Wow, I can't believe how the SM7 does a much better job at rejecting noise coming from behind. And also it sounds much better in my opinion, but I wouldn't spend that much money on a used microphone almost 50 years old. Great review as always!
I just want to say that I appreciate how much work you put into these videos to make these comparisons so ripe with information.... just for me to listen to them with my phone speakers.
I guess that would be an effect of the humbucking coil, it's a typical sideeffect on guitar pickups as well. But live sometime you can't have the noise that non-humbucking pickups deliver (RF and staglights can be bad). FWIW. Sometimes the highend rolloff can work on the poitive side.
Christian Boddum I hadn’t considered that but that is super interesting. That made me think of a Strat and a Les Paul. Of course the density of the body affects it but also the twanginess of the strat from the single coils and the thickness and darker sound of the Les Paul with the humbuckers.
@@Podcastage I generally don't like vintage correct Strat pickups, they are just too bright and they hum badly, so i opt for DiMarzio HS-2s that are humcancelling, which fare better with high gain plus the tone is a little fatter,which I like, and there is ZERO hum ;-) Actually I've practiced no hum in my guitar for years, so whatever guitar I pick up, I know I will not have to take hum in to the consideration when I choose a guitar. FWIW. Thanks for all the great videos :-)
Agree! also I agree with @RyanVickers I always thought that the 7B was way overrated, and kept wondering why, I only knew that couple of famous used it, like Michael Jackson for Beat it, and it was making no sense to me cause the 7B is way dark, (I've never heard a SM7 before)and hearing this comparison, the SM7 sounds waaaay better, and the 7B is just getting the love that the SM7 had, even though they don't sound alike, the 7B sound cheap by side to the SM7, in all aspects, and it is most noticed when the filters were ON, in the 7B the filters sound unnatural, as in the SM7 they sounded really good. Now with that one, I understood a bit why people love so much the 7B, is because the SM7 was good.
Yessir! That is due to the fact the sm7 had a modified capsule that was used in the sm57 and sm58. With the new humbucking coil of the sm7b causes it to be a bit darker. The sm57 was a preferred mic for micing amps by studio engineers at the time and even modern day!
Sound is simple. It's waves. Mic and speaker technology is simple. They function like your ear. One does not simply innovate the concept of that. The sound of a great microphone or speaker will always come down to the same things.
Wow I loved the sound of the SM7 for both guitars. On the electric it just sounded so "dirty", it really let that distortion shine. And the acoustic was beautiful. If I ever record something on guitar I know what mic to ask for.
I really appreciate you showing the instrumental parts. My ear is much better tuned to picking up differences in instrument sounds than voices, and these comparisons make it very clear. Thank you for your work!
There's this OCD part of me that freaking loves watching and listening to you compare tiny minute differences between pretty much identical microphones. I don't even need a new mic (totally happy with the SM7B, and I was totally happy with the sm57 I had before that). I come here for the mind tingling indulgence of my OCD side, thanks for going as far in depth as you go in these comparison reviews.
I got a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar lens for my DSLR, that was made in the early 60s. Recently, I showed it to my girlfriend, telling her "this thing is older than you and me together". She was awed by that.
I really really love your show man. You cut straight to the point and your tests are so effective but you’re still entertaining and informative! Plus the ways you’ve split your videos up is really helpful! My go to when I’m looking at a new mic ❤️✨
This was fascinating. Would love to see more old vs new comparisons just to see what has changed over the years. The RE20 would be an interesting one for this type of video.
i actually have a "vintage" RE20, while i haven't A/B tested it there isnt a noticeable difference. the only difference ive noticed is a small build change, like reeeeaaally small. the roll-off switch was changed in the way it looks. seriously, (that's all i've noticed, there could be more but i doubt it.)
I also noticed that the SM7B's filter switches sounded significantly more effective than the ones on the SM7. I'm not sure if that's just something that could be attributed to the age of the older microphone, or if that's an actual functional difference, but it stood out to me during the test.
I love your reviews man. They are clear and concise! I have the new SM7B and it was very cool to hear the comparison between that and the original model. I immediately heard the top end in the original. Definitely a fan of the new 2020 version. Thanks!
I'm not sure how the original SM7 shipped initially, but the mount is reversible, you can flip it around depending on use (front to back (as you were discussing), but also to either side to make the switches on the back orientated correctly depending on use). Just be careful when you undo the sides, there's a bunch of easy to drop washers.
So what you’re saying is that the SM7 is a Stratocaster and the SM7B is a Les Paul. Whenever you add a coil (to buck the hum) you completely change the sound. I needed this content. Great work homie!
Hey Sir, I don't know if this fits into your channel but there is this new thing calles RTX Voice and a video from you on how it works and how effective it really is would be nice bro, love your content keep up the good work
@@Maradnus What are you on about? The worlds most popular recordings were probably done on an analogue console up until the 00's and 9/10 records today are surely not recorded on a cheese grater. You made that up. But the apple sheep comment was ignorant, i'm with ya.
I've always wondered about this comparison - thank you for doing this! I actually prefer the SM7b. I use it because it has that certain smooth character. That's one of the thing it does that others don't. I have other mics that can do the top end thing. Very interesting comparison.
Very surprising comparison! I recall Bruce Swedien, who used the original SM7 to record Michael Jackson, George Benson, and others, speaking emphatically about the difference between the two. To my ear, the original is definitely brighter and far more open, almost like a condenser.
It definitely has a more open sound to it. For me, I prefer the SM7b because it doesn’t have that 10kHz peak, so if you add a high shelf to it, you’re not also boosting this large 4-5dB peak as well. You’re boosting a more natural top end. But I can absolutely understand why someone would prefer the original SM7. I can say that I was quite shocked with how different they sounded.
@@Podcastage - Hey man. Love watching your stuff. I can't exactly speak too much about these ;), but here's a link to some photos of the actual SM7 used on the Thriller album (along with other SM7 variants used in a "shootout" in Shure's in-house studio). Thought it might be a fun FWIW... drive.google.com/open?id=1BZvUcbP0IMD7J7arCduzK4u9IyK0EPqS
Podcastage Very true. I was also very surprised by the stark contrast in tone. I’d argue perhaps the original could fair better in a dense mix. Often I find that with my own 7B, this isn’t always the case without a cut at 5k, a subtle shelf boost at 7k, and a generous notch at 10k.
Glad you made this. I was always a little surprised that this was chosen over a good condensor for so many great recordings (not least M. Jackson.) Very warm sounding.....bit still a modified SM58, and I want one ! 🙂
Amazing video! I actually didn't notice much of a difference at all when you were speaking into the mics, but there was definitely more of a shrill tone to the SM7 when you started playing guitar. I prefer the SM7B there.
