Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

Worked in radio for 36 years and the best microphones I ever used were Shure SM7B's. I have used all kinds of microphones, some of which cost more than the SM7B. Name a microphone and I've probably worked at a station that had them. You can keep the tinny sounding Sennheiser MDU421's, boomy RCA 77DX's and 44's, stow away the overly sensitive Neuman U87's, wimpy sounding EV RE anythings and the sterile AKG anythings. Any other Shure microphone, other than the SM5, just is not the same either! I have no idea why the EV RE20 and RE27N/D seemed to have gained wider acceptance at radio stations. I guess because the Shure SM7B is less expensive people think it must be inferior. Yes, it has a slightly lower output than some other mics, but most broadcast and recording consoles have clean beefy preamps with lots of gain headroom and you will obtain a usable level with no outboard preamp required. Where you would need a preamp would be with a cheap mixer or when trying to use it live with a typical PA mixer. Compare the 1000 Htz specs of the EV RE20's 57 dB output at 1.5 mV to the SM7B's 59.0 dB at 1.12 mV and you see there really is 2 dB more audio signal delivered but at a lower voltage. So try it before ordering a preamp you may not actually need. If you do need one just a little boost is required and you can get that from an ART preamp for very little money. This microphone is natural, warm and rich sounding with absolutely no EQ applied and it never sounds boomy or muffled like some ribbon mics do when compressed. If God needed a microphone, he'd probably use this one. It comes with the integral shock mount cushioned stand mount and two windscreens including a close talking one. The thing about the SM7B I like most is the way it converts emotions into audio. It is easier for me to get a good take with one of these. There are adjustable EQ switches under the plate on the end of the microphone. It really comes with everything you need to start using it immediately except the stand and cable. This is the microphone Quincy Jones used to record Michael Jackson's vocals for "THRILLER." Also it was used when Bruce Springsteen or Pearl Jam made their hit recordings. For close talking applications there is nothing better as it has a very natural and smooth sound that compliments all voices. For recording or broadcasting the human voice, the Shure SM7B is tool number 1 for me and I've learned nothing else is close. By the same token the SM7B is not a general purpose microphone. So long as you use it for broadcast or recording studio voiceover narration or musical vocals you will be tickled to death. It has a nice and controlled proximity effect. This basic microphone design has been around for ages and is a descendant of the SM5 and SM5B which are discontinued but still in demand on the used market by voiceover artists. The early SM7 did not have the magnetic shielding that today's SM7B has. This microphone is a gem in noisy control rooms or home studios and equally at home in high end recording studios. Shure stands behind their products and offers full service if you ever need it. Avoid buying one used as there was a recent upgrade of the yoke/shock mount assembly.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

I just bought my 2nd SM7B last week for the podcast shows I'm doing. These work great for recording. They are shielded, so it blocks out any noise from computers, lights, etc. which works out great for my home studio. What I also like is you need a ton of gain to get the levels up, which means the mic doesn't pick up everything in the room when recording, just your voice. My condenser mics would pick up computer noise as well as any fans I had going. The SM7B doesn't pick up any of that noise and comes in crystal clear.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

That user on this review page that titles their review of this mic as: "quality, quality, quality" wasn't joking. After being frustrated and having touch and go/hot and cold experiences with cheap made Chinese mics, i figured since this is an industry standard mic but is at a budget price because it's been around for a while..it would be a steal. I was a little hesitant about spending money on a dynamic mic thinking that only condensers can bring you that wide open full sound. Man was I wrong, this mic is great, records with a nice even response, no unwanted frequencies anywhere that make your vocal quality sound hay-wire or too harsh/hissy. I boost up the high-end switch on the back of this mic (it's either depicted as a hi-pass filter or low-end cut) to cut out the natural bold/bassy fullness of this mic mic yet it still maintains that fullness with a nice crisp bite to it. I am so happy with the improvement of my sound, since I'm not looking to splurge on another more expensive industry standard anytime soon, this will be recording my whole album. The mic is so dynamic (no pun intended) that in my case at least..it seems you can work it around any project.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

I got this mic for some recording projects I was doing with a few metal bands because I heard that it was good on vocals. They weren't kidding. Needs no eq at all if the vocalist is whithin a foot and the presence and bass cut are engaged. Very warm and great midrange. I ended up using this for a lot of tracks, which I didn't expect. It sounded awesome on the kick and easily competes with my favorite kick mic, AKG D112. I set up two mics on the guitar amps, an SM57 and an SM7B, and the side by side comparisons were incredible. The SM7B sounds like an SM57 but just with more balls. Very thick tone from the amp. I could go on and on, but I've found that there hasn't been one sound source that I've tried that I didn't love the recorded sound from this mic, and I've tried it on everything from bass cabs to hi hats. Great value.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

