I got mine last year but I still watched this lol. I have the MOTU M2 though and have to ride the gain pretty damn near maxed but totally workable. Lovely to see people that dont shove fetheads and cloudlifters down your throat btw. Thank you for the video ^-^
Having that MOTU M2 nearly maxed can actually be a blessing in disguise. Julian Krause made an excellent video on amps performing better with signal-to-noise ratios when turned way up towards max. If you're interested in the video, it's called USE YOUR GAIN! The TRUTH about maximum gain setting >>and it's just all around an interesting video :)
@@thexophros fantastic video, highly recommend that one too. I also have a MotuM2 thanks to Julian, no issues with any microphone whatsoever, even 6$lav mics sound good on it :D incredible
I bought an SM7b, it took me 3 hours to figure out it was totally out of function. I was so frustrated and returned the SM7b, then I watched this guy's video, I found that as a beginner, shure SM58 fits me more. So I bought the new mic with only half the price and perform very well.
Actually found this looking up "best audio interface for vocals" when I came across this. About to invest in a Shure SM7b, thanks to your review. Was intrigued on if you would talk more about your interface, but realize that's not the point of this video. Still watched it all, thanks for the insight!
@@mblackman1170 try messing with your cables, your connection has to he grounded for there not to be any feedback like that. Sometimes you just gotta wiggle your cables around/unplug replug. Sometimes having too many things plugged into one outlet or connection can also cause this.
I know it's not a Focusrite review per se, but I wish you would've covered the "AIR" button on the Focusrite (my Solo has that and even tho I'm using it I'm not sure if it's hurting my setup or not). Also as a note to anyone wondering, on my Focusrite solo with a Cloudlifter and presence booster on I need to set my gain to 1:30 in order to hit -18db so it DOES make a difference (speaking 4 fingers away from microphone on an angle [as showed])
I got mine SM7B just a week ago, and did the same thing that described here because im watching your videos. And now i confident that i did it right! Thank you so much Bandrew! Also im afraid of eq this mic, and leave as it is with only slight compression. Because i dont want it to sound less than 400$ after i mess with eq, haha
quick psa: This video is not necessarily a recommendation for the Focusrite 2i2! Even though it is a decent xlr-usb hub for the price, I have heard way too many stories about the windows drivers being abysmal to recommend it (unless you're on a Mac which I've heard is a different story). When the product was launched some years ago it was one of the first "cheaper" desk hubs that could provide 48+ volts phantom power. But now, the market has a lot of these hubs, that I would argue are better for either the same price or just a little extra!
First of all I would like to mention that I am one of your big fans as I am interested in the way that you’re giving technical details that we won’t find it on other channels so I have a question if you please…I already have the DBX 286s but I would like something similar(with the same quality)for traveling(smaller one)and also a recommended traveling sound card(it doesn’t matter if it’s expensive) but I need those two things for traveling(small) ones for traveling, will you kindly help me with any recommendations? P.s” I need it for voice over and podcasting work only”. Thank you so much and I wish you all the best 🙏
Thanks so much for this video. I'm just about to get my SM7b and this was very helpful. Do you have specific recommendations for singers for specific settings while using the 2i2?
Thank your for this video, Is this mic good for a noisy environment, I'm having a problem recording with my focusrite condenser mic at home because it pics external noises, pls would this mic work for me ? I am recording from home.
Thanks for this amazing video! I have a question on mic stands. Which would you recommend? My setup doesn't really work well with the boom miic stands. Do you have any recs? Thanks
I am new to the audio world and would appreciate any help. I recently purchased a Yulong DA11 to drive my IEMs (I know it's pretty overkill but wanted something all-in-one and future proof). There is an AES/EBU port on the back of the DAC/amp that fits an XLR cable perfectly. I have the SM7b plugged into the Yulong DA11 via an XLR cable. My IEMs work no problem, but for some reason Windows is not registering the SM7b input device. Does the Yulong DA11 not support microphones? Do I need something entirely different to run this microphone, or is there a way to utilize the Yulong DA11? Any advice would be much appreciated as I thought I did the research but I guess I didn't get it right. Thanks in advance!
Happy Holidays to you and yours. Perfect timing since I got the SM7B about 2 weeks ago and for people who might purchase this microphone for Christmas. I'm using it in tandem with the Focusrite Solo 3rd Gen and the Cloud Lifter CL-1. I also record with the bigger windscreen since I enjoy doing voiceovers with it. I have been enjoying the quality produced from the microphone, but I have been having an issue with fan noise from my PC. In a program like Audacity, I can simply fix it in post. However, when it comes to live streaming with, I find myself having to use a reaper noise gate so I can cut out those frequencies. I find that the gate is better than the noise suppression plug-ins (The reafir one does an excellent job though). Do you have any other tips for reducing PC fan noise? Would it be possible to send in recordings on how the audio quality can be improved?
