All user reviews for the Shure SM7B

cardioid dynamic microphone
vocals, bass drum jazz percussionist ...

OVERALL OPINION

I have it for about a year and use a lot live and in the studio

It's a wonderful mic has almost everything

To live it has not taken his equal on vocals, especially in close proximity to a singer who sings loudly. It often saves my bet when the sound environment prevents me from putting on a static voice studio (and it does not have a blush facing them).
On kick drums it does not give good results, especially in jazz, it changes the sound of heavy D6, 52 ...
On Bass is a marvel: a very rich and right faith, can forget the equalo
On guitar amp very interesting when you do not want a particular color, it does not have the gaudy side of his little brother SM57.
On the brass helps out good but not worth the style 441 or RE20.

It's honestly a microphone to have in its fleet, it is clearly under-exploited.
I'll buy good 5 or 6 but it is still expensive for a dynamic.

Microphone Type: Dynamic
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 50Hz-20kHz
Impedance: 150 ohms
Bass rolloff and mid-range emphasis (presence boost) controls
A7WS detachable windscreen

OVERALL OPINION

The SM7b is a great mic and, with the right preamp, can be the center vocal mic in a professional studio. Not only does this mic sound great on vocals (especially male, in the heavier styles of music), but also on guitar cabinets, snare drum, hi-hats and the occasional bass drum. This was the mic used to record the vocals on the highest selling album of all time, Michael Jackson's Thriller!

I mentioned above that this can be a great mic, with the correct preamp. The major downfall of the SM7b is it needs a lot of gain to drive it. If you're dealing with quieter vocalists and sources, 60db of gain in your preamps might be cutting it a bit short, since most preamps tend to get noisy in the last 20-25% of their range. This microphone is NOT particularly stunning through stock preamps in most interfaces (even the $2000 ones), fairly bland and similar in sound to a SM57/58. The mic REALLY comes to life with an excellent preamp, such as those offered by Universal Audio and API. Don't get me wrong, you can still get excellent results from it with lower end preamps, but don't expect it to sound significantly better than condensers in its price range (used), through one.

When it comes to dynamics, I go to Shure. Granted, that opinion had been because of their SM58 alone, but no more. When I was looking for a mic to handle what I call "long haul" digital narration projects (well, okay, that and I wanted to buy another pro-grade microphone. Can you blame me?), I ultimately came down to two mics (say 'em with me now): the Electro Voice RE20 and the Shure SM7B. My voice is low and at it's lower and quieter moments has a bit of a rumble, so after a few voice tests at a local shop, I went with the SM7B. It handles my voice perfectly with no thinning or dampening. I've never been happier. One note: you're going to need a good amount of clean gain to drive this puppy. I pair mine with a Grace m101 and it absolutely soars!

OVERALL OPINION

This mic picks up all the nuance and character that I want while also providing amazing ambient noise rejection. I can record in any room in my house and the sound is nearly the same in each place. And while I wouldn't call this microphone a jack of all trades, that doesn't stop me from telling you that I love this microphone! You will too.
Sonically it sounds great, ideal for fattening whatever your trying to record and with good EQ'ing, even an amateur will hear the difference!! It makes a great impression, any talent walks into your studio and sees an SM7 and it will say a lot about you as an engineer. If I must be a bully, it doesn't get a 5 because you do need a preamp with a lot of gain. The only mics that stand up to the SM7 cost $3000+ dollars, and even then, the SM7 STILL stands amongst them!

You see these in a lot of radio studios and recording studios alike. I never tried one of these because I was under the impression they were strictly for voicover work. How wrong I was. This is a dynamic mic in function but I believe the sound is more in the condenser range. It's one of those acts like this but sounds like that mics you see pop up. Apparently it's meant to be a very balanced mic and I'd say that's a fair description. It's a very neutral sound.

