When using the SM7B correctly (as shown towards the end of this video), you can clearly hear that this capsule design is one of the best ever made. It suits the human voice well without being obnoxious or harsh on the ears. The top end isn’t as bright and brittle as many condensers, and the bottom end still retains a full, warm, smooth sound. However, all of that falls apart and ceases to be true when miking vocals from any distance significantly beyond the end of the capsules design. The microphone becomes too difficult to drive, thin, and shallow… Especially with low quality cables and preamps. There is no one size fits all situation and there are dozens of other great microphones not mentioned in this video. Every specific use case will call for a different tool. Thanks for watching and reading! 😁
This is a very eye-opening video on the Shure SM7B! Thank you for debunking some of the overhyped notions surrounding its general usage. Your breakdown on its more limited yet solid capabilities really helps put things into perspective for anyone considering this mic. I particularly appreciated the insights on microphone cable qualities and the recommendations for the best preamps to pair with the SM7B and other mics. Your comparison to other microphone options for those on a budget was incredibly helpful too, highlighting their pros and cons. The sound tests were the cherry on top, truly informative and demonstrated the points you made throughout the video. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to more content like this.
I have to admit I learned a lot from this video, and despite it being so long it was worth watching. I started watching knowing basically nothing about microphones, and now I feel like I could probably record a podcast or something using an sm7b on my own. Thanks for such a detailed video and sharing all of this information for free. I never really realized it but now that you've mentioned it I do see youtuber's and podcaster's using that microphone very often, and I always noticed that it had weird background white noise, now I know why.
Yeah, it was definitely long, but audio gear isn't simple so explaining why something is good or bad can take a bit. Thanks for watching all the way through, I'm glad you learned something from it! ❤️
Great video. It took me forever to figure out that the noise I was hearing was actually interference, and not that I had a noisy preamp. My SM57 has the same issue. Strangely enough, my E835 does not.
The SM57 has similar issues, but even that mic is more sensitive than the SM7B. The E835 is more sensitive than both so I'm not surprised that mic is working better for you from a distance, but it also has less clarity and top end (higher internal ohm resistance) which tend to produce less noise/interference as well. I used to use that mic for live shows all the time, was pretty good at dealing with feedback too.
@@JoshChristianethat makes sense. Any experience with the Beta 58a and interference? I’m looking for a handheld mic that doesn’t have interference issues or low sensitivity. At this point I’m considering a handheld condenser since I’m only planning on using it for vocals and not loud stuff like snares. Are there any handheld condensers that you like?
I own a few Beta 58a's and 57a's (same mic just a different pop filter on top). They're a great mic. A little hotter and a little "brighter" with more top end than regular 57 and 58 capsules. They're particularly good at rejecting feedback as well. If you went for a handheld condenser then my favorite by far is the Neumann KMS 105. You see that mic used a lot in live settings in houses of worship, but I'd never recommend it in small settings. Condenser gain before feedback is generally low compared to dynamic mics so they're typically only good when the speakers are really far away from the mic/stage. SM7B would be an amazing design for live use if it had a shorter cage on the top, but due to that cage keeping your voice so far from the capsule I don't recommend it (though Kings of Leon toured with it for a while).
