All user reviews for the Shure SM57

Specifications:
Microphone Type - Dynamic
Polar Pattern - Cardioid
Frequency Response - 40Hz-15kHz
Impedance - 150 ohms
Length - 6.18"
Width - 1.25"
Depth - 1.25"
Weight - .63 lbs.

This microphone is the jack of all trades microphone. I have put it on countless sound sources and it sounds pretty good on most of them. Of course there are usually better microphones for each individual source but for the price you cant beat the sm57. Even with much more expensive higher end microphones available, I still find myself using this on guitar amps and snare drums. It's also a great mic for live sound. Since it sounds good on almost any instrument having a bunch of these around is handy if you need to slap a mic on an instrument real quick but don't have time to test a bunch of different mics to see which sounds best. This mic works well on loud sources as well as quiet. And by loud I mean REALLY loud. Fully cranked guitar amps and John Bonham drummers won't make this clip (unless your preamps are total garbage).

OVERALL OPINION

I absolutely love this mic. I use it in almost every session I record. My go to is to use this mic on snare drums and pair it with a large diaphragm condenser and put it on guitar amps. But really you can mic anything on this and it will sound alright. Any studio should have at least a couple of 57s lying around for all purpose recording. For $100 you really can't beat the price. It isn't the clearest microphone (it's kind of dark) but it sounds good. I have compared it with much higher end microphones (Blue, Neumann, Rode, AT, etc) but still prefer it for some sound sources. I would buy one again in a heartbeat and I'm sure I will buy many more in my audio engineering career.

You know this mic. The dynamic SM57 Legendary for guitar and studio vocals. Almost everyone has used one at some time or another. Great both live and in the studio. People say these have 101 uses. What more can you say?

OVERALL OPINION

As a guitarist and producer I tend to know what I like and what I don't. Most people tend to favor these most for electric guitar. I personally am not the biggest fan of that application. It's picky about positioning for one thing, and really needs to find the sweet spot on the speaker. In the studio, this isn't a big issue, but I play live a lot and I've found the 57 is not the best live speaker mic for me. Most of the time it's one of those "good but no great" mics for me. It has a harsh sound with my rig through most systems. If it's all I have at the time, I will use it though no problem. Usually the best sounds can be found by tilting it off axis. Maybe it's just me, but the 57 seems to add it's own distortion to an already distorted sound. I don't really like that. To be fair, it still sounds better than all the other guitar mics in its price range.

Where this mic really shines for me is on a snare drum. It adds a certain pop to the EQ that no other mic has gotten me. 90% of the time whether it's live or in the studio, I use this mic on my drummer's snare. It's quick and easy. Just tilt it towards the center of the head and you're good to go. Sounds great.

I've used it for bass, vocals, and cymbals. It sounds alright for all of these. Nothing spectacular. But for the value, it's amazing. That's really what it comes down to. Compared to other mics at this price, it's phenomenal. I would highly recommend you get 1 or 2 if you have a budget studio. They are well worth the price.

This microphone is a workhorse.

I once came across a thread that asked: What would you do with $500? $1000? $2000? $4000? $10000?

A very popular answer (and very humorous) and very valid is as such:

$500: 5 SM57's
$1000: 10 SM57's
$2000: 20 SM57's
$4000: 40 SM57's
$10000: 100 SM57's.

People are enamored with this microphone. That's because it has a solid reputation for being unbelievably easy to EQ. It is great on lead vocals, background vocals, guitar cabinet, guitar, kick drum, and a variety of many, many other things. While it may not appear to sound that unbelievable initially while tracking, once it is in the mix, it is inanely easy to adjust the frequencies so that it works marvelously.

Is it a microphone that will particularly excel on all these sources? Of course not! That's not the point of it. The point of the SM57 is that it is fantastically versatile, not that it absolutely excels on everything. What microphone does?

It also finds itself at home on stage. I've experienced situations in which the SM57 is used on EVERY. SINGLE. SOUND. SOURCE. Nothing in any way was particularly lacking.

OVERALL OPINION

If you have one or two of these microphones, especially if you have a nice condenser to supplement it with, then you will have many, many bases covered. Nothing is particularly impossible to use when you are using the SM57. You just have to know what you're doing. All you really require is a bit of working knowledge of what parts to deaden, what parts t sweeten, what parts to roll off and raise.

For $100, it is very difficult to go wrong with the Shure SM57. It is a classic workhorse that has found its ways onto stages and into studios for decades, and will continue to do so for decades to come.

Normally used to plug a guitar or snare drum, works pretty good for the brass (trumpets, sax ...). Cardioid dynamic microphone. Warning this is not a Neumann, but it does much work it is asked.

OVERALL OPINION

I use my home for my 2 years since making his guitar, but I also use it very often in my business background music for various types of instruments.
It's a microphone that has proven over the years. He brings a lot of his acute sensitivity of the capsule can be "send the wood!" With good quality material on the back. Value for money is nothing wrong, I bought 2 for 100euros never a problem, however the benefits I have often encountered the problem of son who are too thin and breaks easily when unscrewing the cap (the microphones are not always treated well).

mixed mic
features available everywhere.
No nonsense: this is not a static microphone.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 25 years ... live and in studio.
Very personal opinion.