OVERALL OPINION

Oddly enough, I first came into contact with one of these during a live session recording. I had seem them before being used on vocals, but in this particular setting I was given one to use on my own vocals. I looked at the engineer like he was crazy. It was a live acoustic session. I had a guitar, drums, and an acoustic bass, on top of me singing. The engineer assured me it would sound good. SO we did it. Ended up sounding great. There's something about this mic that makes it sound very at home with acoustic instruments on vocals. I later bought one and tried a lot of experimenting with it, and found that it did much better in laid back mixes than full band mixes. To be fair, it's very hard to find a mic that fits both these situations. Most only do one well. I really like the SM7B for vocals in acoustic music. I cut a whole album with it actually. I've come to the conclusion that for home recording on a budget, this is very solid vocal mic. You really can't go wrong for the money. It does require a bit of EQ based on what sound you want it to have because of how inherently neutral it is. Honestly though, I found that half the time is sounds pretty good untouched. It can be boomy if you have a low voice. But no worries. Just cut it at 200 hz.

The reason that the Shure SM7B is so well loved in recording studios and live applications all over the planet is because the microphone is unbelievably smooth sounding. It imparts this odd pre-compressed sound. It tames harshness. It tames the sibilance of any singer and anything else, really. That's why it will always find a home anywhere it goes. The Shure SM7B lends itself well to lead vocals, especially, because this smooth response and small natural presence boost (you can boost it more with a switch on the bottom on the microphone, as well as a high pass/low cut filter) allows lead vocals to cut incredibly well through a dense mix. The Shure SM7B's frequency response, in tandem with its taming nature, makes it incredibly ideal for raspy and shrill vocals. This is why Michael Jackson so legendarily recorded "Thriller" on this very microphone. This is why it is so well-reputed for metal; the taming cuts down the harshness of growls and screams.

With this versatility, however, (it also excels on guitar cabs and kick drum.) the Shure SM7B has one flaw: because of the cutting nature of the SM7B's frequency response, it is very mid-heavy, making it slightly honky. In conjuncture with said honkiness, there is a distinct narrowness to the sound; the microphone, despite it's ability to sound incredibly BIG, (it is, after all, a broadcast microphone.) it still manages to sound very small at the same time. I can't really describe it; you have to find clips of the SM7B to understand what I'm saying.

However, that's all subjective, and if there were to be an objective gripe I have with the SM7B, it is the low gain of the microphone. You need a POWERFUL preamp to drive it; I would say that you would need at LEAST 60dB of quiet gain.

OVERALL OPINION

This microphone will always find its way into studios because it just WORKS on everything.

However, keep in mind that if you're a project musician, you shouldn't listen to a bunch of gearheads talking about this microphone. They are enamored with the ease of its use and its versatility, but understand that there is probably a microphone far more flattering on YOUR voice, and you should shop around.

But I will tell you that you won't ever go "wrong." You could certainly do more RIGHT though. Especially at $350.

View the previous opinion, everything is perfectly described ...

OVERALL OPINION

This is a short week it is in intensive testing at the studio ...
Very nice microphone, in any case, I am a fan

Having bought many of my favorite albums included some voices principal made with this mic.

Verdict: not disappoint, output level, but my feeble excellent GTQ2 has recovered all that, do not be afraid to use the two buttons at the back (hump in the upper midrange and low cut), to equalize when making , ....

It's a microphone "philosophy" SM57: do not be afraid to "bully", he is really good on vocals auctions or "big" voice

After it is true that there is not necessarily the "air" and the extent that Neumann may have large but it's really good for the big rock ...

I have not tested it yet on guitar amps or bass drums but it will be soon

Recommended, but not as the first vocal microphone ...

***** UPDATE OF June 7, 2010 *********
I recorded the last weekend of votes "metal" with this microphone, connected to the preamp GTQ2, then the UA 1176 compressor, and finally a converter Soundscpae / Apogee ... PERFECT for male voices. When associated with a Big preamp (for low output) and a large compressor, it makes voices "radio" when spoken, if not very very big voice for singing rock!
Recommended by what we want!!
Paul