Definitely overused, but there are a few points I disagree with: 1. Length really makes no difference with good cables and won't add any noise unless you are using a truly terrible cable. 2. Preamp noise is a problem, but nearly everyone recommending the mic also says to get a booster, so it's kind of irrelevant for most people. 3. The mic is not any better at rejecting room noise than any other cardioid, it's just better at training people to be close to it, which is actually probably the mic's greatest strength: teaching people good technique. You can't get too close to it because the capsule is recessed, but you also want to be close for that smooth bass, so the room disappears. But you can do that with any other mic, too. Still, lots of good info here.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! I'll respond to all of that with my own personal experience. 1. I just did a test last month testing cable lengths, and the difference was definitely present. Even using the same model and same brand of high end cable. It wasn't nearly as significant of a difference as when you're using unbalanced cables (like guitar runs), but the difference was most certainly there. Not to mention a longer cable will introduce more noise. The reason for this of course is that as an XLR cable gets longer, it increases its resistance (capacitance), so not only will noise and interference get worse, but your signal will get quieter, causing you to have to drive the preamp even harder. Not to mention the tone difference, as capacitance increases your tone absolutely does change. 2. The booster you're referring to is probably something of the likes as a CloudLifter. I've used and tested cloud lifters for many years, and while they do boost the signal, they almost always introduce interference and noise. In every room I've tested them in anyways, some rooms are just worse than others. Plus with a lifter you're doubling your amount of connectors and cables, which comes with its own problems. When using an SM7B with a good interface you don't want to use a CloudLifter, you want that signal as pure as possible. 3. This mic is in fact better at rejecting room noise than other cardioids, and whoever told you otherwise was incorrect. Two primary things determine rear/outside rejection in microphone design. The first is the pickup pattern, and the second is the mic sensitivity. Yes, it's true that this mic has a regular cardioid pickup pattern, so you might falsely assume it's the same as any other mic with the same pattern of rejection. However, mic sensitivity is also a major determining factor. As a microphone capsule becomes less sensitive, it's less likely to pick up sound "around" it and more likely to only pickup sounds directly in front of it (up close). With the SM7B being one of the least sensitive dynamic mics ever made, it is in fact far less sensitive to room noise than any other mic I've ever tested. Please go test this for yourself if you don't believe me, the difference is huge. Try out a sensitive cardioid condenser or dynamic vs the SM7B in the same room, set with the same gain (output stage) at the same distance, you'll hear far more room reflections and outside noise with the regular cardioid condenser (or any other dynamic), despite having the same polar pattern. I don't mean to be argumentative, but as somebody who used to design his own microphones I feel as though I have enough background knowledge to establish what is true or not. Nonetheless, I appreciate the debate and hope that all information can lead to further research and edification for both sides.
That sensitivity argument is just factually wrong, but everyone says it all the time so I get why you think that. Sensitivity isn't selective, it cannot distinguish between one sound source or another. ALL sound is picked up less. I have tried that same experiment, even with a wide cardioid condenser vs the SM7B, and there is exactly no different in room sound (or background sound rejection generally) when the capsules are equidistant from the source (yes, gain matched and even with tons of compression applied). That is the key that I am talking about: people usually move the SM7B closer to their mouth than a condenser and that is the one and only reason why there are fewer reflections. In fact, because the capsule on the SM7B is recessed, I can actually get a condenser capsule closer to my mouth, so the condenser ends up with an even better SNR than the SM7B. However, the SM7B is also more directional at higher frequencies and picks up less high frequencies generally, both of which tend to help reduce room reflections, but neither have anything to do with its sensitivity. I am also not trying to be argumentative, but this is a myth that is repeated so often it gets frustrating. People have even run the math on it to prove it false, but people still believe it. Here, you don't have to take my word for it. Says it right here on Lewitt's web site: "Please note that a dynamic microphone is not better in isolating your voice or works "better" in an untreated room. The main difference between the two microphones is, as stated before, the difference in sensitivity and high-frequency accuracy." www.lewitt-audio.com/blog/dynamic-vs-condenser-microphones-what-better#:~:text=With%20their%20higher%20sensitivity%2C%20condenser,compared%20to%20dynamic%20microphone%20recordings.
I appreciate your take, especially on training people how to use a microphone correctly and when I first got into sound engineering I actually thought the same thing about mic sensitivity, what you're saying sounds logical. There is some contradictory information online about the topic. However, as an engineer I can assure you this is incorrect information and will test it right now to put this issue to rest. The incorrect assumption comes from the idea that sound falloff from a capsule is linear, when in fact it is non-linear. As a sound source moves further away from a microphone there is an exponential sensitivity curve. A very sensitive capsule will pick up noises from potentially thousands of feet away with the gain cranked, where an SM7B will not even if you cranked the gain infinitely, the noise just didn't have enough energy to move its stiff metallic filament. So don't think about gain as all relative, think about the actual capsule's filament moving back and forth to generate voltage, a stiffer filament just will not move as much from far away sounds as a sensitive microphone will. I read the article you linked and it is in fact incorrect, and written by a blogger who is a non-engineer, so I'm not particularly surprised he got confused. At the end of the day science, math, and debates won't determine what's true, only an actual physical real-world test as I have done will reveal the not-so-obvious truth.
