It's very interesting to observe how we don't know how can audio get improved until we hear something better. The main learning of this awesome video for me was the fact of thinking the audio quality was good enough in a way that it couldn't get better, until seeing the next equipment combination/setting. I think that when we, as a human being, develop the capacity of absolutely saying "this is good", or "this is bad", or better, "this can be improved by doing XYZ", we become real "sound technicians". Great job man.
if I remember Correctly I think the Preamps for the Yamaha line is intended to power the SM7B without trouble. They literally designed the whole line behind being able to use any microphone.
The key: SM7B outputs at -59.0 dB, if you have a pre-amp or a mixer that can boost gain to 60db, you're fine without the cloudlifter. I have a $69 mixer that can boost gain to 60db, and it sounds just fine. A lot of popular pre-amps and mixers only do 48db (like the zoom) so naturally you won't get the sound you need.
A few years late, but I sincerely appreciate just how in-depth you went with this video. I've been thinking of grabbing myself a Shure SM7B with a MG10XU and either a Fethead or Cloudlifter. I've been wanting to eliminate any kinds of hissing and background noise, as my recording location isn't treated what so ever. Thanks for the video!
Nice demo. The CL-1, as you showed, can definitely do the job with the SM7b. Personally, I've been glad I got the DBX 286s, which costs not much more than the Cloudlifter, but has enough clean gain to drive the SM7b while doing other enhancements like noise gate, compression and EQ, if you want. You still need an interface with it, but you can get away with a cheap one since you'll be able to keep its gain at 0 while the DBX does all the work.
This is also a really good suggestion. I've been watching a couple videos on the DBX 286 and I like that it has all those other options which potentially reduces the need for additional resources from your DAW if you like the way the compressor, gate, etc works on the DBX. I like having those additional options as well as the gain boost.
This video gives answers to all questions relating to amplification sm7b. This information is not provided by our respected lazy manufacturer, but you made it instead of them! great job man, thumbs up
Great video man , thank you , it has made me decide to purchase the cloudlifter . Have an SM7B and the MX10 purchased and in transit . Have the Avid Mbox in house so I am happy that you got such a good result on it . Will order the Cloudlifter within the next 5 mins . Really appreciate your help here in Ireland .
Dude...you were so thorough. Thank you so much for this. I know this is a 3+ year old video but yea, you're right about most older preamps; they are underpowered. I can confirm the the Zoom H6 and the H5 by far, are better than most budget interfaces in terms of SNR.
In your Aphex test, the noise is coming from the CL-1. That device is a preamp as well, and although it has a very very low noise floor, it still does produce noise. Excellent video as always!
The Cloudlifter has been help power my SM7B's and RE20's for a long time now. VERY good investment if you're trying to get the best signal to noise ration for recording any types of music or vocals. This is definitely a great video as well showcasing the different types of recorders and they preamps, because you CAN record without a CL, but you will introduce a lot of noise into the recordings. We use Izotope in the studio so cleaning audio isn't too much of an issue, but so much nicer when you can get a clean signal right from the bat! I'm a big fan of this video!
I really wished someone showed a video of compressing both the original and the one with cloud lifter. i feel the SM7b's noise isn't too bad its just when you compress it you start to hear the sound become worse.
Great video mate. I just got a Cloudlifter for my Focusrite 4i4 and Rode Podmic and I could immediately tell the difference. I can now turn the gain up to a good level without much hiss from the 4i4. What I don’t get is why don’t they build something like a Cloudlifter into interfaces, or a Fethead type device into microphones. The only gripe I have with the Cloudlifter is it’s size and shape. It’s awkward to fit it into one’s setup.
Extremely helpful and well edited video, Lo! thanks for taking the time to make such a thorough video. I've been considering buying a cloudlifter as of recently and your video is very helpful. What you said about newer recording devices and audio interfaces "catching up" and working better out of the box with newer mics is also a trend I've noticed. Cheers!
So...here's my story. I tried Scarlett Solo at 80-90% gain, 10% dB boost in my EQ on my PC + Shure SM7B, and it's magic. I tried with the cloudlifter, the only difference was I toned the gain on my solo to 60% roughly, and it sounds 100% the same. I paid $230 to lower my gain knob, but I have 0 noise in both scenarios. I'm probably going to return the cloudlifter. I have 30 days.
@@LoKnows It's the 3rd gen solo. The absolute cheapest one. I've just done the test about 10 times to make sure I'm not crazy. I use OBS Studio as my recording software, and I use FabFilter VST's or BIAS FX 2 which is a guitar effects processor, but it has noise gates, comps, EQ's, etc. So I tried a variety of VST's within OBS Studio, and for my scenario, the cloudlifter I would argue is of 0 use. I know some who swear by it, which is why ultimately everyone needs to at least try it. Most stores offer 30 day returns. I absolutely love your channel by the way. I just found you, and I'm glad I did. I don't tend to like many TH-camrs lol. You're simply one of my favourites now.