The Shure SM7B is a dynamic microphone that is designed for use in recording studios and broadcast studios, but is suitable for live shows and all other applications you would want to use a dynamic microphone for. It has a swivel mount that is attached to a standard XLR output and also comes with a handy pop filter that can be placed directly over the mic's grill. It also has a filter switch on the back of it.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the Shure SM7B for about four years and have found it to truly be a great sounding microphone. It doesn't differ too much if at all across the board from the standard SM7, sharing the same qualities in terms of tone that includes a big sounding response as well as the ability to handle louder signals and instruments. I've used this microphone for recording everything from vocals to kick drum and other drums to electric guitar. While it excels in a number of different situations I would have to say that I like using it best to record male vocals, especially those with a lot rasp in their voice. I feel that since it is able to handle such loud signals it is perfect for males vocals and seems to share a sweet spot with those frequencies that make up the male voice. While it was originally designed for broadcasting, it has made a huge leap into the world of recording and has become a favorite of many professional engineers. The price of the Shure SM7B is very reasonable considering the great sounding and extremely sturdy microphone that you are getting. The good price makes it a great choice both for home studio owners and professional engineers, I would encourage all looking for a top of the line dynamic microphone at a cheap price to check out the Shure SM7B.

(Originally written by InstinctCreatif/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Large diaphragm cardioid dynamic mic.

Standard mic for radio and TV applications. The Shure SM7B is the ideal tool for voice recording. It's the standard mic in FM radio stations.

Linear and wide frequency response ideal for all professional vocal and speech applications. Very effective shield against electromagnetic noise generated by computer screens, neon lights and other electric devices.

The Shure SM7B is an update of older models and provides a better stability. Apart form the standard windscreen it's provided with a A7WS screen for sources placed too close to the mic.

Shure SM7B features:

â–ª Flat, wide-range frequency response for exceptionally clean and natural reproduction of both music and speech

â–ª Bass rolloff and mid-range emphasis (presence boost) controls with graphic display of response setting

â–ª Improved rejection of electromagnetic hum, optimized for shielding against broadband interference emitted by computer monitors

â–ª Internal "air suspension" shock isolation virtually eliminates mechanical noise transmission

â–ª A7WS detachable windscreen designed to reduce plosive sounds and gives a warmer tone for close-talk vocals

â–ª Classic cardioid polar pattern, uniform with frequency and symmetrical about axis, to provide maximum rejection and minimum coloration of off-axis sound

â–ª Rugged construction and excellent cartridge protection for outstanding reliability

â–ª Switchable high-pass and mid-boost filters

â–ª Mounted on swivel axis for precise mic position

â–ª Frequency range: 40 - 16 000 Hz

OVERALL OPINION

The Shure Sm7B cardioid dynamic mic is a reference in FM radio stations. It's very rugged and looks nice (I know that's a subjective statement). It's great for many applications: radio stations, live gigs, studio and outdoor recordings. It doesn't need any phantom power so it can be connected to any mixer. It has a very low output level. I use it with an Universal Audio LA-610 and the result is great!! The sound is superb I think the Universal Audio preamp increases tenfold the mic's sensitivity and provides it a superb sound character, ideal for close miking.

A well-known competitor product is the ElectroVoice RE20...

For more info take a look here: http://www.microphonereviews.com/product-reviews/microphones/shure-sm7b.html or here: http://www.tweakheadz.com/review_of_the_shure_sm7b.htm

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SM7B/reviews/

I also use an AKG C414 B-XL II and a SE Electronics Z5600 A.

This mic is really meant to just sit in one place and have broadcasters speak into it. This is Shure's flagship broadcasting and public speaking mic. However, it has been widely adopted into the pro audio world as well for its unique, lively sound. It is a dynamic that connects with XLR, so no phantom power necessary. It comes with a big wind screen, which you will probably want to take off if you are using it for music to allow more of the high frequency detail to come through, but leave on for broadcasting to tone down some of the more nasty plosives. It has two frequency adjustment switches. One is a low-frequency roll-off to help deal with the proximity effect you will definitely be seeing from broadcasters, and the other a is a presence boost that will help intelligibility of speech. For music, this mic can give a very fat sound to vocals. Use this on singers with a very edgy, mid-range type sound and listen to them melt into a fat punchy sound. You will probably want to boost above 8k for lead vocals on your EQ, but everything below that will likely sound great. I also know many people who like to use this on snare drums and toms, and have gotten great results.

OVERALL OPINION

I have only recently been introduced to using this mic in the studio. I tried it on a few other sources other than vocals such as a guitar cabinet and a horn, but nothing really clicked for me except a specific kind of singer. There are just some singers who really will sound trashy through a condenser without the smoothing that they receive through the right dynamic mic, even though you tend to lose some detail and transients. This is definitely a good mic to have in your locker, very much recommended.