Shure

Shure SM57-LC Instrument Microphone Dynamic Cardioid XLR

4.8 (5518 reviews)

Capture Instrument Perfection with Industry Standard ReliabilityThe Shure SM57-LC is a professional-grade dynamic microphone renowned for its exceptional instrument reproduction in both studio and live settings. Its cardioid polar pattern ensures excellent isolation, capturing the true essence of...

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

Capture Instrument Perfection with Industry Standard Reliability

The Shure SM57-LC is a professional-grade dynamic microphone renowned for its exceptional instrument reproduction in both studio and live settings. Its cardioid polar pattern ensures excellent isolation, capturing the true essence of your sound while minimizing background noise. Ideal for drums, percussion, and instrument amplifier miking, the SM57 delivers clarity and durability for any performance.

Specifications:
  • Type: Dynamic
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 40 Hz to 15 kHz
  • Connector: XLR
  • Material: Plastic
  • Included: A25D Swivel Stand Adapter, Storage Bag
  • Recommended Use: Instruments, Vocals

Key Features

INSTRUMENT CLARITY: A contoured frequency response with a refined presence boost enhances attack, detail, and clarity, helping guitar amps, snare drums, brass, and acoustic instruments stand out cleanly in both live mixes and studio recordings

A TRUE STUDIO & STAGE STAPLE: Trusted by musicians and engineers worldwide, the Shure SM57 delivers consistent, professional sound from home studios to major stages, capturing the full character, energy, and nuance of every performance

FOCUSED, LOW-BLEED CAPTURE: A precise cardioid pickup pattern isolates your sound source while reducing background noise and bleed, making it ideal for close-miking guitar cabinets, snare drums, percussion, and brass in complex recording setups

ROAD-TESTED DURABILITY: Built with Shure’s legendary rugged construction, the SM57 handles high sound pressure levels, frequent transport, and demanding sessions with ease, delivering dependable performance for both live gigs and daily studio use

VERSATILE ACROSS APPLICATIONS: Perfect for guitar amplifiers, bass cabinets, drums, horns, and more, this dynamic XLR microphone adapts to a wide range of instruments and environments while maintaining clear, reliable, professional-quality sound

Specifications

Microphone Type
Dynamic
Polar Pattern
Cardioid
Connectivity
XLR
Frequency Response Feature
Contoured with Presence Boost
Durability
Rugged Construction
Application
Instruments (Guitar Amps, Snare Drums, Brass, Acoustic)

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Contoured frequency response with a presence boost enhances clarity and detail for various instruments.
  • Exceptional at making guitar amps, snare drums, brass, and acoustic instruments stand out in mixes and recordings.
  • A true staple trusted by musicians and engineers globally for consistent, professional sound quality.
  • Delivers the full character, energy, and nuance of performances, making it a versatile choice.
  • Precise cardioid pickup pattern isolates the sound source effectively, reducing unwanted background noise and bleed.
  • Legendary rugged construction ensures high durability, handling high sound pressure levels and frequent transport with ease.

👎 Cons

  • The cardioid pickup pattern requires careful placement to avoid off-axis coloration or reduced sensitivity.
  • As a dynamic microphone, it may require higher gain from preamps compared to condenser microphones for certain applications.
  • Lacks features like an on/off switch or pad/low-cut filters that might be present on other microphones.
  • The XLR connection type means it requires an audio interface or mixer with an XLR input and compatible cables.
  • While versatile, its specific frequency response is contoured for instruments, potentially not ideal for all vocal applications without EQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Shure SM57-LC is ideal for guitar amplifiers, bass cabinets, drums, horns, and other instruments, designed to make them stand out clearly.
Yes, it features a precise cardioid pickup pattern that isolates your sound source and helps reduce background noise and bleed.
Yes, it is built with Shure's legendary rugged construction, designed to handle high sound pressure levels and frequent transport for dependable performance.
It has a contoured frequency response with a refined presence boost, which enhances attack, detail, and clarity for instruments.
Yes, the Shure SM57 is a studio staple, delivering consistent, professional sound for both home studios and major stages.
The Shure SM57-LC uses a standard XLR connector for audio output.