This microphone works for almost everything, but beware:
there is no perfect mic. So I suggest equivalence in some cases and available at cost. Because if you break your piggy bank is yet another debate.

Battery:
snare top and bottom. It works very well in rock and roll.
On other styles, you can choose a static, richer in harmonics but watch the pressure.
In dynamic equivalence, Beta 56 (more punchy), AKG 441 (more natural), beta 57 (brightest), Sennheiser 906 (more fat)
For toms, less rich than a Sennheiser 421 or beta98 but it marchotte ...
Kick: I'm using it to imitate sounds vintage (not too serious, not too sharp)
No cymbals or charley

Perceived: on almost all live. Not very late in the studio

Brass: trumpet (effective live). Not very generous to the rest

Guitar: ideal complement to a static (or 421) on an electric guitar. Little salvage a acoustic live

Low: in addition to an RE20 or DI for the bass biting or saturation.

Agreed to prefer the Beta 57A (attention to hump to 500/600Hz). Attention is a very rock sound. Not trying to make Lara Fabian ...

To summarize: it is the best microphone in the world, if you know what you gonna do with it. Surprisingly, it is valid for almost all the microphones ... 100 to 2500 €

So it is a cardioid instrument microphone. Micro usable for sound decision-snare (or toms), electric guitar amp. It can also help a singer (close frequencies), or be placed in a drum to add to the attack including the metal.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 3 years to my demos and live. Shure is a great reference for me the microphone. It is the quality at unbeatable prices. I've never had better results than the Shure.
The advantages of this microphone: versatility, value for money, it's solid, easy to use, micro well insulated.
Defects: I do not find much.

I recommend it and I intend to buy me new ones if the need arises.

Type: Dynamic small-cap.
Frequency Response: 40 to 15,000 Hz
Directional or cardioid (heart shaped), around the axis of rotation.
Ideal for any musical instrument pickup

OVERALL OPINION

I used the last few months, I use an sm57, sm58 and a pair of Apex 185.
Plus, much more, both super versatile voices on the acoustic instrument, I have yet to try on amplified instruments ... A nice precision on wind instruments such as saxophone or trumpet. Otherwise, strong, beautiful line.

The least .... uh .... Just a small remark. Few return for instruments such as cello or bass but must surely inverstire in a good preamp for this foncctionne well. Otherwise nothing to say.

Very good value for money and if it was to do again, I'll buy this mic without hesitation.

Rate: 7.5 / 10

The characteristics of the microphone are now known to all!

I use it personally for the transplanted guitar amp, acoustic guitar, voice very clear and bright percussion (snare, bongo and others)

OVERALL OPINION

It is an essential micro and indestructible!

For beginners it is very much the case in absolutely all situations. For advanced use, both live in the studio, this mic is always right for the task entrusted to him ...

I always use the same for many years in many different situations and sometimes extreme. I take the example of a garage punk concert at which he was literally drowned in Sneeze, beer, sweat, and after a good cleaning + drying, it still works as the output of the box!

It's a cheap microphone, reference, I always recommend!

Cardioid dynamic microphone

OVERALL OPINION

nicknamed the Swiss army knife and it is justified.

It happens everywhere, not enough to excel in the studio but on stage is good enough and especially economic and unbreakable ...
It also breaks a micro anti testicle, Shure is a reference for anyone interested from near or far to the music, and not many people will tell you that it's shit or will tell you j "have not beautiful voice because of your microphone.

In short it goes everywhere and convenient way.
This is a must as are other as brother SM58

57 is used on the drums, guitar, piano, voice, etc. .....

And mostly you do not know what to put here and listen, then you'll see.

There is no more classic than this ... it is a fairly static directional sturdy (in reasonable limits, however). See the official website for specifications.

OVERALL OPINION

I think this is a fairly versatile mic, I use since 2001 for making acoustic instruments (snare drum and acoustic guitars and folk classics for the most part) and choirs to perform on stage or demos fast vocals. It is quite directional for my taste which allows use in hostile environments (on small scenes such repisse here where a lot of ambient sound), silent and neutral allowing behind a handle on the correct basis.

I conclude by mentioning the very good value for money and robust as long as you take in when even minimal care.

Bandwidth: 40 to 15000 Hz
Output Level (at 1,000 Hz): -56.0 dBV / Pa (1.6 mV)
Impedance: Rated impedance is 150 ohms (310 ohms actual) for connection to microphone inputs rated low impedance
Polarity: Positive pressure on diaphragm produces positive voltage on pin 2 relative to pin 3
Connector: Male XLR
Body: Cast steel gate and polycarbonate wind-stainless steel
Weight: 284 grams

for technical characteristics voila!
Me, I m using it to several reasons: the coupling to the HP of our guitar amps, sound hat and snare, but mostly I m using it to voice or I found this excellent micro

OVERALL OPINION

I used for over 10 years now and after having had the opportunity to compare with the traditional SM58 or Sennheiser E821, I found him a more neutral side
what I likes +: the grip, versatility to cover a wide frequency range while being "faithful", which prevented his side unidirectional other beats coming through the mix of voice effects

I love what the -: over time, the XLR is weakening (finally after 10 years!)

