Shure SM-7b

[hotboyme]

I know you have many mics, I was look into shure line but prefer xlr to usb. Would you recommend a mic for vocal singing acapella something with a little bass? I don't scream into the mic like hard rock but prefer one that could handle high frequencies. I prefer shure or other good brand so which would you recommend.

[thewonderfulwick]

Did sony give you money or something?

[musicforindies]

Great videos, all the mics you review sound great because you have a great radio voice so hard to choose but I did like the Heil PR40, great videos thanks.

[IndigenousEmcee]

i have a question, could i use the shure X2U with the cable so i can plug the microphone right into my computer? and will that work well with rap vocals?

[euromarkus]

the bed is distracting

[radiodejaylee]

Nice vid... that mic sounds so awesome, I have an RE20 and have loved it for years but the phase coil is damaged. Looking to pick up an sm7b eventually

[jab2980]

Thriller would have been thriller no matter what mic was used.

[djvoxx]

I made a video with my Shure SM-5B, we need to see more SM-5B Videos ;-)

[NewMediaGear]

@djvoxx  -What a great microphone! Thanks for creating that video.

[tihs69]

Will a mixer with a 30 to 60db mic pre amp work with it?

Like my Yamaha mg82cx.

[Meteotrance]

it's also one of the famous microphone used for heavy metal singer like Metalica, or band like System of a down, the good thing is you can actualy scream as hell with this mic, it's impossible to make a very good arshe sound with other condenser mic if your screaming or have a strong voice ,

this one is a realy good Dynamic microphone for the "in your face" sound.

[theinck]

Michael Jackson Thriller vocal microphone right here.

[chordanae]

Very good video.

[CologneRob]

Which One is better, the sm7b or the rode procaster for Video commentary?

[ANDiTKO]

Hello. I have a question. Why everybody on the radio boosts the BASS on the microphone? It sounds boomy and you cant understand some times what are they saying. Personally i like the low frequencies to be cutted.

[bungalow1979]

Thank you for this information - it helps me a lot :-)

[NewMediaGear]

@twisttheking

It would work for almost any vocals. The key would be where you're recording and the sound you're looking to capture.

Live, on-stage, it's hard to beat a good old SM-58 for general purpose. In a nice flat recording studio, you may want to consider a large diaphragm condenser.

[Guitfiddler168]

@twisttheking I used this to record a rapper recently and it smoked 3 vintage Neumanns. It sounds very punchy and cuts through the mix more than any other mic I've ever used.

[imperialpod]

@Guitfiddler168

Not the 1st time.

Jackson used the SM7 over MANY more expensive mics. In Motown circles its known as THE Michael Jackson mic.

[jdbaken]

@Guitfiddler168 According to Shure, this is the microphone used in the recording of Michael Jackson's Thriller.

[aaronfromhastings]

Haven't you oiled that boom yet? :)

[NewMediaGear]

@aaronfromhastings

Ha! Good one. I'll see if we can budget in some WD-40 ; )

[carlwelden]

@NewMediaGear Silence is golden, but be very careful not to over-apply it on your boom's load-bearing tension-bolts, as this will cause it to sag or even drop when heavier mics are attached. Often squeaking can also be solved by replacing the nylon washers between the armature and bolt-ends/nuts.

Great review of a superb mic by the way.

Keep them coming!

[JadeMurder]

@NewMediaGear PAM cooking spray works too. a little cheaper too.

[jdbaken]

Is there a chance you could have been looking at CHUM Radio, Windsor? CKLW and 89X still has those old SM-5B's.

[NewMediaGear]

@jdbaken

I listened to CHUM, when much younger, but never visited the station. I'm sure those 5B's are still in service at quite a few stations. It seems to be harder and harder to get foam replacements though.

Thanks for the comment!

[jdbaken]

@NewMediaGear

Thanks for all the vids! I was looking into a SM-5B but I'm hooked on the RE-20 after watching that video. It's what we use where I work (also the RE-27, MD-421 and Rode Broadcasters).

Your reviews help a lot!

[NewMediaGear]

@jdbaken

The SM-5b has become collectible. It's also an icon for many stations because of it's unique shape.

The RE-20/27 models just keep on going. I wouldn't want to be without both. The 20 mellows out the high end, while the RE-27 has a nice bright sound and higher output.

Thanks for listening in and taking time to comment!

