The Shure SM57 is a low- impedance cardioid

dynamic Dynamics (from Greek δυναμικός ''dynamikos'' "powerful", from δύναμις ''dynamis'' "power") or dynamic may refer to: Physics and engineering * Dynamics (mechanics) ** Aerodynamics, the study of the motion of air ** Analytical dynam ...

microphone made by Shure Incorporated and commonly used in live sound reinforcement and studio recording. It is one of the best-selling microphones in the world. It is used extensively in amplified music and has been used for speeches by every U.S. president since its introduction in 1965.TECnology Hall of Fame: 2004
In 2004, honoring its four decades of "solid, dependable performance", it was inducted into the first-ever TEC Awards TECnology Hall of Fame.

Background

The origin of SM57 may be traced to 1937, when Shure engineer

Benjamin Bauer Benjamin B. Bauer (originally Baumzweiger) (1913–1979) was a Russian Empire-born American acoustic engineer, who worked for the Shure]microphonecompany and produced over 100 patents. His early work in acoustics lead to the development of modern so ...

developed the first single-element directional microphone, the Unidyne, which had a cardioid pickup pattern. In 1959, another Shure engineer, Ernie Seeler, advanced the art of microphone design significantly with the Unidyne III. Seeler torture-tested the Unidyne III during three years of

research and development Research and development (R&D or R+D), known in Europe as research and technological development (RTD), is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations or governments in developing new services or products, and improving existi ...

and thereby, produced the SM series of rugged and reliable Shure microphone capsules. The "SM" stands for Studio Microphone; Seeler was an aficionado of classical music and expected the SM57 to be used for orchestras. Because he "despised"

rock music Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as " rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particularly in the United States an ...

, the TEC Foundation said that it was ironic that the microphone has become "a mainstay of rock music."

Characteristics

The SM57 uses the same capsule as the popular

SM58 The Shure SM58 is a professional cardioid dynamic microphone, commonly used in live vocal applications. Produced since 1966 by Shure Incorporated, it has built a strong reputation among musicians for its durability and sound, and is still consid ...

. Like the SM58, the SM57 is fitted with an

XLR connector The XLR connector is a type of electrical connector primarily used in professional audio, video, and stage lighting equipment. XLR connectors are cylindical in design, and have three to seven connector pins, and are often employed for analog b ...

and is impedance balanced, which helps to minimize electrical hum and noise pickup when connected to a balanced input. According to Shure, the frequency response extends from 40

Hertz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that on ...

(Hz) to 15 kHz. The SM57 is manufactured in the United States, Mexico, and China. The Shure A2WS is an accessory windscreen for the SM57 that attenuates wind noise and

plosives In phonetics, a plosive, also known as an occlusive or simply a stop, is a pulmonic consonant in which the vocal tract is blocked so that all airflow ceases. The occlusion may be made with the tongue tip or blade (, ), tongue body (, ), lips ...

("pop" sounds), and protects the microphone capsule.

Use

The SM57 is a popular choice of musicians due to its sturdy construction and ability to work well with instruments that produce high

sound pressure level Sound pressure or acoustic pressure is the local pressure deviation from the ambient (average or equilibrium) atmospheric pressure, caused by a sound wave. In air, sound pressure can be measured using a microphone, and in water with a hydrophone ...

s, such as percussion instruments and electric guitars. The School of Audio Engineering (SAE) recommends the SM57 (along with other makes and models) for four roles in a drum kit: kick drum,

snare drum The snare (or side drum) is a percussion instrument that produces a sharp staccato sound when the head is struck with a drum stick, due to the use of a series of stiff wires held under tension against the lower skin. Snare drums are often used ...

, rack toms, and floor tom. The cardioid pickup pattern of the microphone reduces the pickup of unwanted background sound and the generation of acoustic feedback. SM57s have also been a staple when reinforcing the sound from guitar amplifiers. In a more unconventional fashion, the SM57 has been favored by some as a vocal mic, both live and in the studio. Notable singers known to have recorded vocals with an SM57 include

Anthony Kiedis Anthony Kiedis ( ; born November 1, 1962) is an American singer and songwriter. He is a founding member and lead vocalist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis and his fellow band members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fa ...

, Brandon Flowers,

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...

, David Bowie, John Lennon, Jack White, Bjork,

Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist. He rose to fame as the original lead singer of the progressive rock band Genesis. After leaving Genesis in 1975, he launched ...

Paul Rodgers Paul Rodgers (born 17 December 1949) is a British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was the lead vocalist of numerous bands, including Free, Bad Company, The Firm, and The Law. He has also performed as a solo artist, and co ...

, Tom Waits,

Wayne Coyne Wayne Michael Coyne (born January 13, 1961) is an American musician. He is the lead singer, guitarist, keyboardist, theremin player and songwriter for the band the Flaming Lips. Early life Coyne was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United Stat ...

, Tom Petty Alice Cooper, Erykah Badu,

Caleb Followill Kings of Leon is an American rock band formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill, and their cousin Matthew Followill. The band's early music was a blend of Southern rock and ga ...

and Raphael Saadiq. An early model of the mic, the Unidyne 545 was used on '' Pet Sounds'' for

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...

's vocal tracks. Every U.S. president since Lyndon B. Johnson has delivered speeches through an SM57. It became the lectern microphone of the White House Communications Agency in 1965, the year of its introduction, and remains so. Due to its popularity, the SM57 has been

counterfeit To counterfeit means to imitate something authentic, with the intent to steal, destroy, or replace the original, for use in illegal transactions, or otherwise to deceive individuals into believing that the fake is of equal or greater value tha ...

ed frequently by manufacturers in China and Thailand. Shure Distribution UK reports that the SM57, SM58, Beta 57A, and Beta 58A are their microphones that are most commonly counterfeited. In 2006, Shure mounted a campaign against the trading of counterfeit microphones.Shure Distribution UK. ''Shure Distribution UK Clamp Down on Counterfeiters''

Specifications

;Type: Dynamic ;Frequency response: 40 to 15,000 Hz ;Polar pattern: Cardioid ;Sensitivity (at 1,000 Hz open circuit voltage): −56.0 dBV/Pa (at 1,000 Hz) ;Impedance: Rated impedance is 150 ohms (300 ohms actual) for connection to microphone inputs rated low impedance ;Connector: Three-pin professional audio connector (male XLR type) ;Produced: 1965–present

References

External links

SM57 official pageSound&Recording - 50 Years of Shure SM57
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shure Sm57 SM57

Background

Characteristics

Use

Specifications

See also

References

External links