Understated yet Unmatched: the Shure SM7B
The modern music industry isn’t just about music anymore. There’s graphic design, videography, photography, podcasts, broadcasts, scripts, writing, communications, managing, designing… and we still have to eat!
Now a microphone might not be able to make Kraft Mac and Cheese, but the Shure SM7B is basically gold!
The Shure SM7B might not be flashy, but because of its unmatched timelessness, adaptability, consistency, and durability; this microphone deserves to be in every studio setup to make your music-making life easier.
This Microphone is Timeless
The Shure SM7 was first released in 1973. This microphone was used in Michael Jackson’s Thriller, nearly all of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers discography, and Sheryl Crow’s The Globe Sessions. Used for vocals, drums, and rhythm guitar, the SM7 provided a consistent yet iconic sound for these artists.
In 1999, the SM7A was released. It featured a humbucking coil to block out computer interference, especially with the increased use of technology in the studio. Shortly after, in 2001, the SM7B was released, which included a windscreen to block plosives. This marks the beginning of this microphone’s long lasting legacy for vocals.
The microphone in itself has undergone a few changes since its original release. EQ switches, humbucking coil, and removable windscreen are only a part of why this microphone is a studio staple. The sound it makes is true to the performance, but can change depending on mic placement, and the overall mix. This way, the mic can truly show off the artists and performance in a recording setting.
This Microphone is Adaptable
This microphone has been used in many different scenarios. With the popularity of filmed podcasts, you can see interviewers using the Shure SM7B as their go-to vocal mic. Because of the dynamic nature, the mic is highly directional and blocks background noise. As seen in the Joe Rogan Experience, Call Her Daddy, and The Sauce Factory, the SM7B has a sleek design with an amazing sound. You can notice that proximity affects the sound, but still has a large pickup pattern, offering flexibility within the audio image.
The Shure SM7B is also wonderful for studio vocals. As discussed earlier, Thriller used the Shure SM7 on both Thriller and Billie Jean. In a microphone shootout, I noticed that the 7B offered a warm tone without too much brightness in the voice. In this shootout, the Shure SM7B, Neumann TLM 103, and the Neumann U 87 stood out the most as the best microphones for voice, in terms of a solid, raw, vocal sound. Now with budget in mind - the Shure takes the cake and offers the best studio vocals for your buck.
This microphone isn’t just good for vocals. To record an acoustic guitar body, electric guitar amp, saxophone, brass, and drums, the Shure SM7B offers a solid audio picture.
Acoustic Guitar:
Acoustic guitar can take two microphones: body and neck. The 7B honestly does a great job by itself on the body, for both softer picking and full chords. I think the nature of the 7B as a vocal mic translates well to the sparkle and beef of the acoustic guitar. The image is clear and it has a nice, balanced, raw sound without too much blending required. If you were to include a neck mic, I would go with the Neumann KM 184. I think the blend of the two is a nice pairing, because the Shure SM7B has a strong presence for the body, and the Neumann KM 184 has a nice high end that pictures the neck really well.
Electric Guitar:
In my opinion, a Shure SM57 for the amp does a fantastic job, and for budget and durability, I would say this is the best option. However, I would say that the SM7B would be comparable, because I think it offers a little more ambience to the tone, especially for the higher dynamic Because of the gain and additional power needed for the 7B, it will make electric rock guitar sound solid.
Saxophone and Brass:
It is really tricky to get an accurate audio picture for wind instruments - simply because room acoustics and resonance make the sound. I don’t think there is a one size fits all for any wind instrument recording. With this in mind, I think for studio instances, a wind instrument, like saxophone and brass, should use two mics - one for main and another for blending/room ambience. I think that the 7B is a great “main” microphone, and a condenser or ribbon (the AEA Nuvo N8 Ribbon or the Neumann U 87 are personal favorites) for the room. I would definitely make sure to move them both around to make sure the audio picture is where I want it, because it really does change from musician to musician, room to room, genre to genre, and producer to producer.
Drums:
Where do I even begin? If you have the inputs, “put a mic on dat thang”. In all seriousness, the 7B is just another great mic to help get a great drum set image. I’ve seen it on the snare, the hi-hat, and in the kick. Because of the durability and amount of gain for the mic, all of these are great options to get a good sound. Mixing the drumset and putting the right amount of “pizzazz” is what’s going to be the best. Personally, putting the 7B on the hi-hat is great, that way you can EQ and gate it to blend with your overheads to get a nice picture. The 7B is also a fantastic in-kick mic if you are on a budget, because of the beefy sound.
This Microphone is Consistent
Across all types of studios, whether sound-proofed, garaged, or under a blanket in the bathroom, the SM7B can do it all. I’ve heard stories of aspiring voice actors using their 7B in their closet without any soundproofing, and getting professional level raw audio. Even with inconsistent circumstances, the 7B takes the cake in terms of a straightforward sound.
This Microphone is Durable
I confess, I have dropped one. While definitely not ideal or good in any sense, the microphone isn’t something to keep locked up on a high shelf and away from the general population. The Shure SM7B enables users to have a mic that they can use for a long time without risk of beating it up too soon.
That’s partly the reason it is so popular in the podcast, Youtube, and drum miking scene - anyone can use it and keep using it for years to come. Amateurs and professionals alike can use this microphone as they continue to build their portfolios and skills.
Conclusion
The Shure SM7B is pretty amazing. As it is continually the first choice in modern media, users can choose and customize their recording experience. Recording engineers have a vivid audio picture for their podcasts, vocals, and instruments. Because the Shure SM7B is timeless, adaptable, consistent, and durable, the modern music industry can keep making great media with a great sound, regardless of experience level.
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