[Review&QnA] Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone for Broadcast, Podcast & Recording, XLR Studio Mic for Music & Speech, Wide-Range Frequency, Warm & Smooth Sound, Rugged Construction, Detachable Windscreen - Black
Musical Instruments > Microphones & Accessories > Microphones > Dynamic Microphones > Vocal
[Review&QnA] Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone for Broadcast, Podcast & Recording, XLR Studio Mic for Music & Speech, Wide-Range Frequency, Warm & Smooth Sound, Rugged Construction, Detachable Windscreen - Black
About this item
- ONE MICROPHONE FOR EVERYTHING - Studio Recording, Home Recording, Podcasting and Streaming. The SM7B Is Trusted By The Worlds Leading Vocalists, Podcasters and Streamers.
- STUDIO VOCAL RECORDING - The SM7B’s Dynamic Cartridge With Smooth, Flat, Wide-range Frequency Response Produces Exceptionally Clean and Natural Reproduction Of Both Music and Speech.
- PODCAST and BROADCAST - Found In The Top Podcasting Studios Around The World, The SM7B Air Suspension Shock Isolation and Pop Filter Eliminate Both Mechanical Noise And Breathiness. So Words Get Through And The Rest Stays Out Of The Mix.
- STREAMING CONTENT - Professional Live Streaming Starts With A Microphone Capable Of Capturing Exceptionally Clean And Natural Reproduction Of Both Music And Speech. The SM7B Has Been A Pioneer In Such Abilities For Decades.
- PROFESSIONAL XLR CONNECTION - The XLR Connection Along With An Audio Interface Allows You More Control Over The Sound — Thus A Better Overall Sound Quality. At least 60dB of gain is recommended to get that iconic warm and balanced tone most commonly associated with the SM7B.
- CLASSIC CARDIOID PATTERN WITH UNIFORM CAPTURE - The SM7B Cardioid Pattern Is Designed To Reject Off-axis Audio, So You Can Sing Or Speak At A Comfortable Angle And It Captures The Sound, Just As You Want It, With Minimum Coloration.
- SHIELD YOUR SOUND - We Added Advanced Electromagnetic Shielding To Defeat Hum From Computer Monitors And Other Studio Equipment.
- CLOSE-MIKING STUDIO APPLICATIONS - The SM7B Shines When Used For Close-miking Instruments and ASMR Audio Where Warm And Smooth Full-frequencies Are A Must.
- QUALITY IN THE DETAILS - Rugged Construction For Securing The Microphone Cartridge. Detachable Close-talk Windscreen And Switch Cover Plate Included. Bass Rolloff And Mid-range Emphasis (Presence Boost) Control With Graphic Display Of Response Setting.
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX - Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone With One A7WS Detachable Windscreen And One RPM602 Switch Cover Plate. Free 2-year Warranty Included.
Reviews
★★★★★
Color: Black | Verified Purchase
Excellent but largely misunderstood microphone
I'm a musician/singer/songwriter and produce/engineer my own music with 3 album releases, yet being independent I have no claim to commercial funding so every piece of equipment I buy is a precious investment. I bought my SM7B after much research and have done numerous audio tests in my studio, with some preliminary recordings for a planned new album. (I put in this boring self-description so you can judge where I'm coming from in writing this review).
I believe many/most people buy this microphone without fully understanding what they are buying. The Shure name and the hype about Michael Jackson recording with it tends to cloud the judging process, so for many it's a quick decision to buy. But a more detailed analysis reveals more characteristics and with better understanding you can put aside the hype and probably appreciate theSM7B for what it truly is : a fantastic Dynamic microphone with a SM58-like character that works for robust studio-recordings IF you have a high-quality high-gain preamp to use with it.
Being a dynamic microphone, it does not have it's own preamp and is thus not as sensitive as a condenser mic. It's therefore not very useful for recording delicate singing voices, it's just not sensitive enough. But it will handle loud,screaming vocals easily, the capsule is robust enough to take in all that high energy. This is just the physics/science of microphones: dynamic mics handle loud sounds better, condensers handle delicate things better.
