Shure SM7B Reviews

craig young
from Huntley, IL
April 28, 2013Music Background:
Hobbyist

You can't go wrong

I compared this mic to my BlueBird and the SM7b blew it away (for my type of vocals). I have a very mid rangy vocal and the SM7b with the Focusrite ISA one is a great combination. Love the different settings of filters. Had to adjust them to fit my vocal style so you have to experiment. I would recommend this mic to anyone looking for a multi purpose mic.

206
from Seattle, WA USA
April 16, 2013Music Background:
Recording engineer, live sound engineer, producer

Very cool mic

I've owned my SM7B for about 3 years now and it is the very best mic I've heard on my own voice and most other male voices I've recorded. The mic gives a really full sounding vocal while somehow always being able to fall perfectly into the mix with zero eq adjustment.
It also sounds grewat and gives a very cool vibe on acoustic guitar, bass amp, guitar amp, and it sounded really cool as a mono drum overhead.
Highly recommended.

from
January 10, 2013

Makes Me Sound Like A Duck

I don't believe this mic could ever replace a condenser. It's too rounded sounding and I found that it made me sound like a duck with words that had the ie, ae, ing, etc sound in them. Overall though this is one of my favorite mics but this is why I dumped it. It really is a good broadcasting mic but now I'm back to looking at condensers after this failed me but like I said this performs very well just not natural enough for my liking. Definitely overall one of the best dynamics I've used and I used most.

Larry Lauer
from Rocklin, CA
December 10, 2012Music Background:
Voice over guy

SHURE SM7B is a low level output mic!

This is a legendary mic...you hear about it in audio geek circles all the time. It was recommended to me by an audio engineer I work with.. The reason I purchased the mic was to interface with my new Babyface by RME, to act as the pre-amp between my mic and Lenovo laptop when I am doing vo sessions on the road. During the setup of this new equipment, we realized the output of the Shure was not nearly as strong as another mic I have, the Rode NTG3. All this to say that the Shure is a solid product, but I could not recommend it for this particular application.

Lee Unfried
from Nashville, Tennessee
November 14, 2012Music Background:
Audio Engineer

Awesome Miltipurpose mic

The SM7 is the gold standard when it comes to a great multipurpose microphone. I have used it time after time on male vocals and it ceases to amaze me. If you are looking for a microphone that can tame any harsh vocalist this is what you need. The prescense boost and the HPF allow this mic to remain pretty untouched (processing wise) when it comes to mixing. Do you like to use an SM57 on guitars? Try the SM7 and you will never go back! Do you usually use a condenser microphone on HI-Hat? The SM7 allows you to set the mic up and never even touch it in mixing.
No matter what your application, you will always get good results with the SM7.

Sterling
from Central Florida
June 19, 2012Music Background:
Working Musician for ages, Project Studio Owner

A Good Flavor To Have

So far, I've used this on my (male) voice and it has a mellower sound than the large diaphragm condensers used in the past. It demonstrates why some engineers use dynamics for vocals when called for. I bought the CL-1 Cloud Lifter with it and that's a good idea for this mic given it's low output. Because of the mellower tone, sibilance is much less of an issue. I'm really looking forward to trying this mic on many sources. Shure products that I've owned over the last 35 years have always been steadfast reliable for me and it looks as if this one will do as well !!

Sterling
from Central Florida
June 19, 2012Music Background:
Working Musician for ages, Project Studio Owner

A Good Flavor To Have

So far, I've used this on my (male) voice and it has a mellower sound than the large diaphragm condensers used in the past. It demonstrates why some engineers use dynamics for vocals when called for. I bought the CL-1 Cloud Lifter with it and that's a good idea for this mic given it's low output. Because of the mellower tone, sibilance is much less of an issue. I'm really looking forward to trying this mic on many sources. Shure products that I've owned over the last 35 years have always been steadfast reliable for me and it looks as if this one will do as well !!

Max
from Houston, Texas
June 3, 2012Music Background:
30years as live pro musician and 20 years in home studio business.

Amazed by this Mic

I checked out this mic because I hear that Jeff Tweedy from Wilco used it on several of his most recent albums. I love the sound of his vocals so I checked it out. This mic is nothing short of amazing. Much more than I expected. I have been using a Studio Projects C-1 and though it is a good mic, I was having to wet it and EQ it a bit much. I recorded a vocal line and compared the two. The SM7B sounded much better without much less effects and absolutely no EQ. It was perfect. Clear and punchy but not too bright. This mic is perfect for my voice which is in the tenor range No more struggling with my vocal sound..Awesome. I am using this mic through a focusrite ISA one and it matches beautifully.

