Howdy friends! If you happen to make your decision after this vid, these affiliate links help fund the channel :) Amazon: SM7B - amzn.to/3lL4REV SM57 - amzn.to/2P1pUXC SM58 - amzn.to/3fbPvI4 Sweetwater: SM7B - imp.i114863.net/QOx3A3 SM57 - imp.i114863.net/LPY3gM SM58 - imp.i114863.net/DVMzB2
The SM57 is such a sleeper mic. It's basically less nasaly than the SM58 and has a more focused proximity effect and crisper highs than the SM7B. Put a thicc windscreen on it, and it will sound identical to the SM7B. For $300 cheaper. And it sounds amazing. There's a reason the president has been using this mic for decades. That being said, I'd still happily use an SM7B, but thanks for pointing out that you can get very similar results with the 57, & 58. Keep spreading the gospel.
@@AudioHaze Definitely. Been using the 57 for literally everything and loving the results. It's also my main mic for streaming and talking videos etc. I love it so much, I haven't upgraded, even though our studio has other "better more expensive" mics, and a budget for new gear. I just keep coming back to this gem.
Agreed. I have the A81WS and it sounds amazing. Nicely tames the treble and just in case I do want to talk straight into it instead of off-axis, it's pretty much perfect at curbing plosives.
Holy shit. The 57 with the windscreen sounds leagues above the 7B. It sounds crisper, more present and real, more dynamic, less far away, evokes a little ASMR like they are right there next to you. Amazing. 58 is good, too, but more nasally.
Question: Would the 58 literally become the 57 if the disco ball was removed and the other black windscreen (on the 57) was just added to it? Would that remove the 58's "nasalliness"?
@@joey1160 Basically! The SM57 has a slightly higher boost at the 5k, which is why you're picking up on its presence, but beyond that and the grill, yeah they're basically the same mic :)
What you're responding to there is the 57 and 58's stronger presence boosts in the upper frequencies. It's important to realize that that's an _extremely_ subjective preference, that depends a lot on whose voice is being captured. If AudioHaze's voice was more sibilant you wouldn't be liking that so much. But that brings us to a more important point: Now that basically every conceivable signal chain has a decent parametric EQ, frequency response "tailoring" of that sort shouldn't be a reason to prefer one mic over another, because it can be added/undone/changed so easily . If you're going old school and recording straight to analog tape then mic voicing is a real concern, but otherwise you should be more concerned with other mic attributes like pattern, room response, transient response, off-axis coloration, etc. And in those respects the 57/58/7B are largely identical.
I own all three, and they’re all incredibly versatile. If I’m recording a voiceover, the 7B is my pick. If I’m recording a podcast, I’ll use the 7B and guests can use a 57/58 (I also feel more comfortable letting guests handle the SM58, it’s built like a tank). If I’m recording instruments, the 57 often gets the nod, but they’re all good. They each excel at something, and they’re all interchangeable without sacrificing very much.
Hello everyone! As pointed out by a viewer @MichaelW1980, there are far cheaper interfaces that could feasibly drive the SM7B to proper levels (not to mention by numbers on the Steinberg UR-RT2 were inaccurate, really wish manufacturers would be clearer about their preamp gain). Check out the MOTU M2 and Behringer UMC202HD, much cheaper interfaces without the need for external preamp gain from a cloudlifter. Please go read MichaelW1980's posts as well, he's done some extremely thorough research!
So for the 400 dollar microphone I have to spend even more money on a preamp to get the same levels of amplitude to match the cheaper microphones that, with an eq, sound the same to most people listening on non-monitor headphones/computer speakers/car speakers? What a sell.
Great comparison! You're so right about not needing a Cloudlifter. I tested it with my SM7b and a Mbox 2 mini. I made a recording of just room tone (at a level where I would normally record my voice) with and without the Cloudlifter, made the levels identical, cut them together and made one file out of it. I couldn't tell where one recording switched to the other, not even with professional headphones on. There was literally no difference.
I own all three of them (in fact I have four SM58s/Beta58s and four SM57s). I am a musician and amateur producer, not a podcaster or voice over guy, so I obviously use the 57s mostly on drums and guitars and the 58s for live vocal performances on stage. Yes, all three can sound pretty similar on vocals and can even be EQ‘d to match even more, but in the studio the SM7B has one major advantage at least for vocalists with a lack of mic technique: Just tell them to sing directly into the mic at close distance (and even touch the windshield or grill with their lips) and you will have a really consistant signal with minimal changes in the proximity effect. Additionally, I love the impact of the backward resonance chamber on lower male voices (like my own). I have used the SM7B with a vintage preamp (1073) for many recordings so far and only shortly I have discovered a mic that is somewhat a 7B on steroids: Austrian Audio‘s OC18/OC818 has a quite similar basic sound with the advantages of a condenser mic like better resolution and EQ response in the mix.
The SM7b was the first pro-grade mic I bought after considering several other options; on my voice, I love it. For travel, I pack up a 57 and the A81WS, and... yeah the results are so similar I wouldn't know which one I was talking into if you blindfolded me. The SM7b has a few features like the bass roll-off and the mid-boost that are interesting, and it looks really flippin' cool, but honestly people just starting out will be equally serviced by the 57 and a decent pop filter.
I actually preferred the 57 wind a windscreen than the sm7B and then the 58. Not sure if with a better preamp the sm7B wouldn't shine though cause it can be picky, but it was just a bit muddy in the low mids. The 57 just sounded much clearer, and the windscreen kind of softened up the 5-7K region.
I prefer the 57 on my voice too actually! I find the 7B and me sort of rumbly on my voice, I don't particularly think my voice needs the boosts the 7B provides.
With you on that. When I use an SM7b, I always wind up needing to do a low cut/high boost. 57 just kinda works without any fuss (as long as it's got a windscreen on it)
Listening with headphones I get why people like the SMB, it's warmer and kind of a little more elongated and even sounding, and it handled the increased volume beautifully I thought.
I roomed with Florence Henderson's and Phyllis Diller's live sound engineer and both ladies used as 57 exclusively. It is EQ'ed really well for an Alto voice like your singer's range. Very well done comparison video.
Hey this is the best video on TH-cam, you couldn't be more correct. By the way, I imagine the changes at the loud part were because your vocalist was cleverly using mic control, backing away from the mic for louder passages. Of course diminishing proximity effect, and of course reducing bass response thanks for the $300 💖
Really really appreciate this vid! Here I am all hype about to drop 700 on the 7B mic but then found out that you need a cloud lifter in order to make it sound louder. It just didn't make sense and sounded like an oxymoron lol. Came across this video and you just literally saved me so much money. Thanks mang 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I have the sm7b and you do not need a cloudlifter to use the sm7b. This is just false information. I have the sm7b and I've never used a cloudlifter or a preamp on this microphone and I get great signals.
This is the EXACT video that I needed to see right now. Now how often do people end up saying that after seeing a TH-cam video. Subscribing right away.
I’m glad I went to the sm7b. Worth the money and got it with everything just for half the amount you’d pay for a phone which is not expensive like everyone is freaking about! It is way better and has great noise cancellation which is why I got it.
For someone who's new and just wants to "look pro" there's the Behringer SL75C mic for $20 and the Shure A2WS windscreen for $15. The $65 saved on not getting the SM57 can be spent on a Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 and a mic stand+cable combo. It'll look and sound FAR more expensive than the roughly $100 it costs to build (partially due to the SL75C not having a coil). Using a Shure A81WS ($40) on the mic will sound even more similar to a SM7B, but will look worse and have a similarly low gain.