Alright so the test has been completed, and has been done totally fair for the sake of utility. Here is a link to it: audio.com/josh-christiane/audio/sm7b-vs-nt1 To my ears the SM7B sounds direct. You hear a little room noise but it's not too awful, you still hear that intimate sound you get when background noise/reverb is kept at bay, it's a much drier performance for sure. Switching to the NT1 you can immediately hear more background noise and all of the room reflections. It's a very wet and ambient sounding recording by comparison. Both of these microphones are cardioid capsules, so the comparison is fair. And both were set to match gain output as closely as possible. With the NT1 you can actually hear my infant son crying 3 rooms over, but with the SM7B you couldn't hear his crying at all, that's precisely where the SM7B excels as a microphone, in untreated or poorly treated rooms. I think the results speak for itself. The difference is huge. Hopefully this isn't obnoxious in any way, but tests like this are really useful for musicians trying to figure out which microphone to use for their room.
Man this is like the hottest of hot takes. Very brave of you! People just buy it because everyone has it, and that's why the original people bought it! Like on Spotify, top tracks often stay in the top tracks simply because they're already there. Their visibility and easy access mean they keep getting more plays, creating a cycle where they remain popular not necessarily because they're the best songs, but because they’re the easiest to find and listen to. This can overshadow other great songs that might resonate more with listeners if only they were given a chance to be discovered. Fantastic mic - I've used it and love it, but yeah ... I'd echo everything you said. By the way, what are those monitors? They look an awful lot like Genelecs, but unless they're a model I've never heard of, I don't think they are. Are the smaller ones Bose Companions?
Good eye, the smaller speakers are Bose companions, the larger ones are Genelecs. They're an older model (M040's) that they discontinued. They're my B pair, my main pair is out of frame, but they're the Adam A77H's. Totally agree with you about charts on Spotify, the recommendation system tends to only really recommend whatever is already popular so it can be a catch 22 for newer artists. The SM7B really is an incredible microphone, but a lot of people just use it wrong and I think that's a shame since it has so much potential. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for watching, much appreciated! I actually love the SM7B, I use it all the time. I just see people hating on it because they use it incorrectly and thought it'd make a good video. I appreciate your kind words though. :)
Yeah it's become unaffordable for a lot of people, sadly. When I bought this mic they were around $350. Now they're significantly more due to inflation.
Every word you say is true! This mic is good but very hyped by the internet.. It’s a professional piece of gear and a lot of people use it very very wrong…I’ve played with lots of mics and also own a Sm7b combined with a isa430.. Even with the right gear it’s a challenge to set it right.. Keep making this kind of stuff man thanks 👍
Thanks for your comment and kindness. Totally agree with you, been using this mic for over a decade and love it, but most people just don't know how to get the most out of it. Cheers!
Absolutely. It's the worst part of its design. That cable gets caught on stuff too, I always wished it were internal. On the RE20 there is no such cable, so I know the external design could be re-thought and modernized but with the same capsule.
I’ve been doing my own comparison videos also - still working on my final thoughts video but I’ve posted a few videos on both these mics already. I have felt there are use-cases for both mics, but I do feel the SM7B is overhyped for sure… but I’m riding this hype train! Lol
I do, actually. I mostly use it on guitar cabs though. It's awful on acoustic instruments (guitar, violin), but it's really great on loud sources like a cranked amp and cab. It's also great on lead vocals if you want to add heft or weight to the bottom of a performance utilizing that proximity effect. All depends on the artist though. I make mostly indie-rock music.
That is a great question. I've never tried TBH. But I would imagine your tone would open up a little bit, and the sound would be slightly less metallic. Generally even metal pop filters will produce a slightly metallic sound, so without a doubt it does effect tone in some way or another. Maybe one day I'll pull it off and find out.
It's the best mic for a home studio that's untreated, which is most studios. Treating a room is a lot more expensive than buying the right interface, preamp, and cables.
Yeah probably, but hard to say. I think the Neumann U87 is a contender as well overall, which I've used on a few albums. It's a standard for a reason, at least on vocals.
Not really. It's not the best for BG vox for a few reasons. The depth of this mic, that heavy bottom end from the proximity effect is generally best for lead vocals and other lead instruments. You don't want that punchiness muddying up your mix. The lead vocal should be full, deep, and rich, and the background vocals should be quieter and preferably thinner. As you stack vocals they get more muddy with every added layer, so a much thinner sounding microphone is preferable.
