A Much-Needed Update to an All-Time Classic Microphone

Whether or not you’re streaming, podcasting, or producing music, ask round for the perfect mic for the job, and somebody is certain to advocate the Shure SM7b. That mentioned, that mic is extra at house in a professional studio than it’s in your house workplace, which is exactly the explanation behind the brand new Shure SM7dB.

Like the unique SM7, the SM7b is a big diaphragm dynamic mic, which makes it nice at choosing up the frequencies of the human voice. That mentioned, its output is low, which means if you wish to use it with a lower-end audio interface, you’ll want a third-party inline preamp, which provides to the associated fee and complexity. The brand new Shure SM7dB builds one of these preamp immediately into the mic, making it simple for anybody to make use of.

Whereas a built-in preamp won’t sound like an enormous deal, it’s the cherry on high of what’s already a implausible microphone. The one factor that would sway you from selecting the SM7dB is its fairly hefty price ticket.

Shure SM7dB

The Shure SM7dB builds a preamp into the already nice SM7b, making for one much less factor you want to fear about earlier than recording. This does not change the unique mic, however merely augments it with a number of further options.

Model

Shure

Sample

Cardioid

Energy

48V Phantom Energy

Connector

XLR

Frequency Bandwidth

50 to twenty,000 Hz

Sensitivty

-59dB, -41dB, -31dB

Dimensions

8.07 x 3.86 x 5.87 inches

Included Equipment

Windscreen, Cable Tie

Excessive Cross Filter

Sure

Equal Noise

-130 dBV

Execs

• Nice-sounding microphone
• Constructed-in preamp means the mic works nice with any interface
• Adjustable mounting choices
• Constructed-in windscreen is nice for streamers and podcasters

Cons

• Windscreen mounting choices are complicated
• Costly for newbie content material creators

Sturdy Construct and Versatile Mounting

If Shure is thought for something, it’s the rock-solid reliability of its merchandise. Throughout World Warfare II, Shure spent a number of years producing tools for the USA army, which meant it needed to be constructed to army spec. As soon as the conflict ended, Shure simply stored on constructing that means, and the corporate hasn’t stopped.

That constructed high quality is current within the SM7dB, and you may inform simply by the texture of the microphone. Whereas it’s newer, there aren’t some ways to inform the SM7dB from its predecessor with out wanting on the switches on the again of the mic. This can be a good factor, as completely nothing was improper with the appear and feel of the SM7b.

In contrast to many microphones, the SM7dB encompasses a built-in mount. The mic comes preconfigured to be used with a growth arm, which implies that the microphone successfully hangs the wrong way up. When you’re mounting the mic on a typical stand, you possibly can reconfigure the microphone to orient this manner, although this primarily simply adjusts whether or not the switches on the again are upside-down out of your perspective.

When adjusting the mic to mount on a typical stand, I needed to strive a number of instances to get every little thing correctly tightened, however there’s a easy information within the on-line guide that exhibits you what to do. Eradicating the windscreen or changing it with the included bigger windscreen just isn’t as simple as a result of including the bigger one entails manually putting hook-and-loop fasteners on the mic physique.

Connectivity: What You’ll Must Use the SM7dB

Whereas Shure does manufacture USB microphones, this isn’t one. It connects utilizing the trade commonplace XLR connection, which implies you’ll both want an audio interface or an XLR to USB adapter, which is itself a bare-bones audio interface.

Thankfully, any audio interface you occur to have ought to work, so long as it gives phantom energy, which most interfaces do. This powers the built-in preamp, which you’ll seemingly have to get the microphone sign loud sufficient, particularly if you happen to’re utilizing the microphone for streaming or different spoken content material.

Onboard Controls: Tailor the Sound to the Supply

When you’ve used an SM7b, a lot of the switches on the again will look acquainted, although simpler to get to. On that microphone, the switches have been recessed to maintain from by accident shifting them, so that you wanted a skinny piece of steel or wooden to regulate them. These switches stand proud and protrude from the steel physique now, which means you possibly can simply modify them along with your fingers.

The brand new additions listed below are the controls for the built-in preamp. One swap allows or disables the preamp, whereas the opposite swap toggles between an 18dB enhance or a 26dB enhance. The opposite two switches are a presence enhance and a low-end lower, each of which have been current on the SM7b.

