[adam79]

Hey. Anyone have any comments on the Shure SM7B? I have around a $2000
budget to try out mics and pre-amps. I was thinking about getting a
couple condenser mics, but then I read about the SM7B, and thought it
was worth a shot. My mic collection right now is a SM57 and SM beta 87a.
For preamps I just have the ones on my MBox2, Mackie 1202-VLZ PRO and a
Presonus BlueTube Dual Channel Pre (which can either be solid state or
tube [1 12ax7 tube). I'm probably gonna try out the Rode NT-1A or NT-2A,
NT-5 or AT 4041, AT4050 and the SM7B. Still not sure about the preamp.
Just looking for some last comments and suggestions before I make the
purchase to try this stuff out.

Thanks,
-Adam

[Paul Stamler]

"adam79" wrote in message
...
Hey. Anyone have any comments on the Shure SM7B? I have around a $2000
budget to try out mics and pre-amps. I was thinking about getting a
couple condenser mics, but then I read about the SM7B, and thought it
was worth a shot. My mic collection right now is a SM57 and SM beta 87a.
For preamps I just have the ones on my MBox2, Mackie 1202-VLZ PRO and a
Presonus BlueTube Dual Channel Pre (which can either be solid state or
tube [1 12ax7 tube). I'm probably gonna try out the Rode NT-1A or NT-2A,
NT-5 or AT 4041, AT4050 and the SM7B. Still not sure about the preamp.
Just looking for some last comments and suggestions before I make the
purchase to try this stuff out.

Adam, this is not meant as a putdown, but it's time to *stop asking and
start listening*.

Oh, and I'm afraid you've described the Presonus BlueTube incorrectly. It's
either solid-state or
solid-state-plus-a-distortion-generator-stage-which-happens-to-be-made-from-
a-12AX7. It's not, repeat not, a tube preamp. And if you want to understand
what the tubed preamps of a previous era, the ones that made all those great
recordings in the 1950s, actually sounded like, you're going to have to
spend at least the price of a used Peavey VMP2. That gets you just into the
ballpark, but not really up with the big boys. That costs a whole lot more.

Of the preamps you have, for the purpose of comparing microphones I think
the Mackie will be your best bet, provided you record directly from the
insert jack ao the signal only goes through the mic pre section. When you
actually go to buy a better preamp, the Real Nice Preamp would probably be a
good starting point.

Peace,
Paul

[Steve King]

"Paul Stamler" wrote in message
...
"adam79" wrote in message
...
Hey. Anyone have any comments on the Shure SM7B? I have around a $2000
budget to try out mics and pre-amps. I was thinking about getting a
couple condenser mics, but then I read about the SM7B, and thought it
was worth a shot. My mic collection right now is a SM57 and SM beta 87a.
For preamps I just have the ones on my MBox2, Mackie 1202-VLZ PRO and a
Presonus BlueTube Dual Channel Pre (which can either be solid state or
tube [1 12ax7 tube). I'm probably gonna try out the Rode NT-1A or NT-2A,
NT-5 or AT 4041, AT4050 and the SM7B. Still not sure about the preamp.
Just looking for some last comments and suggestions before I make the
purchase to try this stuff out.

Adam, this is not meant as a putdown, but it's time to *stop asking and
start listening*.

Oh, and I'm afraid you've described the Presonus BlueTube incorrectly.
It's
either solid-state or
solid-state-plus-a-distortion-generator-stage-which-happens-to-be-made-from-
a-12AX7. It's not, repeat not, a tube preamp. And if you want to
understand
what the tubed preamps of a previous era, the ones that made all those
great
recordings in the 1950s, actually sounded like, you're going to have to
spend at least the price of a used Peavey VMP2. That gets you just into
the
ballpark, but not really up with the big boys. That costs a whole lot
more.

Of the preamps you have, for the purpose of comparing microphones I think
the Mackie will be your best bet, provided you record directly from the
insert jack ao the signal only goes through the mic pre section. When you
actually go to buy a better preamp, the Real Nice Preamp would probably be
a
good starting point.

Peace,
Paul

I would add that the SM7B has a lower level output than the other mics you
are looking at. That places additional importance on having a quiet,
high-gain preamp, which you currently don't have. That said, if I had to
record a bunch of vocalists, one after the other, I would be very
comfortable putting up an SM7. It may be my favorite mic for my own voice.
Others may disagree but I find the built-in EQ useful. For music I've used
an SM7B on a variety of instruments. However, in your shoes I'd look for
the best SD condenser pair I could afford.