But the SM7B is not like the Shure SM58 dynamic mic, it's capsule elements are thinner and much more sensitive, so it's sensitivity does lean towards the condensers, but being a dynamic mic this sensitivity comes at the expense of it only being able to produce a weak signal, so it needs a preamp with plenty of clean gain before the signal can be used.....if you really think hard about it, it is thus trying to be like a condenser mic, but whereas a condenser mic has a built-in preamp, this SM7B needs an external preamp! In-between, that's where it is.
But the story gets more interesting. The SM7B has "character"... the audio pattern mimics the legendary SM58's presence-boosting curve, so the SM7B can give your recorded voice the classic Shure SM58 "live" character if you know how to use it right (though again you need to keep in mind that it's never going to be as delicate as a condenser mic, still if you know what you're doing you might find it a worthy trade-off to get great character with the loss of some delicate-ness. Post-recording engineering, a bit of compression and you're back in the game.)
Misconception: There is a presence-boosting switch. Nope. What the switch does is take away the presence to give you a flat-response curve, i.e. in its natural state the presence is already boosted, the switch is misleading, the flat-response is the altered state.
Misconception: The pop-filters (windscreens) provided give you a natural sound. No they don't. They filter off the high-frequencies, giving you a flatter sound. This is perfect for podcasting, and you can speak with your mouth close to the mic without having pops (use the thinner or thicker filter, depending on how robust your POP-ing is getting), but for singing you want to take off the windscreens, leave the metal grill exposed, and use a proper external POP filter.
For recording of a singer, the magic comes with a proper external POP filter, no need for a super-expensive one, but one with at least a double-grille and larger (6inch minimum) diameter. Shure sells such a POP filter, good enough for the task. Once you're using a proper external pop filter, you can place it really close to the metal grille front, have your SM7B switches without bass-cut and with the presence-boost on (as I said it earlier this is actually a no-presence-cut position rather than a real boost)...and you can record your singing in all it's glory, your voice gets recorded as if you were winging with a Shure SM58 on steroids, i.e the "character" of the mic is there. There is no need to switch off this presence, you can always do so in the mixing stage. You thus end up recording with a high degree of sensitivity yet having a very low noise floor (the advantage of a dynamic mic).
The is not much proximity effect with this mic, the metal grille extends far beyond the capsule element so your mouth cannot get really too close to the capsule. (Hats off to the Shure engineers for this bit of idiot-proofing). Imagine a super-sensitive SM58 with a Blues singer planting his lips of the grille and you're recording his voice in a studio, and you're in 'POP hell...now you appreciate the engineering :)
Apologies for the lengthy review, but I do believe I've given an honest description of the important details. PODcast users may find this mic overkill but hey if you have the cash then flout it, though you could get the same audio with a cheap condenser with a big windshield and some EQ work. Recording vocalists with a more dynamic vocal range is where the SM7B will probably shine, and especially with louder vocalists, or for recording alongside other instruments being played simultaneously, where the bleed from other sounds is significantly reduced with such a cardiod-pattern dynamic mic.
I'm very happy with this mic, have done tons of audio tests with it. I'll use it for my more rocking vocals, leaving the delicate ballads to a condenser mic. Hope this review helps you decide what's best for you, make the best use of your hard-earned $. Cheers.
★★★★★
Color: Black | Verified Purchase
This mic is worth every penny and is built like a tank
I had been looking at this mic for a couple years to upgrade from my Shure SM58. Finally pulled the trigger and bought, right away I did a shootout of the SM7B vs the SM58. Obviously I knew there was going to be a difference in the sound quality, but I wanted to test exactly how much. This Mic has a really great response and it’s designed in a way that it takes away reverberation in the room, at least from what I can tell. My tests proved even better than expected, it has a really nice clarity to it and the benefit of not having to treat the vocal area is an absolute plus. The low end is awesome, when doing my heavy metal vocals, I have to stand farther away from the mic when doing my low gutterals, if I stand too close there will be too much bass. By not standing too close to mic it allows me to be more comfortable, another added plus.
I can’t recommend this mic enough, after using an SM58 for several years this is a welcomed addition to my musical equipment. To add, if you are using a smaller interface like a Scarlett 2i2 as I am, you will need a preamp to boost the mics volume, I recommend the Simply Sound SS-1 mic activator, it does exactly the same thing as other preamp activators will do, it plugs in directly to your microphone so you won’t need to use in additional XLR cable and it comes in at half the price of other brands. I purchased mine directly from the simply sound website, and I paid $60.
