Category: Tech Topic

When there can be no “Take Two,” audio professionals worldwide choose Shure. On February 22, 2026, over one hundred million people viewed the 2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony in Verona, Italy. Much of the music was pre-recorded with performers singing live-to-track or lip-synching. When the audio, speech or music, was live, Shure products were on duty. Verona Arena, site of the 2026 Olympics Closing Ceremony As Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry delivered her closing remarks, two SM57 microphones held by… -more-

It was 1929 when a microphone first appeared in a catalog issued by Shure Brothers Company. Shure catalog listing, 1929 Your author was puzzled when initially viewing this listing, “How could a microphone be universal?” The answer emerged when I discovered the existence of the Universal Microphone Company Limited, 1163 Hyde Park Boulevard, Inglewood, California. Founded in 1928 by James Fouch, Universal was established to meet the growing demand for high-quality microphones and audio equipment. Research has failed to reveal… -more-

The 1930s were pivotal for Shure Brothers Company. We entered the decade as a distributor of products then exited as a manufacturer of innovative audio transducers. During this time, multiple market forces affected Shure. None were more important than the rapid development of smaller and affordable public address systems. Shure sales flier, 1939 Here is a 1935 article that appeared in the catalog of the Radio Trading Company, New York City. P.A. Systems — A New Field for the Service Man Today, more than… -more-

If one is new to the professional audio industry, the term “phantom power” can be confusing. So first, a primer: What Is Phantom Power? This is not Phantom Power…but The Phantom Corsair1930s Car of Tomorrow Now the history… Decades before phantom powering was developed for condenser microphones there was a similar concept, called “simplex,” employed for telephone systems. The definition of telephony simplex is: A circuit in which a ground-return telephone is superimposed on a full metallic circuit to obtain an… -more-

2026 is the 60th anniversary of the Unidyne III SM58. A Unidyne III microphone element is also in our SM57 and SM7B. This is the third of a three-part series. SM58 print ad, 1982 In the previous Tech Tip, we discussed the Unidyne III transducer design and how it provides these improved features:

1. Small size to be unobtrusive
2. Suitable frequency response
3. Unidirectional cardioid pattern
4. Uniform polar pattern at all frequencies to reduce acoustic feedback
5. Uniform polar pattern of rotational symmetry along the

… -more-

2026 is the 60th anniversary of the Unidyne III SM58. A Unidyne III microphone element is also in our SM57 and SM7B. This is the second of a three-part series. SM58 catalog listing, 1967 When Shure engineers Ernie Seeler and Ben Bauer began developing the Unidyne III in 1956, they created a list of practical improvements over the popular Unidyne II Model 55S. This “new microphone for public address” would have these features:

1. Small size to be unobtrusive
2. Suitable frequency response
3. High

… -more-

2026 is the 60th anniversary of the Unidyne III SM58. A Unidyne III microphone element is also in our SM57 and SM7B. This is the first of a three-part series. SM58 poster from England, circa 1985 The revolutionary Unidyne III diaphragm, developed by Shure engineer Ernie Seeler, was patented in 1964 – U.S. patent number 3,132,713. A patent can be difficult to understand as the language is part legal and part scientific. Also, the same invention feature is often described multiple times… -more-

In December 1943, S.N. Shure recorded a Companywide announcement onto a 78 RPM record – that disc is kept in our archive. Here is the link to hear his audio**: Mr. Shure Announcement 1943 Mr. Shure, 1943 December 1943 Announcement by S.N. Shure Our big Christmas party has become a tradition here at Shure Brothers. Since 1936, the employees each year have put on a very fine party in which participation has been restricted entirely to our own organization. Shure Shots… -more-

At Shure’s holiday entertainment each December, humorous sketches are a tradition dating back to 1936. Honoring that tradition, your author presents today’s Tech Tip. But first – if unfamiliar with the brilliant “Cheese Shop Sketch,” written and performed by Monty Python’s Flying Circus, please click on this link before reading on: The Cheese Shop Michael Palin and John Cleese – The Cheese Shop PRO AUDIO SHOP SKETCH Some of us are old enough to remember brick & mortar establishments at which one… -more-

In Spring 2015, the Shure Unidyne microphone was selected to be a permanent acquisition in the Architecture and Design Division of the Museum of Modern Art [MoMA] in New York City. Our Model 55 may be viewed in the MoMA online collection: Shure Unidyne Mic by Bauer and Shearer The Unidyne I, arguably the most recognizable of Shure microphones, is comfortable amongst its famous neighbors: sculptures by Brancusi, paintings by Monet, furniture by Eames, architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright, and photographs… -more-