Hey man, great videos. The XLR ports are reversible on both mics. The whole mounting bracket can be removed and flipped around to position the XLR on whichever side you prefer
@@Podcastage According to wgi I would say is the world's single most highly respected authority on microphones, Klause Heyne, modern microphones are just per definition bad compared to their old counterparts, and that there are no exceptions to this rule. The reason being that almost all parts (including capsules) for AKG, Sennheiser, Shure, Røde etc microphones are made in China with dirt cheap components that just doesn't do a great job. According to him the ONLY microphone manufacturer in the world currently that can produce high quality capsules are Neumann, but they suffer with not being able to make other important components of high quality. In fact, the reason Neumann came up with the TLM line of microphones, is not because of lower selfnoise, but becaue they didn't know how to make great transformers anymore, so they had to lower the quality of their microphones by not using a transformer... So building great - not good enough - microphones seems to truly be a dying art, and one we will likely never be able to revive. It simply costs too much to make high quality components for microphones, so even the super expensive 10.000 dollar modern Telefunken u47 will actually have the exact same 20 dollar Chinese capsule that for example AKG uses for their microphones. Sorry to be a debbie downer, but there really isn't any comparison musically between older and newer microphones. I think for podcasting, the new SM7b will work well enough, but for musical uses, it just doesn't have it, it's a bit too bland in my opinion.
Carsten - Thank you very much. I was surprised at the delta in performance as well. Also, the SM7 that I have is 50 years old so it has lived a full life, and anything could have happened to it since it was released. This is just the best that I can do. It would be awesome to get a fresh out of the box 1973 SM7 and compare it to the modern SM7b though. Maybe one day!
47 years old and still sounds like new. No doubts about Shure's build quality. Interesting to hear how different they sound on electric guitar. On voice I couldn't tell much difference, but electric guitar was like two completely different mics. The new one definitely sounded _better_ , but I thought the old one sounded really cool too. Definitely some harsh frequencies in there, but with a little EQ it would be perfect for a song with a vintage vibe.
For singing voice i slightly prefer the SM7. I tend to find the SM7b doesn't have enough air in it and end up boosting around 7-8k just a tad, where as the SM7 models have the opposite problem and I have to bring down around 9-10k. I'd always prefer to bring something down in an EQ rather than bring something up. It's a minor thing, both do their job incredibly well. However, for recording pretty much anything else other than singing voice, I prefer the SM7b. For talking, guitars, percussion, string, brass, anything really. The SM7b is much more versatile and less needs to be done with it across the board.
for electric guitar there was a hissy accent on the old model which wasn't super pleasant and the 7b is probably "safer" but for acoustic and spoken the 7b's mids sounded more cluttered while the old one sounded more transparent
1973 huh? almost half a century old. I couldn't imagine the same model from so back in a day would sound so good. I couldn't decide between the two in the end. Both mics are great, although SM7 does sound v 1973 when it comes to electric guitar. Overall amazing work, SHURE. Thank you for the review, Bandrew! 1337 gamers approve SADW
Great, methodical, useful A/B comparison process. Thanks! In my monitoring environment, I actually preferred the sound of the acoustic guitar through the SM7B, which counters your assessment. I heard more presence and top-end clarity than in the original SM7 (not a lot, but noticeable). Given other comments that say the opposite about the two mics, I think it's important to keep in mind one's monitoring situation. And, since the mics sound relatively close to one another, not comparing apples to grapefruit, EQ adjustments may essentially make the differences moot.
Started to like the 7, then thought the high frequency boost would become tiring: A) to listen to , and B) to smooth out on every track it’s used in an eq strip or plugin. I like the 7, but the 7b seems to do the job better.
well Podcastage, I understand firstly why you don't want to divulge the amount you spent for the 1973 version but my man, money well spent as this one sounds AMAZING .. so much more detail and warmth compared to the 2020 version. I get it... these days, they can't afford to make it like that, otherwise this sm7b would be around $1,200.00 in today's money. They did the best they could at Shure to copy the style form factor and character or essence of the mic but no dice compared to the original. What are you're thoughts ?
Whenever someone mentions the SM7B (in TH-cam reviews etc) they mention that it was the mic used by Michael Jackson. That is FALSE. Bruce Swedien used the SM7 - not the SM7B, for Michael Jackson. As Bandrew's fine comparison video shows, they are two very different sounding microphones. Bruce Swedien said he liked the SM7 but NOT the SM7B. Bruce recorded onto tape for most of his work with Michael Jackson. That further skews the picture when considering the two microphones today, recording onto digital, which doesn't roll-off the high frequences (and smoothens the transients) like tape does. On the other hand, in the 70s, the SM7's increased high-end response might actually be somewhat closer to what an SM7B sounds like today, when recorded to a digital medium. So perhaps Shure did the right, logical thing by slightly attenuating the SM7B's high-end, when updating the SM7? Would make sense, in a world that has changed since the 70s tape-recording practices - and challenges of tape-noises, which meant enginers recorded hotter, and with more high-end boost onto tape, and then attenuating the high-end on the way off the tape, to reduce noise. Not that it matters which mic someone else used for some other project, scenario (acoustics, etc) than yours. Each voice is unique, and the SM7 worked for Michael's. Irrelevant to anyone elses voice, really. And totally irrelevant when talking about the SM7B - a microphone that Michael Jackson did NOT use;)
This channel is great. Learn A LOT about mics with some of your videos (amongst others). Can I suggest another battle, but now between audio interfaces? How about the Mackie Onyx Producer 2.2, against the MOTU M2 and the ZOOM UAC-2. with comments on their pre-amps, USB connections, and frequency/clarity. P.S. I saw your review on the MOTU M2 and really wanted to see it up against other ones.
Hi, I'm António Filipe from Portugal I follow your channel since 2018, I love the tone as you do your reviews. I saw your review on the Motu M2 sound interface, the Shuer SM7B microphone with the Fethead applicator and ended up buying them. I connected the Shuer SM7B microphone (+ the fethead) and my Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 250 headphones to the Motu M2 sound interface, installed the driver, and was able to record and listen to Adobe Audition, however when I'm not recording (and even recording) no sound comes out of the headphones. What am I doing wrong? Shouldn't sound come out of the headphones at the time of recording? Thank you very much and continued success with your wonderful channel.
Enjoyed the vid. It was hands-down, the original 7 for me. It might be useful to present samples of a longer, more uniform length, with less back and forth. The length of the acoustic segment was nice. Also a clean electric gtr with a "classic" rig - one that everyone recognizes as "that sound" would be great for comparison. Appreciate your hard work.
