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Post by svart on Nov 10, 2021 8:58:05 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
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Post by chessparov on Nov 10, 2021 10:02:34 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.. Do you ever use ALL four at once? Chris
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Post by howie on Nov 10, 2021 10:08:36 GMT -6
Speaking of Detachable Penis's... you may enjoy Gogol's lyrical story, "The Nose" An ancestor of detachable body part tales, from the early 19th century. I owned an SM7B sold it - I wonder if I should have - I did a vocal shoot out between it and a Samar VL37A ribbon mic - and the Samar was smoother - At the time smooth was preferred.
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Post by tkaitkai on Nov 10, 2021 13:34:22 GMT -6
Being such a shameless Eric Valentine fanboy, these are some of my favorite reference tracks. SM7 on vocals. Dude knows how to make that mic sound world class:
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2021 15:16:30 GMT -6
Well, I bought four of them over the last two decades from different major chain retailers. My somewhat mixed opinion has yet to change.. Do you ever use ALL four at once? Chris One of them went walkies after engineering for a live venue, the other three I did use on a session. Cab / kick drum and of course the singer for a rage against the mic style vocal. After I setup a home studio they never got used, I sold two and gave one away... tkaitkaiYep, sounds like every other SM7B I've ever heard and that's not a compliment , although one has to consider something. It shows the detachment from real world music and pro audio. A lot of bands / artists have done well outta this mic and I've often sat there looking at a 5K condenser thinking, why do I bother?
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Post by enlav on Nov 10, 2021 15:30:08 GMT -6
Yep, sounds like every other SM7B I've ever heard and that's not a compliment , although one has to consider something. It shows the detachment from real world music and pro audio. A lot of bands / artists have done well outta this mic and I've often sat there looking at a 5K condenser thinking, why do I bother? Is this where I bring up Bruce Springsteen's album Nebraska?
I feel like this mic wouldn't have as bad of a rep, if it wasn't so oddly popular (I'm probably as guilty as the next guy).
Now knowing that "roll-off" tidbit, I'm curious to put it on hihat next time I can track drums.
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Post by chessparov on Nov 10, 2021 16:18:34 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. My arms are too short to reach the computer. Standing up. Chris
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Post by Ward on Nov 10, 2021 18:25:36 GMT -6
This might be the quote of the year. My arms are too short to reach the computer. Standing up. Chris I hate it when my computer stands up, and just towers over me.
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Post by chessparov on Nov 10, 2021 19:37:18 GMT -6
Many similarities to the SM7 and Chuck Norris. Like... If a SM7 goes into a pool. It doesn't get wet. The pool gets SM7'd. Any truth to the rumor, that in 2022, New York City and L.A. will require a 7 Day waiting period to purchase a SM7? At least they are catching some of the fake microphone makers. One Asian manufacturer, put "made in usa" in tiny print. Which broke the case. Grammatically incorrect, it lead to the appropriate capital sentence it deserved. Chris P.S. How about we set up a "Go Fund Me" for Ward's shiny new SM7!
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Post by chessparov on Nov 10, 2021 21:58:37 GMT -6
AFAIK all of Marshall Crenshaw's vocals, were done on a SM7. (After his first time on a Neumann, he switched) Great voice too. Chris
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Post by reddirt on Nov 11, 2021 1:28:26 GMT -6
Do you need it; if not save the money for something you really need or your family - they are a good everyday mic but it wont butter your toast or make your bed or win you a grammy and you've already got some fine mics. And yes i own one and like it. Cheers, Ross
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Post by drumsound on Nov 11, 2021 8:44:40 GMT -6
I have found it to be a very helpful mic to have around. It has matched or surpassed some much more expensive mics on more than one occasion for me. Also worth it to try an RE-20 and an M88. SM7b do sound good, but I'm with Mark. Though, John, you did say you already like how it works on your voice, so it's probably simpler to get the sure.
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Post by Ward on Nov 11, 2021 10:29:58 GMT -6
P.S. How about we set up a "Go Fund Me" for Ward's shiny new SM7! Sure!! I only have one SM7b, which serves its usefulness in its most credible utility: Guide vocals during tracking a live band. but if i had another . . . my lumbersexual/hipster cred would increase exponentially! P.S. This isn't helping John join the unkempt beard club
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Post by chessparov on Nov 11, 2021 11:49:30 GMT -6
I understand Ward. Some of us look good with a beard though. (Not me!) A couple of times in my Teen/Tween years I tried growing "long hair". Much to the amusement of my peer group. Now I'm on High Alert, for any hair growth... Between my ears. Hobbitville here I come! Chris
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Post by Ward on Nov 11, 2021 18:13:54 GMT -6
Good news Johnkenn, chessparov et al But the sale ends New Year's Eve! Act soon, supplies are running out. Edit: I could have sworn I put a link here to the Vintage King sale where they are being advertised for $349, until 31st of December, but I might be mistaken.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2021 19:47:20 GMT -6
On a different note, praise for one of the things that usually bugs me about the SM7B: the inherently reduced dynamic range. I'd rather have a compressor / limiter do the job so I can define the required dynamic range, it can be a tiring mic for that exact reason meaning the amount of additional grit, inflection and power you have to add. In the past I was quite the die hard metal fan, ironic really because my voice is powerful in terms of volume not grit so my voice through an SM7B sounded like Timberlake doing a musical special for a death metal band. I've gotten better over the years but I find singing far easier with a decent LDC.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2021 22:00:05 GMT -6
I'd rather have a compressor / limiter do the job so I can define the required dynamic range, it can be a tiring mic for that exact reason meaning the amount of additional grit, inflection and power you have to add. In the past I was quite the die hard metal fan, ironic really because my voice is powerful in terms of volume not grit so my voice through an SM7B sounded like Timberlake doing a musical special for a death metal band. I've gotten better over the years but I find singing far easier with a decent LDC. I'm actually with you on that; I went back and recorded the same material with my SM7B and compared it back to the Serrano, and while the Shure did indeed handle the dynamics more smoothly, the vibe and clarity of the LDC blew the 7B away. There's a phenomenon (documented as I write here) where I don't use the 7B for a while, bring it back out to record with it, and think it sounds great with no point of comparison. Then, as soon as I put it up against a quality LDC, the 7B sounds like it's missing all the air and detail, and it goes back in the closet. That said, it used to win out over cheap LDCs with harsh resonances. It is the "do no harm" mic in that regard. On a side note I do share Johnkenn's self recording ease of use perspective, nothing kills the mood quicker then messing around with an LDC to make sure everything is peachy. If I've got an idea I just want to grab a mic and sing.. I've looked into super / hypercardioid handheld condensers on occasion but the only one I've considered is the Neumann KMS105, however I'm not sure it could replace my toob condensers. Might be worth a try through the 6176 as it could tame it a bit / give it that tooby goodness..