I did, in the past. But I don't like having something in my face because I talk with my hands like an Italian, lol. Since I'm so expressive with my hands I end up hitting it on accident all the time, so I prefer an overhead. Though tonally I still love the SM7B the mic of any microphone save for maybe the Neumann U87.
Yeah it's not a good live mic. It rejects feedback really well due to its capsule falloff, but it's just way too lacking in sensitivity. The other issue is you can't get very close to the capsule as a singer, which is a huge problem in general. That just amplifies the gain before feedback issue. While it would sound stellar due to preventing the singer from getting too close, it would also cause gain staging problems later in the signal chain.
Not only can it be, but it is likely the single best microphone ever designed for spoken-word vocals such as hip-hop/rap. I've used it in front of big dude's with deep voices and it slapped.
Depends on the exact purpose, like I said in the video. RE20 is the better plug and play mic for most broadcast solutions. It doesn't sound quite a pure, it's more colored and unique sounding. It can be a bit thin and nasally on some sources as well. For music recording and general purpose use the Shure is vastly better, but for broadcast-specific uses I would lean towards the RE because it just has less issues with noise and interference.
Depends on the mic and needs, but honestly not for this mic. Only 55dB of gain, you need more like 70+ for this mic. You could use a cloud lifter but those degrade the quality and introduce noise and interference in my testing. A used Grace M101 is a great preamp for this mic. Another really good one is the Great River ME-1NV. Sadly there is no good cheap preamp for this mic.
@JoshChristiane i have the sm7db but it still has white noise with the volt 1, everywhere online says its normal and that its backgroud noise :(, but your video explains everything really well and that the issue i'm having is likely my preamp! i cant afford an expensive one cus i'm australian, the ones you suggested are 1k, but the rode nt1 is a viable option and i bought that, i was glad to see you even suggested it for cheap preamps since it can sound good on even inexpensive preamps
Sorry to hear that, there is SO much bad information out there on microphones. The Rode NT1 is very easy to drive and will work very well on that preamp. If you ever want to invest in another preamp for the SM7dB then a cheaper alternative is the Focusrite One ISA as that's a pretty good pre. It's still expensive though, so it might be more something you want to upgrade to later on. For now you will get great results using the NT1 on the Volt.
@JoshChristiane i wish there were videos talking about the misinformation and such, its so bad trying to search the issue and everyone on every online form says "its not the mics fault its your room" etc
Not at all. It's for general purpose use, and even markets itself as being for general purpose use. It has NEVER been marketed as ONLY being for broadcast. Though I do think that is where it excels, it's also amazing on guitar cabs and many other sources like spoken-word or rap vocals. It just has to be used correctly.
Be my friend on X at: x.com/Josh_Christiane
When using the SM7B correctly (as shown towards the end of this video), you can clearly hear that this capsule design is one of the best ever made. It suits the human voice well without being obnoxious or harsh on the ears. The top end isn’t as bright and brittle as many condensers, and the bottom end still retains a full, warm, smooth sound. However, all of that falls apart and ceases to be true when miking vocals from any distance significantly beyond the end of the capsules design. The microphone becomes too difficult to drive, thin, and shallow… Especially with low quality cables and preamps. There is no one size fits all situation and there are dozens of other great microphones not mentioned in this video. Every specific use case will call for a different tool. Thanks for watching and reading! 😁
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This is a very eye-opening video on the Shure SM7B! Thank you for debunking some of the overhyped notions surrounding its general usage. Your breakdown on its more limited yet solid capabilities really helps put things into perspective for anyone considering this mic.
I particularly appreciated the insights on microphone cable qualities and the recommendations for the best preamps to pair with the SM7B and other mics. Your comparison to other microphone options for those on a budget was incredibly helpful too, highlighting their pros and cons.
The sound tests were the cherry on top, truly informative and demonstrated the points you made throughout the video. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to more content like this.
Thank you for watching all the way to the test! I know it was long but there is just so much to talk about when it comes to audio gear.
I have to admit I learned a lot from this video, and despite it being so long it was worth watching. I started watching knowing basically nothing about microphones, and now I feel like I could probably record a podcast or something using an sm7b on my own. Thanks for such a detailed video and sharing all of this information for free. I never really realized it but now that you've mentioned it I do see youtuber's and podcaster's using that microphone very often, and I always noticed that it had weird background white noise, now I know why.