I do have two of the SM 7 mics. Bought them at a discount, paid ~ $70.00 for each. Still have my SM 57 & Sm 58's still use them. I did notice that you were wearing Sony MDL 7506 head phones. They still have very good feel and response. I've bought them used on line for as little as $15.00, rebuilt them with replacement parts from a co. called Wang. Drivers, ear cushions and cables all available. So far, I have 10 pairs of them and have another 4 to fix. BTW, I'm retired and am the sound guy at the local senior center. Still love it. If you'd like, I could send you pix of the set up. Primitive as compared to today's standards but worked.
I know it's an "older" video, but the first part describing the differences regarding the XLR placement is just a result of flipping the mount, you will also see this affecting the orientation of the Shure logo on the back, and top of the microphone ;)
First off, this was an _EXCELLENT_ demo. Well done Mate. Instant sub. I've gotta say though, for me I preferred the sound of the SM7 for everything musical. Assuming money played no role in my decision making - If I were going to buy one of the two strictly for podcasting, radio and/or voice-over work, I'd go with the SM7b. For recording music though, I'd take the SM7. I like the added 10k top end. To me it provided clarity. Everything else was there and I find I prefer to have to peel frequencies away than try and add/boost them. The electric guitar to me also just sounded "classic." Which would perhaps make sense considering it's safe to assume a number of classic records were recorded with SM7's. It also sounded incredibly sweet on acoustic guitar. There was also something about the way it cancelled sound from the back and sides. It's not that it cancelled _more_ sound, it's something about the _way_ it cancelled sound/the tone (for lack of a better descriptor) of the "cancelled" sound that seemed to me like it would be less apparent on the SM7. That said, if I'm going to spend $1,100 to $1,600 on a microphone, it's not going to be on an SM7, so I'm going to buy an SM7b. Now if I were independently wealthy, certainly I'd go with the SM7. Not to mention an EMT 250 reverb to get the full _Thriller_ compliment going.
I will will agree but I high the clarity that the SM7 gives out with the vocals. For some people they need that and adding that little bit of clarity could change a whole lot in Vocals. But the SM7B does almost better in equalizing those frequencies which is also a win. But in all conclusive argument it's up to personal preference and what sounds better for a person's vocals. But even then the slightest change could have the biggest impact. And that's exactly what you've showed. Fantastic work my guy.
Well that sure cheered me up- as a 1973 teen I obsessed over Warehouse Sound catalogs and wanted a pair of SM7's but couldn't afford them- in 2020 with the new lower price I just knew it had to be a shadow of the original- I think it is finally time to order that elusive pair
i am in a pair of HD-6XX headphones (HD-650 remakes) out of an Avid mBox 3 Pro (through spdif) @32-bit 48k and in every single take the sm7 is "thicker" or "rounder" sounding than the sm7b. I checked with the same cans out of an iFi Zen DAC (cheaper but tuned/designed for these specific headphones) and it is less noticeable but still there. Either higher fidelity or a boost/coloration somewhere between 150-300 hz ...I own the newer one and i love it but I'm just sayin'. Listen for it and you may notice but i warn you, you can't unhear it...
With regards to the sm7b having the XLR Connection in the front... look at the directions it explains the microphone is packed set up for a overhead boom mic. You can change this by removing the yolk and turning it around and now the XLR connection will be in the back. If you read the directions carefully it will be easy to do
Nice demo! I prefer the SM7 for the reasons you said you liked it less :) But consistently when I use my SM7 (a lot) I don’t need to add high end to it on vocals when mixing. But I can be sibilant. I also often use the large foam cover. And it works great with tube mic preamps
One of the best comparison vids I've ever seen. Thank you! I hear you when you say the updated SM7B is smoother. It sounds even a little compressed, and de-essed. The SM7B reminds me of cameras that shoot with built-in filters and saturation, creating a smooth picture for those that don't (want to) edit. But what is lost is lost. There is no question that the vintage SM7 is clearer and brighter. NONE. The SM7 is likened to shooting on a flat raw format camera. It does require editing but you've preserved more color, and dynamic range. Conclusion: if you want a mic that needs less compression, de-esser, and EQ work, pick the modern SM7B. If you want to preserve details and have more autonomy in post-production... SM7. @podcastage Is that fair?
At the time the SM7B was intro'd tape recording tamed the high frequencies a bit, and I can easily see the original SM7's top-end being helpful in that context. The re-voicing happened before the transition to digital, but at a time when newer tape formulations had improved matters quite a bit. The yoke can be reversed on both the 7 and 7b, so the placement of the XLR connector is probably something its owner did. Just unscrew the thumbscrews from each side and it comes right off. There are a pair of plastic bushings that sit in the center of each pivot and that are a pain to re-install, but you can do it by nudging with a jewelers' screwdriver until they seat. FWIW I use mine reversed like that when supported by a stand from below. The default configuration (as on your 7b in the video) works better when the mic is hung from a boom.
I want to like the SM7B more cause it's simply a good looking mic, and vintage SM7s are close to impossible to get hands on, but each time I hear a well made comparison like this one, the B version turns me down: I'd expect that when processing vocals the SM7 takes compression much better, while the SM7B tends to get muddy? For vocals and acoustic guitar, the vintage SM7 to me is a clear winner. I guess these differences are more pronounced when using a better pre, as both mics deliver very low output levels.
Super excited to at long last see this test! I can easily listen to the b or the non b. Perhaps the b is better to listen to? I could also listen to the music tests all day. It you just had a channel of music test I'd listen to it. I'm also grateful that you continue and listen to your heart and chase your microphone passion. It's truly making the world much better to listen to.
Personally, I think the SM7B was nicer to listen to on the instruments, and the SM7 was nicer to listen to on the vocals. Maybe it's just that I haven't listened to it enough and analyzed it, but the bottom end sounded fuller to me and the mic sounded more alive. On the instruments though, especially the electric guitar, it's was extremely harsh, and on the acoustic guitar I think the SM7B gives it a warmer color, which I prefer. Crazy to think that the SM7 series has been around for 47 years now. Great review!
When listening to the voice, I did not notice a significant difference, although the sound of 7b seemed more pleasant. On the electric guitar, the difference is huge. I even thought that it was a testing error, but I know that you treat the tests very carefully.
Yeah. I recorded them at the same time, and measured them on the X,Y,andZ axis to make sure they were the same. I thought the same thing initially as well. And triple checked the measurements.
Do you really need an equalizer for a mic like the SM7B or desser, gate, compressor, high pass filter etc. for a home studio podcasting, making recorded video content or live streaming? Or does proper mic technique make all that pointless? You provide so much insight man, thank you!
