Shure SM57 and SM57-LC: Is This Dynamic Microphone Right for You?

The Shure SM57 is a cardioid dynamic microphone with an XLR connector, used on guitar amplifiers, drums, speech and vocals. It is an analog microphone with no USB connection and no software of its own, so whether it suits you depends mostly on the rest of your setup. This guide explains what you need, how to connect and configure it for recording or video calls, and how to check the result.

Before you start

The SM57 and the SM57-LC are the same microphone. LC stands for "less cable": the SM57-LC package does not include an XLR cable. Other accessories, such as a stand adapter or pouch, can vary by bundle and region, so check the contents listed on the box or by your retailer.

• An XLR microphone cable, bought separately if you have the SM57-LC.
• An audio interface, mixer or recorder with an XLR microphone input and enough gain for a dynamic microphone.
• A microphone stand or holder that fits the stand adapter you have.
• Headphones, if you want to monitor yourself without speaker feedback.
• The driver or control software for your interface, if its maker requires one for your operating system.

The whole process runs locally. The microphone sends an analog signal to your interface, and the interface appears on the computer as an input device. No account or online service is required by the microphone itself. If your recording or call app stores or uploads audio, verify how it handles files in that app's own privacy and storage information.

The SM57 is a good fit for close sources: instrument amplifiers, snare and toms, and voices recorded at short distance. Its cardioid pattern picks up mostly what is in front of it and less from the sides and rear, which helps in untreated or noisy rooms. It is a weaker fit if you want a plug-in USB microphone with no extra hardware, or if you need to speak from far away, because dynamic microphones work best close to the source and usually need more gain than condenser microphones.

Step-by-step instructions

• 1. Turn the gain for the interface input down to minimum and lower your headphone or speaker volume.
• 2. Connect the XLR cable from the microphone to the interface's microphone input. On a combo jack, push the XLR plug in until it locks.
• 3. Leave phantom power (48V) off for that channel. The SM57 does not need it.
• 4. Connect the interface to the computer and install its driver if the manufacturer requires one.
• 5. Note your current default input device so you can switch back later, then select the interface as the input device in your operating system's sound settings. If you monitor through the interface, select it as the output device too.
• 6. Select the same input device inside your recording or video call app, because many apps keep their own device choice separate from the system default.
• 7. Point the front of the microphone at the source and start close. Moving closer adds bass (the proximity effect); angling the microphone slightly off your mouth reduces popping sounds.
• 8. Speak or play at the loudest level you expect to use and raise the gain until the meter shows a strong signal without the clip or peak indicator lighting.
• 9. Use the same sample rate in the interface's control software, if it has one, and in your app. 48 kHz is common for video and calls, 44.1 kHz for music projects.
• 10. If your call app offers automatic input level adjustment or noise suppression, decide whether to keep it on. Automatic adjustment can fight the gain you set manually.

Check the output

Record a short test that includes your normal voice or playing, your loudest moment and a few seconds of silence. Listen back on headphones. Peaks should be clear and undistorted, and the silent section shows how much hiss and background noise the setup captures. For video calls, use the app's microphone test if it has one, or record a test meeting, since call apps may process audio differently from a recording app. The file format and sample rate of a recording are set by the app and interface, not by the microphone, so check them in the app's export or recording settings.

Common problems and next steps

• No signal: confirm the correct input device in both the system and the app, check that the right interface channel has gain, try another cable, and make sure the operating system allows the app to use the microphone.
• Too quiet: move closer to the source before adding more gain. If the gain is at maximum and the sound is still weak and hissy, the interface may lack enough clean gain; an inline gain booster or a preamp with more gain can help. Note that inline boosters typically need phantom power to run, even though the microphone itself does not.
• Hiss or background noise: hiss usually comes from very high gain, so closer placement with lower gain is the first fix. For room noise, aim the rear of the microphone toward the noise source, since that is where a cardioid pattern rejects the most sound.
• Distortion: lower the interface gain first, then check whether the app's own input level is also set too high.
• Boomy or muddy voice: move slightly farther back to reduce the proximity effect.
• Popping on P and B sounds: angle the microphone off-axis or use a foam windscreen or pop filter.
• Hum or buzzing: try a different cable and keep the cable away from power supplies and adapters.
• Echo in video calls: wear headphones so the microphone does not pick up your speakers.
• Using an XLR-to-3.5 mm adapter on a computer's microphone jack usually gives a weak, noisier signal; an audio interface with an XLR input is the more reliable route.
• To undo the setup, switch the input device back to the one you noted earlier in both the system and your apps.