The Shure SM7B microphone is a product that has few real competitors and a reputation for being the best in its field. It is expensive, but it offers great performance. You can use it for music recording, podcasting, or video production.
The SM7B is a professional-grade dynamic microphone that was created primarily with the goal of recording speech and vocal performances. This might include voice-overs, broadcasts, streaming, or podcasts. Even a cursory look at YouTube will reveal that many renowned content creators use it as their preferred microphone. Its popularity is a direct result of how easy it is to use; all you need is an XLR connection.
Shure SM7B review: Design
The Shure SM7B is a microphone that is popular among YouTubers, podcasters, and streamers. It has a sleek black chassis and feeds into a metallic band that has branding and two screws for the mount and XLR input. The windscreen is already fastened after that. The directions were so poorly written that when we tried to take it off to peek inside, we nearly ruined it. It merely displays a picture of someone accomplishing it.
To remove the mic, you need to pull a thin plastic piece. There is a sturdy metal cage inside. The directions for the larger windscreen were also unclear. Instead, installing the mic requires manually fastening velcro straps to its base. Why does it need to be so difficult? The manual EQ switch controls are located on the back of the Shure SM7B. Although it is initially set to Flat Response, you can change it to Bass Rolloff or Presence Boost. The top attachment can be changed to fit boom arms with a 5/8- or 3/8-inch thread. ..
Shure SM7B review: Features
The Shure SM7B is a precision and reliable microphone that excels at both frequency response and sound pressure levels. It has a slight scoop in the low-mids and gentle shaping on the top end, making it a good all-around option for most musical and vocal sources. It can withstand a maximum sound pressure level over a scorching 180 decibels, making it an ideal choice for positioning in front of the loudest guitar amps and on the drum kits of hard-hitting drummers.
The Shure SM7B’s two EQ settings on the back, which enable further modifying of the microphone’s sound, are one of the factors making it one of the greatest voice microphones. Both the low-cut and mid-boost switches can remove rumble and boominess from more resonant vocal sources. The low-cut switch creates a roll-off starting at 400 Hz, and the mid-boost switch offers a lifted response from 900 Hz to 11,000 Hz. With these shaping choices, you can experiment with various sources with greater freedom. However, use with caution as they permanently change the source’s original raw recorded sound.
The Shure SM7B windscreens are essential for ensuring consistent sound quality and adaptability. They are thick foam and detachable, which makes them easy to use and record with.
Shure SM7B review: Setup
The Shure SM7B is a great microphone for audio applications that require more clean gain than most others. If you’re using this mic with underpowered preamps and find that the signal is too quiet or noisy, a phantom-powered gain booster like the Cloudlifter CL-1 can be an ideal match. This microphone needs more clean gain than many others to deliver a usable audio signal.
The SM7B handheld microphone is not meant for use on a microphone stand. The integrated XLR output placement causes the cable to move a lot while being used handheld, which can cause popping and electrical noise. Due to the XLR output and the captured threaded nut’s integrated design, setup time for this microphone is incredibly quick. ..
Audio quality
The Shure SM7B is a great microphone for bass-heavy music. It is completely neutral and natural sounding, making it great for any type of voice. Additionally, it doesn’t have any distortion or boominess typical of consumer-grade microphones, which makes it perfect for anyone who wants to sound their best in music.
The SM7B microphone has a very smooth frequency range, without any harshness or graininess. It is related to the dynamic capsule of the microphone, and is also very RELiable.
The main downside to dynamic microphones is that they lack the extended response up to 20 kHz. However, this is a minor downside in the grand scheme of things, as all dynamic microphones are good up to 12 kHz. In fact, this is one of the main advantages of dynamic microphones – they can capture more detail in high-frequency ranges than other types of microphones.
The Shure SM7B is a great microphone for radio because it is simple to use and has more opportunities for a consistent production.
Software
There is no specific software designed for the Shure SM7B microphone. This is largely due to the fact that it is an XLR microphone, which means that you will be using a mixer. Because the microphone does pick up some low static that can be heard in some of our Audacity recordings, the first thing we advise doing is turning on a noise gate at about -54dB. Additionally, you will learn our article on Shure SM7B review.
Price and configurations
The Shure SM7B costs $400, but depending on your accessory requirements, there are a number of bundles that might raise the price. The normal RK345 windscreen, the thicker A7WS windscreen, and the RPM602 switch cover plate are all included in the original box. You can read our article on Shure SM7B review to learn more. ..
The Shure SM7B costs $400 on its own, but depending on your accessory requirements, there are a number of bundles that might raise the price. The normal RK345 windscreen, the thicker A7WS windscreen, and the RPM602 switch cover plate are all included in the original box. The Shure SM7B bundle, which costs $602, includes the aforementioned items as well as Shure SRH440A studio headphones, which cost $99 each. ..
Conclusion
The Shure SM7B is a great mic for podcasting beginners or experienced users. It’s consistent, adaptable, and strong, and has a well-earned reputation for excellence. There are a lot of audio enthusiasts out there, and most of them have used this mic before. ..
The SM7B is a reasonably priced dynamic microphone that can be used in a variety of applications. Most serious podcasters typically have budgets that can accommodate it. Shure’s entire line of dynamic microphones can be found in music studios, sound stages, and live music venues all over the world, from the storied broadcast boom mics (SM5) to the original podcasting microphones.
