Shure Logo.png
SM81

    SM81

    Condenser Instrument Microphone

    SKU: SM81-LC

    Cardioid condenser instrument microphone offers a wide frequency response and low self-noise. Features include flat...

    Related Products

    Further Reading

    • A KSM313 in front of an amp

      How to Choose the Best Mics for the Guitar

      Selecting the right microphone for guitar depends on whether you are recording acoustic or electric instruments and the tonal qualities you want to emphasize. Condenser mics capture acoustic detail, dynamic mics excel with electric amps, and ribbon mics add warmth and depth. Shure highlights models like the PGA81, SM81, SM57, and KSM313 to deliver clear, versatile sound for both studio and live use.
    • A recording studio.

      Sounding Out Home Studio Acoustics

      You can have the best recording equipment in the world, but that won’t matter much if you don’t first sort out your home studio acoustics.
    • None

      Jimmy Fallon's Band The Roots: Mics of the Tonight Show

      One of Jimmy Fallon's biggest loves is the musical portion of the show, which is why he chose to bring along his friends from The Roots to continue as the house band on this new version of The Tonight Show.
    • None

      Top 8 Microphone Myths Exposed

      We're setting the record straight on mic folklore and debunking the most common microphone microphone myths.
    • None

      Choosing a Saxophone Microphone for Recording and Live Sound

      In this post, we're going to turn the spotlight on an essential instrument in the horn section: the saxophone. To help us do it, we've turned to a trio of pros: ADAM HILL from Memphis's legendary Ardent Studios (where everyone from Big Star to the Staples Singers and Isaac Hayes has recorded), FOH Engineer FRANK GILBERT who mixes sound at Chicago's hippest live music venues and our own DEAN GIAVARAS, a sax player and the chief recording engineer at Shure's state-of-the-art Performance Listening Center.
    • None

      Five Easy Pieces: Miking Drums with a Shure SM27

      Five Easy Pieces: Miking Drums with a Shure SM27

    • Shure Tech Tip: Methods to Minimize Wind Noise

      Wind noise is a persistent problem with microphones but there are multiple ways to minimize unwanted noise. In this post, we offer methods to achieve this.

    • Miking the Rhythm Section

      Karen Stackpole provides a rudimentary primer for miking the rhythm section: guitars, bass, piano, and drums.

    • Beyond the Basics: Drum Miking

      We talked to three drummers whose approaches to drum miking are as different as their musical odysseys: Jim Riley, Paul Wertico, and finally, Simon Phillips.