|
Post by chessparov on Nov 9, 2021 12:24:41 GMT -6
Among dynamics IMHO... EV 635a is a terrific BGV/group harmony mic. Chris
|
|
|
Post by Omicron9 on Nov 9, 2021 12:54:51 GMT -6
Interesting thread. I keep wanting to try an SM7b on woodwinds and possibly other acoustic instruments. Has anyone tried this?
-09
|
|
|
Post by teejay on Nov 9, 2021 13:05:00 GMT -6
Just speaking from my own experience. Bought one several years ago for vocals only and tried pairing it with a GAP Pre73 because at the time that was "the formula". I'm not a rocker, but more acoustic/ballad/traditional. It was fine, but didn't do anything to thrill me. Tried it over time with a P1, BAE 312a, Phoenix DRS1, Tubule, MA5, but it did not resolve my main vocal issues. Likely wasn't doing the best at pairing, but those were my pre choices as gear was changing. Finally decided it was not going to be a great vocal mic for me and sold it. After moving on to some great tube LDCs I have no desire to get one again.
|
|
|
Post by Guitar on Nov 9, 2021 13:13:25 GMT -6
Just speaking from my own experience. Bought one several years ago for vocals only and tried pairing it with a GAP Pre73 because at the time that was "the formula". I'm not a rocker, but more acoustic/ballad/traditional. It was fine, but didn't do anything to thrill me. Tried it over time with a P1, BAE 312a, Phoenix DRS1, Tubule, MA5, but it did not resolve my main vocal issues. Likely wasn't doing the best at pairing, but those were my pre choices as gear was changing. Finally decided it was not going to be a great vocal mic for me and sold it. After moving on to some great tube LDCs I have no desire to get one again. That's a good point... about genre, I think? You are doing what I sometimes call "big voice," music. Vincent also, obviously. The SM7B is more on the compact side, which makes it suitable for other genres people have mentioned, where you want the vocal tucked in neatly.
|
|
|
Post by Ward on Nov 9, 2021 13:20:13 GMT -6
Go ahead. Deal seekers: Check the classifieds in 3 weeks.
Oops, forgot my banning,
|
|
|
Post by Mister Chase on Nov 9, 2021 13:42:59 GMT -6
Dude. You don't have one?
Do it now.
|
|
|
Post by Mister Chase on Nov 9, 2021 13:45:58 GMT -6
Understood. IME, though, a "Cloudlifter" device often introduces more noise than the pre cranked up. I seem to remember EmRR mentioning this at some point, too.
Obviously if you've got something like an original V72 or a 40dB-max preamp, you'll have to pick up gain somewhere else. But for how many people is that actually the case?
I just drew blood in a CrapShifter conversation elsewhere. Use compressor make-up gain instead. Far better. For most preamps, full gain is actually the quietest noise floor; counterintuitive, masked by the fact so much gain has been added to the mic level. You have to have a really noisy crappy preamp to show a SmogShitter doing better on noise. Every Mackie/etc has approached theoretical lowest possible noise for decades already. That $150 is better spent on a proper preamp, not a band-aid for a shitty one. Now - a ShartLifter may improve the sound of a ribbon with some pre’s, by providing a lighter impedance loading. This is not universal, also fixed by just buying the right damn preamp in the first place. This is the truth. Sometimes there is impedence weirdness with the Cloudlifter and certain mics/pres that ruin the sound for me on top of it. I was recording my Ukulele Christmas album last year with mostly ribbons and did a lot of preamp experimenting with my Coles 4038 and AEA R84. The Hardy M-2 performed best along with the AEA RPQ. Cloudlifter didn't really get me any gains. Maybe worse.
|
|
|
Post by schmalzy on Nov 9, 2021 14:25:41 GMT -6
I didn't want to like it but my SM7b gets used a lot.
It's my favorite kick mic.
It's great on guitar amps; especially for guitar amps that are really hard sounding in the midrange.
Really good on bass amps.
Killer on medium-loud to loud sources where you don't want a ton of top end detail.
