even as overheads (if you're on a budget!). Countless recordings have been made through the years with a '57 draped (hanging by the cable), against the grille cloth of guitar amps, and it also does an impressive job on acoustic guitars and vocals.


Last year, on a location gig, I realized I had left the overhead condenser pair back at the studio (2-hours away!), so out came a pair of 57's doing duty as drum overheads. People still comment on the depth and clarity of the cymbals on that project. Hard to figure...


If you're reading this and already own '57's; you know it's all true. If you are looking to buy - buy 2...you'll use them, and they'll serve you well for years. Sure = quality, performance & reliability, remember that.

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