To conclude, if you have been thinking about purchasing this microphone I can’t recommend it enough, the Shure company makes microphones and musical equipment that is built to last and the quality is top notch. I hope this review is helpful and if you have any questions please do send them my way.
Update: to clarify, I still recommend treating your vocal area, reverb is just less noticeable than on a standard mic such as an SM58 or 57. You can always put reverb in but you can’t take it away.
★★★★★
Color: Black | Verified Purchase
Get this mic - It is that good.
I paired my SM7B with a Cloudlifter and run that into a DBX 286 preamp pre-processor and the combination for my podcast and voice over work is incredible. The Cloudlifter does an amazing job of providing the preamp that this microphone needs before hitting the pre-processor input on the DBX 286. I supply phantom power to the Cloudlifter from the DBX 286 and it all works beautifully. I have a very bass voice and with the SM7B, the sound of my voice comes out deep and with a lot of presence. I've had this microphone since 2009 and it is a classic for a reason... Don't be afraid to get up close and into this mic - It is built for it. It just works. And yes, I'm adding audio foam to the walls - This is a brand new studio still getting outfitted for a new location ;>)
★★★★★
Color: Black | Verified Purchase
Amazing microphone upgrade!
While looking for an upgrade to my Rode NT-USB mic, I fell across the Shure SM7B. I quickly looked up reviews of this mic to see if it lived up to all of the hype that streamers and music producers gave it. I finally decided to invest and purchased the SM7B. Compared to my Rode mic, I was blown away with the quality difference and instantly knew that the hype was not exaggerated. It has a very nice response and picks up the vocal tones extremely well. The SM7B makes me want to go into voice acting just because how amazing it makes my voice sound. There is a good amount of bass response and depending on your style of recording you may need to use the included switches on the bottom to adjust the response.
It's built extremely well and compared to other studio microphones I have tried, I really like the way this one is mounted. The XLR port is in a very handy location (unlike other mics where it comes out of the bottom of the mic). The SM7B comes with two different foam pop filters, a close proximity filter (the larger one that lets you get closer to the mic) and the smaller filter which is good for normal distances.
I use the SM7B for streaming and voiceovers and it has helped improve my quality immensely.
Since I'm using the SM7B with the Scarlett 2i2 USB interface, I needed a preamp to boost the gain cleanly. I went with the Cloudlifter CL-1 and it sounds amazing. I would definitely recommend going with the Cloudlifter as other preamps could introduce noise, but if you are on a budget, there are other options out there.
If you're looking for a microphone that will last you a long time and sounds amazing, I would recommend looking into the Shure SM7B. Shure it's pricey...(see what I did there ;) but it's worth every cent, and I'd definitely purchase it again!
If you have any questions about the microphone or my review, send me a message and I'll definitely help out!
★★★★★
Color: Black | Verified Purchase
It's As Good As They Say. Hear for yourself (Video)
The Shure SM7B is a fantastic microphone. When setup properly this thing produces crisp, clean, professional audio with the lowest of noise floors; even in less than ideal conditions.
I have no window treatments in my room, a computer, and a 5 disk array whirring in the background and this thing can cut them out and provide me with a signal so good I don't have to post process it. No joke.
I can talk about this all day but words would never do it justice. Check out my video (https://youtu.be/QarxpFpHq2o) for a demo of how this thing sounds. I have it pared with a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 and Cloudlifter and it's a thing of beauty.
Video Demo With Unprocessed Audio
https://youtu.be/QarxpFpHq2o
★★★★★
Color: Black | Verified Purchase
When you Power it Properly it Really Shines!
This mic is absolutely amazing. I thought I had done something wrong when I first received it as it sounded extremely sub par compared to the glowing reviews from Major recording studios that it has garnered. Then a much more knowledgeable audio technician explained to me that it is a very power hungry mic and needs a capable preamp to really shine. So I grabbed a Grace Design m101 and wow... Just wow! If you don't have the cash for that there is also the Cloudlifter CL-1 but I can't speak to that options quality as I didn't directly compare the two.
This is now easily one of my favorite recording combo's!