Also a good vocal mic if you don't need the sound to be beautiful. Midrange-y and direct.
If I had 5 of them they'd be kick in, snare top, and toms. They're 57s with better low end and a more palatable midrange.
|
|
|
Post by phdamage on Nov 9, 2021 14:49:16 GMT -6
it was my go to vocal mic for a long while, but now I have a bunch of serious tube and FET condensers that usually get chosen first. However, it does beat them out for some vocalists. And if folks are tracking live, I really appreciate the rejection it offers.
Generally, I appreciate how unique it sounds and would wanna keep it around for that reason alone, if for nothing else. the proximity boost in the lows, the dark, at times wooly tone does just what I want it to on a harsh guitar cab or vocal. It's basically what I wish my RE20 sounded like!
|
|
|
Post by Martin John Butler on Nov 9, 2021 14:56:49 GMT -6
While we're at it, can someone please tell me what the differences are between the SM7, SM7A, and SM7b ?
|
|
|
Post by mrholmes on Nov 9, 2021 14:58:52 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by bossanova on Nov 9, 2021 15:04:27 GMT -6
I just drew blood in a CrapShifter conversation elsewhere. Use compressor make-up gain instead. Far better. For most preamps, full gain is actually the quietest noise floor; counterintuitive, masked by the fact so much gain has been added to the mic level. You have to have a really noisy crappy preamp to show a SmogShitter doing better on noise. Every Mackie/etc has approached theoretical lowest possible noise for decades already. That $150 is better spent on a proper preamp, not a band-aid for a shitty one. Now - a ShartLifter may improve the sound of a ribbon with some pre’s, by providing a lighter impedance loading. This is not universal, also fixed by just buying the right damn preamp in the first place. This is the truth. Sometimes there is impedence weirdness with the Cloudlifter and certain mics/pres that ruin the sound for me on top of it. I was recording my Ukulele Christmas album last year with mostly ribbons and did a lot of preamp experimenting with my Coles 4038 and AEA R84. The Hardy M-2 performed best along with the AEA RPQ. Cloudlifter didn't really get me any gains. Maybe worse. I have found this re: the Cloudlifter as well. For certain applications on the SM7B, the impedance change seems to add additional low end, which isn’t what I’m looking for in mic that’s already DARK. Unless it’s a noisy pre, I prefer the slightly leaner sound of the pre gain over the Cloudlifter.
|
|
|
Post by svart on Nov 9, 2021 15:08:27 GMT -6
Nah.
|
|
|
Post by christopher on Nov 9, 2021 15:45:13 GMT -6
I’ve used sm7b a couple times. I really don’t care for the highs, there is one sound I can dial in, which is the stock tone, just a little brighter because stock it’s too dark. I don’t know why, instead of a lovefest happy feeling the longer I hear it and try to mix it, I get a hater grumbling feeling. And this is even though I tell people it’s a great mic, to get one, and I want one, I really want to love it. But there is something that frustrates me. Maybe the switches were totally wrong? They don’t have counterfeit of these out there, do they? That would explain a lot. When I see peoples hatred of sm57 I always wonder if they were using counterfeit and didn’t realize it, there a tons floating around out there, and they are horrid!
|
|
|
Post by gravesnumber9 on Nov 9, 2021 15:49:11 GMT -6
Now I'm so lazy, I sit in front of the computer and set the mic up to sing. Because - nobody can tell the effing difference. Ok - if I were making a major record - I would stand up... This might be the quote of the year.
|
|
|
Post by gravesnumber9 on Nov 9, 2021 15:52:05 GMT -6
Interesting thread. I keep wanting to try an SM7b on woodwinds and possibly other acoustic instruments. Has anyone tried this? -09 Go-to session trumpet player here in Austin uses an SM7b on all his "at home" stuff. I had him up to my place and figured, "hey - why mess with what's working?" That said, I also ran my beloved m160 at the same time and it was way smoother, but the SM7 didn't sound bad and could have won the shootout on a different mix.