Steve King

[adam79]

I don't need mics for recording an acoustic drum set, so I'm really
focused mics for acoustic guitar, electric cabs, and vocals. I don't
have the money to record a super high-quality major label type of
recording. I just wanna record a demo of songs I've written over the
past couple months. I enjoy recording and feel I can make a quality
sounding demo without having to spend a grand on a preamp, etc.

[studiorat]

I love my SM-7, low out put buy fantastic sound. Blue Baby bottles are
very good for rock vocals too.
Acoustic gtr you could try, OCTAVIA MK-012s or SE electronics 2200s
different but worth a listen.
D.

[Geoff]

adam79 wrote:
I don't need mics for recording an acoustic drum set, so I'm really
focused mics for acoustic guitar, electric cabs, and vocals. I don't
have the money to record a super high-quality major label type of
recording. I just wanna record a demo of songs I've written over the
past couple months. I enjoy recording and feel I can make a quality
sounding demo without having to spend a grand on a preamp, etc.

An SM7B would be a really poor choice for acoustic guitar, due to it's low
output level on a quiet instrument. And yo need a break from Shure.

How about a gp mic like a Rode NT3 ? Good on acoustic, and may other
things, even voice.

geoff

[Steve[_3_]]

Adam;

Just my opinion, this stuff works for me, but as others have already said
let your ears be the judge.

Preamp:
I would start by picking up an FMR RNP3080 (www.fmraudio.com). It's sold
state and the best bang for the buck. Ignore any tube stuff in your price
range like others have said.
$475.00

Large Dia Dynamic;
I have an Electovoice RE-20. Love it. Works good on male vocal and does
better than large dia condensers in untreated environments. Works good on
guitar and bass cabinets and kick drum too. I am sure the the SM7b is good
for vocals and some like it better than the RE20 but the RE20 just seems to
be a better "swiss army" type mic
$399.00

Condenser Pair:
I have a pair of Rode NT5s. Love em as overheads, recording acoustic guitar
and I use them for live recordings too (with the RNP3080). I picked up the
NT45-O Omni capsules for them to make them a little more versatile.
$429.00 (there are dealers on Ebay that sell them for less which is where I
bought mine)
Omni Capsules - $89.00 Each at Swee****er

That leaves you with $519.00

Sell your presonus BlueTube (once you get your RNP you won't want the
Bluetube for anything but putting a drink on, and they fetch a pretty good
price on eBay these days) and that should leave you enough to get the
AT4050.

That with your 57 (which you will discover it's a totally different, better
mic with the RNP) and your 87a you should have a good well rounded mic
selection to work with and a good clean preamp to work with. If you need
more than 2 preamp channels use the ones on your Mackie.

Good Luck;
Steve

"adam79" wrote in message
...
Hey. Anyone have any comments on the Shure SM7B? I have around a $2000
budget to try out mics and pre-amps. I was thinking about getting a couple
condenser mics, but then I read about the SM7B, and thought it was worth a
shot. My mic collection right now is a SM57 and SM beta 87a. For preamps I
just have the ones on my MBox2, Mackie 1202-VLZ PRO and a Presonus
BlueTube Dual Channel Pre (which can either be solid state or tube [1
12ax7 tube). I'm probably gonna try out the Rode NT-1A or NT-2A, NT-5 or
AT 4041, AT4050 and the SM7B. Still not sure about the preamp. Just
looking for some last comments and suggestions before I make the purchase
to try this stuff out.

Thanks,
-Adam

[Scott Dorsey]

adam79 wrote:
Hey. Anyone have any comments on the Shure SM7B? I have around a $2000
budget to try out mics and pre-amps. I was thinking about getting a
couple condenser mics, but then I read about the SM7B, and thought it
was worth a shot. My mic collection right now is a SM57 and SM beta 87a.
For preamps I just have the ones on my MBox2, Mackie 1202-VLZ PRO and a
Presonus BlueTube Dual Channel Pre (which can either be solid state or
tube [1 12ax7 tube). I'm probably gonna try out the Rode NT-1A or NT-2A,
NT-5 or AT 4041, AT4050 and the SM7B. Still not sure about the preamp.
Just looking for some last comments and suggestions before I make the
purchase to try this stuff out.

It's a useful mike. It's good for a lot of vocals. Every studio in the
country has one in their closet, sitting next to the RE-20, and it is
probably the second most popular broadcast announcer mike, behind the RE-20.
By all means you should audition one if you are trying out microphones.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[HKC]

"It's a useful mike. It's good for a lot of vocals. Every studio in the
country has one in their closet, sitting next to the RE-20".

I know I do. It's more or less an upgraded SM57 but more open and like the
other posts here have stated a very nice mic for a lot of purposes. It's
true that it's not great for recording most acoustic instruments but most
mics that can do that job aren't good for recording electric instruments so
you will probably need two mics anyway.