Don’t record at such a high gain perhaps? If it’s picking up your fans then your gain is likely too high, or your computer is entirely too close to the front of your microphone. Or you have ungodly loud fans. With a dynamic microphone this shouldn’t be an issue you’re running into. Even with condenser mics I don’t find myself battling computer fans very often. And it’s important to note than in general when podcasting/streaming/etc it’s very normal practice to have things like EQ, noise gates, and general compression active. In post and/or while recording.
I tried plugging in my shure sm7b to my focusrite 2i2 3rd gen but when I plug it in it'll flash green once and then the light turns off, would this mean I need to change my xlr cable or is it something else??
Hey, I just got a shure sm7b but I still haven't found a good audio interface for my computer to mess around with, and before you say it, I know about audacity, I mean when you are talking perhaps on a work call, I still haven't found a good one. I don't really mind if it costs money, but it'd be nice to have for free. Anyone got any tips?
can i use the scarlett solo with berodynamic dt 990 pro's and the shure mv7 at the same time? currently i use the amp for just my headphones and use usb for my shure mv7
I assumed a lot of people would be getting an SM7b this time of year and wanted to provide a quick start video to hopefully help people get it setup properly and avoid the misuse that I've seen.
I was experiencing clipping in my recent videos with my SM7B - cloudlifter - zoom h5n and came to youtube to figure out why. Used the visual audio meters on the Zoom to get my normal baseline voice to -18dB and voila! you're a genius, this was so helpful THANK YOU.
@@haiziliy5252 I had this problem. I connected my SM7B to Zoom H5 directly, without cloudlifter. And if I turned the gain dial on Zoom H5 to 7 or higher, the I got the white noise. What I did was to turn the dial to 6.5 or 6. I can always boost the volume in post. The white noise may be caused by the pre-amp of H5.
First you grant us your insight into why this mic is worth buying, plus the tip of using a mic activator with it for interfaces that don't have as much gain. So I bought it, and put it to use. Now, with this video, you ensure that those of us who have followed your advice know exactly how to avoid the rookie mistakes one can make with the SM7b. Bandrew, I can't thank you enough!
@@Podcastage - I'm a radio talk show host who had to bring his talk show home when the pandemic hit, and this microphone makes it sound like I'm back in the studio.
This is a highly educational video, very well done, Bandrew! And it's still entertaining at the same time,.which makes your videos and podcast even more outstanding 👏
Man I wish this video was there for me when I bought my first mic + interface, before I completely embarrassed myself by not knowing what boosting in post was or how gain worked. I thought my mic wasn't getting enough phantom power, funny cuz it was a dynamic mic.
i don't even have the SM7b but i just love your videos B] is strange to say to others that i see videos about microphones as entertainment i speak spanish, sorry if i said something wrong i learn English just by watching videos so i can't really speak it
@@Podcastage I have banished myself to Twitter mini review threads and it's been comfortable but I am still appearing every so often over on streams over at The Headphone Show channel
@@mjodr That's a general rule for mics in general. If anything, this mic is actually better at rejecting background sounds from speakers and such by nature of it being fairly quiet. My old Blue Snowball sounded like death when I accidentally left it to play on speakers and it looped, something that I've yet to be able to actually replicate on the SM7b. I imagine I'd have to turn up my volume to unreasonable levels to get it to happen.
@@DragonEdge10 I wouldn't say it's a rule for mics in general because think about live music applications. Speakers blasting everywhere and mics all over the place. If you do it right, no feedback.
as a sound engineers point of view, i do not agree with angling it off to the side for multiple reasons, and there's a few ways to stop the puffs of air shooting at the cover (puffs of air absolutely won't hurt the mic whatsoever since the actual microphone is sitting near the back of the cage not right up at the front), so you don't even really need to be six or three inches away since it's already sitting all the way back behind the cage. Vocals and breath control go a very long way, knowing mouth placement, controlling compression and curving off low end below 50 and cutting off mud around 250-400, and 15000k cut off with a boost to 4 and 8k, this will all go miles for controlling your sound, i see that this is more of a podcast setup, but i just randomly came across the video, knowing what i know, i feel this should be more specified to a certain niche rather than "all beginners", as there can be different goals when using this microphone, as it has been in use across most recording studios for almost 40 years now
I put my SM7B through a dbx 286s and the results are pretty good, however I do notice a little distortion when I'm doing podcasts and so on. I was wondering if my gain was cranked too high or maybe it's just my ears deceiving me? Do you have any suggestions for a setup with the dbx and USB interface? Btw this mic makes my already full, low end voice sound really ah zexy, ah zexy. I'd put an example up here but I'm afraid I might encourage love sick stalkers, soooo.