HB
from Phoenix, AZ
April 23, 2012Music Background:
Audio Engineer / Producer

Awesome mic for loud vocals & guitar's

Great sounding mic! Use it for loud vocals & very forgiving for a room with less than perfect acoustics. Also sounds great on guitars & voice over work.

Brendan
from Atlanta, GA
April 10, 2012Music Background:
Guitarist, Home Recording, Singer-Songwriter

Great mic for vocals

I got this mic after hearing a number of good things about it from various sources, as a good "bang for your buck" type of mic that has been used on a lot of top records and recordings, and is a studio stable. I did several shoot-outs with it using a Shure SM57, an Apex 205 ribbon mic, and a Cad m179 condenser for comparisons. The SM7b won out on vocals when tested with my voice, my wife's and a friend who is also a singer. It doesn't require a lot of EQ'ing, which is nice -- good vocal sound. Of course, it won't work for everyone, when it comes to vocals. I've heard some say it's only good for "male screamers," but I am generally a pretty soft singer, and my wife is anything but a male screamer, so I would say that that is a bit of a caricature.

Steven
from
March 21, 2012Music Background:
Hobbyist

Perfect!

This microphone is just what I've been looking for! At last my search is over. I feel like an idiot spending 100 dollars on a usb mic. I should have went straight for this one. The USB mic I was using is a joke compared to this baby.

My Brother screamed as loud as he could into this microphone and it captured it perfectly. He sounded like a rockstar! Now I feel inspired to make music! This mic could easily be a 1000 dollars and it would still be worth it.

dan nannarone
from bellefontaine,oh
February 10, 2012Music Background:
recording engineer, pro musician

does what it's intended for

I got this mic for recording vocals mostly. I've been using a nuemann tlm103 but it doesn't fit with everyone. On some it would bring out too much of that nasally whinny higher frequencies. I wanted a good dynamic to smooth that out a little. This does the trick, and it is also really good at separating sound sources for those live everyone in the same room type recordings.

from
January 31, 2012

Nice Mic

I like it a lot. I also own an Electrovoice RE-20 (the original model) and it was close to a coin flip between the two. Testing with my own voice (male, somewhat bassy), this is what I ended up liking:

For dialog, I liked the SM7B with the presence boost and the RE 20 flat for dialog, both pretty close to the mic. To my ears, the RE 20 was a little more smooth. It seemed to have a bit more core and a nice air on top. The SM7B was a bit more articulate and a bit less flattering. I think I would prefer the RE20 with my voice unless I was concerned about projecting over other sounds.

For singing, I liked the RE20 flat at more of a distance (around 4 inches), and the SM7B flat and pretty close. I preferred the RE20 for what I was singing, but I can see how the SM7B would work better for more punchy vocals.

I think it would depend on the voice and the material which one I would prefer, but if I had to have only one of the two mics I would probably go with the RE20.

Shane
from Phoenix, AZ
January 19, 2012Music Background:
Recording Engineer, Musician

Scream!

This is a perfect mic for screaming vocals enough said!

Nick
from Red Bluff
September 23, 2011Music Background:
Student

LOVE it!

Sounds even better than expected. Seems to work great for singing, screaming, and rapping. Never hear any pops, great and affordable!

Baker
from Cleveland, Ohio
May 25, 2011Music Background:
Recording engineer

I hear the quality

This is a good multipurpose vocal mic. It sounds good on most vocals I record. When it comes to recording I am always hard on myself when it comes to mixing music. But even if I mix down a song poorly (in my opinion) I can still hear the quality of the mic. If I had to mention one great thing about this mic it would be that it does a great job at rejecting background noise. I usually record teens and when they have their friends with them waiting and playing around and making noise the mic will do a great job of rejecting the background noise.

Kromey
from Flora, IN
April 16, 2011Music Background:
Musician

Great!

Great microphone, I paired this with the Focusrite ISA One and vocals came out very clean. Glad I purchased it!

Gabriel Gil
from Chicago, IL
February 13, 2011Music Background:
Graduate Recording Engineer & Vocalist

One ARROGANT Mic!!! (with the right to be...)

There shouldn't be a mic cabinet or studio without an SM7 regardless of any budget or price range... It's in every commercial studio that I've been to and worked in, and it gets abused on daily basis... It's thick foam makes it impossible for plosives to get through, having no need for a pop filter. VERY VERY durable (don't test its durability by throwing it against the wall now), and PERFECT (the best) for a room/booth that hasn't been acoustically treated. It gets the most out of your vocals without picking up any of those exaggerated room sound that a condenser would. Sonically it sounds great, ideal for fattening whatever your trying to record and with good EQ'ing, even an amateur will hear the difference!! It makes a great impression, any talent walks into your studio and sees an SM7 and it will say a lot about you as an engineer. If I must be a bully, it doesn't get a 5 because you do need a preamp with a lot of gain. The only mics that stand up to the SM7 cost $3000+ dollars, and even then, the SM7 STILL stands amongst them!!!