Yeah, it was definitely long, but audio gear isn't simple so explaining why something is good or bad can take a bit. Thanks for watching all the way through, I'm glad you learned something from it! ❤️
Thanks for awakening me to my new favorite microphone!
You're very welcome, I love it too, assuming you use it correctly.
100% agree - I’m not even an audio expert but it annoys me seeing this mic being used so far away from their faces… it’s purely for the “look”
Yeah totally just a wrong use-case scenario.
Great video. It took me forever to figure out that the noise I was hearing was actually interference, and not that I had a noisy preamp. My SM57 has the same issue. Strangely enough, my E835 does not.
The SM57 has similar issues, but even that mic is more sensitive than the SM7B. The E835 is more sensitive than both so I'm not surprised that mic is working better for you from a distance, but it also has less clarity and top end (higher internal ohm resistance) which tend to produce less noise/interference as well. I used to use that mic for live shows all the time, was pretty good at dealing with feedback too.
@@JoshChristianethat makes sense. Any experience with the Beta 58a and interference? I’m looking for a handheld mic that doesn’t have interference issues or low sensitivity. At this point I’m considering a handheld condenser since I’m only planning on using it for vocals and not loud stuff like snares. Are there any handheld condensers that you like?
I own a few Beta 58a's and 57a's (same mic just a different pop filter on top). They're a great mic. A little hotter and a little "brighter" with more top end than regular 57 and 58 capsules. They're particularly good at rejecting feedback as well. If you went for a handheld condenser then my favorite by far is the Neumann KMS 105. You see that mic used a lot in live settings in houses of worship, but I'd never recommend it in small settings. Condenser gain before feedback is generally low compared to dynamic mics so they're typically only good when the speakers are really far away from the mic/stage. SM7B would be an amazing design for live use if it had a shorter cage on the top, but due to that cage keeping your voice so far from the capsule I don't recommend it (though Kings of Leon toured with it for a while).
Awesome video on what is my favorite microphone of all time.
My favorite too :D thanks for watching!
I never realized how good this mic sounds when it's used rightly
When used correctly it's truly an excellent microphone, no doubt.
Great video of what is my favorite microphone, but often misunderstood.
Agreed. Thanks for viewing!
Thanks for the video, Josh. I thought it was great!
Thank you for watching and commenting!
Surprised me how good the sm7 sounded at the end. GOAT!
It really is one of the best ever. Definitely a GOAT!
Great video! long but it was very thorough
Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting and watching.
Definitely overused, but there are a few points I disagree with:
1. Length really makes no difference with good cables and won't add any noise unless you are using a truly terrible cable.
2. Preamp noise is a problem, but nearly everyone recommending the mic also says to get a booster, so it's kind of irrelevant for most people.
3. The mic is not any better at rejecting room noise than any other cardioid, it's just better at training people to be close to it, which is actually probably the mic's greatest strength: teaching people good technique. You can't get too close to it because the capsule is recessed, but you also want to be close for that smooth bass, so the room disappears. But you can do that with any other mic, too.
Still, lots of good info here.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! I'll respond to all of that with my own personal experience.
1. I just did a test last month testing cable lengths, and the difference was definitely present. Even using the same model and same brand of high end cable. It wasn't nearly as significant of a difference as when you're using unbalanced cables (like guitar runs), but the difference was most certainly there. Not to mention a longer cable will introduce more noise. The reason for this of course is that as an XLR cable gets longer, it increases its resistance (capacitance), so not only will noise and interference get worse, but your signal will get quieter, causing you to have to drive the preamp even harder. Not to mention the tone difference, as capacitance increases your tone absolutely does change.
2. The booster you're referring to is probably something of the likes as a CloudLifter. I've used and tested cloud lifters for many years, and while they do boost the signal, they almost always introduce interference and noise. In every room I've tested them in anyways, some rooms are just worse than others. Plus with a lifter you're doubling your amount of connectors and cables, which comes with its own problems. When using an SM7B with a good interface you don't want to use a CloudLifter, you want that signal as pure as possible.