Are you sure you didn't mean the Behringer XM8500? That's definitely around 20 bucks, but the SL75C lists at around US$70. Meanwhile, new SM57s can be had on eBay for around 60 bucks, shipped. Or maybe you just know of somewhere to acquire the SL75C for 20 dollars?
@@milesian1 The SL75C retails around $20 before tax in europe (at least where I can get one), around $30 after tax and shipping. Still quite a bit cheaper than a used SM57.
The dinamic differences are probably due to the different takes. All these mics respond very linearly at singing volume, but singing in the exact same way at the exact same distance is hard af (specially when most of us are pretty used to singing with compressors)
also, you set your volumes to when he was singing very up close, and when you’re upclose to the sm7b, you’re actually a lot further away from the capsule than with the other 2 mics, so in the end, the sm7b was set way louder. When he got back a bit and that little capsule resession difference became less relevant in the grand scheme of things, the sm7b sounded a lot louder.
dang, the second time you mention dynamic differences (on the EQ-less take) you can actually hear how much more tense his voice is on the sm7b, no wonder it sounds louder.
bingo! was going to say the same. different takes will always skew the results. no performances going to be the same. Maybe if all three mics were recording the same vocal performance with the capsules lined up, and signals gain matched then the difference could be more accurately portrayed.. but nevertheless I think this vocalist did a good job in matching the takes.
Before you decide it's the moment and not so much the mic, remember that the bass end is attenuated _much_ more steeply on the 57 - it's already half as quiet @100Hz and twice as quiet @50Hz down into the sub region. Meanwhile, the upper presence /lowest air-bands are being hyped by the 57's relatively gigantic bump in the 5-7kHz region. This means that the exact same performance into both mics will sound more forward (yet also) and thin, breathier and more nasal through a 57.
Ok I decided to buy sm58 + pop filter. It doesn't necessary to spend more 200 to get sm7b. Thank you so much for making up my mind. You are an excellent youtuber.
sm7b sound is warmer, the dynamics are more consistent and the attacks and initial transients are way softer to me. it gives a nice round sound. is it enough to justify the 3x price difference? depends on what you value and its totally subjective.
In tests I have heard and in my experience with the Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen and SM57, a Cloudlifter really isn't necessary since the 2i2 3rd Gen has enough gain for all 3 microphones without introducing obnoxious noise, plus a Cloudlifter will only reduce 3 dB of noise anyway which is quite negligible. The advantage of the Cloudlifter however is having more room to set your gain just in case you do need it to be a little louder. I get quite usable levels. Max is actually too much gain and dialing it back a tad greatly reduces the noise and gets quite usable levels. Then again, the SM57 is also the most sensitive of the three.
actually I don't get these anti cloud lifter comments, sure you may no NEED it but I mean I personally don't have one but from what I've heard and saw from other videos they give 20 db of clean gain, so what's up with the comments saying it only reduce 3 db? I don't get it
tell me where to find the specifications of my 8i6 1st gen? Does he have the same boost? I took it for 50 dollars, I don’t think I can find a better one for that price
Great video!!! Thank you for being real with people. If you need a microphone to make you feel like your saying something important, what you’re saying is probably not that important.
The funny thing is I skipped to the end getting ready to laugh at how overhyped the SM7B is and walked away thinking it actually does sound way better. The other mics are great but the B just feels smoother and more full without sounding muddy. The 58 and 57 just sounded more thin. I'd pick them every time for live music just for their presence but in an intimate setting I felt the B was just miles ahead of the others.
Nice! We all have our preferences, I think if you don't like the added presence of the 57, and you don't want to EQ it out, than the 7b may be worth it!
Whether you need a Fethead depends on your gear : I needed one to drive the SM57... But a Behringer 202HD which has low noise preamps capable of driving the sm7b costs less than the Fethead (63€ against 68€)...
The sm7b is Rock and rolls microphone wayyy before the Internet lol. Gish was recorded on this countless others. If you record rock and roll music it's a must have
I searched for a review until I found one that I agree with. Confirmation bias, engaged! Seriously though, you're right, you can get two awesome mics for less than the "Internet Baby" (which is a good mic). I'm spending less on a condenser upgrade to get these two mics.
The predecessor to the SM7 was the SM5, which was primarily a boom mic for the movie industry. When you can find an SM5, they're usually more than $2K, and they always need their foam bodies replaced. BUT... take that foam off an SM5, and inside you find what is essentially an SM57.
Loving the videos. Every single of your videos I've watched has been approached in such a helpful manner. Really appreciate the hard work. I would love to learn more about software to use while recording/podcasting. Like I have no clue was software was used to EQ the mics in this video. Cheers!
He was using Ableton for EQ (That's his DAW: Digital Audio Workstation) - The program that lets you do anything and everything audio I believe he said he was using OBS to screen record/broadcast (OBS works easiest on Windows/Linux, for some reason Mac doesn't let you record audio and your screen simultaneously. There are workarounds for that, however). So you have your hardware: -Microphone (USB or XLR -- XLR needs an audio interface as a middle man for your sounds and computer) -Cables (in this case, XLR cables rather than USB) -Audio Interface (plug all your cables from mics/instruments into this, it will amplify and process the audio before sending it to your computer) -Computer -DAW (recording and audio engineering software. Ableton Live is a great place to start, or GarageBand if you have Mac) You can get a free Ableton Lite license with lots of diff audio gear. GarageBand is free w Apple stuff, and LogicProX is like Ableton for Mac, but a lot cheaper ($200). If you get Ableton Lite, you can upgrade to the middle-or-top-tier options for a greatly reduced price, as paying for an "upgrade" is much cheaper than buying it outright. Hopefully this wasn't overly remedial -- you just sounded kind of new to the scene, so hopefully this helped!
Look sir, I am beginning. I want to record my written poetry professionally. In which my line will go in high tone and will also come in low tone. Tell me such dynamic mic and audio interface. So that I can record and mix later. My room is not sound proof. My total budget is $300. But a shopkeeper told me that you cannot do recording with dynamic mic. Please tell me what should I do. Tell me such a mic and audio interface that I will not regret after buying.
57 for the win!!! 🎤... I never liked the SM7B that much and think it’s the most over hyped mic because everyone sees their fav artist and podcasters using it so they buy one too! Lol 😂
SM58 is an artist mic. The grill helps with plosives, but doesn't completely contain them, ant it's not meant to. It's for people with good vocal technique and mic technique. For people with bad technique (amateurs) one can buy an additional windscreen that'll ease that stuff up significantly. Then there's Beta 58A that's even more demanding of the artist because of it's pickup pattern, but the quality of sound you get in skillful hands is amazing. For unskilled handler, there are better options out there than 58 or beta 58A :)
Great video! I got the 57 for exactly this purpose with the screw on windscreen. Would you have the EQ settings to make it sound more like a 7b? Thanks!
You really sold me on the SM57, though I have a question. Do I need a Scarlett 18i20 for it to sound like a SM7B? I guess my main question is what do I need aside from a windscreen to accompany this microphone? (I intend to use it for streaming and the Blue Yeti is just not doing it for me.)
Great Video - and yes, the Microphones sound terrifyingly similar. Still, enough people will buy that microphone just for the looks. I for myself decided not wo drop the ~ 235 Euros premium on the SM7B - say - a Rode PSA-1 boom arm and got myself the BETA 58 instead with the Shure A55M Shockmount , the Shure A58WS Windshield and I will soon add a K&M 252 microphone stand, lowering the premium the SM7B would cost me to about 180 Euros. The Beta 58 destroyed the background noise rejection of the SM7B and at the same time sounded similar enough for me to just ditch the SM7B. I am - of course - fully aware of the different pickup pattern and of what I trade in for the improved background noise reduction. But after all, the SM7B would have been the worse microphone for my needs.
