When you look at the setups of top-tier podcasters, you almost always see the exact same microphone: the iconic Shure SM7B. But at roughly $400, that “industry standard” is a massive financial hurdle for anyone just starting out.
Enter the Shure SM57.
Retailing right around $99, this legendary instrument microphone is a permanent fixture on drum kits and guitar amps worldwide. But can a mic built to handle a screaming guitar stack actually work for spoken-word audio?
The short answer is yes — and shockingly well. In fact, with a couple of cheap tweaks, the SM57 can become a dead ringer for its $400 big brother. Let’s break down how to pull it off for your PodGearLab setup.
Why the SM57 Secretly Excels at Podcasting
The SM57 and the premium SM7B are much closer relatives than Shure’s marketing department might want you to think. Underneath their radically different outer shells, both microphones share a nearly identical internal cartridge design based on Shure’s classic Unidyne III capsule.
Because they share the same DNA, the SM57 inherits several premium characteristics that are perfect for home studios:
- Superb Off-Axis Rejection: The SM57 features a tight cardioid pickup pattern. This means it records what is directly in front of it while ignoring the room echo, computer fans, and air conditioning noise that usually ruin recordings in untreated spare bedrooms.
- Indestructible Build Quality: Audio engineers jokingly say you can use an SM57 as a hammer to build a stage and then use it to record the show. It will survive accidental drops off your boom arm without breaking a sweat.
- An Uncluttered Desktop: Unlike massive broadcast microphones that block half your face on a video podcast, the SM57 is incredibly slim, compact, and camera-friendly.
The Catch: Why You Can’t Use It “Naked”
If you pull a brand-new SM57 out of the box, plug it into your audio interface, and start talking directly into it, you are going to run into a major issue: plosives.
Because the SM57 was designed for instruments, it doesn’t have a built-in metal grille or internal foam pop filter to catch the air blasts from words starting with “P,” “B,” or “T.” If you speak close to the bare capsule, those heavy breaths will cause massive, distorted low-end pops in your audio.
The $15 Fix: The Shure A2WS Windscreen
To transform this instrument workhorse into a professional vocal mic, you need to add an external windscreen.
While cheap, generic foam sleeves help a little, the real secret weapon is the Shure A2WS Locking Foam Windscreen. This specific windscreen locks securely onto the SM57 barrel and extends past the capsule, introducing the exact amount of physical distance and air diffusion needed to completely eliminate plosive pops.
Once you pop the A2WS on, the SM57 essentially transforms into a mini-SM7B — yielding a rich, clear broadcast tone at a fraction of the cost.
How the SM57 Compares to the Competition
| Attribute | Shure SM57 (with A2WS) | Shure SM7B | Rode PodMic |
| Price | ~$115 (Total) | ~$399 | ~$99 |
| Connection | XLR | XLR | XLR (or USB/XLR on newer models) |
| Gain Needed | Moderate | High (Often requires an inline preamp) | Moderate |
| Sound Profile | Crisp mids, clear highs | Deep, warm, smooth | Bright, slightly sharp highs |
Gear Setup Guide for the SM57
Because the SM57 is a dynamic microphone, it requires a solid amount of “clean gain” to get your voice to a healthy volume without adding a layer of hissing background noise.
1.Mount the Microphone:Step 1.
Attach the SM57 to a sturdy desktop stand or an adjustable boom arm using the included mic clip. Slide the Shure A2WS windscreen firmly over the top until it locks into place.
2.Connect via XLR:Step 2.
Plug a high-quality XLR cable into the bottom of the SM57 and connect the other end to your audio interface (like a Focusrite Scarlett, Elgato Wave XLR, or Volt 1).
3.Set Your Gain Levels:Step 3.
Turn the gain knob on your interface up while speaking at your normal podcasting volume. For an SM57, you’ll typically need to turn the knob to about 75% to 85% of its maximum capacity.
4.Practice Mic Technique:Step 4.
Position your mouth roughly 2 to 4 inches away from the windscreen. To entirely avoid lingering plosives, aim the microphone slightly off-center (toward your cheek rather than directly at your lips).
The PodGearLab Verdict: Should You Buy It?
The Shure SM57 is one of the smartest budget workarounds in the audio world. If you want a professional, broadcast-ready sound that blocks out room noise, but you aren’t ready to drop $400 on a heavy-duty setup, buy the SM57 and the A2WS windscreen.
It delivers 90% of the performance of the legendary SM7B for roughly a quarter of the price, leaving you plenty of extra budget to spend on your audio interface, headphones, or video lighting.