3. This mic is in fact better at rejecting room noise than other cardioids, and whoever told you otherwise was incorrect. Two primary things determine rear/outside rejection in microphone design. The first is the pickup pattern, and the second is the mic sensitivity. Yes, it's true that this mic has a regular cardioid pickup pattern, so you might falsely assume it's the same as any other mic with the same pattern of rejection. However, mic sensitivity is also a major determining factor. As a microphone capsule becomes less sensitive, it's less likely to pick up sound "around" it and more likely to only pickup sounds directly in front of it (up close). With the SM7B being one of the least sensitive dynamic mics ever made, it is in fact far less sensitive to room noise than any other mic I've ever tested. Please go test this for yourself if you don't believe me, the difference is huge. Try out a sensitive cardioid condenser or dynamic vs the SM7B in the same room, set with the same gain (output stage) at the same distance, you'll hear far more room reflections and outside noise with the regular cardioid condenser (or any other dynamic), despite having the same polar pattern.
I don't mean to be argumentative, but as somebody who used to design his own microphones I feel as though I have enough background knowledge to establish what is true or not. Nonetheless, I appreciate the debate and hope that all information can lead to further research and edification for both sides.
That sensitivity argument is just factually wrong, but everyone says it all the time so I get why you think that. Sensitivity isn't selective, it cannot distinguish between one sound source or another. ALL sound is picked up less. I have tried that same experiment, even with a wide cardioid condenser vs the SM7B, and there is exactly no different in room sound (or background sound rejection generally) when the capsules are equidistant from the source (yes, gain matched and even with tons of compression applied). That is the key that I am talking about: people usually move the SM7B closer to their mouth than a condenser and that is the one and only reason why there are fewer reflections. In fact, because the capsule on the SM7B is recessed, I can actually get a condenser capsule closer to my mouth, so the condenser ends up with an even better SNR than the SM7B. However, the SM7B is also more directional at higher frequencies and picks up less high frequencies generally, both of which tend to help reduce room reflections, but neither have anything to do with its sensitivity. I am also not trying to be argumentative, but this is a myth that is repeated so often it gets frustrating. People have even run the math on it to prove it false, but people still believe it.
Here, you don't have to take my word for it. Says it right here on Lewitt's web site: "Please note that a dynamic microphone is not better in isolating your voice or works "better" in an untreated room. The main difference between the two microphones is, as stated before, the difference in sensitivity and high-frequency accuracy." www.lewitt-audio.com/blog/dynamic-vs-condenser-microphones-what-better#:~:text=With%20their%20higher%20sensitivity%2C%20condenser,compared%20to%20dynamic%20microphone%20recordings.
I appreciate your take, especially on training people how to use a microphone correctly and when I first got into sound engineering I actually thought the same thing about mic sensitivity, what you're saying sounds logical. There is some contradictory information online about the topic. However, as an engineer I can assure you this is incorrect information and will test it right now to put this issue to rest. The incorrect assumption comes from the idea that sound falloff from a capsule is linear, when in fact it is non-linear. As a sound source moves further away from a microphone there is an exponential sensitivity curve. A very sensitive capsule will pick up noises from potentially thousands of feet away with the gain cranked, where an SM7B will not even if you cranked the gain infinitely, the noise just didn't have enough energy to move its stiff metallic filament. So don't think about gain as all relative, think about the actual capsule's filament moving back and forth to generate voltage, a stiffer filament just will not move as much from far away sounds as a sensitive microphone will. I read the article you linked and it is in fact incorrect, and written by a blogger who is a non-engineer, so I'm not particularly surprised he got confused. At the end of the day science, math, and debates won't determine what's true, only an actual physical real-world test as I have done will reveal the not-so-obvious truth.
Alright so the test has been completed, and has been done totally fair for the sake of utility. Here is a link to it: audio.com/josh-christiane/audio/sm7b-vs-nt1
To my ears the SM7B sounds direct. You hear a little room noise but it's not too awful, you still hear that intimate sound you get when background noise/reverb is kept at bay, it's a much drier performance for sure.
Switching to the NT1 you can immediately hear more background noise and all of the room reflections. It's a very wet and ambient sounding recording by comparison. Both of these microphones are cardioid capsules, so the comparison is fair. And both were set to match gain output as closely as possible. With the NT1 you can actually hear my infant son crying 3 rooms over, but with the SM7B you couldn't hear his crying at all, that's precisely where the SM7B excels as a microphone, in untreated or poorly treated rooms.
I think the results speak for itself. The difference is huge. Hopefully this isn't obnoxious in any way, but tests like this are really useful for musicians trying to figure out which microphone to use for their room.