Glad you agree! :) I got a question after watching the video a second time: Where did you get the gain numbers of that interface from? I find it bothersome to not have an official source to begin with, but the sources I know are talking like 54-56dB of gain. Who’s invested into having „enough gain“ will not find that enough, compared to allegedly -60dB of output from the SM7B, even tho the UR22 MK2 - at least in gain alone can drive the SM7B just fine, while it’s gain actually peaks at 47-48dB. Also, Most people don’t use the microphone as intended (that is at way too big of a distance) and want to use an additional preamp because of that. You also might want to consider the self-noise, that whatever preamplifier produces. The Steinberg UR22 I mentioned earlier, while having enough gain to drive the SM7B, is way too noisy if almost cranked, as demanded by the SM7B for -20dB of signal strength, talking normally, I did a test with a 150 ohm dummy plug to get the noise of the impedance of a dynamic microphone alone, but with no signal going in. The self noise of the preamp peaked at -58dB. Repeating the same test with an additional connected at 40% of the gain to again reach a reasonable signal strength of -20dB talking normally, the self-noise reading with the 150 Ohm plug peaked at -71 dB. (Which by the way is a quiet as I got my room without actually soundtreating it.) And since both, the UR22 Mk II and the UR-RT2 come equipped with Yamaha D-Pre Preamplifiers. So even tho the UR-RT2 will likely have better results , probably because of binning, the Price alone doesn’t save you from self-noise. And by the way: There are 199USD Interfaces to drive the SM7B as well, such as the MOTU M2 and even The Behringer UMC202HD at 79USD can do it just fine, without an additional preamp. It’s a matter of both, using the microphone correctly and having not only enough, but enough CLEAN gain.
@@MichaelW.1980 Wow you did your research haha! I found the info using information from podcastage's site and sweet water but upon further inspection you're right, I misread the amount of gain posted on podcastage's review. Its frustrating that these manufacturers don't post these numbers as clearly as they could, its easy to get inaccurate information. I'm going to pin a post updating everyone about the MOTU interface and mentioning the cool stuff you brought up in this comment.
Haha - thank you! It's a topic I spend a lot of time in lately. I'm glad you found my comment useful! I like your videos - and I left you a follow - i'm looking forward for more!
I am not sure with all the people said u don’t need a cloudlifter but I bought one anyway out of curiosity and it made a big difference. I would have to sit really close the the mic without the lifter now I can back away and still record. I can also hear my lip smack now. I do have other mic to compare it to as I own several akg p420 and blue yeti. Reason I bought is because condensor too much ppp sss for rap vocal and rapper recommend this mic.
SM7B is gain hungry. The reason for using the Cloud Lifter is to avoid the THD ramp up in the top end of most potentiometers thus lowering the noise floor. If you’re not dealing with plosives, the better bet is getting the mic closer to the source. While the SMB is a great mic, the SM57 and 58 are definitely a better bang for the buck. I own three of each… so…😛
I need the singing part with a female voice! I felt like I actually preferred the SM57 but I've no idea if I'd feel the same way about my own voice. Good to know that I probably dont need to spend 400$ on a mic though xD
Do you mean background noise/sound? That doesn't change if you have one or three microphones. The sounds they pickup can amplify the effect (only if you do it wrong), but I would definitely use a multitrack recording for this, and only select the speaker at any given moment. The SM57 had a pretty wide cardioid pattern. There wil be quite some spillover from one speaker's microphone to the other (which is - at least: for me) not the same as background noise). But the tip I gave above eliminates that problem. I did record a few audio plays with up to 8 microphone in parallel in the same room (on a 8 track interface). It's just a matter of choising the correct tracks in the mix at the right time.
I just noticed there are naturally no plosives and sibilance in your voice or you mastered your voice to talk like that 😂 am I right or ? Your voice is one of the pleasing one to my ear that I've heard.
Wow, great info. Is there difference between the mics in the ability to mute out background noises? (besides using a gate). If even a little it might justify for me to get the more expensive option. That's the real reason for a dynamic mic for me in the first place.
I think the Sm7b definitely rejects more noise, thats true, but I would say the difference is fairly nominal. Both will do great at rejection, and if you EQ out the presence boost in the 57/58 the playing field is about even :)
Complete Audio-Newbie here: I am thinking about mixing the SM57 with my M-Audio M-Track Solo - however this "only" delivers "54dB" of gain at max - do you think I will still be fine? :) Thanks a lot!
If i wanna scream, :D would 57 still be okay? Also! Like since you put pop filter on sm57 to make it sm58. Wont it be the same if you remove the resonator cap/grill filter from the sm58 to turn it into sm57? You did do it but you didn't fully went into details Is there any differences or theres a reason we shouldnt do that?
Would you recommend sm57 for discord, zoom calls and video course recording? And can you recommend some beginner friendly input interface(below $300) to pair it with macbook air?
You, you definitely don’t need an SM7B unless you’re a professional in your field IMO. Once I got my 7B I was like wow…this doesn’t sound any different than my blue yeti 😭 I definitely fell for the TH-camr effect, seeing people using it everywhere and thinking “I need to have this” so I can be like them. Well, 2 years deep into having a 7B, I’m gonna retire it and get a 57. Cheaper, easier, smaller 🤷🏻♂️
Great video! I am buying a 57 right now and I'll buy a random windshield with it. If it is a bit large for the mic do you have any tips for handling it and recording vocals with it ? Do you think it will cause problems some unwanted noise maybe ?
I haven't had any issues with unwanted noise no! Basically all I do is shove it over the mic clips AND the mic, then it fits pretty snug. I must admit its not the most elegant set up though haha
Putting a windscreen on a sm57 is not going to make it sound like an sm7b that is Miss information. You can't really listen to what other people say about microphones microphones are a 100-percent personal choice because everybody's voice is different. But the sm7b stands alone and it's worth the $400 price. I have all three of these microphones and believe me the sm7b is worth every penny. But instead of listening to this guy on the video or listening to me go try 1 out and see for yourself.
@@DonaldMerrit Well to be fair not everyone has a chance to just try them out which is why people spend hours comparing with these types of videos. Though I agree that results you get amount to different factors, your gear and setup, environment, personal preference and use case. In this video I preferred the 57 or 58, but the results were close enough that it'd be hard to justify the $400 at least for my current needs and I do need/want two mics anyway. Maybe in person I'd think different though. Also I don't think anyone said a 57 with a windscreen would sound like a 7b
Hey! Great videos man! I'm so happy I got to discover your channel as it's helping me so much in choosing my first mic and additionally I'm learning a lot about sound. At first I was thinking about NT1 or SM7B, but after looking some more and watching your vids I guess I should go with SM57. My room is untreated and as much as I would love to go for NT1, I see my environment as a potential bottleneck for a condenser. I just have one question: What arm were you using in your video, or what boom arm do you recommend for an SM57? I bet they vary as the price range between them is quite big on the market.
I'm glad I could help! Seriously your words mean a lot I appreciate it. In terms of boom arm, I wouldn't recommend mine. It's some off brand one I got at a music store here in Spain, and its pretty awful. With the SM7B I have to duct tape it in place to prevent it from swiveling haha. Luckily the SM57 is not picky. If you're planning on using it to record guitar, make sure you get a floor mounted stand, I would say one with three legs rather than a baseplate, this is for improved stability and less surface area on the ground to pick up vibrations. Plus those desk mounted ones can get hella expensive for no good reason! Something like this: amzn.to/3drn7At (Also this is an affiliate link just so you know!)
