I’ve been watching a lot of video podcasts lately and the Shure SM7B seems to be just about EVERYONE’S mic… but it doesn’t seem to sound very good to me.
I’ve listened on multiple devices with multiple headphones and it always seems to somehow both be tinny and have overblown bass.
So my question is:
Does the mic actually lean toward tinny/bassy attributes and they are just using it plug-and-play? Or with proper EQ does it sound good?
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To get exact answer we need to drag here actual users younreffering to, or at least, I do not know how to check EQ settings from someones' video.
Meanwhile, it's quite interesting top2 search results:
Oh and as on offtopic, I personally prefer condenser, cardioid-shaped mics. Or, if your environment is noisy - like with dogs barking or seagulls calling - then a shotgun mic is a great option. It limits pickup to just the direction your face is pointing, helping to reduce background noise.
I’ve got a shotgun mic, a few cardioid condenser and dynamic mics, as well as a couple lavalier sets just to cover whatever use case I’m working with. Honestly I just was curious if anyone used this one with good results because it really doesn’t sound very good to me, especially for $400 haha
I don't personally, but tbh, any mic will do nowadays with how OBS works and filters and such, it's very to turn a cheap mic into a professional sounding Microphone, noise suppression filters etc.
The biggest problem I had was room reverb. I got rid of most of it through filtering live through something called nvidia broadcast, to get rid of background noise as well as the reduce reverb filter. But that had the side effect of cutting off the start and end of a lot of my words. I speak quite a hyper local common accent, that can be hard for some people to understand at the best of times, so this made it even worse. If I do another, I will probably stand up as I think that will make my voice clearer, and put more effort in to saying the words clearly instead of being casual with them.
However do you think a dynamic mic might work better at reducing the reverb? The condenser ones seem hyper sensitive. I tried my usual gaming headset mic to compare and that sounded really really bad.
I would say, just speak clearly and concisely. It is hard with an accent, I get that, but the mic will help, if you are finding a condenser mic that is not doing it for you, try a dynamic one, also you can get sound pads for the walls, to reduce outside room noise.
I have an SM7B and an SM58. The SM58 I use for live stuff in larger venues with PAs and other complex feedback considerations. The SM7B is purely for use in single-source isolated vocal recording.
There is a reason the SM7B is so ubiquitous. It's not because it's the best sounding, or the best value, or has the best EQ profile - it's because it's the best all-rounder. Provided your interface has enough power to give it the gain it needs, it works pretty much perfectly right out of the box.
It sounds great. Better than a Rode shotgun or a UA Sphere LX? Probably not. Better than an SM58 or an MV7? Sure.
It's 'cheap'. Cheaper than an SM58 or a Yeti? No. But cheaper than a premium studio vocal set up.
It's 'simple'. As simple as an an MV7 or a Yeti? No - you need the gain boost. But is it easier to set up than a shotgun or a high-end UA mic with an endlessly customisable EQ? I'd say so.
So, it's that middle-of-the-road workhorse label that has made it a mainstay in studio audio. Every part of the design is fine-tuned to make it a good choice. It even has a backplate to stop pesky podcasters tweaking the two settings available on the mic itself. And a semi-isolated mount to stop it picking up movement noise from it's stand/mount. All of that combined made it a perfect choice for shared studios where 'talent' would breeze in and breeze out with no real room for EQ changes and significant 'per session' setup work. As a result you see it in clips for many influential podcasts and broadcasters, which helps raise it's profile futher.
However, whether it's the mic for you depends on what your priorities are. If cost is the biggest factor, I'd suggest a second-hand SM58 with a pop filter would be the best choice. If simplicity is your focus then a mid-level USB mic would fit the bill - maybe a Blue Yeti or (at the top end) an MV7. If quality is the focus then Universal Audio are probably the front-runners. But, if you want a good level across the board (value, simplicity, and quality) then the SM7B is pretty hard to beat.
Apologies, I've not really addressed your point about the bass and treble. The SM7B does have a fairly well balanced profile IMO. Often the overblown sound comes from the gain boost but this is more prevalent on the immitation models like the MV7. There are two settings on the mic itself which adjust the frequency response in the low and high end. I have the presence boost up on mine but not the bass roll off. That suits the tone of my voice which is more bass heavy. Often, if the SM7B sounds too heavy on either side of the frequency spectrum, it's a result of these switches, combined with poor mic technique (i.e. speaking too close or from the side).
This video was the one that pushed me over the edge when I bought mine: https://youtu.be/CPfohYV0K9c?feature=shared
Dang, thorough! Thank you! I love my SM58 which is like $60, so seeing a bunch of people with a $400 Shure sounding somehow worse was confusing, Sounds like behind the scenes pieces factor in quite a bit.
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