Acoustically, both mics perform almost identically. The Rode NT1 requires less gain than the Shure SM7B and costs less too. The Cloudlifter CL-1 mic activator is an in-line preamp that will give the SM7B +25dB gain. The included switch cover plate is simply a little disc that prevents accidental switching while you’re recording. It’s cheaper than the Cloudlifter, and is designed to improve signal to noise ratio and provide +29dB gain. An audio interface also has additional features, namely the option to add gain to recordings. The Rode NT1 is cheaper than the Shure SM7B. There’s not much point to it, since it’s hard to adjust the frequency response switches without a screwdriver or pick anyway. Yes, that’s right, it offers more gain for less cash. If you’re using a preamp with the Shure SM7B, watch out for the preamp’s own electronic noise adding hum to your recordings. Joel Berghult (RoomieOfficial) – One Guy, 7 Cover Songs, The White Stripes – Slowly Turning Into You, SM7B recording brass and wind instruments, Gamer Chance Morris (sodapoppin) on Twitch, Sony MDR7506 professional large diaphragm headphones, beyerdynamic DT770 PRO 80 Ohm studio headphones, Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface, really good sound comparison between the Shure SM7B and Rode NT1 here, listen to a detailed comparison of both mics here, cardioid pickup pattern that only records sound from the front, built-in pop filter and 2 windscreen options, variable frequency response settings to get a unique “DJ voice” sound, Industry standard as far as versatile mics go, XLR, Anyone that needs omnidirectional sound pickup, Anyone looking for an LDC (large diaphagm condenser) microphone, You can plug the XLR mic cable directly into a, 50 to 20,000 Hz frequency response (with 3 settings), very durable, can be knocked around without damage, able to handle high sound levels without distortion, ideal for stage and studio as background sounds are minimized, great for recording vocals and close-up sounds, suited to loud instruments like drums and guitar amps, lower background noise than omnidirectional mics, won’t pick up multiple instruments at once compared to omnidirectional mics, can’t record vocals or speech from more than one person at a time, Provide a headphone output channel (so you can monitor recordings as you make them), 1 x Shure SM7B cardioid dynamic microphone, 1 x close-talk A7WS detachable windscreen, To add gain to speech recordings to improve strength of recordings and overall quality, ✅ Ideal for vocal recording (podcasting, voice-overs, musician), ❌ Cannot be used as a handheld microphone, ❌ Requires additional preamp/USB adapter for computer use. This is because the Cloudlifter adds its own gain. It's also quite neutral and unhyped up top, which with proximity effect in action in nearfield use gives it a somewhat warm tone. That’s up to 88dB gain in total. Have a listen to the demo reel of Pamela Gregory, a voice over artist, to get an idea of sound quality. You can buy replacement Shure windscreens if something happens to your originals: this is the standard RK345 windscreen, and this is the thicker A7WS close-talk windscreen. Most people choose to use them, but musician Ben Howard can be seen recording vocals on Shure SM7B mics with the built-in pop shield exposed. Microphone noise can be removed or reduced with post-production, depending on the editing software you use. The Scarlett 2i2 is ideal for … – the SM7B hosts modern electromagnetic innards that provide pristine, professional-grade captures for today’s audio enthusiasts.. You’ll also need 1 female to male XLR cable for this setup. They are using a Cloudlifter CL-2, which is a 2-channel version, but if you’re only using one microphone, the single channel Cloudlifter CL-1 would give the same results. From Joe Rogan to Dave Grohl, Shure SM7B is the microphone of choice for so many famous names that we’d be here all day if we tried to list them (keep reading the article for a few more names if you’re curious). Joe Rogan uses the SM7B to record his mega-hit podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. If you look for a deal on a used Shure SM7B microphone, you could be lucky enough to shave around 20% off the price of a new one. You’ll also need 2 female to male XLR cables for this setup, and a boom arm or mic stand of your choice. You can bang the desk and move the mic around and you won’t pickup any unwanted sounds. You don’t need an additional