Thank you for this video. Nevertheless i've a recording volume issue. I'm working on final cut pro X (Macbook pro 2023 M2 with scarlett solo 3Gen) and record my voice with a SM7B (XLR). Even the gain in maximum the recording volume is clearly not enought. Do you have an idea to fix it out ? Cloud Lifter ? (but it cost at least 150 euros). Thank you
You should also do a video on how to actually record audio and what software to use. Would've loved to have that at the end of this video. Great content though.
Running a SM7B-Cloudlifter-scarlet 2i2 and have a real bad hiss that is heard no matter what I’ve tried to do I can’t seem to solve it. Only thing that worked was doing the hiss elimination on equaliser APO and the drawback is at times the voice sounds like a alien with random buffer noises. Pretty shitty feeling after getting a shire and cloudlifter and scarlet 2i2
It Seems they all have an inherent hiss just past 1.5k Hertz. It's minimized very well in this video for some reason, I'm not sure how or why? I tried not using a Cloud-Lifter and just setting the gain to where he has it but that does not seem to mitigate the hiss, It is still present even with the exact same gear He's using, I even tried Mogami cables and they don't make it any better. Because of that hiss and the 4 years I spent trying to fix it ,Sadly, I can actually point out anyone who's using an SM7B and it just drives me up a wall when I hear that sound and I just know they're using one. Couple that hiss with the boxy sound of the SM7b's and you get what I can only describe as identical to placing a red solo cup over the end of a Sennheiser MKH 416. It sounds like a trash can with a copper coil in it... P.S. I for real did some testing with a solo cup over my MKH 416. You would never be able to tell the two microphones apart. Not me, not my friends, not anyone.
You got me with the slaps, I flinched! Excellent video, you are the man for anything audio.. I've watched countless videos from you looking for the perfect setup for a newly affiliated Twitch streamer. You are funny, informative and very easy to follow along with. Keep it up, keep us informed! I'm torn between the Quadcast and the MV7B. I like the simplicity of the Quadcast, but I also want to feel more involved with my content and have a better presence interacting. It's been 3 days now and I still haven't decided. The FiFine K688 also seems like an excellent option, but I hate being cheap about a hobby that I enjoy. Your thoughts? XLR seems really expensive in my opinion because I'm not a full-time streamer and do it casually to share my gaming experience with others expecting really nothing in return.
Thank you soooooo much I swear every other RU-vidr won’t tell you nothing he’s the best I’m subscribing instantly ‼️I was gonna cry bro this the mannnnn !!! Sorry guys I’m venting but bro I love this dude
I knew it was a pretty good Mic. I’ve been wanting to get one, but I needed confirmation that I could plug directly into my focusrite and get the gain that I needed without getting a high noise floor. I didn’t want to have to buy an additional phantom powered preamp. And I see that I probably won’t have to. Thank you for the review. Update: bought the mic. Didn’t sound any different than an old hundred dollar mic that I’ve been using. I mean I literally could not hear the difference. Certainly not worth $400. I returned it today.
was the gain with just the focusrite fine? iam wondering about the same. currently i have a Rode NT1A and my new room has more echo and reverb so i want to switch to a dynamic mic.
@@waynemiller6070 yeah accoustic treatment would probably be ebough. But a dynamic mic is a fast fix. Wqntwd the Mic for years so i consider to bite now
@@12P14D22C I ended up buying the SM 58S. The one with the switch, just because I like to be able to shut the mic off if I turn the monitors are pretty loud. I could not tell the difference between the two mics fidelity wise.
There is a clipping sound all of the time, especially when the gain goes up... I use the AKG K371, the Shure SM 7B with the Audient ID 14 mill and Logic Pro in a Macbook... I hear partly an echo-like sound and it can clip sometimes at high tones and is like a crackling sound ... It does not give me a clean tone... is clipping and is distorted with a slight echo feeling or something strange.. I use a Triton FETHEAD and gain on Audient at 12 o'clock and the settings in Logic Pro on the middle volume. WHAT am I doing WRONG? or are my earphones not good for this work?? Is there anyone here who can help me out?! Just got all these things and am new to recording... please advise me what to do?!