@@AudioHaze Thank you for your response! The thing is, I'm planning on using it for various things like recording vocals, guitars and a spoken word for livestreaming. Thus I was thinking about getting a desk stand. I'm not excluding a floor mounted one (I'm probably gonna get both eventually) but I think desk stand sounds like a convenient choice for my current needs. Though I'm curious, if any stand is let's say - compatibile with any mic. What I mean is will it fit with all the screws stuff or do I need an adapter of some sort. I'm completely just off the boat with this, but don't want to mess anything up.
@@aaron_cros Typically there are two screw sizes (3/8" and 5/8"), and most mic stands should come with an adapter that'll get you covered, watch out though because those buggers get lost so easily. I don't have any solid recommendations for desk stands but I'm sure anything above the $15 range would work okay for the time being!
Using Shure SM57 is not a cheap but the right term is cost effective which is quality that we need for all around microphone than its other design but almost same output with a little bit differences.
I've chosen 3 random videos of yours today, because I liked your overall vibe in the first one. All three are you making this exact argument for the 57 and 58 over the 7B. I imagine the 57 and 58 are somehow lobbyists against the 7B. They hate the 7B. They feel small beside it and they think, much like you do that THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH. They've given you money to spread this feeling far and wide. You _must_ make the point monthly or they take away their financial support. I don't blame you.
Isn't louder low-end exactly what you don't want in an untreated room that builds up low frequencies? Or maybe the SM7B rejects those and lets you retain good lows even in a bad room?
_Unidyne to the rescue._ I think the SM55 was the first one in this family. It started in the 1940s but all of the SMs are Unidyne lineage - and the 57 used to be called a "Unidyne III" in the '70s. Suppressing feedback in early mic tech (while also improving response) was a major deal, and top priority for any stage mic. UNI= unidirectional, single-element (and so also uniphase) + DYN = heavy dynamic capsule, high SPL limit and increased proximity fx in exchange for decreased sensitivity (vs a ribbon or condenser) and so a lower tendency of adding feedback and other stray signals.
Interesting. Thanks a lot. I have a music background but still fell for the marketing because i never spend time on research various capsules. An SM58 was my first mic ever.. then went with various studio mics with different characteristics. I never got "that sound" in my voice overs later (stopped singing, only broadcast then). I know i could enhance any mic to a point using EQs etc.. but sometimes i don't have the option to load VSTs before the recording software so i hope the SM7 is kinda like a preset that "just delivers" without any extras. Plug and play. I am going to test it now for a 2 weeks and see how it goes, but i will also order the SM57 (LC?).. but i fear i will miss that bottom end from the back chamber of the SM7B chassis. Hmm.. decisions, decisions.
Yeah, the boom-factor could be lacking slightly, but if you have any time in post processing to add it back using and EQ, its a super easy fix. Regardless, their sonic signatures are very similar anyways. Good luck dude! Hope the sm7 works out for you
@@AudioHaze First impressions are mixed. My old (and tiny) Yamaha Audiogram 3 interface had the perfect gain and sound. Then connected it to my main setup with PreSonus Studio 1824c but the volume was too low. Had to add another vocal specific mic preamp which had a boost feature. At this much gain i am now hearing a constant high pitch noise starting at 10k Hz. I could filter out most spikes (about 15 of them) in the DAW using a multiband EQ, however the best "fix" was to simply use "RX7 Spectral Denoise" and cancel the entire noise floor. Now using Voicemeeter Banana with Cantible Lite (Vst host) as InsertFX to get this combo running systemwide - for chatting and such, which is fine i guess.. But it feels pretty dumb i have to use this many workarounds considering the price so that think now about just getting the MV7 which comes with its own software out of the box - for ease of use. So much for "plug & play" i had hoped for :-)
I'm watching this video The 3rd time, can you help me to choose which one is better for rap vocals, the sm57 with a Pop filter or sm58? Really confused
Hi AudioHaze. I am looking at getting a microphone for my home recording stuff. My room is a bit noisy, and I plan on getting the Behringer Uphoria UMC-22 with it. Which would you think is better for vocals? Both spoken word and singing/harsh vocals. The 57 or the 58? And do I need a Fethead or Cloudlifter for that? Awesome work in your videos :)
You shouldn't need a cloudlifter for either! Definitely hold off until you've tested, the Behringer interfaces actually have a tone of gain I'm pretty sure. I personally would go with the 57 for its flexibility, but you'll get a similar result with either. If you production is primarily vocal related, the 58 may take the edge :)
Honestly the 57 would probably be considered more nasal if not just because the pop filter of the 58 prevents you from accentuating that high end too much. If you take that grill off they'd be about the same. and thanks dude!
@@AudioHaze So the frequencies that boost that "nasality" are the high end?? I'm really interested to know that bc i want to avoid that natural aspect of my voice :(
Howdy friends! If you happen to make your decision after this vid, these affiliate links help fund the channel :)
Amazon:
SM7B - amzn.to/3lL4REV
SM57 - amzn.to/2P1pUXC
SM58 - amzn.to/3fbPvI4
Sweetwater:
SM7B - imp.i114863.net/QOx3A3
SM57 - imp.i114863.net/LPY3gM
SM58 - imp.i114863.net/DVMzB2
The SM57 is such a sleeper mic. It's basically less nasaly than the SM58 and has a more focused proximity effect and crisper highs than the SM7B. Put a thicc windscreen on it, and it will sound identical to the SM7B. For $300 cheaper. And it sounds amazing. There's a reason the president has been using this mic for decades. That being said, I'd still happily use an SM7B, but thanks for pointing out that you can get very similar results with the 57, & 58. Keep spreading the gospel.
Yes glad you enjoyed it! I too would love an SM7B but I think more people need to know its not necessary!
@@AudioHaze Definitely. Been using the 57 for literally everything and loving the results. It's also my main mic for streaming and talking videos etc. I love it so much, I haven't upgraded, even though our studio has other "better more expensive" mics, and a budget for new gear. I just keep coming back to this gem.
Agreed. I have the A81WS and it sounds amazing. Nicely tames the treble and just in case I do want to talk straight into it instead of off-axis, it's pretty much perfect at curbing plosives.
Yeah. And ask any pro audio engineer and he/she will praise the SM57 as a great cheap mic for many uses
The SM57 and the 58 have been industry standards since they were first introduced they’re everywhere
Holy shit. The 57 with the windscreen sounds leagues above the 7B. It sounds crisper, more present and real, more dynamic, less far away, evokes a little ASMR like they are right there next to you. Amazing. 58 is good, too, but more nasally.
Question: Would the 58 literally become the 57 if the disco ball was removed and the other black windscreen (on the 57) was just added to it? Would that remove the 58's "nasalliness"?
@@joey1160 Basically! The SM57 has a slightly higher boost at the 5k, which is why you're picking up on its presence, but beyond that and the grill, yeah they're basically the same mic :)
No it doesn’t 🙄
What you're responding to there is the 57 and 58's stronger presence boosts in the upper frequencies. It's important to realize that that's an _extremely_ subjective preference, that depends a lot on whose voice is being captured. If AudioHaze's voice was more sibilant you wouldn't be liking that so much.
But that brings us to a more important point: Now that basically every conceivable signal chain has a decent parametric EQ, frequency response "tailoring" of that sort shouldn't be a reason to prefer one mic over another, because it can be added/undone/changed so easily . If you're going old school and recording straight to analog tape then mic voicing is a real concern, but otherwise you should be more concerned with other mic attributes like pattern, room response, transient response, off-axis coloration, etc. And in those respects the 57/58/7B are largely identical.
The SM57 with a windscreen 😍
haha yesss, the 57 does it all!!
