audiobriefs
9:19in productionCh. 1 · No Switch, No Shine/ 9:19 · ceiling 15 min
Microphones & preamps · Studio & recording

Shure SM57

Shure · 1965

It doesn’t flatter. It doesn’t fail. It just works — and that’s why it’s never been replaced.

The Shure SM57 is a low-impedance cardioid dynamic microphone introduced in 1965. It uses the Unidyne III capsule, shares design DNA with the SM58, and features impedance balancing via XLR. Its frequency response runs from 40 Hz to 15 kHz. Its cardioid pattern reduces background noise and feedback. It was built for TV studios — non-reflective, no on-off switch — and tested under torture. It has been used for every U.S. presidential speech since 1965 and remains one of the world’s two bestselling microphones since the late 1960s.

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Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:51
    No Switch, No Shine

    Built for TV studios in 1965 — no switch, no shine, no compromise.

  2. 2:05
    The Capsule That Stuck

    Same Unidyne III capsule as the SM58 — rugged, cardioid, low-impedance.

  3. 3:36
    What It Captures — And What It Cuts

    40 Hz–15 kHz response. Cardioid rejection. Impedance-balanced XLR.

  4. 5:17
    The Mic That Never Left the Podium

    Used by every U.S. president since 1965 — and one of the two bestselling mics since the late 1960s.

Worth your time?

Yes. Use the whole thing.

4.5/ 5
What works
  • as a snare drum mic
  • on guitar cabinets
  • for spoken-word reinforcement
  • in feedback-prone environments
What does not
  • offer variable filters
  • extend below 40 Hz or above 15 kHz
  • include an on-off switch
  • provide multiple polar patterns
Use it if
  • engineers needing durability and consistency
  • live sound techs handling high-SPL sources
  • budget-conscious studios requiring reliable workhorses
Skip it if
  • users needing extended low or high frequency response
  • those requiring onboard attenuation or tone shaping
  • applications demanding omnidirectional or figure-8 patterns
The written brief1 min read

What it is and what it was built for

A low-impedance cardioid dynamic microphone introduced in 1965 for TV studios. Designed with a non-reflective finish and no switch, built to survive torture tests.

How it works, in terms a player would use

It is a dynamic microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern. It connects via XLR and uses impedance balancing to reduce hum and noise. It has no on-off switch. Its Unidyne III capsule delivers a frequency response from 40 Hz to 15 kHz.

What it does better than anything else

It rejects off-axis sound and feedback more reliably than most dynamic mics at its price. It handles high SPLs from guitar cabinets and snare drums without distortion or damage.

What it does badly

It does not capture full low-end extension below 40 Hz or high-frequency air above 15 kHz. It offers no pad, no filter, no output control — just one fixed response and one polar pattern.

What people made with it

Presidential speeches since Lyndon Baines Johnson. Live drum kits. Guitar cabinets. Studio vocals. Broadcast audio. Every U.S. president since 1965 has used it for speeches.

Who should use it, and who should not

Engineers who need a durable, consistent, no-fuss mic for loud sources or noisy rooms. Not for users who require variable patterns, high-frequency detail, or low-end extension beyond 40 Hz.

Is it worth your time

Yes. It remains in production, widely used, and built for daily abuse — not nostalgia or collectibility.

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Shure SM58

Shure · 1966 · 8:46

It doesn’t sound perfect—it sounds like a voice that won’t quit.

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8:46