IMO it is definitely sounding superior on vocals, but for most of the electric guitar tones (except the first one and perhaps the lead) as well as the acoustic I preferred the 7B. Just shows you different mics are good in different situations! Edit: actually SM7B wins on the first guitar tone but I really love how "80's hair metal" that lead sounded through the original.
Comparing 2/ 3 microphones with each other. I would love to see a comparison between the SM7b VS the Rode ProCaster VS the Rode ProCaster with a pop shield. I have been listening to many comparison video's and feel that in general I like the SM7b just a little better, but when hearing your recording of the acoustic guitar with the ProCaster vs the SM7b in this video I think I prefer the ProCaster . When adding a pop shield to the Rode ProCaster it might also get really close to the SM7b for speech.
I've got a dilemma on which xlr mic to get under £100 (≈$124) im stuck on getting the akg P120, AT2020, Blue Ember or the Behringer b1. Could you do a Versus series on them? Great job on all your vids been watching since 2017 :)
The original SM7 has much warmer (or richer?) sound compared to the SM7b. Am I the only one? To be completely honest, I'm wearing beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro headphones directly plugged into the AUX input of my PC. Not sure if an audio interface would make much of a difference but I currently don't have access to one (in the middle of moving atm).
Thanks for doing this video. There is something I liked about the SM7, but I could see myself feeling the same way as you if I was actually using it, but would be a nice alternative to have but doubt I would get one unless it was a pretty good deal! The SM7B is one of my favorite's for Rock/Punk/Metal Vox, if it suits the singer of course! Hey, did you feel there was much difference between the US/MEX SM7? Cheers
The sounds of the US/MEX sm7 was there, but far less significant. The issue with these comparisons is, I don’t know what the heck the previous owners did to them, so it may not be a fair comparison really. But given that I wasn’t alive and didn’t buy an SM7 in 1973, I can’t be sure that the mic was treated properly or nothing is wrong. Once I get the Mexican made sm7 mount fixed up, I’ll go ahead and do a comparison between the American made and Mexican made.
Great video, man. Now it would be really nice if you could make a comparison between a modern U87ai and an U87 from the 70's. It would be very expensive also hahaha
I wonder how much of the difference is just natural manufacturing variation? There's also the changes that time would make to any microphone. I mean, the SM7 is almost 50 years old. Also, isn't the foam windscreen different? Couldn't that alone account for the change?
Yes. All of these are factors that can and do contribute to this. Manufacturing changes over time. Material degradation over time. Different models of microphones as well. The foam was replaced with modern foam so that should be identical.
In my opinion I 100% agree from a frequency response perspective with mixing and mastering in mind coming from the makers at Sure, they really did improve what was already there although they both can get any job done just in minor different ways. Great video analysis.
Very interesting. I have a 58, some day I ant a SM7B.for solid voice overs. Now to get a decent interface. MOTU M4... or... have you tried out the Roland VT-4 voice transformer for live vocoding? Any news if it’s dry/clean setting is decent enough for voice over work with 58 or later a SM7B? Your videos on audio gear is the best.. and just as importantly consistent from mic to mic to mic. Much appreciated. Thank you.
I noticed the high end difference only when you got to the electric guitar and acoustic tbh. The filters also seem ot be bit a more prominent on the newer model in your comparison.
Are you sure you did not get them mixed up? The 7b sounded brighter and more harsh to me. The 7 sounded smoother and more rounded. Also, the yoke can be turned around. The used 7 you had probably was flipped around by someone. The only real change is that the B has a plate that you can screw onto the back that blocks anyone from getting to the switches. Something radio engineers liked from DJ's messing with them. "B", meaning for Broadcast. And the other changes are different production of the internal components, most notably the internal transformer is likely much more different. The main element might also be slightly different.
Top quality comparison! And if you
hit the thumbs down 👎🏼 you live with your parents and have a small wee wee.
I live with my parents and have a small wee wee but I still hit the thumbs up 👍
OMG ! That’s Hilarious 🤣
Hahahaha! Awesome. (Quickly discreetly undoing my thumbs down lol). I agree, great comparison.
@@NaaimSiddiqi Oh my god that's hilarious! You get a thumbs up from me!
Jajajajaj
"Now I am talking into the Shure SM7 which costs,.... I don't want to talk about it"
Nice
$1,120 on reverb lol
His wallet is in horror whenever he mentions the sm7
reverb.com/p/shure-sm7
Money money yeah yeah
@@iandaviesmusic $699 on ebay almost mint condition
The SM7 sounds amazing wtf
Yeah🤣
As a studio guitarist, that electric part made me smile
agreed.
yeah the sm7 sounds better im my opinion
@@marcotomaselliart yeah for thousands of dollars
Microphon-a-holic. I understand. I'm with you. Good job as always.
Me too, ...
Same here
Micaholic😎
Shure mics really _are_ built to last.
Built to last, and built to beat intruders to death.
@@Podcastage The 57 may as well be a billy club lol
Wow, I can't believe how the SM7 does a much better job at rejecting noise coming from behind. And also it sounds much better in my opinion, but I wouldn't spend that much money on a used microphone almost 50 years old. Great review as always!
Definitely the Sm7. Why don't they just make it the SAME.
I just want to say that I appreciate how much work you put into these videos to make these comparisons so ripe with information.... just for me to listen to them with my phone speakers.
I think I prefer the SM7. The SM7b definitely has a darker tone to it. The SM7 seems to have more clarity in the high-end.
Have to agree with you there.
I guess that would be an effect of the humbucking coil, it's a typical sideeffect on guitar pickups as well. But live sometime you can't have the noise that non-humbucking pickups deliver (RF and staglights can be bad). FWIW. Sometimes the highend rolloff can work on the poitive side.
Christian Boddum I hadn’t considered that but that is super interesting. That made me think of a Strat and a Les Paul. Of course the density of the body affects it but also the twanginess of the strat from the single coils and the thickness and darker sound of the Les Paul with the humbuckers.
@@Podcastage I generally don't like vintage correct Strat pickups, they are just too bright and they hum badly, so i opt for DiMarzio HS-2s that are humcancelling, which fare better with high gain plus the tone is a little fatter,which I like, and there is ZERO hum ;-) Actually I've practiced no hum in my guitar for years, so whatever guitar I pick up, I know I will not have to take hum in to the consideration when I choose a guitar. FWIW. Thanks for all the great videos :-)
Agree! also I agree with @RyanVickers I always thought that the 7B was way overrated, and kept wondering why, I only knew that couple of famous used it, like Michael Jackson for Beat it, and it was making no sense to me cause the 7B is way dark, (I've never heard a SM7 before)and hearing this comparison, the SM7 sounds waaaay better, and the 7B is just getting the love that the SM7 had, even though they don't sound alike, the 7B sound cheap by side to the SM7, in all aspects, and it is most noticed when the filters were ON, in the 7B the filters sound unnatural, as in the SM7 they sounded really good. Now with that one, I understood a bit why people love so much the 7B, is because the SM7 was good.