Well, you all know what's the point: cardioid dynamic microphone,
Voice behind and instruments.

Its particularity: Ben is released about 45 years ago, with the SM58!

If not, well it is directed "clarity" so medium. Forget the bass and treble extremes chiseled.
Solid, yes. As the SM58, he made his legend on the rock scene worldwide. So better be strong

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since I plugged a microphone into a table for the first time in concert. Any sound engineer had at the time. Now and always.

I restored a fleet of pickups for 1 year and yes, I added an SM57 and SM58.
I use the SM57 especially on some guitar amps. While I generally prefer the E906 ... Not the same sound. Further, let's say.

The SM57-SM58-like is not very sensitive. Especially compared to some modern microphones. So unless you have a sound that transplanting a sufficient level, if the guitar amp of course it is better a good preamp if you want to draw sth ... It's contradictory, but this cheap mic preamps likes that cost much more than him ... Again, except for medium and loud sounds, like the amp rock snare. It is also true for the SM58.

Value for money? Well today is a little overrated, I think. We pay the name. But hey, at the micro 100euros new, it may not be the flight anyway. Saying he had a good Q / P to 70euros ...

I would do if the choice? Yes, of course. You need one. Even if only because some musicians-or-mixers require. Habits ...
But I do not buy 10. Technology-and price-mics has also evolved in recent years ...

Just one thing: there are many opinions on this mic ... and I read some nonsense below. (Do not want to play my cunning, but there ...)
Proofread your opinions a little, please! There's no directivity "omni cardio. And directionality of SM57 and SM58 is the same. As for storing it in the "capacitor-type cardio ...
In addition, and importantly, to my knowledge there is no Shure "Made in China". They are WRONG. No wonder that the quality goes down compared to a Shure "Made in Mexico"! And, so, that he found a great sensitivity to feedback ... This is not my experience!

It must be said, for Shure (but beware, it's true for other brands too): there are a lot of FALSE. And resale value is affected! Damage.

type of microphone? Refer to the manufacturer this dynamic, cardioid, 40Hz - 15kHz

OVERALL OPINION

5 years of use, I work as a NGO and qu'autoentrepeneur since April ... to budget issues I need some solid pickups, versatile, and not too expensive option (a choir of children 5 years shoot in the stands and cabling microphones you cry ...) so in full confidence that adapts sm57 (almost) any place, any config, (almost) any instrument, it is always in my bag with sm58 beta52 beta 58 .... plus a few gripes that come from China via Germany .... Last using twisted: sound of rain sticks made in primary school ... Well, it happens. to buy without hesitation.
PS (I just reread and I do not have sound board a choir of children with SM 57 )

I want to say mike and do nothing while at the same time ... It is neither the best nor the worst for any type of application in particular. So it seems it is solid. I have 3 that are between 1 and 4 years, and they walk all well.

OVERALL OPINION

In my opinion, this microphone not worth its price, nor the adulation that the whole world for him. It is a dynamic microphone means, not better than others that are 2x times cheaper and more effective. At first I had bought to replicate guitar amps, I found it quite ... until I test condenser mics (Oktava mk012 among others) and I realized my mistake. The record was far better than the SM57, which colors the sound in a way sometimes unpleasant. In short, this microphone is useless, except when you have nothing else handy. I totally recommend for anyone who wants to make home-studio, for the same price, there is a large diaphragm condenser equally versatile (see above) and 50x ultimate in reproduction quality. (Requires different technology)

Unfortunately this microphone has a reputation blind and unjustified, which makes it almost inevitable to have in its fleet microphone to be taken seriously. So if I can recommend this microphone, it is solely for that purpose "psychological", but surely not for its sound qualities quite commonplace and its price, in my view, unjustified.

See below for all specifications.

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 10 years for transplanting various sources.
I used many different mics before and after buying my first SM57, and the following ...

It is a micro "stamped", which distorts the sound a bit, making it a tad more aggressive <img class="smiley" src="/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_lol.gif" alt="" /> Anyway that's my feeling.
I compared the Audix i5 home (which I greatly prefer the snare) and it seems that the Audix is ​​a more accurate rendering.

But anyway I like the color "Rock" of SM57. So I kept the SM57 on my guitars taken as a microphone that makes the attack sound of a guitar amp (I placed a large capsule or a precious and wonderful Royer further from the bowl for the rest of sound), and the Audix i5 on the snare ...

My wife offered me a new one for Christmas, I was happy <img class="smiley" src="/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_lol.gif" alt="" /> Mouarf <img class="smiley" src="/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_lol.gif" alt="" />

Value for money for a microphone and you must keep a lifetime, is very good.

I remake this choice with your eyes closed.

Beware of Chinese copies found secondhand cheap and at different places on the Net ...

Paul