If you are a musician, you’re probably already familiar with the Shure SM57. You might even have one stuck in front of a guitar amp, in a microphone locker, or even in a toolbox in case you need a hammer for those pesky issues that might come up when you’re building out your home studio or working with a band that tends to get on your nerves.
For those that don’t know, the Shure SM57 is probably one of the most commonly recorded unidirectional dynamic mics in the audio industry. Most often, it is used for mic’ing guitar amps. The SM57 also gets used frequently when recording acoustic drum kits.
However, today, we’re going to be demoing the Shure SM57 for voice recording.
Is the Shure SM57 Good for Voice Recording?
My Home Voice Recording Signal Chain
This is how I currently have my signal chain set up for recording. I use this for voice work as well as for music vocals.
The SM57 is going directly into a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6. From there, I’m also using a Rane ME 30 Equalizer, a DOD R-825 Compressor, and an AudioLogic MT44 noise gate to clean up the sound a bit (in that order).
The Shure SM57 is a fantastic microphone that can cover a lot of territory, and it works great for both musical and non-musical voice recording. And at around $99 it’s a must-have for your home recording studio.
Where to Buy Shure SM57(and Other Gear)
- Shure SM57 on Amazon
- USED Shure SM57 on eBay
- Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 on Amazon
- USED Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 on eBay
- USED DOD R-825 Compressor on eBay
- USED Rane ME 30 Equalizer on eBay
- USED AudioLogic MT44 Gate on eBay
If the SM57 doesn’t quite fit your voice recording needs, check out my MXL MCA SP1 demo.