When you say "volume in logic", I'm guessing you're talking about your FADER. Set the fader so it is at 0dB. Then set your gain so the level on your meter is around -12dB. I don't know what the echo is or what is causing it. Recently I had to start muting the channel I'm recording with in Logic Pro while I'm tracking because it has monitoring turned on no matter what, so try muting the track you're recording or if you want the audio from your DAW have the direct monitoring shut off. That's all I can think of.
as I am new to all this I might use volume wrong... on the lower right side of Logicpro there are two meters one says Audio 1, or 2 depending on what track you push Solo on in the tracks.. the meter to the right of this says: Stereo Out... on top of those there are two small windows showing numbers.. on the left where it says Audio 1 the numbers show 0.0 in white and --58.4 in green... and in the meter to the right where it says stereo out it says -1.8 in white and in green it says -10.2 and the one to the right changes depending on how high you sing or scream during the recording ... Those numbers were for the recording I did just Now while I sang: "Always on Your Mind", there were no direct super high notes in that song, and the gain on the Audient is at 12 noon, the volume control is 3/4 of maximum at Audient the meters back in Logic Pre of Audio is 4/5 of max, and the Stereo Out is at 3/4 of its' maximum "volume" It clips and loses all sound at the Tell me, and the Gice Me in the song, which are the only high notes and needs a bit more power of air as well... Overall all the AKG earphones sound really weak and bad and I hear myself better with no earphones at all, but then I cannot know what I am recording of course, so that won't work... Do you think that any of my settings should change or do you think the earphones are broken? thanks for getting back, I am not sure why the audio track range on the right reads -58..4 ?? where in Logic Pro do I put what on 18 db? .... there is no meter on Audient ID 14 mk ll. Only lights that go up and down when one turn gain or the volume control up and down... but where in Logic Pro do I read this? in Audio 1 or in Stereo Out? thanks for getting back! @@Podcastage
I got my SM7B last week and I power it with a GoXLR mini. However I found out that my mic arm, the Rode PSA1, holds a big amount of static electricity. When I put the XLR cable on top of the arm it generates a very loud crackling/electricity noise. This makes the mic completely unusable. Even when I hold the microphone in my hands or just put it on my desk I still can hear a bit of static elecricity. Does anybody know a solution for this problem? It would really help me out a lot! :)
I'm really grateful that you answered every single question I could imagine with this video. Most videos leave a few details out that then keep bugging me forever (for example your comments on the pros and cons of the bigger filter). Masterful!
Yet another extremely helpful piece. You manage the trick of explaining without either patronising or assuming people know more than they do. Nga mihi nui
Great instructions, very well done! But I will say: "Feelin´" it, getting upset, a hefty clipping distortion makes yelling the rant so much moRE MEANINGFUL & "DRAMATIC"!!! Mic drop... !😀 😀😀
Is good for rap vocals'? I have the TLM 103 but my room isn't treated, this seems to attenuate the background noise much more, and in the case I have to buy a cloudfilter or the Apollo preamp it's enough? thanks.
ha this is perfect, im getting this microphone in like 2 days for my 18th birthday, I'm so excited. this video was very helpful. i just have one question; u need a pre amp for this mic, right? what are some good cheap pre amps?
Depends on the interface you’re using it with. Most modern interfaces don’t need it. Focusrite Scarlett stuff, Motu M2, Solid State Logic SSL2+ for example do not need any additional preamps.
Thank you so much for this! I have a question: I am recording live sound healing baths and frequencies. I am looking to purchase this to up the quality of my videos however this is all new to me! My question is: The red USB connector that you plugged the microphone into. What is that called ? Additionally once that is plugged in can it be connected to a computer? Or how does this connect to the computer for recordings ? With gratitude, Jade
Me: Uses the SM7B for the last year, getting a ton of muddy bass garbage Also Me: I wonder what these switches on the back are for Fantastic video. Cheers.
As he described, just plug it in and go. Either way, you should aim for the same volume levels in your computer. The boost just lets you use a lower setting on your gain control.
I was almost convinced i NEEDED a cloudlifter. Thanks for this! I was having so many issues with it, now i know it was me all along! LMAO! As soon as i get home, I'm implementing all of the steps you showed us. Thank you!
Lol, my plosives cut straight through that fat foam screen + a dual popfilter (fabric and metal mesh) like nothing... Still need a plugin to tame them. That is however when doing vocals, ad isn't as bad while just talking.
First throw your Shure SM7B directly into the trash can! It’s the worst mic you can use for podcasting to argue Joe Rogan who knows NOTHING about audio equipment. It’s a dynamic mic made for RADIO! You know where there are no cameras. 🙄 Get yourself a MXL 990 condenser mic for about $100. It’s not worth the $300+…