Kenny
from
August 28, 2010Music Background:
Hobbyist Recording Engineer/Singer-Songwriter

Amazing

Honestly, when I saw the pricetag of this mic, I had some trouble believing it could really be as good as people say, but they are not lying, it is just as good. This mic is just perfect for male vocals, and is even better than my AKG C414 for strong male vocals. Be aware, it takes some gain from the preamp, but man, this mic is pretty awesome.

Kyle M.
from New York, NY
May 8, 2010

Strong and subtle

When it comes to dynamics, I go to Shure. Granted, that opinion had been because of their SM58 alone, but no more. When I was looking for a mic to handle what I call "long haul" digital narration projects (well, okay, that and I wanted to buy another pro-grade microphone. Can you blame me?), I ultimately came down to two mics (say 'em with me now): the Electro Voice RE20 and the Shure SM7B. My voice is low and at it's lower and quieter moments has a bit of a rumble, so after a few voice tests at a local shop, I went with the SM7B. It handles my voice perfectly with no thinning or dampening. I've never been happier.

One note: you're going to need a good amount of clean gain to drive this puppy. I pair mine with a Grace m101 and it absolutely SOARS!

This mic picks up all the nuance and character that I want while also providing amazing ambient noise rejection. I can record in any room in my house and the sound is nearly the same in each place. And while I wouldn't call this microphone a jack of all trades, that doesn't stop me from telling you that I love Love LOVE this microphone!

from Austin, TX
April 4, 2010Music Background:
Electro, Indie, Rock, Alt, Folk, Avant, Experimental

Goodness the Mic is good!

I rarely (in fact never) write reviews, but I was too impressed by this mic. Believe all the good things you hear about it, it's just so good. I've been experiementing and recording at home for some time, I've had a Rode NTK, SM58, SM57, Rode NT1a, Beta 87a, and a couple others. The SM57 is the only one I've kept out of the bunch, and it sounds good, but the SM7 takes it too a whole new level. You get a professional sound (tight, warm, clean, clear, even) without having to do much. All my other mics bled a lot, including the sm57, but the sm7b has most of your needs built right in. It is PERFECT FOR HOME RECORDING, where you may not have tons of money for other equipment or even know-how, this will help you get out a good vocal track without having to think to much (which is good when you're just trying to get demos down without sounding like an amateur).

Thank You Shure

Rick Jensen
from Wilmington, DE
January 10, 2010Music Background:
Professional Voiceover and Broadcaster

Great for Professional Voiceover

Compared to the popular & pricier Neumann TLM 103, the SM7B also has great presence without the hard edge on the highs. Using the SM7B plus a tube preamp on commercials for major international brands and a university, the producers and clients were thrilled with the results.

Rick@GetRickJensen.com

Corey Stuart
from NY, NY
August 24, 2009Music Background:
Pro Musician, Producer, Dj

Used on the most successful record of our generation...

I may wind up investing in one of these gems. I read this weekend that this exact model was the one used in the studio recording of Michael Jackson's most successful album, "Thriller."

Danroy
from NOVA
March 4, 2009Music Background:
guitarist, singer, writer, recordist

useful mic

on my baritone male voice, the SM7 does great in "rock" mixes. I set the presence boost to "on" and the bass cut also "on". I prefer other mics for sparser acoustic arrangements. This mic has also worked well on other male vocalists I have recorded, and on a nasty sounding guitar amplifier. I just love the sound. I agree with others who call it "ready to mix". the sound is warm, but present enough, and has a small footprint in your mix, leaving plenty room for your other tracks (this is a good thing). it's the magic shrinker, very useful mic. pair it with a good preamp and you're golden

Mike
from Texas
January 25, 2009Music Background:
Recording Engineer, Musician

Big Big Big!!!

This mic has a nice big warm sound to it and it sits perfectly in the mix. Some of my clients prefer this one over my MA-200 (which also is an awesome mic). I just can't believe the SM7 was only 350.
This is my first choice when i have to record hip-hop, or grunge type rock vocals. I run it to my Blue Robbie into the MOTU and I'm good to go.

Bayssic
from Boston
November 14, 2008Music Background:
Professional Hobbyist

Must have for home recording

For home recording... this is the mic you need. Eliminates all background noise and electronic interference. Ideal for deeper voices and spoken word/ hip-hop, but also just a great all-around vocal mic you need not worry about isolating. If I must complain about something, it's that the bracket is very difficult to switch from it's shipped boom-stand position to floor stand, but I'm over it. The price... you can't beat it.

