Does the Shure SM7B and UAD Apollo Twin need a Cloudlifter or Fethead?
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- Do you need a Triton Fethead or Cloudlifter CL-1 when using a Shure SM7B dynamic microphone with the UAD Apollo Twin MKII? Find out it in this video.
Season 1 Episode 8: In this video we find out if you truly need an extra preamp module for your audio interface when using a Shure SM7B which typically has some of the lowest output levels. I will demo 2 clips and share my thoughts on whether a Triton Fethead helps. 
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There was definitely more noise without the Fethead, honestly was looking for something like this for a while, great video!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
@@AlvinSWongMusic Please, I am in need of your advice. I have the SM7B and the Apollo Twin X.
What would you recommend: getting an ISA One to use with the Twin X and SM7B, or just an SE DM1 Dynamite (or even better, SE DM2 T.N.T.)?
Would I miss the ISA's transformer-based sound or could I just use the Unison UAD plugins to achieve that, after the SE brings the signal up to good headroom levels?
Thank you very much in advance!
Hi Gabor, Considering the cost of the ISA is up to 7x more than a triton Fethead or dynamite. I would personally be more inclined to go that route and put the extra cash into more UAD plugins for maximum flexibility. The UAD with U-610 is a very popular alternative to the ISA from all the gear chatter. I have not had personal AB testing myself but I don’t think you’ll regret a low cost transparent fethead or dynamite. Best wishes!
@@AlvinSWongMusic Thank you! I got both 610 preamp plugins, but discovered recently, that after the latest MacOS update to Monterey, they don't work anymore (and UA promises no support date even).
I do have other tube pre plugins in my account, though, like the Voxbox or Century Tube Channel Strip, so I'm not sure if that is a big issue, or that the 610s are so special in their sound presentation.
Thanks again, your opinion helped me much in my decision.
Yeah always a pain when new updates and new chipset comes out for support across the board. Let me know how your new combinations work out. Cheers.
Just a note that the intro and the outro of the video was with the Rode NT1A microphone. The rest of the video presentation was with the Shure SM7B and with the Triton Fethead except for the comparison clip. 😉
@@Kawo26 Yup. In a treated room like my studio, the condenser mic like the NT1a and the dynamic SM7B differences are not too huge that a regular audience can tell. SM7B is more hi cut and picks up less room ambient sounds. Eq compression and FX can do wonders on either mics.
Hey Alvin! I have a question that I'm having trouble finding an answer to online. I have a rode NTK, I'm wondering if the unison preamps on my apollo x4 are good enough to pair and bring out the mics full potential or if I would be better off with an external hardware preamp. Basically same question as your video pertains to except with the Rode NTK rather than the Shure SM7B. Thanks!
@@batmosh1522 Hi Bat, I don't have personal experience with the Rode NTK but it looks like a great tube condenser mic. From what I see on the spec sheets it appears to be about 6dB's less sensitive than my Rode NT1-A here and with that I have lots of headroom even for unison preamps like the U610 which only provides like 30dB gain max to emulate the classic hardware. The SM7B in comparison here is a dynamic mic and *really* benefited from the extra FetHead boost because it was over 25dB less sensitive than the NT1-A and unison would be difficult. I think your NTK should be just fine. Again, this is just my speculation here. Nothing like doing some experimenting with creative gain staging and saturation etc... Just be careful not to fry your gear :). BTW I think your NTK does NOT use phantom power as it uses its own power supply... probably best to not risk sending it if you're testing around... Good luck. Let me know how it turns out if you get an extra preamp.
Dope! thank you for making this ! was having some issues with my SM7B and Apollo twin x. Still learning!
😎 cool, glad it helped - I hope?
Hi, did you buy the SE DM1 eventually for this setup?
I got SM7B and Twin X too, and same problem with noise!
Thanks for that! I could hear more noise without the Fethead.
It is videos like this that will save us from wasting our precious money! Thanks!