★★★★★
Color: Black | Verified Purchase
This great mic doesn't need another review, but I'll add one
The reputation of this mic precedes it, but I'll add my accolades. If I'd had one 25 years ago, it would have saved hundreds of hours tinkering to get a good sound. The SM7B is a broadcast standard, and - once in a while - a pro studio mic of choice. Michael Jackson used it on Thriller; that's a high bar! This is a dynamic mic and not condenser, so expect the "proximity bump" and pick-up pattern that characterizes an SM57 or 58. These are naturals for podcasts, but it's become my go-to on everything. No longer do we battle the room - it's just plug and play. Other folks are right: you need an aggressive preamp, but for many of us a decent solid state unit like the DBX286 performs beautifully. It's not a lot of money - that mic and preamp package will run about what you'd pay for a decent condenser (RODE NTK, etc). Those are terrific to have, but I like my SM7B a lot.
★★★★★
Color: Black | Verified Purchase
The very good electromagnetic shielding was what sold me on this mic, no really!
Before I got this mic, I was using the Shure MV7. I was actually pretty content with that mic except that it had 1 issue. It did not have great shielding against noisy EMF in my neighborhood. That's another factor, I live in a neighborhood with a lot of electrical wires connected from house to house. This causes a LOT of annoying EMF hum in my monitors, my speakers, my headphones, and definitely my microphones. Of all the microphones I own, the SM7B is the ONLY one that is immune to any EMF and RFI noises. I was surprised that Shure's MV7 did not have this same shielding (despite being advertised as inspired by the SM7B). It was actually quite a bummer since my Samson Q2U had better shielding than my MV7 (granted, you can STILL hear the buzz from EMF and RFI). I spoke to Shure's customer support and they informed me that I ought to try the Shure SM7B. You hear a lot about the sound quality, but I don't think there's enough praise going around for this microphone's excellent shielding against RFI and EMF noise.
Pros:
-The shielding on this mic is remarkable. My neighborhood has insanely strong and noisy EMF which puts most of my mics to shame where I'd have to fix my recordings in post
-The sound quality is as advertised. You really don't need to mess with the switches because the 'flat' position is the best (at least for my voice)
-The build quality
Cons:
-The price. $400 is mighty pricey for a dynamic mic (however, that's extra money to save me peace of mind to no longer hear the insane buzz noise I was getting from EMF - there were not enough ferrite beads, ground loop isolators, etc. in my house to get rid of that noise - the SM7B is pretty much immune to all this in my specific situation)
-It's actually a very ordinary looking microphone. Some may say it looks nice to look at. It's a black tube. That's how I see it
-XLR only (I really missed that option to have a USB connection that the MV7 had so I can just be on the go)
-You will most likely need a Fethead or Cloudlifter. I am using a Cloudlifter and this allows me to use my audio interface (Scarlett 2i2) to have the gain setting set at 2PM. Without the Cloudlifter, I almost have to crank the gain to max
Overall: My case is unique in that I've spent so much $$$$$$$$ to try to combat EMF and RFI in my area. No matter where I positioned my desk in the house, it was always there and my current mics just didn't have enough shielding to protect against it. The SM7B is a blessing. I don't have to go nuts trying yet another thing to combat the EMF and RFI. Top that with top notch audio quality for spoken word, I can't really complain
★★★★★
Color: Black | Verified Purchase
Great mic for a lot of different uses
I have a very extensive mic locker and the SM7B sits right up there with a lot of the best of my mics. It really comes down to use and compatibility. Some mics will shine on one source and not another and that is true with this mic. I did several recording sessions where we used a number of different vocal takes with a variety of mics. Interestingly, the SM7B when listened to by itself is not all that impressive. However, when it sits in the mix some magic happens. On those sessions we chose a different mic 2 out of 7 times, the other 5 times the SM7B was the mic of choice. I will say this though, it will definitely benefit by the use of a mic activator such as Cloudlifter, dBootser, or Lanucher. I've been using the Cathedral Pipes Durham and at a third of the price of the others I'm very happy with how it works with the SM7B. If you're building a mic locker I would definitely say get a SM7B. It won't work on everything but when it does - it's MAGIC.
★★★★★
Color: Black | Verified Purchase
Best In Class, You might even call it a THRILLER!
The original SM7 debuted during Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video, and its iterations remain a must-have for recording musicians and avid enthusiasts alike. The SM7B is a costly microphone, and you’re paying for two things: professional performance and premium construction. We’re breaking down what makes the Shure SM7B a studio staple, and why it’s worth the cost.