I see every podcaster using this thing and always wondered about it.
Well now you know my opinion, I've been using it for years and will always love it. Thanks for watching!
Man this is like the hottest of hot takes. Very brave of you! People just buy it because everyone has it, and that's why the original people bought it!
Like on Spotify, top tracks often stay in the top tracks simply because they're already there. Their visibility and easy access mean they keep getting more plays, creating a cycle where they remain popular not necessarily because they're the best songs, but because they’re the easiest to find and listen to. This can overshadow other great songs that might resonate more with listeners if only they were given a chance to be discovered.
Fantastic mic - I've used it and love it, but yeah ... I'd echo everything you said. By the way, what are those monitors? They look an awful lot like Genelecs, but unless they're a model I've never heard of, I don't think they are. Are the smaller ones Bose Companions?
Good eye, the smaller speakers are Bose companions, the larger ones are Genelecs. They're an older model (M040's) that they discontinued. They're my B pair, my main pair is out of frame, but they're the Adam A77H's.
Totally agree with you about charts on Spotify, the recommendation system tends to only really recommend whatever is already popular so it can be a catch 22 for newer artists.
The SM7B really is an incredible microphone, but a lot of people just use it wrong and I think that's a shame since it has so much potential.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
We really thought this was gonna be another moronic SM7B hate video, but gotta say, well done! You know your stuff, and explained it all perfectly!
Thank you for watching, much appreciated! I actually love the SM7B, I use it all the time. I just see people hating on it because they use it incorrectly and thought it'd make a good video. I appreciate your kind words though. :)
Let the man cook, cause this is it bro
Beautiful video thank you
Thank you for the kind comment and watching :))
I've always wondered about this mic
Well hopefully you fully understand it now, or at least enough to get good use out of it.
i was always wondering about this, thanks
Thank you for watching the video, I'm glad I could share some useful information about such an interesting microphone.
The price of this microphone has gone up so much in the last few years
Yeah it's become unaffordable for a lot of people, sadly. When I bought this mic they were around $350. Now they're significantly more due to inflation.
i always see people using this mic wrong, great video
Agreed. Thanks for watching!
I actually liked the sound of the NT1 more in this comparison as its brighter
Every person has their taste. I like the NT1 a lot as well... But it's not as good IMO on as many sources.
Every word you say is true! This mic is good but very hyped by the internet.. It’s a professional piece of gear and a lot of people use it very very wrong…I’ve played with lots of mics and also own a Sm7b combined with a isa430.. Even with the right gear it’s a challenge to set it right.. Keep making this kind of stuff man thanks 👍
Thanks for your comment and kindness. Totally agree with you, been using this mic for over a decade and love it, but most people just don't know how to get the most out of it. Cheers!
Thanks Josh, another amazing video!
My pleasure! Thank you for watching!
I never knew which mic this was but i always thought it sounded deep
Yeah it has a lot of depth to it.
One thing I've always wondered is if the cable on the side that pops out ever breaks?
Absolutely. It's the worst part of its design. That cable gets caught on stuff too, I always wished it were internal. On the RE20 there is no such cable, so I know the external design could be re-thought and modernized but with the same capsule.
great video u deserve more views tbh
Thanks, I appreciate that :)
I’ve been doing my own comparison videos also - still working on my final thoughts video but I’ve posted a few videos on both these mics already. I have felt there are use-cases for both mics, but I do feel the SM7B is overhyped for sure… but I’m riding this hype train! Lol
Yeah I still use it and love it, just gotta find the right situations where it works. It's got a pretty balanced sound on some sources.
The SM7B has been the standard for decades for a reason. It's a good mic but not great.
I think it's a great mic, personally. But the way people use it makes it awful.
the most detailed review of the sm7b ever
Thank you! I was aiming for that. Love this mic and it was worthy of a long video that covers every aspect.
Do you use this for music? And if so then what kind of music do you make?
I do, actually. I mostly use it on guitar cabs though. It's awful on acoustic instruments (guitar, violin), but it's really great on loud sources like a cranked amp and cab. It's also great on lead vocals if you want to add heft or weight to the bottom of a performance utilizing that proximity effect. All depends on the artist though. I make mostly indie-rock music.
Serious question, what happens if you take the metal filter part off?