You can really hear the 70s when that sm7 comes on in the guitar demos
Yessir! That is due to the fact the sm7 had a modified capsule that was used in the sm57 and sm58. With the new humbucking coil of the sm7b causes it to be a bit darker. The sm57 was a preferred mic for micing amps by studio engineers at the time and even modern day!
Wow
Sounds amazing for a 1973 mic
A lot of great audio hardware came before the year 2000
I mean, the original U47s and C12s are even older...
Majority of equipment is from the mid 60s and before
The amazing world of analog recording.
Sound is simple. It's waves. Mic and speaker technology is simple. They function like your ear.
One does not simply innovate the concept of that. The sound of a great microphone or speaker will always come down to the same things.
Wow I loved the sound of the SM7 for both guitars. On the electric it just sounded so "dirty", it really let that distortion shine. And the acoustic was beautiful. If I ever record something on guitar I know what mic to ask for.
I really appreciate you showing the instrumental parts. My ear is much better tuned to picking up differences in instrument sounds than voices, and these comparisons make it very clear. Thank you for your work!
There's this OCD part of me that freaking loves watching and listening to you compare tiny minute differences between pretty much identical microphones.
I don't even need a new mic (totally happy with the SM7B, and I was totally happy with the sm57 I had before that).
I come here for the mind tingling indulgence of my OCD side, thanks for going as far in depth as you go in these comparison reviews.
Bloody hell that mic is as old as me lol.
Haha, it's the same age as my dad, I'm 20 next month.
welp this looks like your regular family reunion
It's 32 years older than me lol
that thing’s older than my dad lmao
I got a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar lens for my DSLR, that was made in the early 60s. Recently, I showed it to my girlfriend, telling her "this thing is older than you and me together". She was awed by that.
I really really love your show man. You cut straight to the point and your tests are so effective but you’re still entertaining and informative! Plus the ways you’ve split your videos up is really helpful! My go to when I’m looking at a new mic ❤️✨
Man the old guy really biffs a guitar tone for some reason. Great video!
Thanks so much fluff.
This was fascinating. Would love to see more old vs new comparisons just to see what has changed over the years. The RE20 would be an interesting one for this type of video.
i actually have a "vintage" RE20, while i haven't A/B tested it there isnt a noticeable difference. the only difference ive noticed is a small build change, like reeeeaaally small. the roll-off switch was changed in the way it looks. seriously, (that's all i've noticed, there could be more but i doubt it.)
I also noticed that the SM7B's filter switches sounded significantly more effective than the ones on the SM7. I'm not sure if that's just something that could be attributed to the age of the older microphone, or if that's an actual functional difference, but it stood out to me during the test.
great video man
I love your reviews man. They are clear and concise! I have the new SM7B and it was very cool to hear the comparison between that and the original model. I immediately heard the top end in the original. Definitely a fan of the new 2020 version. Thanks!
50 años y se sigue escuchando igual de bien que su versión actual, increíble la calidad de los micrófonos de hace decadas
I'm not sure how the original SM7 shipped initially, but the mount is reversible, you can flip it around depending on use (front to back (as you were discussing), but also to either side to make the switches on the back orientated correctly depending on use). Just be careful when you undo the sides, there's a bunch of easy to drop washers.
So what you’re saying is that the SM7 is a Stratocaster and the SM7B is a Les Paul. Whenever you add a coil (to buck the hum) you completely change the sound. I needed this content. Great work homie!
What a nice video. Tech evolves so fast, it's nice to have a look into the past and just appreciate the beginnings of stuff.
Hey Sir, I don't know if this fits into your channel but there is this new thing calles RTX Voice and a video from you on how it works and how effective it really is would be nice bro, love your content keep up the good work
He talked about it on his podcast.
He probably can't use it cause he is a Apple sheep mac peasant.
Ryan Lennox-Bradley may be an Apple sheep but 90% of the music you enjoy was made on them ❤️
@@Maradnus nahh most done on fl studio. Pc's are powerhouses compared to macs when it comes to price
@@Maradnus What are you on about? The worlds most popular recordings were probably done on an analogue console up until the 00's and 9/10 records today are surely not recorded on a cheese grater. You made that up.
But the apple sheep comment was ignorant, i'm with ya.
It would be interesting to compare the SM57 with thick wind protection and the vintage SM7.
I've always wondered about this comparison - thank you for doing this! I actually prefer the SM7b. I use it because it has that certain smooth character. That's one of the thing it does that others don't. I have other mics that can do the top end thing. Very interesting comparison.
Very surprising comparison! I recall Bruce Swedien, who used the original SM7 to record Michael Jackson, George Benson, and others, speaking emphatically about the difference between the two. To my ear, the original is definitely brighter and far more open, almost like a condenser.
It definitely has a more open sound to it. For me, I prefer the SM7b because it doesn’t have that 10kHz peak, so if you add a high shelf to it, you’re not also boosting this large 4-5dB peak as well. You’re boosting a more natural top end. But I can absolutely understand why someone would prefer the original SM7. I can say that I was quite shocked with how different they sounded.
@@Podcastage - Hey man. Love watching your stuff. I can't exactly speak too much about these ;), but here's a link to some photos of the actual SM7 used on the Thriller album (along with other SM7 variants used in a "shootout" in Shure's in-house studio). Thought it might be a fun FWIW... drive.google.com/open?id=1BZvUcbP0IMD7J7arCduzK4u9IyK0EPqS
Jeff Pelletier nice 👍
@@Jjf109nine - you're welcome
Podcastage Very true. I was also very surprised by the stark contrast in tone. I’d argue perhaps the original could fair better in a dense mix. Often I find that with my own 7B, this isn’t always the case without a cut at 5k, a subtle shelf boost at 7k, and a generous notch at 10k.
For recording guitar the SM7b sounds way better, i'm guessing it's because of the hum bucking coil
Glad you made this. I was always a little surprised that this was chosen over a good condensor for so many great recordings (not least M. Jackson.) Very warm sounding.....bit still a modified SM58, and I want one ! 🙂
Great video! Never have thought they would sound so different.