I own all three, and they’re all incredibly versatile. If I’m recording a voiceover, the 7B is my pick. If I’m recording a podcast, I’ll use the 7B and guests can use a 57/58 (I also feel more comfortable letting guests handle the SM58, it’s built like a tank). If I’m recording instruments, the 57 often gets the nod, but they’re all good. They each excel at something, and they’re all interchangeable without sacrificing very much.
Hello everyone! As pointed out by a viewer @MichaelW1980, there are far cheaper interfaces that could feasibly drive the SM7B to proper levels (not to mention by numbers on the Steinberg UR-RT2 were inaccurate, really wish manufacturers would be clearer about their preamp gain). Check out the MOTU M2 and Behringer UMC202HD, much cheaper interfaces without the need for external preamp gain from a cloudlifter. Please go read MichaelW1980's posts as well, he's done some extremely thorough research!
So for the 400 dollar microphone I have to spend even more money on a preamp to get the same levels of amplitude to match the cheaper microphones that, with an eq, sound the same to most people listening on non-monitor headphones/computer speakers/car speakers?
What a sell.
Great comparison! You're so right about not needing a Cloudlifter. I tested it with my SM7b and a Mbox 2 mini. I made a recording of just room tone (at a level where I would normally record my voice) with and without the Cloudlifter, made the levels identical, cut them together and made one file out of it. I couldn't tell where one recording switched to the other, not even with professional headphones on. There was literally no difference.
Wow that’s awesome, you should post that, that would make some really compelling content on the matter :) also thanks for the kind words dude!
I own all three of them (in fact I have four SM58s/Beta58s and four SM57s). I am a musician and amateur producer, not a podcaster or voice over guy, so I obviously use the 57s mostly on drums and guitars and the 58s for live vocal performances on stage. Yes, all three can sound pretty similar on vocals and can even be EQ‘d to match even more, but in the studio the SM7B has one major advantage at least for vocalists with a lack of mic technique: Just tell them to sing directly into the mic at close distance (and even touch the windshield or grill with their lips) and you will have a really consistant signal with minimal changes in the proximity effect. Additionally, I love the impact of the backward resonance chamber on lower male voices (like my own). I have used the SM7B with a vintage preamp (1073) for many recordings so far and only shortly I have discovered a mic that is somewhat a 7B on steroids: Austrian Audio‘s OC18/OC818 has a quite similar basic sound with the advantages of a condenser mic like better resolution and EQ response in the mix.
The SM7b was the first pro-grade mic I bought after considering several other options; on my voice, I love it. For travel, I pack up a 57 and the A81WS, and... yeah the results are so similar I wouldn't know which one I was talking into if you blindfolded me. The SM7b has a few features like the bass roll-off and the mid-boost that are interesting, and it looks really flippin' cool, but honestly people just starting out will be equally serviced by the 57 and a decent pop filter.
Couldn’t have set it better myself :)
I actually preferred the 57 wind a windscreen than the sm7B and then the 58.
Not sure if with a better preamp the sm7B wouldn't shine though cause it can be picky, but it was just a bit muddy in the low mids.
The 57 just sounded much clearer, and the windscreen kind of softened up the 5-7K region.
I prefer the 57 on my voice too actually! I find the 7B and me sort of rumbly on my voice, I don't particularly think my voice needs the boosts the 7B provides.
With you on that. When I use an SM7b, I always wind up needing to do a low cut/high boost. 57 just kinda works without any fuss (as long as it's got a windscreen on it)
Listening with headphones I get why people like the SMB, it's warmer and kind of a little more elongated and even sounding, and it handled the increased volume beautifully I thought.
Nice! It’s definitely warm, dark, but also brings that warmth with it as well
I roomed with Florence Henderson's and Phyllis Diller's live sound engineer and both ladies used as 57 exclusively. It is EQ'ed really well for an Alto voice like your singer's range. Very well done comparison video.
I love your channel, that "amateur consumer" aproach is fantastic
Hey this is the best video on TH-cam, you couldn't be more correct.
By the way, I imagine the changes at the loud part were because your vocalist was cleverly using mic control, backing away from the mic for louder passages. Of course diminishing proximity effect, and of course reducing bass response
thanks for the $300 💖
sm57 with pop filter is literally sm7b at a very cheap price...I have always preferred sm57 instead of 58 for vocals
I kept replaying the singing part. The song is so pretty ;-;
I'll let him know :) Ethan is in a bunch of demos on the channel!
Really really appreciate this vid! Here I am all hype about to drop 700 on the 7B mic but then found out that you need a cloud lifter in order to make it sound louder. It just didn't make sense and sounded like an oxymoron lol. Came across this video and you just literally saved me so much money. Thanks mang 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
So glad I could help my dude!! Happy recording :)
I have the sm7b and you do not need a cloudlifter to use the sm7b. This is just false information. I have the sm7b and I've never used a cloudlifter or a preamp on this microphone and I get great signals.
I'm glad you pointed out the artifacts. I thought I heard them, and you confirmed it.
This is the EXACT video that I needed to see right now. Now how often do people end up saying that after seeing a TH-cam video. Subscribing right away.
I’m glad I went to the sm7b. Worth the money and got it with everything just for half the amount you’d pay for a phone which is not expensive like everyone is freaking about!
It is way better and has great noise cancellation which is why I got it.
For someone who's new and just wants to "look pro" there's the Behringer SL75C mic for $20 and the Shure A2WS windscreen for $15.
The $65 saved on not getting the SM57 can be spent on a Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 and a mic stand+cable combo.
It'll look and sound FAR more expensive than the roughly $100 it costs to build (partially due to the SL75C not having a coil).
Using a Shure A81WS ($40) on the mic will sound even more similar to a SM7B, but will look worse and have a similarly low gain.
Really good recommendations!!
Are you sure you didn't mean the Behringer XM8500? That's definitely around 20 bucks, but the SL75C lists at around US$70. Meanwhile, new SM57s can be had on eBay for around 60 bucks, shipped. Or maybe you just know of somewhere to acquire the SL75C for 20 dollars?
@@milesian1 The SL75C retails around $20 before tax in europe (at least where I can get one), around $30 after tax and shipping.
Still quite a bit cheaper than a used SM57.
@@MetroidChild That’s interesting to know about the discrepancy in pricing between markets.
The dinamic differences are probably due to the different takes. All these mics respond very linearly at singing volume, but singing in the exact same way at the exact same distance is hard af (specially when most of us are pretty used to singing with compressors)
also, you set your volumes to when he was singing very up close, and when you’re upclose to the sm7b, you’re actually a lot further away from the capsule than with the other 2 mics, so in the end, the sm7b was set way louder. When he got back a bit and that little capsule resession difference became less relevant in the grand scheme of things, the sm7b sounded a lot louder.
dang, the second time you mention dynamic differences (on the EQ-less take) you can actually hear how much more tense his voice is on the sm7b, no wonder it sounds louder.
bingo! was going to say the same. different takes will always skew the results. no performances going to be the same. Maybe if all three mics were recording the same vocal performance with the capsules lined up, and signals gain matched then the difference could be more accurately portrayed.. but nevertheless I think this vocalist did a good job in matching the takes.
Before you decide it's the moment and not so much the mic, remember that the bass end is attenuated _much_ more steeply on the 57 - it's already half as quiet @100Hz and twice as quiet @50Hz down into the sub region.
Meanwhile, the upper presence /lowest air-bands are being hyped by the 57's relatively gigantic bump in the 5-7kHz region.
This means that the exact same performance into both mics will sound more forward (yet also) and thin, breathier and more nasal through a 57.
Ok I decided to buy sm58 + pop filter. It doesn't necessary to spend more 200 to get sm7b. Thank you so much for making up my mind. You are an excellent youtuber.