[sicilian212]

Thanks for the great videos. Any time I need to "demo" a mic and I can't get to it, I turn to your videos. Thanks again for all the fantastic info. The only thing I might mention, is some of the videos seem a little hot or over-modulated. I'm sure it's in the conversion to Youtube. Anyway, thanks again from one major market radio guy to another.

[NewMediaGear]

@sicilian212

Thanks for the comment. Some quality is lost during YT trans-coding, heard as artifacts. It seems to be getting a bit worse lately.

We swap out processors, mics and sometimes even consoles several times a day. Sometimes a setting will slip past quality-control, but we try to catch it before posting ; )

[RUDOLPHLYRICS]

love these vids.

[Jubal24]

I bought one used on eBay for about 150.00 It was a great buy. Used with a PreSonus TubePre, it makes even my nasal voice timbre silky smooth.

[TONOWORKSMEXICO]

This is great microphone we own a couple here at Tonoworks studios. Voiceover work through good preamps goes a long way. We use it for music as well, once tried it on bass cab too and it worked very nice. If you watch sessions at Abbey Road studios you can see it being used on snare drums, the boomy proximity effect helps to achieve a very fat snare. Great review. Cheers from Puebla, Mexico.

[radiobigb0]

From what I've seen KKWF-FM seattle is still using Shure SM-5b mics.

[Twinphreex]

Eddie Vedder, Anthony Kiedis and many "screamers" use the Sm-7b. If i remember right, Anthony's Vocals on Blood Suger Sex Magic and Stadium Arcadium by RHCP were recorded with this mic. So def. good for music :-)

[amaurythewarrior]

i don't think it would do good for music ... i guess you can't have both

[NewMediaGear]

It really depends on what type of music? Dynamic mics are used for instrument work as well, but that's not my expertise.

Generally, however, the SM7B is a considered a broadcast dynamic - great for on-air or production.

[amaurythewarrior]

i have nothing against dynamic mic for music use (i don't really have a choice actually), but (at least it's what your demos make those sound like) it sound really boomy IMO.

of course, i agree, that it depends of the style of music ...

btw, how is this room configured for recording ? it seems you haven't done anything special, but you don't have reflexion problems with static mics ...

mine is driving me crazy, even with a SM58 i get lot of those, and really noticable ...

[NewMediaGear]

So many factors to consider. A directional (cardioid/hyper-cardioid) will help focus the pickup towards your voice. ...much better than an omni if you're having reflection issues

Regarding the room - we had to get creative. Our lease would not allow for complete isolation. The next option would be an iso-booth, but I've worked in them before. ...not always pleasant

We ended up gluing the walls with Auralex tile, which works amazingly well to deaden the room.

[nickeax]

Michael Jackson thought it was OK for the vocals on Thriller. :)

[jrs89]

Michael Jackson's vocals in Thriller were done on an SM7.

[IBloodyloveMetallicA]

@amaurythewarrior are you kidding? Metallica's James hetfield uses this mic for studio recording. cant be that bad then lol.

[ironbear]

Love the reviews...but wish the processing was less 'clippy'.

[NewMediaGear]

Hello and thanks for the comment!

Our cast processing is my own interpretation of radio, as I remember it.

(minus a 3.7k twisted-pair STL bandpass!)

Limiting, leveling and peak gain reduction was an AM radio war between GMs, PDs and the competition for a VU meter that never dropped.

This sound is an acquired taste and simply nostalgic for me in an NPRish world. Others find it unappealing at the least.

Of course, we back it down for paying clients that need a gentle LA-2A or 1176 sound.

[deanpaul716]

I really like this microphone. Good Show Mark.

[DuplicateSuccessNow]

great video and an awesome mic! If someone were interested in using this mic for podcasting, what additional hardware would be needed?

[NewMediaGear]

That's a tough one. If it's a home studio, take a look at using a small mixer and pro firewire interface. Also - consider a hardware processor.

Just general opinions. You'll really want to speak with someone about details before buying pro gear.

Thanks for listening!

Mark

[DuplicateSuccessNow]

Thanks for the response! Much appreciate the feedback!

[yungquane]

Cool!

[effectsgroup]

Mic sound great ot me!

[dansyn]

KRTH (K-Earth 101) have the SM5B's...

We use the SM7B's at work. I don't particularly like them that much... i like the RE20's and 27's better! I'd like to see a review on the Rode ProCaster!

[NewMediaGear]

Thanks! I found them on an East coast station, but didn't know KRTH used them too.

Probably a lot of stations out there with the SM-5 still on the boom.

[purctry985]

my sm5 needs new foam, hey it still sounds good