That is a great question. I've never tried TBH. But I would imagine your tone would open up a little bit, and the sound would be slightly less metallic. Generally even metal pop filters will produce a slightly metallic sound, so without a doubt it does effect tone in some way or another. Maybe one day I'll pull it off and find out.
My goal is to be able to afford one for the day i start recording music in my home studio
It's the best mic for a home studio that's untreated, which is most studios. Treating a room is a lot more expensive than buying the right interface, preamp, and cables.
I'm not quite sure what the best microphone is, it might be the sm7b
Yeah probably, but hard to say. I think the Neumann U87 is a contender as well overall, which I've used on a few albums. It's a standard for a reason, at least on vocals.
do you think you could use this mic for background vocals??
Not really. It's not the best for BG vox for a few reasons. The depth of this mic, that heavy bottom end from the proximity effect is generally best for lead vocals and other lead instruments. You don't want that punchiness muddying up your mix. The lead vocal should be full, deep, and rich, and the background vocals should be quieter and preferably thinner. As you stack vocals they get more muddy with every added layer, so a much thinner sounding microphone is preferable.
why don't you use it for your videos then?
I did, in the past. But I don't like having something in my face because I talk with my hands like an Italian, lol. Since I'm so expressive with my hands I end up hitting it on accident all the time, so I prefer an overhead. Though tonally I still love the SM7B the mic of any microphone save for maybe the Neumann U87.
i tried to use this mic live once, huge mistake!! couldn't gain it at all
Yeah it's not a good live mic. It rejects feedback really well due to its capsule falloff, but it's just way too lacking in sensitivity. The other issue is you can't get very close to the capsule as a singer, which is a huge problem in general. That just amplifies the gain before feedback issue. While it would sound stellar due to preventing the singer from getting too close, it would also cause gain staging problems later in the signal chain.
Can this be used for hip hop style vocals?
Not only can it be, but it is likely the single best microphone ever designed for spoken-word vocals such as hip-hop/rap. I've used it in front of big dude's with deep voices and it slapped.
do you think its better than the re20 from ev?
Depends on the exact purpose, like I said in the video. RE20 is the better plug and play mic for most broadcast solutions. It doesn't sound quite a pure, it's more colored and unique sounding. It can be a bit thin and nasally on some sources as well. For music recording and general purpose use the Shure is vastly better, but for broadcast-specific uses I would lean towards the RE because it just has less issues with noise and interference.
idk why does every single podcaster use this?
Because they don't know any better. It's the standard and every podcaster wants to just do what works for other podcasts.
Which rode mik is that? I can't find it
That's the black Rode NT1. They no longer sell it with the mic shock mount and custom pop filter. It's a generic one now sadly. But same mic still.
is the volt 1 a good preamp??
Depends on the mic and needs, but honestly not for this mic. Only 55dB of gain, you need more like 70+ for this mic. You could use a cloud lifter but those degrade the quality and introduce noise and interference in my testing. A used Grace M101 is a great preamp for this mic. Another really good one is the Great River ME-1NV. Sadly there is no good cheap preamp for this mic.
@JoshChristiane i have the sm7db but it still has white noise with the volt 1, everywhere online says its normal and that its backgroud noise :(, but your video explains everything really well and that the issue i'm having is likely my preamp! i cant afford an expensive one cus i'm australian, the ones you suggested are 1k, but the rode nt1 is a viable option and i bought that, i was glad to see you even suggested it for cheap preamps since it can sound good on even inexpensive preamps
Sorry to hear that, there is SO much bad information out there on microphones. The Rode NT1 is very easy to drive and will work very well on that preamp. If you ever want to invest in another preamp for the SM7dB then a cheaper alternative is the Focusrite One ISA as that's a pretty good pre. It's still expensive though, so it might be more something you want to upgrade to later on. For now you will get great results using the NT1 on the Volt.
@JoshChristiane i wish there were videos talking about the misinformation and such, its so bad trying to search the issue and everyone on every online form says "its not the mics fault its your room" etc
Well hopefully my video is a small start and more people start helping others out with useful info. Thanks for your nice comments :)
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I feel as though you also misunderstand this mic, its just for broadcast
Not at all. It's for general purpose use, and even markets itself as being for general purpose use. It has NEVER been marketed as ONLY being for broadcast. Though I do think that is where it excels, it's also amazing on guitar cabs and many other sources like spoken-word or rap vocals. It just has to be used correctly.
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