The Shure SM57 is renowned as a “versatile workhorse” in the sound recording world. Even the US President uses it – and has done for over 30 years!
One of the most widely used instrument mics anywhere in the world, the Shure SM57 is at its best when recording acoustic or amplified instruments. Ask almost any recording engineer what the best microphone is for miking a snare drum and their answer will be the Shure SM 57. Many consider it the baseline standard microphone against which other instrument recording mics are rated.
How often can you find an SM57 right in front of the lead guitar cab whenever a band is laying down tracks? More often than not…
SM57 for me?
But do you really need to include this microphone in your recording studio gear?
Yes, you very probably should have at least one, if you run a smaller studio where you don’t have the luxury of specializing and need a few mics to cover a variety of applications. And yes, “sure” you should, if you regularly record instruments like guitar amp, bass guitar, or drums with toms and snare.