shock mount for the Shure SM7B as it already has one buit right in. The Shure SM7B has become one of the most popular popdcast microphones out there. The Shure SM7B is a dynamic cardioid XLR microphone. Channel Strip Processor + 4 Combination Processors, Single Channel Processor + Double Analog Outputs, Single Channel Processor + Output Protection Limiter, Low-noise Professional Mic for Roughly 69dB. Output will be much higher if you’re shouting, singing or micing drums or amplified instruments. They are worth it! The Shure SM7B has 3 built-in frequency response settings that allow you to customize how it sounds. And finally, whether you choose a Rode K12 or a Shure SM7b, you'll still need a nice mic preamp to bring out its full sound. For speech recording, you’re best off pairing the Shure SM7B with a preamp (see the section on gain and preamps below). Shure’s SM7B is not a handheld microphone, so you’re going to need to mount it to something before you start recording. But if you’re curious now, here are just a handful of top podcasters that record their shows on the SM7B: Try and have a listen to some podcast episodes recorded on the Shure SM7B. Launched in late 2020, the Shure MV7 is not too far off the sound quality of an SM7B, but with a lower MSRP of $249 and the benefits of USB and XLR connectivity. As we discussed in the earlier section on hum and noise, you need to select a preamp to pair with the Shure SM7B that does not introduce noise to your recordings. It has a unique sound for voice recordings. So you definitely have to get up close and personal with it for that reason alone. Take the Neumann U87 microphone, for example. There are 3 main ways you can connect a Shure SM7B to make recordings: If you need a very minimalist microphone setup, you’ll be better off with a USB microphone, like the Rode NT-USB, Audio-Technica AT2020USB, or Blue Yeti. If you’re looking for a condenser microphone alternative to the Shure SM7B, you’ll probably like the Rode NT1, AKG Pro Audio C214 or Audio-Technica AT2035. The Shure SM7B is also popular with radio stations. However, you may find vocal recordings to be too quiet and a preamp can help amplify the signal of your recordings. But enough with the history lesson, let’s get down to the numbers. Many people use the CL-1 Cloudlifter in conjunction with a good sound card (Focusrite), is this really enough gain ? Should I consider a different microphone for this reason? The Heil PR40 is very similar to the SM7B, but the Heil requires less gain but doesn’t have frequency response options – listen to a detailed comparison of both mics here. You can use Shure’s SM7B with or without the optional windscreens attached. If you want to record onto your computer via a Shure SM7B, you’re probably going to need a USB audio interface. The Zoom H6 has its own built-in preamp and is set to a gain of 4 with Cloudlifter attached, and 7.5 without a Cloudlifter. The Shure SM7B is a pretty unique microphone – nothing else out there is going to give you the same sound, but a few come close. It might be an all-star mic, but it’s not ideal for everyone. The dbx 286s offers a crisp, studio-quality microphone that is coupled with four independent processors. If you need a super directional mic, the SM7B arguably isn't first choice - my impression is that the element is relatively far recessed, and it's a reasonably broad cardioid. Studio setups and post-production will vary, but, as you will hear, the audio quality is superb in all cases. stereodamage.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Is the Cloudlifter a preamp? I recently bought a Shure SM7B but I don't have a pre amp (yet) and I don't have a lot of money left. For multiple-mic setups, there are many good third-party interfaces available with inputs ranging from two to sixteen or more. but when it was time to try the SM7b, i forgot to tell him to turn off the phantom power. Typically, dynamic mics like the SM7B are used for recording loud instruments and singing, but Shure’s top-seller has also become popular with podcasters and voice over artists thanks to its unique sound… if you add some gain (keep reading to find out how). Plug it straight into your computer without additional preamps or interfaces. I tired to use my interface (Scarlett Solo) with a SM58; I cranked the gain all the way up and it still just didn't get me the levels and the quality that I wanted. Let’s go through the main ones so you can see what’s out there.