That message
usually means you're trying to export only the MIDI track, not the audio track of the soft synth.
They both need to be selected in order to export audio.
But in this case I assume it's a plain audio track in question, as the Shure SM57-X2U, as far as I understand,
only records audio. So, if your export source is, say, Master, and the audio track is routed to master bus, OR the track is selected and export source is Track, I can't understand how that message can occur.
The sound quality of the X2U-unit shouldn't per se be audibly any better than that of the POD, but maybe the SM57
is a better mic than your previous one.
There are, IMO, no tricks nor traps included in exporting, it should be very simple and straightforward, so I can't imagine what's wrong.