Amazing video! I actually didn't notice much of a difference at all when you were speaking into the mics, but there was definitely more of a shrill tone to the SM7 when you started playing guitar. I prefer the SM7B there.
Hey man, great videos. The XLR ports are reversible on both mics. The whole mounting bracket can be removed and flipped around to position the XLR on whichever side you prefer
I didn’t expect it to sound that much better. Even on my phone speakers it just had this clear musical color to it. Almost sounded more detailed too.
Yeah the original has much more top end to it, that's for sure. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@@Podcastage According to wgi I would say is the world's single most highly respected authority on microphones, Klause Heyne, modern microphones are just per definition bad compared to their old counterparts, and that there are no exceptions to this rule. The reason being that almost all parts (including capsules) for AKG, Sennheiser, Shure, Røde etc microphones are made in China with dirt cheap components that just doesn't do a great job. According to him the ONLY microphone manufacturer in the world currently that can produce high quality capsules are Neumann, but they suffer with not being able to make other important components of high quality. In fact, the reason Neumann came up with the TLM line of microphones, is not because of lower selfnoise, but becaue they didn't know how to make great transformers anymore, so they had to lower the quality of their microphones by not using a transformer... So building great - not good enough - microphones seems to truly be a dying art, and one we will likely never be able to revive. It simply costs too much to make high quality components for microphones, so even the super expensive 10.000 dollar modern Telefunken u47 will actually have the exact same 20 dollar Chinese capsule that for example AKG uses for their microphones. Sorry to be a debbie downer, but there really isn't any comparison musically between older and newer microphones. I think for podcasting, the new SM7b will work well enough, but for musical uses, it just doesn't have it, it's a bit too bland in my opinion.
Super interesting comparison.
I didn't expect the differences to be so significant. Thank you ✌🏼
Carsten - Thank you very much. I was surprised at the delta in performance as well. Also, the SM7 that I have is 50 years old so it has lived a full life, and anything could have happened to it since it was released. This is just the best that I can do. It would be awesome to get a fresh out of the box 1973 SM7 and compare it to the modern SM7b though. Maybe one day!
47 years old and still sounds like new. No doubts about Shure's build quality.
Interesting to hear how different they sound on electric guitar. On voice I couldn't tell much difference, but electric guitar was like two completely different mics. The new one definitely sounded _better_ , but I thought the old one sounded really cool too. Definitely some harsh frequencies in there, but with a little EQ it would be perfect for a song with a vintage vibe.
For singing voice i slightly prefer the SM7. I tend to find the SM7b doesn't have enough air in it and end up boosting around 7-8k just a tad, where as the SM7 models have the opposite problem and I have to bring down around 9-10k. I'd always prefer to bring something down in an EQ rather than bring something up. It's a minor thing, both do their job incredibly well. However, for recording pretty much anything else other than singing voice, I prefer the SM7b. For talking, guitars, percussion, string, brass, anything really. The SM7b is much more versatile and less needs to be done with it across the board.
This was super interesting and fun to watch/listen to the comparisons between the two. Very well said too. Thanks for sharing! 🤘
That Mexico version might be the best low key 🤔 sounded cleaner, warmer and smoother then the USA Sm7 to my ears
for electric guitar there was a hissy accent on the old model which wasn't super pleasant and the 7b is probably "safer" but for acoustic and spoken the 7b's mids sounded more cluttered while the old one sounded more transparent
Hey man, great detail and great video, nice easy comparisons, adn thorough, even the logo remark was helpful,
x
1973 huh? almost half a century old. I couldn't imagine the same model from so back in a day would sound so good. I couldn't decide between the two in the end. Both mics are great, although SM7 does sound v 1973 when it comes to electric guitar.
Overall amazing work, SHURE.
Thank you for the review, Bandrew!
1337 gamers approve SADW
Great, methodical, useful A/B comparison process. Thanks! In my monitoring environment, I actually preferred the sound of the acoustic guitar through the SM7B, which counters your assessment. I heard more presence and top-end clarity than in the original SM7 (not a lot, but noticeable). Given other comments that say the opposite about the two mics, I think it's important to keep in mind one's monitoring situation. And, since the mics sound relatively close to one another, not comparing apples to grapefruit, EQ adjustments may essentially make the differences moot.
Fantastic comparison. Thanks!
Started to like the 7, then thought the high frequency boost would become tiring: A) to listen to , and B) to smooth out on every track it’s used in an eq strip or plugin. I like the 7, but the 7b seems to do the job better.
Okay, best microphone comparison video I’ve heard. Great work.
well Podcastage, I understand firstly why you don't want to divulge the amount you spent for the 1973 version but my man, money well spent as this one sounds AMAZING .. so much more detail and warmth compared to the 2020 version. I get it... these days, they can't afford to make it like that, otherwise this sm7b would be around $1,200.00 in today's money. They did the best they could at Shure to copy the style form factor and character or essence of the mic but no dice compared to the original. What are you're thoughts ?
0:58 Didn't know there is a Neewer SM7B, yet. :D
Lol!
The grammar is actually correct there ;) I can see how you thought it to be weird though.
I’m blown away that the design is almost EXACTLY the same now as it was in 1973! Kind of cool honestly
Father and son
I still think the SM7B is kind of dull without the presence function engaged. This is a fantastic comparison. Great video!
Whenever someone mentions the SM7B (in TH-cam reviews etc) they mention that it was the mic used by Michael Jackson. That is FALSE. Bruce Swedien used the SM7 - not the SM7B, for Michael Jackson. As Bandrew's fine comparison video shows, they are two very different sounding microphones. Bruce Swedien said he liked the SM7 but NOT the SM7B.
Bruce recorded onto tape for most of his work with Michael Jackson. That further skews the picture when considering the two microphones today, recording onto digital, which doesn't roll-off the high frequences (and smoothens the transients) like tape does.
On the other hand, in the 70s, the SM7's increased high-end response might actually be somewhat closer to what an SM7B sounds like today, when recorded to a digital medium. So perhaps Shure did the right, logical thing by slightly attenuating the SM7B's high-end, when updating the SM7? Would make sense, in a world that has changed since the 70s tape-recording practices - and challenges of tape-noises, which meant enginers recorded hotter, and with more high-end boost onto tape, and then attenuating the high-end on the way off the tape, to reduce noise.
Not that it matters which mic someone else used for some other project, scenario (acoustics, etc) than yours. Each voice is unique, and the SM7 worked for Michael's. Irrelevant to anyone elses voice, really. And totally irrelevant when talking about the SM7B - a microphone that Michael Jackson did NOT use;)
Great comparison! The SM7B is on my list of mics to buy for my youtube and podcast! Thanks for the review!