Good comparison, I heard some more noise without the Fethead. Thanks, helps me. I am using Scarlet and was thinking of buying Apollo to get rid of this cloudlifter I have, but I assume it's just not possible even with a more expensive gear as Apollo compared to Scarlet.
This is without any plugins running in unison for more gain if I’m not mistaken so that’s noteworthy before getting a Fethead (because you get get more gain from them)
Correct no unison or plugins.
Thank you for easing my research and decision making, This video was exceptionally helpful.
Thanks for watching. Glad it helped.
So, for shure Sm7b, what audio interface you can recommend that does not require any Cloudfilter?
Apollo certainly introduces more noticeable noise than the external gain lift. It seems it's worth the investment for an external gain lifter. But I guess, there's definitely some plugins and tweaks that can be made to subside that noise. Might be worth taking some time playing those plugins that come with the Apollo before placing the order.
C-VOX
Thank you for this video! After messing arouond with the SM7b in my vocal production without a cloudlifter (compressing, distorting, boosting highs) it became really apparent to me that I definitely need some cleaner gain for this mic, in sparse areas of the arrangement the whitenoise poke out like a sore thumb.
Have the same problem!!
sssssame! time ot gear up@@heyliian
Thank you for this video! Almost pull the trigger on a cloud lifter but I'm glad I didn't. TY! Subscribed!
Glad it helped!
So, does it require extra Cloudfilter ?
@@kaankucuk1612 Not if you have an apollo twin (or something similar) You just need to have a *recommended* 60 DB of preamo gain available. So just double check your interface manual if it goes that high!
Rule of thumb:
No Cloudlifter---> Crank your interface preamp gain BUT could introduce some low "noise" or "hiss".
w/Cloudlifter----> Less interface preamp gain AND less noise.
Both work as long as you have enough gain on tap!
Many thanks - I went for Fethead with the Apollo to get in the zone before applying plugins
👍 Yeah it feels so much better not cranking the gain to near max on the Apollo. Have fun!
just curious what would happen if you paired the fethead with the sm7db with the bypass on
Thank you very much! I notice that the hiss level is lower with the triton, Is that right?
I record at -33 LUFS with the mic and interface alone. Then boost it in post to -24 LUFS (clip gain). Then to boost it one more time with a compressor for -16 LUFS, apply a compressor with these settings: Ratio 2:1, Attack at 1ms, Release at 100ms, Threshold -12 to -24 (play this by ear, don’t crush your vocals) and the Makeup Gain at +6 to +8. Any compressor with these settings should do the job.
That helped alot, thank so much!
i think with fethead the low end loses a bit .. and more warm, but i prefer no Fethead tho
Thanks!!!! This is exactly what I was looking for!!!! Amazing vídeo, thanks!!
Great. Glad it helped!
I could hear the white noise in both A and B but it was more noticeable in B. But my guess was right overall. Is there anyway to essentially get rid of the white noise? I own a cloudlifter but can hear the white noise when monitoring not recording. It's bothersome cause I don't know if it was my headphones or what. So I bought another pair and it wasn't. So I think the white noise is coming from the interfaces output rather than the input. So that was the problem. But I only bought a $100 interface but it works like a dream, almost as good as your interface.
Thank you for sharing this cause I'm looking another interface to record music with rather than to use for recording like podcast. Do you have any recommendations?
Did you have any chance to test both to get an overview which sounds "bestter"? Or what sonds different?
Great video! I liked and subscribed
Thanks!
Thanks a lot❤🙏
clip B had more hiss or can say floor noise because of cranking up the gain knob to almost full
in apollo twin so i guess one should get a fethead and a cheaper audio interface like focusrite...
that will save you some money and ........ does the job..!!
Great work, thanks!
great stuff! Well designed tests and love the TNG quote as the reference. I'm using a mk1 TB twin (same 65db pre-amp gain limit) and I'm still not sure whether I need the inline preamp I got (SE DM1). Seems to sound great either way, but without the inline pre your mid/high seems to have more presence, and the one with the inline sounds more bassy - could just be how the Apollo pre's sound when they're driven harder, but that LUFS difference of ~6db is definitely an important consideration when comparing the two tests.