Thank you for saying that! Happy recording my friend :)
sm7b sound is warmer, the dynamics are more consistent and the attacks and initial transients are way softer to me. it gives a nice round sound. is it enough to justify the 3x price difference? depends on what you value and its totally subjective.
indeed, not many people noticed that
In tests I have heard and in my experience with the Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen and SM57, a Cloudlifter really isn't necessary since the 2i2 3rd Gen has enough gain for all 3 microphones without introducing obnoxious noise, plus a Cloudlifter will only reduce 3 dB of noise anyway which is quite negligible. The advantage of the Cloudlifter however is having more room to set your gain just in case you do need it to be a little louder. I get quite usable levels. Max is actually too much gain and dialing it back a tad greatly reduces the noise and gets quite usable levels. Then again, the SM57 is also the most sensitive of the three.
Yeah, the cloudlifter is a nice addition but its too often marketing as an absolute necessity, which is not true in many cases
actually I don't get these anti cloud lifter comments, sure you may no NEED it but I mean I personally don't have one but from what I've heard and saw from other videos they give 20 db of clean gain, so what's up with the comments saying it only reduce 3 db? I don't get it
tell me where to find the specifications of my 8i6 1st gen? Does he have the same boost? I took it for 50 dollars, I don’t think I can find a better one for that price
Great video!!! Thank you for being real with people.
If you need a microphone to make you feel like your saying something important, what you’re saying is probably not that important.
According to Shure, the SM57 and SM58 are the SAME. According to Shure, the SM7b is based off the same capsule.
I bought a 57 for home use and thought it wasn't right for me then I realized I can't sing
Damn rip :(
Well jokes on you! My SM7B is shipping this month...
Damn you make so much sense. I should just get the sm58, but I still want the sm7b. I’m such a sucker. Lol! Thanks for another great video.
I get it haha, did the same thing with the RE20
The funny thing is I skipped to the end getting ready to laugh at how overhyped the SM7B is and walked away thinking it actually does sound way better. The other mics are great but the B just feels smoother and more full without sounding muddy. The 58 and 57 just sounded more thin. I'd pick them every time for live music just for their presence but in an intimate setting I felt the B was just miles ahead of the others.
Nice! We all have our preferences, I think if you don't like the added presence of the 57, and you don't want to EQ it out, than the 7b may be worth it!
I appreciate your breakdown on these mics! Good vid
Thanks dude! Appreciate it :)
You got my sub. Talking the details others need to hear!
Thanks dude! Appreciate the kind words :)
Whether you need a Fethead depends on your gear : I needed one to drive the SM57...
But a Behringer 202HD which has low noise preamps capable of driving the sm7b costs less than the Fethead (63€ against 68€)...
totally true! Many different solutions :)
The SM7b is literally the iphone respect effect for musicians and audio people
The sm7b is Rock and rolls microphone wayyy before the Internet lol. Gish was recorded on this countless others. If you record rock and roll music it's a must have
I like the sm 57 better sounds more natural then the 2 other ones
Thank you for the video! Excellent content 👌🏼
Thanks Ian!
I searched for a review until I found one that I agree with. Confirmation bias, engaged! Seriously though, you're right, you can get two awesome mics for less than the "Internet Baby" (which is a good mic). I'm spending less on a condenser upgrade to get these two mics.
Haha happy to be here to confirm your beliefs! But yes, the internet baby has a very hefty price tag when you consider the 58 or 57
Thank once more for your work!
The predecessor to the SM7 was the SM5, which was primarily a boom mic for the movie industry. When you can find an SM5, they're usually more than $2K, and they always need their foam bodies replaced. BUT... take that foam off an SM5, and inside you find what is essentially an SM57.
Loving the videos. Every single of your videos I've watched has been approached in such a helpful manner. Really appreciate the hard work.
I would love to learn more about software to use while recording/podcasting. Like I have no clue was software was used to EQ the mics in this video. Cheers!
He was using Ableton for EQ
(That's his DAW: Digital Audio Workstation) - The program that lets you do anything and everything audio
I believe he said he was using OBS to screen record/broadcast (OBS works easiest on Windows/Linux, for some reason Mac doesn't let you record audio and your screen simultaneously. There are workarounds for that, however).
So you have your hardware:
-Microphone (USB or XLR -- XLR needs an audio interface as a middle man for your sounds and computer)
-Cables (in this case, XLR cables rather than USB)
-Audio Interface (plug all your cables from mics/instruments into this, it will amplify and process the audio before sending it to your computer)
-Computer
-DAW (recording and audio engineering software. Ableton Live is a great place to start, or GarageBand if you have Mac)
You can get a free Ableton Lite license with lots of diff audio gear. GarageBand is free w Apple stuff, and LogicProX is like Ableton for Mac, but a lot cheaper ($200).
If you get Ableton Lite, you can upgrade to the middle-or-top-tier options for a greatly reduced price, as paying for an "upgrade" is much cheaper than buying it outright.
Hopefully this wasn't overly remedial -- you just sounded kind of new to the scene, so hopefully this helped!
Look sir, I am beginning. I want to record my written poetry professionally. In which my line will go in high tone and will also come in low tone. Tell me such dynamic mic and audio interface. So that I can record and mix later. My room is not sound proof. My total budget is $300. But a shopkeeper told me that you cannot do recording with dynamic mic. Please tell me what should I do. Tell me such a mic and audio interface that I will not regret after buying.
Hi. I do what you look for for online yoga lessons with a €50 Sm58 beta copy, a Scarlett Focusrite and an IPad 😉
Dude, your channel has grown a lot, wtf!
I've been following you for a while and I didn't realise you grew like x6. hahaha
57 for the win!!! 🎤... I never liked the SM7B that much and think it’s the most over hyped mic because everyone sees their fav artist and podcasters using it so they buy one too! Lol 😂
Can you put Ethan’s socials somewhere? Love his voice
At first I thought you were wrong, because I could hear a difference between these mics. Then came the treatment.
thanks for this video too, nicely demonstrated
Thanks man!
Great Stuff!! sounds good!
SM58 is an artist mic. The grill helps with plosives, but doesn't completely contain them, ant it's not meant to. It's for people with good vocal technique and mic technique.
For people with bad technique (amateurs) one can buy an additional windscreen that'll ease that stuff up significantly.
Then there's Beta 58A that's even more demanding of the artist because of it's pickup pattern, but the quality of sound you get in skillful hands is amazing.
For unskilled handler, there are better options out there than 58 or beta 58A :)
Nice take! I never thought of it like that, do you have a mic you would recommend for those whose technique would produce too much plosives?
For me I have always preferred the sm57 over the 58. But the more expensive sm7b doesn’t sound 250-300 dollars better in my opinion.
Great video! I got the 57 for exactly this purpose with the screw on windscreen. Would you have the EQ settings to make it sound more like a 7b? Thanks!
Another great video! Thank you.
Thanks so much!
You really sold me on the SM57, though I have a question. Do I need a Scarlett 18i20 for it to sound like a SM7B? I guess my main question is what do I need aside from a windscreen to accompany this microphone? (I intend to use it for streaming and the Blue Yeti is just not doing it for me.)
Honestly any decent preamp will do! Definitely not just a scarlett, most low end audio interfaces hardly color the sound in the first place
I love that singer's voice -- and the song is good, too!
Can you recommend a mic arm for the SM57? Something decent that would last a long time and not cheaply made. Thank you great vid!