This channel is great. Learn A LOT about mics with some of your videos (amongst others).
Can I suggest another battle, but now between audio interfaces?
How about the Mackie Onyx Producer 2.2, against the MOTU M2 and the ZOOM UAC-2.
with comments on their pre-amps, USB connections, and frequency/clarity.
P.S. I saw your review on the MOTU M2 and really wanted to see it up against other ones.
apologies if this was already mentioned, but you can spin the yoke around, at least on the 7B. It is removable.
I've been using a SM7b for 5 years for audiobook narration and love it. I engage the presence boost. And I use a Golden Age Pre-73 MK II preamp.
Hi, I'm António Filipe from Portugal
I follow your channel since 2018, I love the tone as you do your reviews.
I saw your review on the Motu M2 sound interface, the Shuer SM7B microphone with the Fethead applicator and ended up buying them.
I connected the Shuer SM7B microphone (+ the fethead) and my Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 250 headphones to the Motu M2 sound interface, installed the driver, and was able to record and listen to Adobe Audition, however when I'm not recording (and even recording) no sound comes out of the headphones.
What am I doing wrong?
Shouldn't sound come out of the headphones at the time of recording?
Thank you very much and continued success with your wonderful channel.
That was a great comparison! Thanks for making this one it helped make my purchase decision!
Enjoyed the vid. It was hands-down, the original 7 for me. It might be useful to present samples of a longer, more uniform length, with less back and forth. The length of the acoustic segment was nice. Also a clean electric gtr with a "classic" rig - one that everyone recognizes as "that sound" would be great for comparison. Appreciate your hard work.
I do have two of the SM 7 mics. Bought them at a discount, paid ~ $70.00 for each. Still have my SM 57 & Sm 58's still use them. I did notice that you were wearing Sony MDL 7506 head phones. They still have very good feel and response. I've bought them used on line for as little as $15.00, rebuilt them with replacement parts from a co. called Wang. Drivers, ear cushions and cables all available. So far, I have 10 pairs of them and have another 4 to fix. BTW, I'm retired and am the sound guy at the local senior center. Still love it. If you'd like, I could send you pix of the set up. Primitive as compared to today's standards but worked.
That music test should be an actual song. I love it for so much for some reason. lol I'm an SM7B owner thanks in part to you!
I know it's an "older" video, but the first part describing the differences regarding the XLR placement is just a result of flipping the mount, you will also see this affecting the orientation of the Shure logo on the back, and top of the microphone ;)
First off, this was an _EXCELLENT_ demo. Well done Mate. Instant sub. I've gotta say though, for me I preferred the sound of the SM7 for everything musical. Assuming money played no role in my decision making - If I were going to buy one of the two strictly for podcasting, radio and/or voice-over work, I'd go with the SM7b. For recording music though, I'd take the SM7. I like the added 10k top end. To me it provided clarity. Everything else was there and I find I prefer to have to peel frequencies away than try and add/boost them. The electric guitar to me also just sounded "classic." Which would perhaps make sense considering it's safe to assume a number of classic records were recorded with SM7's. It also sounded incredibly sweet on acoustic guitar. There was also something about the way it cancelled sound from the back and sides. It's not that it cancelled _more_ sound, it's something about the _way_ it cancelled sound/the tone (for lack of a better descriptor) of the "cancelled" sound that seemed to me like it would be less apparent on the SM7. That said, if I'm going to spend $1,100 to $1,600 on a microphone, it's not going to be on an SM7, so I'm going to buy an SM7b. Now if I were independently wealthy, certainly I'd go with the SM7. Not to mention an EMT 250 reverb to get the full _Thriller_ compliment going.
I will will agree but I high the clarity that the SM7 gives out with the vocals. For some people they need that and adding that little bit of clarity could change a whole lot in Vocals. But the SM7B does almost better in equalizing those frequencies which is also a win. But in all conclusive argument it's up to personal preference and what sounds better for a person's vocals. But even then the slightest change could have the biggest impact. And that's exactly what you've showed. Fantastic work my guy.
Well that sure cheered me up- as a 1973 teen I obsessed over Warehouse Sound catalogs and wanted a pair of SM7's but couldn't afford them- in 2020 with the new lower price I just knew it had to be a shadow of the original- I think it is finally time to order that elusive pair
i am in a pair of HD-6XX headphones (HD-650 remakes) out of an Avid mBox 3 Pro (through spdif) @32-bit 48k and in every single take the sm7 is "thicker" or "rounder" sounding than the sm7b. I checked with the same cans out of an iFi Zen DAC (cheaper but tuned/designed for these specific headphones) and it is less noticeable but still there. Either higher fidelity or a boost/coloration somewhere between 150-300 hz ...I own the newer one and i love it but I'm just sayin'. Listen for it and you may notice but i warn you, you can't unhear it...
You always have the best mic reviews. Excellent comparison between two great classics!
The 70's one sounds sooo sooo perfect...
With regards to the sm7b having the XLR Connection in the front... look at the directions it explains the microphone is packed set up for a overhead boom mic. You can change this by removing the yolk and turning it around and now the XLR connection will be in the back. If you read the directions carefully it will be easy to do
Can you do a video on the SM57 with the A81WS? Would like to hear it compared to the SM7b and the bare SM57
Nice demo! I prefer the SM7 for the reasons you said you liked it less :) But consistently when I use my SM7 (a lot) I don’t need to add high end to it on vocals when mixing. But I can be sibilant. I also often use the large foam cover. And it works great with tube mic preamps
Let’s go!!! I keep seeing these old ones listed online lately
The slaps at the end really... slapped. Loved that part.
One of the best comparison vids I've ever seen. Thank you! I hear you when you say the updated SM7B is smoother. It sounds even a little compressed, and de-essed. The SM7B reminds me of cameras that shoot with built-in filters and saturation, creating a smooth picture for those that don't (want to) edit. But what is lost is lost. There is no question that the vintage SM7 is clearer and brighter. NONE. The SM7 is likened to shooting on a flat raw format camera. It does require editing but you've preserved more color, and dynamic range. Conclusion: if you want a mic that needs less compression, de-esser, and EQ work, pick the modern SM7B. If you want to preserve details and have more autonomy in post-production... SM7. @podcastage Is that fair?
At the time the SM7B was intro'd tape recording tamed the high frequencies a bit, and I can easily see the original SM7's top-end being helpful in that context. The re-voicing happened before the transition to digital, but at a time when newer tape formulations had improved matters quite a bit.