I have a feeling normalizing to LUFS has a significant effect just due to the frequency content of either example and how the LUFS standard is weighted. I just got the mic so I need to run my own tests, but this vid is a great starting point - thanks so much for making this!
Hey Rowan. Thanks so much for your thorough thoughtful comments here! I was a bit concerned too with how RX8 adjusted to reach the LUFS targeting and debated doing pure post DB again only. Not 100% sure there wasn’t any other coloration with Izotopes algorithm. I am super interested in your experiences and yes this is just the start for some deep nerding out fun on this all 👍🙏. Cheers.
Which mic are you using in this video
Whats with the Apollo Solo ?
thanks!
Triton Fethead Broadcast with Focusrite 8i6 and SM 7B; right choice?
Hey, I use a Focusrite 8i6 with an SM 7B and added an inline Preamp - the Triton Fethead Broadcast.
Is it the best option? I didn't notice very much boost and can't tell you if it add any db.
Setup: SM7B - 1m XLR - Fethead Broadcast - 3m XLR - Focusrite with Phantom-Power ON.
Is it the wrong Fethead?
I am not familiar with the Fethead Broadcast. Just the Fethead Phantom. The benefit with the phantom is you can plug it directly into the sm7b and skip that extra patch cable. I think boosting right at the source at the mic before all that length of cabling to avoid picking up and amplifying any noise along the way is best. Yes I turn on the phantom power and good to go. Big difference in amount of gain vs without. Something must be wrong if you can’t tell.
Cloudlifter or Fethead?
Thank you for this
👍You’re welcome
Hey Alvin.. which exact Fethead should I buy for my Apollo Duo Mk2 Thunderbolt & my USB Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen. I would like one fethead for both devices
Thanks!
Hi Nayeeb, I'm guessing you plan on using an SM7B as well (as in a dynamic mic)? If so, then the one you want is the regular Triton Fethead. It is what I'm using with the SM7B and UAD Apollo Twin
www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDPTDN5/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_EJGDSVYHFY9TC3TVWE16
Be careful as there are different models of Fetheads that are meant for other purposes like that for condenser mics instead or for special purpose filters. I'm guessing you didn't want those right? I would recommend looking at their lineup here: www.tritonaudio.com/products
BTW If you are in Canada I ordered from www.economik.com/triton-audio/fethead/ -- great service and lowest price and shipping was pretty quick. (I'm not sponsored or affiliated with them. Just sharing my experience ;))
@@AlvinSWongMusic Hello Alvin, I am So confused that What audio interface should I use for shure sm7b? Could you recommend ones that doesnt require additional Cloudfilter or ones require additional Cloudfilter? Thank you (please specify which audio interface you can recommend)
Hi there. There are a lot of alleged values on the internet, how much gain the Shure SM7B is supposed to require. But there is only one official value. The Shure SM7B has an output of -59dBv. This does not translate to gain to begin with. You can translate it to -56dBu, but gain is measured in dBFS@0dBu. This simply means that an interface can add X dB of gain on a digital scale, and this is measured on a device, that is rated to deal with signals of 0dBu. But dBFS cannot be accurately converted into dBu or dBv. dBv and dBu are measurements for analog audio. Analog audio deals with positive and negative voltage. dBFS is a measurement for digital audio. Digital audio deals with zeroes and ones.
Let’s give a more general answer: every audio audio interface that is capable of delivering 50dBFS@0dBu of low-noise gain will bring anyone on a distance of 10cm to the Shure SM7B dangerously close to audio clipping without any noticeable self-noise. And: Unless you have a heavily sound treated an well isolated room with no noise sources in it, your background noise level will be most likely far louder.
So to clarify, you're saying you don't need a cloudifter for it then.
But will you have enough headroom left for post processing?
What’s the simplified answer I’m sorry not a audiophile
100th LIKE
🙌 Thanks!