Until you’re utilizing an interface with auto-gain just like the Focusrite 2i2 (Gen 4), it’s possible you’ll want to regulate enter achieve to accommodate the leap in quantity from the built-in preamp.

Sound High quality: A Traditional For a Cause

There’s a motive that the Shure SM7b was so well-liked for therefore a few years, and all of that DNA made its means into the SM7dB. Sonically, the 2 microphones are an identical, other than the preamp within the SM7dB. Talking of which, the preamp is made with tech licensed from Cloud Microphones, producers of the Cloudlifter preamp that’s so typically paired with the SM7b.

Just like the fashions that got here earlier than it, this can be a massive diaphragm dynamic microphone with a cardioid pickup sample, successfully specializing in sound in entrance of it, rejecting sound from the rear and sides. The microphone is often used for vocals and voiceover recordings, however the massive diaphragm and skill to deal with loud sounds additionally make it nice for drums, guitar amps, and extra.

Equally to utilizing a Cloudlifter or different inline preamp with the SM7b, participating the preamp on the SM7dB provides some further depth and presence, particularly in comparison with a lower-end audio interface. Whereas dynamic microphones are not often clear, the SM7dB doesn’t impart a lot of a personality, other than its proximity impact. Which means that if you happen to get nearer to the mic, your voice may have extra low-end frequencies.

The low lower and presence enhance are each nice tone-shaping instruments to boost boring sources or lower out pointless rumble. Take into account that, despite the fact that the buttons at the moment are simpler to regulate, these are largely “set and neglect” settings, particularly if you happen to’re at all times going to be utilizing the microphone for one function, like streaming.

It’s price mentioning that the sound samples beneath are roughly gain-matched, so that you’ll hear the distinction in tone the preamp gives, however not the distinction in quantity.

Value and Availability

The Shure SM7dB retails for $499, precisely $100 greater than the Shure SM7b. Which will appear to be an enormous leap, however if you happen to have been to purchase an inline preamp like a Cloudlifter CL-1, you’d must pay $149 only for the preamp, so this really might find yourself costing you much less.

You don’t even have to personal an audio interface to make use of the SM7dB, because it’s accessible in a bundle with the Shure MVX2U XLR to USB adapter, which is successfully a easy audio interface. When you want a growth arm to make use of for streaming or podcasting, you too can get a bundle that accommodates the SM7dB and a Gator growth arm.

However, if you happen to’ve already acquired a high-end preamp or audio interface at house, you will have sufficient clear achieve to make use of the unique Shure SM7b alone. If that’s the case, shopping for the unique might prevent some cash.

Ought to You Purchase the Shure SM7dB?

Just like the SM7 and SM7b earlier than it, the Shure SM7dB is a great-sounding microphone that’s constructed like a tank. It will probably do every little thing the SM7b can do, however the added layer of flexibility means it’s even simpler to succeed in for this mic over others in your assortment. The human voice is its sturdy go well with, however the microphone can also be nice for loads of different use instances.

The built-in preamp is the one main new function right here, in comparison with the SM7b, and it’s such a good suggestion it’s stunning that Shure did not launch this microphone earlier than 2023. That mentioned, it’s higher late than by no means, and the microphone is best off for the inclusion of the inline preamp, even if you happen to don’t end up utilizing all of it that always.

Clearly, no microphone is ideal for each software, however like many Shure microphones, the SM7dB isn’t any one-trick pony. When you’re in search of a draw back, the one main one is the comparatively excessive value. That mentioned, if you happen to can afford this microphone, and it’s proper to your wants, you’ll be hard-pressed to discover a higher, extra dependable choice for the cash.

Shure SM7dB

The Shure SM7dB builds a preamp into the already nice SM7b, making for one much less factor you want to fear about earlier than recording. This does not change the unique mic, however merely augments it with a number of further options.

Model

Shure

Sample

Cardioid

Energy

48V Phantom Energy

Connector

XLR

Frequency Bandwidth

50 to twenty,000 Hz

Sensitivty

-59dB, -41dB, -31dB

Dimensions

8.07 x 3.86 x 5.87 inches

Included Equipment

Windscreen, Cable Tie

Excessive Cross Filter

Sure

Equal Noise

-130 dBV