When you’re looking for a decent microphone, then Shure is one of the best brands around. This microphone is one of the most versatile, with a high-grade construction, reliable performance and noise-blocking technology.
This microphone comes with excellent on-board reproduction, which is great if you are going to be using this for recording or podcasting. This microphone is one of the best in the business and it is extremely sturdy.
So why should you get this microphone for your podcast? What other features does it have that lend itself so well to an audio recording? How can you best utilize this microphone?
Well, if you are interested in these questions and more, then we would suggest that you keep reading.
Are you looking for the new SM7DB Microphone?
Why Should You Buy The Shure SM7B?
If you are a vocalist, then you can be sure that you’ll have everything that you need with this microphone. It comes with excellent vocal reproduction, which will result in very clear and crisp audio.
There are a few different frequency responders with this microphone, and you can switch between them on the housing of your microphone.
You can have a flat style of frequency, which will give you a more even tone. You can have bass roll-off, which will give you that much thicker bass sound. This also comes with a presence boost, which really helps for louder recordings.
This will also be good for anyone who mixes professionally. It comes with noise reduction technology that will eliminate the hum that you might get from other instruments. This means that you won’t have to edit out those anomalies in the post-production process.
Podcasters will also love this microphone, as it gives you great vocal reproduction, which is perfect for pushing through those clear vocals.
This comes with off-axis reproduction that will also help you to reduce the room ambiance and give you a much clearer sound recording.
How Does The Shure SM7B Work?
This microphone really comes with premium construction, with a frequency response illustration on the back of the microphone itself.
This comes with toggles in the back panel which will allow you to switch between the 3 frequencies that we’ve listed above: flat, bass roll-off and presence boost.
This also comes with a very versatile mounting stand that will allow you to attach your Shure to whatever tripod that you prefer. This makes it another reason why you should choose this one for podcasting.
This will help you to reduce those plosives, which a built-in pop-shield that will not require an additional shield (although you might want to invest in one for that premium quality sound).
This also come with a removable windshield that will also help you to reduce the sibilance that you might get when you are speaking or just when the microphone is switched on.
This also comes with plenty of durable hardware that will help you to protect the delicate contents of your microphone.
This will help you to reject most humming, which is very important if you are looking for a mic that will cut out extraneous noise. This will also help you when you are editing in the post-production process.
Flat, Bass Roll-Off And Presence Boost – What Do These Mean?
We have mentioned these terms briefly up top, but what do they actually mean for your recording? Well, let’s have an in-depth look:
Flat
This is basically natural sound for recording, which will really help the output of your speech and music. This will help anyone with a natural range and will help those vocals to really pop.
However, this might struggle with more bassy sounds or anyone who has a lower vocal register.
Bass Roll-Off
This is a low-pass filter that will really help when you are using your microphone with a digital audio interface.
This will really help you to attune those low frequencies, giving you a low distortion style that is perfect for boosting those low sounds.
Presence Boost
This resembles the previous setting, although it also helps to round out the mids and trebles. This is great if you are recording a higher-pitched voice or an instrument such as a guitar or a violin.
We hope that these short explanations will help you when you are dealing with these settings in the future. You should make sure that you need these settings before you spend any additional money.
Shure SM7B Recording
This microphone comes with a very dynamic recording pattern, containing a cardioid polar pattern that will exclude a lot of excess noise. This also means that it is a much sturdier microphone than any other that you might be used to.
This will also minimize the amount of distortion and clipping that you often get from other, cheaper microphones. This is great if you are wanting to record very crystal clear vocals for your podcast or audiobook.
This microphone is very specialist in that it is mainly designed for vocals. This makes it the microphone of choice for podcasters, voice actors and singers. This is because a lot of other noise from the voice is blocked out.
However, one of the drawbacks of this particular recording style is the fact that you’ll have to position it correctly to make sure that you are picking up all the vocals. If your mouth is slightly off-center, you might not get a good recording.
What Else Will You Need For Your SMB7?
When you are podcasting, you’ll generally need a microphone stand. This will ensure that your microphone is absolutely still when you are recording and that no vibrations will travel up into the microphone itself.
You might also want a mounted boom arm, which will not only support your microphone, but it will help you adjust the microphone to your shifting position. Most podcasters prefer this kind of stand, as it will help them move around and get more comfortable.
You’ll need an XLR cable to plug this one into your audio interface . If you want to run it through your computer, then you will need to make sure that your interface is able to sync up with your desktop computer or laptop.
How Does The Shure SM7B Compare To Other Microphones?
Rode NT-1
Lining up the Rode NT-1 with the Shure microphone, you will be able to see that they have a few differences between them.
One of the main advantages of the Shure is that it does not require phantom power, whereas the Rode does. This means that you will be investing in additional hardware to power the Rode.
If you were thinking of using your microphone for the stage, then you might want to opt for the Shure as it is much easier to set up.
The Shure is a dynamic microphone, which means that it has a much simpler build. This will also appeal to any beginner who is not used to handling audio hardware.
Shure 55SH Series II
These two microphones are very similar in that they deliver premium vocal performance and they are great for vocal recordings. If you asked us to choose between these for podcast recording, we’d be hard pushed to decide.
However, the Shure SMB7 does have the advantage of being a much more durable mic to record live, mainly owing to its rounded ‘Elvis-style’ design.
Neither of these microphones requires phantom power, so you’ll be making a saving on having the buy additional hardware to power these units.
Conclusion
We hope that our review of the Shure SMB7 microphone (see also ‘Heil PR-40 Microphone Review‘) has helped you decide whether or not this is the right one for your podcast, voiceover or instrumental recording. if you are interest in the latest Shure mic, check out the Shure MV7, its brand new and designed specifically for podcasters like yourself.