Great Video - and yes, the Microphones sound terrifyingly similar. Still, enough people will buy that microphone just for the looks. I for myself decided not wo drop the ~ 235 Euros premium on the SM7B - say - a Rode PSA-1 boom arm and got myself the BETA 58 instead with the Shure A55M Shockmount , the Shure A58WS Windshield and I will soon add a K&M 252 microphone stand, lowering the premium the SM7B would cost me to about 180 Euros. The Beta 58 destroyed the background noise rejection of the SM7B and at the same time sounded similar enough for me to just ditch the SM7B. I am - of course - fully aware of the different pickup pattern and of what I trade in for the improved background noise reduction. But after all, the SM7B would have been the worse microphone for my needs.
Nice work around dude! Wouldn't have thought to use a beta 52 but that definitely works :)
Glad you agree! :) I got a question after watching the video a second time: Where did you get the gain numbers of that interface from? I find it bothersome to not have an official source to begin with, but the sources I know are talking like 54-56dB of gain. Who’s invested into having „enough gain“ will not find that enough, compared to allegedly -60dB of output from the SM7B, even tho the UR22 MK2 - at least in gain alone can drive the SM7B just fine, while it’s gain actually peaks at 47-48dB. Also, Most people don’t use the microphone as intended (that is at way too big of a distance) and want to use an additional preamp because of that.
You also might want to consider the self-noise, that whatever preamplifier produces. The Steinberg UR22 I mentioned earlier, while having enough gain to drive the SM7B, is way too noisy if almost cranked, as demanded by the SM7B for -20dB of signal strength, talking normally, I did a test with a 150 ohm dummy plug to get the noise of the impedance of a dynamic microphone alone, but with no signal going in. The self noise of the preamp peaked at -58dB. Repeating the same test with an additional connected at 40% of the gain to again reach a reasonable signal strength of -20dB talking normally, the self-noise reading with the 150 Ohm plug peaked at -71 dB. (Which by the way is a quiet as I got my room without actually soundtreating it.) And since both, the UR22 Mk II and the UR-RT2 come equipped with Yamaha D-Pre Preamplifiers. So even tho the UR-RT2 will likely have better results , probably because of binning, the Price alone doesn’t save you from self-noise. And by the way: There are 199USD Interfaces to drive the SM7B as well, such as the MOTU M2 and even The Behringer UMC202HD at 79USD can do it just fine, without an additional preamp. It’s a matter of both, using the microphone correctly and having not only enough, but enough CLEAN gain.
@@MichaelW.1980 Wow you did your research haha! I found the info using information from podcastage's site and sweet water but upon further inspection you're right, I misread the amount of gain posted on podcastage's review. Its frustrating that these manufacturers don't post these numbers as clearly as they could, its easy to get inaccurate information. I'm going to pin a post updating everyone about the MOTU interface and mentioning the cool stuff you brought up in this comment.
Haha - thank you! It's a topic I spend a lot of time in lately. I'm glad you found my comment useful! I like your videos - and I left you a follow - i'm looking forward for more!
I am not sure with all the people said u don’t need a cloudlifter but I bought one anyway out of curiosity and it made a big difference. I would have to sit really close the the mic without the lifter now I can back away and still record. I can also hear my lip smack now. I do have other mic to compare it to as I own several akg p420 and blue yeti. Reason I bought is because condensor too much ppp sss for rap vocal and rapper recommend this mic.
It would be more helpful for the comparison if the exact same portions of music were compared between the different mics but still great comparison.
7:58 best description ever
I just like the SM7b for singing into. It’s very solid on a mic stand.
True! It does feel very substantial to sing/speak into
@@AudioHaze yes, a great mic is not all about sound!
SM7B is gain hungry. The reason for using the Cloud Lifter is to avoid the THD ramp up in the top end of most potentiometers thus lowering the noise floor. If you’re not dealing with plosives, the better bet is getting the mic closer to the source. While the SMB is a great mic, the SM57 and 58 are definitely a better bang for the buck. I own three of each… so…😛
I need the singing part with a female voice! I felt like I actually preferred the SM57 but I've no idea if I'd feel the same way about my own voice. Good to know that I probably dont need to spend 400$ on a mic though xD
Will the SM57 work on a Podcast with more than one guest as far as noise rejection?
Do you mean background noise/sound? That doesn't change if you have one or three microphones.
The sounds they pickup can amplify the effect (only if you do it wrong), but I would definitely use a multitrack recording for this, and only select the speaker at any given moment.
The SM57 had a pretty wide cardioid pattern. There wil be quite some spillover from one speaker's microphone to the other (which is - at least: for me) not the same as background noise).
But the tip I gave above eliminates that problem. I did record a few audio plays with up to 8 microphone in parallel in the same room (on a 8 track interface). It's just a matter of choising the correct tracks in the mix at the right time.
I just noticed there are naturally no plosives and sibilance in your voice or you mastered your voice to talk like that 😂 am I right or ? Your voice is one of the pleasing one to my ear that I've heard.
Wow, great info. Is there difference between the mics in the ability to mute out background noises? (besides using a gate). If even a little it might justify for me to get the more expensive option. That's the real reason for a dynamic mic for me in the first place.
I think the Sm7b definitely rejects more noise, thats true, but I would say the difference is fairly nominal. Both will do great at rejection, and if you EQ out the presence boost in the 57/58 the playing field is about even :)
@@AudioHaze thank you!
One mic to rule them all, the sm57
Complete Audio-Newbie here: I am thinking about mixing the SM57 with my M-Audio M-Track Solo - however this "only" delivers "54dB" of gain at max - do you think I will still be fine? :)
Thanks a lot!
What do you think of the AKG D5 as an option? I only paid 50€ for it and I feel like it’s good enough for some vocals.
If i wanna scream, :D would 57 still be okay?
Also! Like since you put pop filter on sm57 to make it sm58. Wont it be the same if you remove the resonator cap/grill filter from the sm58 to turn it into sm57? You did do it but you didn't fully went into details
Is there any differences or theres a reason we shouldnt do that?
Great singer, great voice!
Would you recommend sm57 for discord, zoom calls and video course recording?
And can you recommend some beginner friendly input interface(below $300) to pair it with macbook air?
You, you definitely don’t need an SM7B unless you’re a professional in your field IMO. Once I got my 7B I was like wow…this doesn’t sound any different than my blue yeti 😭 I definitely fell for the TH-camr effect, seeing people using it everywhere and thinking “I need to have this” so I can be like them. Well, 2 years deep into having a 7B, I’m gonna retire it and get a 57. Cheaper, easier, smaller 🤷🏻♂️
Great video! I am buying a 57 right now and I'll buy a random windshield with it. If it is a bit large for the mic do you have any tips for handling it and recording vocals with it ? Do you think it will cause problems some unwanted noise maybe ?
I haven't had any issues with unwanted noise no! Basically all I do is shove it over the mic clips AND the mic, then it fits pretty snug. I must admit its not the most elegant set up though haha
@@AudioHaze Thank you for the answer!
Putting a windscreen on a sm57 is not going to make it sound like an sm7b that is Miss information. You can't really listen to what other people say about microphones microphones are a 100-percent personal choice because everybody's voice is different. But the sm7b stands alone and it's worth the $400 price. I have all three of these microphones and believe me the sm7b is worth every penny. But instead of listening to this guy on the video or listening to me go try 1 out and see for yourself.
@@DonaldMerrit Well to be fair not everyone has a chance to just try them out which is why people spend hours comparing with these types of videos. Though I agree that results you get amount to different factors, your gear and setup, environment, personal preference and use case. In this video I preferred the 57 or 58, but the results were close enough that it'd be hard to justify the $400 at least for my current needs and I do need/want two mics anyway. Maybe in person I'd think different though. Also I don't think anyone said a 57 with a windscreen would sound like a 7b
Hey! Great videos man! I'm so happy I got to discover your channel as it's helping me so much in choosing my first mic and additionally I'm learning a lot about sound. At first I was thinking about NT1 or SM7B, but after looking some more and watching your vids I guess I should go with SM57. My room is untreated and as much as I would love to go for NT1, I see my environment as a potential bottleneck for a condenser. I just have one question: What arm were you using in your video, or what boom arm do you recommend for an SM57? I bet they vary as the price range between them is quite big on the market.