|
|
|
Post by gravesnumber9 on Nov 9, 2021 15:54:20 GMT -6
While we're at it, can someone please tell me what the differences are between the SM7, SM7A, and SM7b ? Well obviously the older models are better because all older models of everything are better than all newer models of everything. Duh.
|
|
|
Post by bossanova on Nov 9, 2021 15:57:39 GMT -6
I’ve used sm7b a couple times. I really don’t care for highs, there is one sound I can dial in, which is the stock tone, just a little brighter because stock it’s too dark. I don’t know why, instead of a lovefest happy feeling the longer I hear it and try to mix it, I get a hater grumbling feeling. And this is even though I tell people it’s a great mic, to get one, and I want one, I really want to love it. But there is something that frustrates me. Maybe the switches were totally wrong? They don’t have counterfeit of these out there, do they? That would explain a lot. When I see peoples hatred of sm57 I always wonder if they were using counterfeit and didn’t realize it, there a tons floating around out there, and they are horrid! I think there’s some truth to this…the “flat” version has more balanced mids, but the high end sounds like it’s been shelved down a couple db. The presence boost brings some air back, but it makes the mids way more nasal. The low end is woolly in flat mode, but somehow the low cut removes a bunch of the body and still leaves a “ball” of mud in the lower register. 150-300 ish. My preferred version is “flat”, just because I don’t like the drawbacks of either switch. Better to EQ the stock voicing after the fact and have the more neutral version to shape later. My go to EQ is to boost the high end with a Pultec ish bell at 8k, until it sounds too bright in solo but has good presence in the mix, shelve off low end, and take out an additional, narrow mud cut if needed.
|
|
|
Post by christopher on Nov 9, 2021 16:06:47 GMT -6
Well crap, typed into Alibaba and there it is. I bet at least one of the ones I used (a client’s) was fake. Had that nassssty fangle tooth high end, found in fake 57s. That’s how you know a 57 is fake, as soon as you hear that crap tin-can thing, no that’s not a 57, looks and feels like one though. The Sm7b I used was super dark and dead like it should be, but sure hated EQ.
|
|
|
Post by Guitar on Nov 9, 2021 16:34:09 GMT -6
I use the SM7B with presence switch ON and low cut ON, for what I like to hear.
Nerd talk: The presence boost is actually not a boost at all. In fact it's some kind of LC filter that cuts highs in the flat position, and in the "top boost" position, that's actually the normal sound of the capsule.
|
|
|
Post by chessparov on Nov 9, 2021 17:30:44 GMT -6
Yes! That's how Scott Dorsey has explained it IIRC. A bit confusing.
Skimming, will catch up tonight... Chris
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2021 3:00:01 GMT -6
I’ve used sm7b a couple times. I really don’t care for the highs, there is one sound I can dial in, which is the stock tone, just a little brighter because stock it’s too dark. I don’t know why, instead of a lovefest happy feeling the longer I hear it and try to mix it, I get a hater grumbling feeling. And this is even though I tell people it’s a great mic, to get one, and I want one, I really want to love it. But there is something that frustrates me. Maybe the switches were totally wrong? They don’t have counterfeit of these out there, do they? That would explain a lot. When I see peoples hatred of sm57 I always wonder if they were using counterfeit and didn’t realize it, there a tons floating around out there, and they are horrid! Well, I bought four of them over the last two decades from different major chain retailers. My somewhat mixed opinion has yet to change..
|
|
|
Post by svart on Nov 10, 2021 7:25:17 GMT -6
I love how everybody is questioning whether they had a fake sm7 instead of coming to terms with the fact that they just aren't that great of a mic.
|
|
|
Post by svart on Nov 10, 2021 7:27:31 GMT -6
Check out Heil PR30 or PR40. Better mics. I have the PR35 and I like it a lot more than the SM7 I have.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Nov 10, 2021 7:58:09 GMT -6
Check out Heil PR30 or PR40. Better mics. I have the PR35 and I like it a lot more than the SM7 I have. Maybe you have a fake one
|
|