Several years ago I had a Rode NT1-A with a Focusrite MK2 Producer Pack preamp (that's a $2,200 preamp coupled with the world's quietest condenser microphone!) and the quality I was getting was awesome. As time progressed and things got harder I ended up selling my two babies and several years later I recently purchased a new home studio on a smaller (much smaller!) budget. My newer studio was/is equipped with a PreSonus Channel strip and an MXL-V63M (that's a combined price of $400). An experienced audio engineer such as myself can still manage to get some pretty rockin' quality recordings out of this set up, but it was nothing compared to what I had in recent years. Finally I got sick and tired of spending so much time focusing on the technical aspect of things and not enough time on the creative side, so I decided to visit my local Guitar Center. Several guys there pitched the Shure SM7B to me so I picked it up and when I got home I was blown away!!!!! This thing ROCKS!! What had taken me hours to achieve previously I could now record and track with dry takes and little EQ (if any). Comparing my mixes to my earlier years is like day and night. This microphone is worth every penny. Every "serious" musician, sound engineer, broadcaster, etc. needs to have this microphone in their arsenal. If you want to compete with commercial recordings, then this microphone along with a decent preamp (make sure the preamp has at least 60db+ of input power) would make a great weaponry choice. This baby is also durable, comes with a bullet proof pop filter/plosive shield (nothing gets through!). Also keep in mind that microphone is delicate enough to NOT NEED PHANTOM POWER. It does a great job at eliminating unwanted low end frequencies, but I found that by using some subtractive EQing techniques you'll really get a bang for your buck: -4db at 600Hz (remove honkiness -Mid Q) -5db sharp cut at 170hz (extra low end rumble, great for male vocals) +2db or -2db at 7K depending on how bright you want your sound (the SM7B's presence boost does work great at times, but I found vocals to sound more pleasing with a flat top response and -2db at 7k)

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

this is the most wonderful mic ever..my vocals where awesome with out even going in my sound booth.. a very warm sound..cuts out all of the background noise.. super mic for the price... my one and only mic..love it

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

So you know how your voice sounds different through a mic or recorded than it does in your own head? The SM7B is the only microphone I have ever used that makes my voice sound like it does to my own ears. This mic needs no introduction, but in case you've never heard of it, here goes: all of Michael Jackson's vocals on the Thriller album, and Anthony Kiedis' vocals for every Red Hot Chili Peppers album, were captured with this microphone. Any mic that can faithfully reproduce such a wide variety of vocals (compare and contrast "Pretty Young Thing" and "Suck My Kiss") has to be something special. The thing is built like a tank. The capsule has an integrated shockmount, so you don't need an external one. The diaphragm is a few inches from the front of the mic, so you most likely won't need a pop filter other than one of the included foam mic covers. My voice is very loud and has a lot of low end. This mic has built in equalization that eliminates the usual problems associated with micing my voice. By using the built-in low end rolloff and the presence booster, I can get a recording of my voice that sounds "like me," rather than "like a recording of me," and I don't have to do a lot of extra EQ work on the vocal track later. If you get this mic, be sure to get a good preamp to go with it, because the mic is known to require a lot of clean gain (up to 70 dB)to produce good results.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

Since working in broadcasting the past 6 years, I've come across the usual mics; The RE20, MD421, etc. Those are not bad mics by any means. But every voice is different and some mics will sound better than others depending on YOUR voice. So I decided to pick up a new mic for my home studio and I already knew what I sounded like through the other mics and wanted to try something different. After hearing myself through the SM7B? I'm sold. This mic fits MY voice like a glove. Smooth response through all the frequencies, great noise rejection from the back and let's not forget; she's a sexy piece of metal. My favorite part? The fact that there are no "rubber band" style shock mounts to deal with. Screw it on and it's ready to roll. If you've ever seen an RE20 shock mount that's getting old, you'll know what I'm talking about. The internal shock mounting on the SM7B is quite good. You can move this mic around on a boom and it really doesn't pick up much movement noise, if any. I'm used to having to address these broadcast-style mics from the side to reduce popping. Not with this baby! I can speak directly into the front and get little to no popping. The mic itself seems to be built like a small, black Sherman tank with a windscreen. I don't feel as if I have to handle it like a newborn baby. I can't attest to how this mic performs when it comes to recording musical instruments, but as far as vocals go? Do yourself a favor...get this thing.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

This mic is killer if you are a rapper period. This is by far the best mic for voice-over sound in my opinion. Forget about MJ.... (no disrespect) this is the go to mic for any rapper who hates sounding thin on some cheap condenser mic. You will need a good preamp though to great the most out of this mic however. I run mines with the apollo twin duo. But before that a Cloud lifter and the Scarlett 6i6 from Focusrite did the trick. Every emcee should have one!!!