I'm glad I could help! Seriously your words mean a lot I appreciate it. In terms of boom arm, I wouldn't recommend mine. It's some off brand one I got at a music store here in Spain, and its pretty awful. With the SM7B I have to duct tape it in place to prevent it from swiveling haha. Luckily the SM57 is not picky. If you're planning on using it to record guitar, make sure you get a floor mounted stand, I would say one with three legs rather than a baseplate, this is for improved stability and less surface area on the ground to pick up vibrations. Plus those desk mounted ones can get hella expensive for no good reason!
Something like this: amzn.to/3drn7At
(Also this is an affiliate link just so you know!)
@@AudioHaze Thank you for your response! The thing is, I'm planning on using it for various things like recording vocals, guitars and a spoken word for livestreaming. Thus I was thinking about getting a desk stand. I'm not excluding a floor mounted one (I'm probably gonna get both eventually) but I think desk stand sounds like a convenient choice for my current needs. Though I'm curious, if any stand is let's say - compatibile with any mic. What I mean is will it fit with all the screws stuff or do I need an adapter of some sort. I'm completely just off the boat with this, but don't want to mess anything up.
@@aaron_cros Typically there are two screw sizes (3/8" and 5/8"), and most mic stands should come with an adapter that'll get you covered, watch out though because those buggers get lost so easily.
I don't have any solid recommendations for desk stands but I'm sure anything above the $15 range would work okay for the time being!
@@AudioHaze Gotcha. Many thanks man and keep up the good work!
Great video, thanks! :)
Glad I could help!
Using Shure SM57 is not a cheap but the right term is cost effective which is quality that we need for all around microphone than its other design but almost same output with a little bit differences.
Hey AudioHaze, what popfilter do you use for your sm57? since I have the se v7 and as you know the plosives are too noticable
I've chosen 3 random videos of yours today, because I liked your overall vibe in the first one. All three are you making this exact argument for the 57 and 58 over the 7B. I imagine the 57 and 58 are somehow lobbyists against the 7B. They hate the 7B. They feel small beside it and they think, much like you do that THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH. They've given you money to spread this feeling far and wide. You _must_ make the point monthly or they take away their financial support. I don't blame you.
I find an expander works better than the abrupt cut-off of a gate.
Thx man!
Isn't louder low-end exactly what you don't want in an untreated room that builds up low frequencies? Or maybe the SM7B rejects those and lets you retain good lows even in a bad room?
_Unidyne to the rescue._
I think the SM55 was the first one in this family. It started in the 1940s but all of the SMs are Unidyne lineage - and the 57 used to be called a "Unidyne III" in the '70s.
Suppressing feedback in early mic tech (while also improving response) was a major deal, and top priority for any stage mic.
UNI= unidirectional, single-element (and so also uniphase)
+
DYN = heavy dynamic capsule, high SPL limit and increased proximity fx in exchange for decreased sensitivity (vs a ribbon or condenser) and so a lower tendency of adding feedback and other stray signals.
Add a timer for when you transiction between the noise sample and the normal talking voice...my hears burst xD
Who do you think deals better with the background noise in a noisy environment among the sm58 & 57?
Is the sound of your the raw audio or you processed it. If it was processed, please can you share how you achieved this sound with the SM58. Thank you
SM7B looks pro. if you want to look pro, get an SM7B. For Super Pro, tell everyone you have a cloud lifter.
Hey! Im thinking about buying the sm57 but how did you hold it up? Is there a specific boomarm u use or just a stand?
Interesting. Thanks a lot. I have a music background but still fell for the marketing because i never spend time on research various capsules. An SM58 was my first mic ever.. then went with various studio mics with different characteristics. I never got "that sound" in my voice overs later (stopped singing, only broadcast then). I know i could enhance any mic to a point using EQs etc.. but sometimes i don't have the option to load VSTs before the recording software so i hope the SM7 is kinda like a preset that "just delivers" without any extras. Plug and play. I am going to test it now for a 2 weeks and see how it goes, but i will also order the SM57 (LC?).. but i fear i will miss that bottom end from the back chamber of the SM7B chassis. Hmm.. decisions, decisions.
Yeah, the boom-factor could be lacking slightly, but if you have any time in post processing to add it back using and EQ, its a super easy fix. Regardless, their sonic signatures are very similar anyways. Good luck dude! Hope the sm7 works out for you
@@AudioHaze First impressions are mixed. My old (and tiny) Yamaha Audiogram 3 interface had the perfect gain and sound.
Then connected it to my main setup with PreSonus Studio 1824c but the volume was too low. Had to add another vocal specific mic preamp which had a boost feature. At this much gain i am now hearing a constant high pitch noise starting at 10k Hz. I could filter out most spikes (about 15 of them) in the DAW using a multiband EQ, however the best "fix" was to simply use "RX7 Spectral Denoise" and cancel the entire noise floor.
Now using Voicemeeter Banana with Cantible Lite (Vst host) as InsertFX to get this combo running systemwide - for chatting and such, which is fine i guess..
But it feels pretty dumb i have to use this many workarounds considering the price so that think now about just getting the MV7 which comes with its own software out of the box - for ease of use.
So much for "plug & play" i had hoped for :-)
Were you using a Cloud Lifter for the SM7b examples in this video, or did you forgo it? I'm just curious cuz of the volume jumps.
I'm watching this video The 3rd time, can you help me to choose which one is better for rap vocals, the sm57 with a Pop filter or sm58? Really confused
sm7B is still for me. yes the same sound but sm57 has diff looks as well
The volume are not the same in those mics. The sm 57 is louder and thats why most of people here prefer it, you tend to like louder sounds
he secretly flexing on us with his shure mics
Haha actually at the time the only one that was mine was the 57
So i can get a 57 and buy a popfilter for it so i have both 57,58 and with eq an sm7b?
Hi AudioHaze. I am looking at getting a microphone for my home recording stuff. My room is a bit noisy, and I plan on getting the Behringer Uphoria UMC-22 with it. Which would you think is better for vocals? Both spoken word and singing/harsh vocals. The 57 or the 58? And do I need a Fethead or Cloudlifter for that? Awesome work in your videos :)
You shouldn't need a cloudlifter for either! Definitely hold off until you've tested, the Behringer interfaces actually have a tone of gain I'm pretty sure. I personally would go with the 57 for its flexibility, but you'll get a similar result with either. If you production is primarily vocal related, the 58 may take the edge :)
Really good channel
Thanks man!
True! Sm7b is too expensive for what it is. Those 3 mic are almost the same… i prefer buying a rode nt1000 and will sound better
Which mic would you say it's more "nasal" sounding? Sm57 or Sm58? (or in comparisson to other mics) And btw great video!!!
Honestly the 57 would probably be considered more nasal if not just because the pop filter of the 58 prevents you from accentuating that high end too much. If you take that grill off they'd be about the same. and thanks dude!
@@AudioHaze So the frequencies that boost that "nasality" are the high end?? I'm really interested to know that bc i want to avoid that natural aspect of my voice :(
@@pimentocheese618 In general I would say nasality is upper midrange and high end yeah. You can always control it with EQ though!
not the best job on the eq. I think that a slight adjustment with a high shelf would make a better effect.
Can you make a video about the shure sm58 transformer mod?