Turtlerock Forum

I bought a Shure SM7b and I really don't know why. It needs a heap of gain to drive it, sounds ok but a little hard sounding for me not sweet like a some condensers I have. Just wondering if I should have got a Heil PR40.
What do you guys use it for?

nIC

I've used it successfully on some vocalists, especially more aggressive ones. Also pulled a great snare sound with one once. I think it's probably best on loud sound sources?

Thanks
I always wanted one, now I'm not sure. I only had a little play with it through the Ensemble pre (vocals), might go through a Neve tomorrow.

nIC

Aearth wrote:Thanks
I always wanted one, now I'm not sure. I only had a little play with it through the Ensemble pre, might go through a Neve tomorrow.

nIC

Big Neve gain will be good for it, I think... I wouldn't stress that you've made a bad investment, Nic.

Nick

we use ours for scremo "vocals" and floor toms.. mostly metal stuff..

A lot of the hiphop crowd on GS always seem to go for them.

if you really dont like it I will buy it off you.

Simon B wrote:if you really dont like it I will buy it off you.

Thanks
I'm still thinking about it, going to try it out with some other pres.

nIC

Loud vocalists and guitar cabs. Through a good pre works a treat. At the prices these are, it's a must to have for that screaming singer who hates all those fancy mics.

Cheers

tunetown wrote:Loud vocalists and guitar cabs. Through a good pre works a treat. At the prices these are, it's a must to have for that screaming singer who hates all those fancy mics.

Cheers

I agree. Punk, metal or hardcore singers love it cause they can grab the mic or stand and scream their bollocks off straight into the end of it. I in turn also love it because it sounds aggressive and full while coping a minor beating.

I'd be lost with out it seeing as that sort of music is 80% of my business! I also have the PR40 which doesn't work as well in this application, though it is awesome on bass cabs.

DrAlienSmith wrote:

tunetown wrote:Loud vocalists and guitar cabs. Through a good pre works a treat. At the prices these are, it's a must to have for that screaming singer who hates all those fancy mics.

Cheers

I agree. Punk, metal or hardcore singers love it cause they can grab the mic or stand and scream their bollocks off straight into the end of it. I in turn also love it because it sounds aggressive and full while coping a minor beating.

I'd be lost with out it seeing as that sort of music is 80% of my business! I also have the PR40 which doesn't work as well in this application, though it is awesome on bass cabs.

Glad and sad about the PR40. Well I'll keep the SM7 for a while anyway looks like it may come in handy.

nIC

And the SM7b is not just for screamers either..... if you've got Foxtel, Live At Abbey Road is currently screening right now featuring Fleet Foxes - all three vocals are being mic'd via SM7bs, and these guys are gentle "oooh, ahhhh" vocals, like a cross between Crosby Stills & Nash/Pet Sounds-era Brian Wilson. Really versatile mics!

SteveL wrote:And the SM7b is not just for screamers either..... if you've got Foxtel, Live At Abbey Road is currently screening right now featuring Fleet Foxes - all three vocals are being mic'd via SM7bs, and these guys are gentle "oooh, ahhhh" vocals, like a cross between Crosby Stills & Nash/Pet Sounds-era Brian Wilson. Really versatile mics!

Yeah I noticed that they all used SM7bs too.. Interesting...
Fleet Foxes sounded great - PJ Harvey sucked and Manchester Orchestra were ok...

I'd say the SM7b is one of the best value, most versatile mics around. As always, you just need the right source.

Keep it nIC. You will use it.

Cheers

tunetown wrote:I'd say the SM7b is one of the best value, most versatile mics around. As always, you just need the right source.

Keep it nIC. You will use it.

Cheers

Thanks everyone.
NOTICE: Peter has now joined the Protools club. That's right, now the rest of you guys will follow.


nIC

Aearth wrote:

tunetown wrote:I'd say the SM7b is one of the best value, most versatile mics around. As always, you just need the right source.

Keep it nIC. You will use it.

Cheers

Thanks everyone.
NOTICE: Peter has now joined the Protools club. That's right, now the rest of you guys will follow.


nIC

Yeh, all those years of bagging it. Now it's the best thing ever. :-) Just waiting on an expansion chassis to put the core pcie card in. I've still kept the Nuendo rig. Just in case you poor souls running that crap native stuff need it. ;-)

Cheers

tunetown wrote:

Aearth wrote:

tunetown wrote:I'd say the SM7b is one of the best value, most versatile mics around. As always, you just need the right source.

Keep it nIC. You will use it.

Cheers

Thanks everyone.
NOTICE: Peter has now joined the Protools club. That's right, now the rest of you guys will follow.


nIC

Yeh, all those years of bagging it. Now it's the best thing ever. :-) Just waiting on an expansion chassis to put the core pcie card in. I've still kept the Nuendo rig. Just in case you poor souls running that crap native stuff need it. ;-)

Cheers

Can you believe this, it's like listening to a reformed smoker. :)

nIC

:-)

The Shure SM7 sounds a lot like a Shure SM 58 yes u have 2 use a lot more gain,my go to mike when u dont want all the room picked up versatile and even a little forgiving

Tony Peel ,addicted to gear (i thought i would retire but once in your blood allways in your blood)

If it sounds like a 58 why not just use a 57/58? I guess it does have the "ooh, I haven't thrown one of these on the floor on stage" mystique...

Would a ME-1NV be enough gain for the sm7b?

Yes - no worries for gain with the GR (I have both)
Cheers, Ross

Yes - no worries for gain with the GR (I have both)
Cheers, Ross

PRINCETOWN wrote:The Shure SM7 sounds a lot like a Shure SM 58 yes u have 2 use a lot more gain,my go to mike when u dont want all the room picked up versatile and even a little forgiving

Tony Peel ,addicted to gear (i thought i would retire but once in your blood allways in your blood)

I don't really think they sound alike at all.

The SM7 has some special rejection thing going on, which means it has one of the tightest patterns I've heard. It's the sort of microphone you can set up next to a drum kit, record vocals and potentially use them as keepers.

great microphone, everyone should have one!

Chris

thats what i said!

just grabbed one myself in the states after a recommendation from a mate at 301....got a vocalist potentially coming up that on his last record overloaded 2 neumanns.

think ill be ripping that out before my 87...

hey,
Tom Larkin from SHIHAD USES OUR SM7 on h/hat-works a treat!
also great for c room vocals.
cheers,
dave

Try it on Hi Hats. Seriously. Awesome chugg, thick hat sound. Sounds great on Trombones. Very little proximity effect unil your right on it. Needs a serious preamp to make it shine.

will do, im gunna try the sucker on anything...i got me a SSL pre-amp....cranking the gain on that sucker