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

I use my mic for gigs, for performing at church on Sunday, recording at home, and if I want a fuller sound in my recordings I'll mic my guitar cab. It's pricy, but it is well worth it.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

a must have for vocals, works great on bass cabs, guitar, kick drum... its an all purpose studio workhorse, like an sm57 on steroids. so glad to finally have one in my possession, it's a really affordable way to upgrade your studio in a big way. it does take a good amount of gain to bring up the levels but if you have a halfway decent preamp it shouldn't be an issue. overall, so happy with it

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

I can't say enough about this Mic! I cant treat my room to be able to record properly, so this mic makes it possible to record Vocals, Guitars and anything I can think of. I love how my vocals standout without me having to mess with placement, enclosed spaces or anything else! Just plug it in and record what you like! Highly recommended!!!!

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

This microphone is a smooth alternative to the often over sensitive condensers available today. The SM7B has the ability to take an unusual voice and control it without a lot of EQ and compression. In a smaller studio setup this can be a real advantage. Just sing straight into the Mic and away you go! I also think this mic could solve a lot of problems for Hip Hop or R&B artists looking for a different sound. I use it for everything from Rap to singing and even the T-Pain sound! Smooth!!!!!

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

Seriously, this mic is superior than any mic guitar center sells for less than a grand. I spent several days researching and asking my fellow producers what they would suggest. This is a solid mic for recording vocals and percussion. I'm very happy...keep in mind you'll want some nice pre-amp though.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

I�ۡ���ve wanted this microphone for months, and finally had the chance to buy it. This microphone is almost bullet proof, and does a great job in the studio, and in live applications. The rejection of this microphone to external sound is outstanding, something you won�ۡ���t find in a microphone of this price range. I personally love this microphone for not having the sometimes unpractical over sensibility of condensers, and still do the job. It works very well for recording strong male vocals, and loud amplifiers. But I still think this microphone goes far beyond, and has undiscovered appliances. I would have paid twice for this one, without considering it. Of course, YOU NEED A PREAMP. This is a very quiet microphone, and if you don�ۡ���t want to get headaches about it you will get one. It has mechanical noise suppression, but I would recommend a good quality microphone stand for it.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

We have all read the references to Michael J bla bla bla. I bought this mic for my home studio with a specific task in mind. I needed a studio quality practice mic for vocals that had the ability to reject background sound. I'm not referring to studio noise floor. I'm talking about my 2 guitar amps that were bleeding into the vocal mic and creating false harmonies of the guitar amp through the vocal processor (vocalist live pro). My mic is located directly in front and between two mini stacks with the rear of the mic facing the amps, as I like to practice facing my amps. I run a pretty extensive vocal chain: mpa gold preamp, digitech vocalist live pro, two Roland side chain rack delays, side chain lexicon reverb and an inserted tube compressor when desired. I was immediately shocked at how well this mic rejected my amps from the vocal chain. This sm7b is a great sounding mic as well. It will rival many LD condensers but is not quite as open sounding. I don't have a great voice and I felt very comfortable and inspired. I only bought this as a practice mic but it is certainly going to get used for some tracking. I haven't yet felt the need to insert the compressor either. This mic has a nice natural compression. I will give that a try at some point. I gave it a quick try on acoustic guitar on its own and I didn't much care for that. Perhaps paired with a condenser to open it up a bit. Overall this mic is a must have for any studio especially if you have the need for isolation. You will need a beefy preamp. The vocalist preamp was incapable of properly driving this mic. I will try it on amp cabs, drums, etc. and probably purchase more as needed.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

I have mine attached to a heavy duty Rode mic stand on my desk in my studio. I am in online radio and do voice-over work. I also travel a great deal and was leaving this mic behind but I finally found a heavy-duty travel case to do the job.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

Vocals? Check. Electric guitar? Check. Acoustic guitar? Check. I've owned the SM7B for several years now and it never ceases to amaze me; everything I record with this mic sounds great. A lot of big bands use this mic in the studio as well, check out behind the scenes studio videos and you will spot this mic!

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

Get straight to it with this mic. Most of your research has led you to this mic. Enjoy.

Comments about Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:

I'm so glad that I finally got one of my own. This is the best vocal and voice over mic in the world. Even if I could own any other mic in the world this mic is better. For Pod-casts and radio/YouTube if you can afford this and a pre-amp and/or a cloud lifter nothing sounds better. Even mics in the thousands will not sound as good. I use The SM7B, to Cloud Lifter, to a ART MP (with a Tung-Sol tube swap) set the gain up all the way (Gain Boost OFF with the Cloud lifter) turn on phantom power (for cloud lift to work turn off if you don't use a Lifter, this is a dynamic Mic so it DOES NOT use the phantom power, the Cloud lifter does however.) Use the output to control the level to the interface/mixer with it's XLR inputs set to LINE LEVEL, Not Mic/Inst. Use a TS cable to a line level if no line level XLR input is available in your recording setup. It might sound kind of strange the first time you hear your voice recorded this clear. Works good on guitar cabs like another reviewer said and I agree a SM/58 with bigger balls.