Who the Shure SM7B for?
A photo of the Shure SM7B dynamic microphone facing a woman speaking into it.
The adjustable yoke makes it easy to place the SM7B in tight corners.
Vocalists will want to save for the Shure SM7B as it’s the perfect companion for recording in a controlled environment. Users can cycle through three frequency responses: flat, bass rolloff, and presence boost, depending on the desired effect.
Professional audio mixers benefit from the high-pass frequency response: it’s great for minimizing low-frequency electronic hums from surrounding equipment. This makes post-production more efficient as it’s one less thing to edit out.
Podcasters should also think about getting this dynamic microphone. Vocal reproduction is clear and off-axis rejection is remarkably effective, thanks to the cardioid pickup pattern. Even if you can’t afford professional room treatment, the off-axis rejection mitigates unwanted background noise, again, for its crisp vocal reproduction.
Question & Answer
Question :
How does the shure sm7b compare to the blue yeti pro?
Answer :
I have the yeti pro, silver yeti the Shure SM7B, and the AKG 420. The best by far is the SM7B! The Yeti's are toys compared to the sound depth of the SM7B. Don't even consider the Yeti's at all if you can remotely afford the SM7B. The AKG 420 is middle of the road between the yeti and SM7B, it's good at least compared to the Yeti.
Question :
Do you need a mixamp/preamp/mixer/audio interface to use this microphone on a PC or is it optional?
Answer :
The question is specifically asking about using this mic with a PC, and although it's a 6 year old question, it still needs to be flooded with correct answers to hide the bad one inexplicably found at the top, even though its Yes:No helpfulness ratio is atrocious and is neither the newest nor the oldest answer. This absolutely needs an interface to be used with a PC. A lot of these answers are going on about the preamp, but regardless of how you get power to this thing--whether it be preamps onboard your interface or whatnot--you will absolutely need some sort of interface to, well, interface with your computer. Whether it be USB, Firewire, Thunderbolt, or PCIe, you will 1000% need a way to get the signal into your PC. That aside, you will definitely want good way to drive it given its output level.
Question :
Does it come with a mic stand or shock mount to hold it or do I need to buy my own? Also If I need my own what do you suggest?
Answer :
This microphone has it's own mount, that provides slight separation from any vibration noise. There is no elastic suspension "shock mount" available for this unit - but is a very rugged mic that can take a beating. Any decent stand will do... but because the SM7B is fairly heavy, I'd advise if your going to hang it off a boom stand, I'd find a sturdy one with a decent counter weight. I use an Atlas Sound MS20E Heavy Duty Microphone Stand or the On Stage SMS7650 Hex-Base Studio Boom Microphone Stand.
Question :
Can it be connected to shure dynamic microphone by xvive u3 xlr wireless system(no need extra adapter)?
Answer :
yes!xvive u3 is the best wireless system for dynamic microphone
Question :
Does this come with an XLR cable or is that sold separately?
Answer :
There's no XLR cable included in the retail packaging. Only the microphone, large foam windscreen replacement, adhesive strips to attach the large windscreen, a Shure-branded velcro strap, and a metal backplate you can optionally attach to prevent others from changing the high-pass and bass roll-off.
Question :
Is this good for higher female vocals as well as lower?
Answer :
The question is probably too vague. What is the vocal being recorded? Spoken word or songs? Is this for studio or live performance? The mic is great. It does have a lower output which is why a lot of people use something like a CL-1 or DM-1 to increase the gain.
If you are looking for studio recording for songs, I would probably go with a condenser mic in your price range. Shure does make those, as do plenty of others. Neumann makes a lot of great condenser mics. . If you are going for live singing, I would just get a SM58. It’s an industry standard, if you are recording spoken word, like in a studio for a podcast, then this is great.
Question :
What kind of cord does this use? XLR?
Answer :
XLR.
Question :
What does this come with?
Answer :
It includes the microphone and foam winscreen, close-talk windscreen, and locking yoke mount.
Question :
would the fiio supply this mic with an adequate amount of power?
Answer :
You need a dedicated Mic preamp with at least 60db of gain to get the best results from this great Mic. If you plug it into an audio interface such as the Scarlett 2i2, I'd recommend a a Cloudlifter or Fethead to add extra amplification.
Question :
Viene con el cable
Answer :
No.
Comments
Post a Comment