Jordan
from St.Louis
October 1, 2008Music Background:
musician, engineer, producer

Good Mic for the money

This is a great mic to add to your cabinet, for not a lot of money. Have I found it great on everything? No. However, on some sources it has been perfect. I used a Neumann TLM-103 on a bassier male vocalist and it sounded absolutely terrible, but with the SM-7 the vocals were perfect with some eq added. Easily the best sounding vocals I have ever recorded. I don't love it on guitar amps like some have said, but for certain voices it is really, really great. I especially like it with the built in eq boost turned on. On hihats it had a cool sound, not crisp and detailed, but a little rawer, more vintage sound that with the right eq was pretty cool. Make sure and have a preamp with a good amount of gain, 60 db seems the minimum for quieter singers. I feel it is a must have for anyone interested in having more than one good mic, and at the price it makes expanding your mic collection with good mics that will last a long time, a real possibility.

Six Silver
from Norway
May 13, 2008Music Background:
Pro songwriter 15 years, studio for 9

Sm7b

Ok, got this a few days ago, bought it after reading lots of reviews on it, for a female screechy, loud, edgy like broken glass type female singer and this is the only one I've tried that can take that kind of beating, we're ok now. I've tried it micing up bass, el.guitars and both male & female vox, it's just great. Bono uses it, Michael Jackson on Thriller, Chili Peppers and now this incredibly difficult female singer. If I should have only one microphone in the studio, this would be the one. Thanks to other reviewers for putting me on the right track. Just a shout-out to others having these problems, this is the one. Nice and tight, warm sounding too, you won't regret buying this and I can see no reason why I'd ever wanna sell it, it's a keeper.

Kurt Neighbors/LUNA3 PRODUCTIONS
from Jasper,Indiana
March 31, 2008Music Background:
Recording Engineer, Live Sound Engineer, all around nice guy:O)

DAAAAANG

A friend of mine has been raving about this mic for vocals. So I used it this weekend. just plugged it into my solo610 cranked the gain and POW sweet nector of the Gods. Did the same for snare gives a super fat sound. I LOVE THIS MIC!! a great secret weapon. I Will be adding this to my cabnet in the next few weeks
cheers

Richard Haskins
from Denton, Texas
January 29, 2007Music Background:
Recording Engineer/Studio Owner

Sweet!!!

It was recommended to my by a friend to try out the Shure SM7 on a guitar cab. I thought this was a joke, but OH MY GOD!!! To pair this with a Sen 421 is the absolute best guitar sound I've ever recorded. The SM7 sounds fantastic when used as the sole mic on a guitar as well... especially when you're playing at high distortion levels. You HAVE to try it.

(Reverend) Dave Culver
from Cherry Hill, NJ (Philadelphia)
April 12, 2006

Sometimes, you really NEED a paper clip.

OK. No one is gonna plotz with nozzle nut glee looking at this old girl. But if you need a really solid good value VO mike, you need go no further than the SHURE SM7B.

It was designed for use by broadcasters in on-air studios, which means you can pound nails in with it all morning and cut great VO tracks all afternoon and into the night.

It comes with a mondo pop filter that looks rather like a whale tumor, but that glob of foam makes it just about impossible to pop a "p" without using nitro. No need to set up the ring of pantyhose with this baby.

And there is a built in humbucking coil, so unless you are using an active MRI unit as your announce booth, you won't run into any hum from monitors, flo lights, etc.

We pros (ahem) set the roll off curves to flat bass and presence boost and leave it that way.

Look, it doesn't have tubes, it dosen't need 48 volts, and it isn't fragile. But it sounds great for voice overs, day in and day out, year after year.

So get one of these to use until you can afford the expensive German mikes-
and get ready to put it back up after you spend 6 hours cutting plosive "P"s out of a documentary VO track recorded with a 147 and not enough pantyhose.

In the entire colorful history of broadcasting, we have yet to find a high tech replacement for the paper clip...or the SM7.

Sweetwater Advice

Customer Reviews

You can't go wrong

Very cool mic

Makes Me Sound Like A Duck

SHURE SM7B is a low level output mic!

Awesome Miltipurpose mic

A Good Flavor To Have

A Good Flavor To Have

Amazed by this Mic

Awesome mic for loud vocals & guitar's

Great mic for vocals

Perfect!

does what it's intended for

Nice Mic

Scream!

LOVE it!

I hear the quality

Great!

One ARROGANT Mic!!! (with the right to be...)

Amazing

Strong and subtle

Goodness the Mic is good!

Great for Professional Voiceover

Used on the most successful record of our generation...

useful mic

Big Big Big!!!

Must have for home recording

Good Mic for the money

Sm7b

DAAAAANG

Sweet!!!

Sometimes, you really NEED a paper clip.