The yoke can be reversed on both the 7 and 7b, so the placement of the XLR connector is probably something its owner did. Just unscrew the thumbscrews from each side and it comes right off. There are a pair of plastic bushings that sit in the center of each pivot and that are a pain to re-install, but you can do it by nudging with a jewelers' screwdriver until they seat. FWIW I use mine reversed like that when supported by a stand from below. The default configuration (as on your 7b in the video) works better when the mic is hung from a boom.
I want to like the SM7B more cause it's simply a good looking mic, and vintage SM7s are close to impossible to get hands on, but each time I
hear a well made comparison like this one, the B version turns me down: I'd expect that when processing vocals the SM7 takes compression much better, while the SM7B tends to get muddy? For vocals and acoustic guitar, the vintage SM7 to me is a clear winner. I guess these differences are more pronounced when using a better pre, as both mics deliver very low output levels.
Super excited to at long last see this test! I can easily listen to the b or the non b. Perhaps the b is better to listen to? I could also listen to the music tests all day. It you just had a channel of music test I'd listen to it. I'm also grateful that you continue and listen to your heart and chase your microphone passion. It's truly making the world much better to listen to.
Excellent video. I do hope one day you'll be able to review the Shure SM5B.
Personally, I think the SM7B was nicer to listen to on the instruments, and the SM7 was nicer to listen to on the vocals. Maybe it's just that I haven't listened to it enough and analyzed it, but the bottom end sounded fuller to me and the mic sounded more alive. On the instruments though, especially the electric guitar, it's was extremely harsh, and on the acoustic guitar I think the SM7B gives it a warmer color, which I prefer. Crazy to think that the SM7 series has been around for 47 years now. Great review!
When listening to the voice, I did not notice a significant difference, although the sound of 7b seemed more pleasant. On the electric guitar, the difference is huge. I even thought that it was a testing error, but I know that you treat the tests very carefully.
Yeah. I recorded them at the same time, and measured them on the X,Y,andZ axis to make sure they were the same. I thought the same thing initially as well. And triple checked the measurements.
Do you really need an equalizer for a mic like the SM7B or desser, gate, compressor, high pass filter etc. for a home studio podcasting, making recorded video content or live streaming? Or does proper mic technique make all that pointless?
You provide so much insight man, thank you!
Both sound great! Though I only hear a minor difference and can't say which one I prefer.
IMO it is definitely sounding superior on vocals, but for most of the electric guitar tones (except the first one and perhaps the lead) as well as the acoustic I preferred the 7B. Just shows you different mics are good in different situations!
Edit: actually SM7B wins on the first guitar tone but I really love how "80's hair metal" that lead sounded through the original.
The Mic must have been taken care of perfectly! It sounds amazing!
@Podcastage I just found your videos and I really enjoy watching u; and when you sing your songs; u got that Adam Sandler vide going for u 👍🏾😊
has audio just gotten as good as it can? Obviously there are some differences, but I don't see how it could get any better lol
Microphones are pretty damn great already yeah.
Just bought an SM7b after years of wanting one, and I can confirm it is very nice to listen to.
Excellent comparison! Thanks man!!!!
Comparing 2/ 3 microphones with each other.
I would love to see a comparison between the SM7b VS the Rode ProCaster VS the Rode ProCaster with a pop shield.
I have been listening to many comparison video's and feel that in general I like the SM7b just a little better, but when hearing your recording of the acoustic guitar with the ProCaster vs the SM7b in this video I think I prefer the ProCaster .
When adding a pop shield to the Rode ProCaster it might also get really close to the SM7b for speech.
I've got a dilemma on which xlr mic to get under £100 (≈$124) im stuck on getting the akg P120, AT2020, Blue Ember or the Behringer b1. Could you do a Versus series on them?
Great job on all your vids been watching since 2017 :)
The original SM7 has much warmer (or richer?) sound compared to the SM7b. Am I the only one? To be completely honest, I'm wearing beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro headphones directly plugged into the AUX input of my PC. Not sure if an audio interface would make much of a difference but I currently don't have access to one (in the middle of moving atm).
Thanks for doing this video. There is something I liked about the SM7, but I could see myself feeling the same way as you if I was actually using it, but would be a nice alternative to have but doubt I would get one unless it was a pretty good deal! The SM7B is one of my favorite's for Rock/Punk/Metal Vox, if it suits the singer of course! Hey, did you feel there was much difference between the US/MEX SM7? Cheers
The sounds of the US/MEX sm7 was there, but far less significant. The issue with these comparisons is, I don’t know what the heck the previous owners did to them, so it may not be a fair comparison really. But given that I wasn’t alive and didn’t buy an SM7 in 1973, I can’t be sure that the mic was treated properly or nothing is wrong. Once I get the Mexican made sm7 mount fixed up, I’ll go ahead and do a comparison between the American made and Mexican made.
Great video, man. Now it would be really nice if you could make a comparison between a modern U87ai and an U87 from the 70's. It would be very expensive also hahaha
I wonder how much of the difference is just natural manufacturing variation? There's also the changes that time would make to any microphone. I mean, the SM7 is almost 50 years old. Also, isn't the foam windscreen different? Couldn't that alone account for the change?
Yes. All of these are factors that can and do contribute to this. Manufacturing changes over time. Material degradation over time. Different models of microphones as well. The foam was replaced with modern foam so that should be identical.
Nice review! It's possible to flip the yoke around on the new one to make it like the old one if you want.
In my opinion I 100% agree from a frequency response perspective with mixing and mastering in mind coming from the makers at Sure, they really did improve what was already there although they both can get any job done just in minor different ways. Great video analysis.
Thanks so much for watching and for sharing your thoughts on it, I very much appreciate it.
Very interesting. I have a 58, some day I ant a SM7B.for solid voice overs. Now to get a decent interface. MOTU M4... or... have you tried out the Roland VT-4 voice transformer for live vocoding? Any news if it’s dry/clean setting is decent enough for voice over work with 58 or later a SM7B? Your videos on audio gear is the best.. and just as importantly consistent from mic to mic to mic. Much appreciated. Thank you.
We're using the SM7b with great results. Also getting a Rode NT1 to keep things interesting. Thanks for the video
I noticed the high end difference only when you got to the electric guitar and acoustic tbh. The filters also seem ot be bit a more prominent on the newer model in your comparison.
Are you sure you did not get them mixed up? The 7b sounded brighter and more harsh to me. The 7 sounded smoother and more rounded. Also, the yoke can be turned around. The used 7 you had probably was flipped around by someone. The only real change is that the B has a plate that you can screw onto the back that blocks anyone from getting to the switches. Something radio engineers liked from DJ's messing with them. "B", meaning for Broadcast. And the other changes are different production of the internal components, most notably the internal transformer is likely much more different. The main element might also be slightly different.