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Post by chessparov on Nov 11, 2021 22:37:52 GMT -6
IMHO if you're doing lots of vocal processing... It pays to experiment with various dynamics.
For example, I've been pleasantly surprised with the EV 767a. You can add it to those better known choices, that can take EQing like a champ. Plus it's another "very narrow pattern pickup" type mic, so it's cool for trying out a quick vocal demo. Chris
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Post by thehightenor on Nov 12, 2021 1:52:22 GMT -6
I bought a SM7b recently and it's a very forgiving mic - useful when you want to put a vocal in soft focus so to speak.
The opposite of a highly detailed LDC.
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Post by bikescene on Nov 12, 2021 7:42:00 GMT -6
I’m also mulling over getting a SM7B.
Is it more of a lateral move for dynamic mics for guitar amps, acoustic guitar, banjo, mono drum OH? I already have an SM57, M201, E906, and EV RE18 that I rotate as dynamics on various sources. I’ve been trying to hold off on smaller cheaper purchases to get a Beyerdynamic M160.
It seems like the primary application you guys have mentioned is for loud rock vocals. Would you say it’s much less essential for a mic locker for instrument sources?
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Post by Guitar on Nov 12, 2021 7:45:03 GMT -6
I’m also mulling over getting a SM7B. Is it more of a lateral move for dynamic mics for guitar amps, acoustic guitar, banjo, mono drum OH? I already have an SM57, M201, E906, and EV RE18 that I rotate as dynamics on various sources. I’ve been trying to hold off on smaller cheaper purchases to get a Beyerdynamic M160. It seems like the primary application you guys have mentioned is for loud rock vocals. Would you say it’s much less essential for a mic locker for instrument sources? I wouldn't say so, no. I have used it successfully on a few instruments, but it seems more 'special' for vocals. I wouldn't buy it as an instrument mic, personally. For that type of thing, I had better luck with the MD441, RE20, M88TG. But your mileage may vary. There was some article by someone in Tape Op, the guy saying he could make an album with nothing but SM7B's. I thought that was interesting, and I also don't personally agree, but there you have it.
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Post by enlav on Nov 12, 2021 8:01:08 GMT -6
[...] I've looked into super / hypercardioid handheld condensers on occasion but the only one I've considered is the Neumann KMS105, however I'm not sure it could replace my toob condensers. Might be worth a try through the 6176 as it could tame it a bit / give it that tooby goodness.. Speaking from some experience on the handheld condenser side, your results will vary based on the type of tone that will work for a given song/mix (ie- a Beta 87 sounds fine on one song, and then loses all.. "musicality?" in another). A lot of those handheld stage condensers are optimized in odd ways sonically that I can only imagine was in the interest of getting the signal hot for stage use but with monitor feedback as an underlying concern. Might be a bit of brand bias playing here, but I had the least trouble in post working with the KMS 104 (over the 105), and some DPA handhelds I never caught the model of. (None of this is scientific or experienced in a controlled environment, YMMV, etc.)
If you're not looking to actually hold the mic, I'd bet some of the standard studio SDCs would outperform a number of the nicer handheld stage SDCs.
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Post by Ward on Nov 12, 2021 8:54:11 GMT -6
I bought a SM7b recently and it's a very forgiving mic - useful when you want to put a vocal in soft focus so to speak. The opposite of a highly detailed LDC. Quite ironic innit? Considering dynamics were the hyped mics that got all the attention and then LDCs were the natural ones, and now a load of LDCs are hyped to oblivion to get that false sense of 'better clarity' which is really only compensating for compromised integrity. And now a dynamic is the opposite of hyped? Clown world.
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dmp
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Post by dmp on Nov 12, 2021 9:48:45 GMT -6
The 'Made in USA' sm7 is very different than the sm7b, imo I had a sm7b and then got a USA made sm7 from a studio - more as a collectible than a mic I thought I wanted. The difference is very noticeable. I realized why the mic was talked about like it is - Bruce Swedian etc... More natural, especially in the highs, the sm7b is more punchy and boxy. I went on to buy a few more original sm7 and they are all the same. I liked the sm7b, but it does not have the magic, imo. Several people who've heard the difference also felt the same way.
Interestingly I have also picked up a few made in USA 57s and 58s and I think they also have the same, more natural top end. But they don't have the lows that the sm7 has of course.
sm7b is a great mic but more limited.
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Post by drbill on Nov 12, 2021 10:10:17 GMT -6
Sometimes you don't want detail and air. Just sayin'......
No the SM7 is not the ultimate vocal mic. Not even close. But as has been noted - sometimes it just works.
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