That’s great man! The cloudlifter has been out for yearssssss. During that time, interfaces have been getting better and better. I would definelty think with newer hardware, cloudlifter not required.
@@LoKnows Indeed, also I want to note that with the cloudlifter I lose that headroom, as I'm forced to scale back my gain knob on the scarlett solo to roughly 1-2 o'clock before it glows yellow. Without the cloudlifter, I can almost max it to roughly 5 o'clock before it starts glowing yellow. I am baffled because I am finding my audio interface to be amazing, but not quite powerful enough. It's a 56dB, and the Shure SM7B likes 60dB which is close. In the end the cloudlifter did not allow me to crank the overall output of my mic as I end up going in the yellow and red in my OBS Studio audio mix at the same dB. I am at a loss. I might make a video on this just to share my experience.
Short answer... No. Long answer, any mic pre will work. Not just the built in preamps in what ever interface you have. I have a DBX 286s channel strip and mic pre for powering dynamic mics like the 7B.
Great video. I wish more people knew that the Avalon is really only appropriate when you're using a condenser mic that doesn't need a lot of gain. An API, Vintech, Great River, Apex, etc are all a much better choice.
Still can't use my shure sm7b... i only have the mic and a scarlett solo 2.0, ain't that enough? please, i've had it since september 19 and still haven't tried my mic :(
isn't the whole point of a amplifier to do the exact same thing? Boost signal clarity while keeping the noise floor as low as possible ? I am wondering if a Cloudlifter is a budget alternative to a decent amplifier ?
a "decent amplifier" isn't clear. A pre-amp is exactly what it says. It's a clean, colorless gain control device. The goal is to boost the SIGNAL without changing the color, or tone, of the sound. An amplifier, in the general sense, will amplify the signal to produce a loud sound. This would be for a live performance. A podcast or studio recording wouldn't typically use an amplifier. So, no. From what I know, unless you're getting a decent pre-amp, then no. The cloudlifter will be great. Check out SpectreSoundStudios channel. He is an actual Audio Engineer and really know what he is doing. I've never seen a more knowledgeable channel.
I have a CL-1 and CL-2 and they are indispensable! I will soon have a CL-4 as well. An additional $150.00 for higher quality is pennies in the big picture.
1:36 You're not introducing any noise that isn't already there. It only means the SNR has maxed out at that point. But it's not going to get any noisier relative to the signal amplitude at higher gain. This plateau in clean signal in interface pres at 150 ohm resistance (a typical mic load) usually occurs at 45dB, well past the halfway point. The reason why the Cloudlifter helps provide clean gain in many cases is is because of it's exceptionally low self noise (compared to most low end pres) with an EIN (Equivalent Input Noise) of about -131 dB. However it's only going to be as effective as your preamps are noisy and a law of diminishing returns. Several of the pres tested here, particularly the H6, the H4n and the Avalon are stated to have relatively high self noises with the Zooms having an EIN of around -120 dB, the Avalon about -116 dB and see the most improvement. The Pres on the Yamaha Mixer and the Mbox are both stated to be at -128 dB which is why they already do so well on the 7B without the Cloudlifter. But that's where most preamps EINs have got to on most low end desktop interfaces these days, so in most cases Cloudlifters will not be such a dramatic improvement. The SSL 2 and M-Audio Air actually have quieter pres than Cloudlifter, so in those cases the Cloudlifter only adds noise.
Great and useful video! Looking to buy the RE20 with the Zoom H6 and it looks like the CL-1 will be bought in conjunction with them. By the way, what cables do you use?
Thank you so much for the extensive test! You actually tackled both studio and mobile usage with the Cloudlifter. It does result in lower noise and a cleaner signal. Just a minor concern--- is it just me or there seems a slight bass penalty or low freq degradation when Cloudlifter CL-1 does it's thing?
There are quite a few old preamps that can power that thing, its just the new stuff now is catering to podcasters who love this mic. Years ago they just made these things for condensers.
Absolutely nothing wrong with using the focusrite. Some people use it straight up without a cloudlifter but it adds a bunch of white noise. So if you got the extra money go all in with it. This is a mic that will last a century
What you should try is set your pre amp at +20db then boost signal in daw manually. And Then compare That to cloudlifter + preamp. See if there is any difference.
Thanks a lot for this video!! I have an EV 320 that I'm looking to boost the volume on and I am going to do a similar test with my mixer like you did with your Yahama board to see how it handles. I have a feeling my results will be similar so I may be investing in a cloudlifter soon as well.
I did like your comparisons. You should try the Grace Design Preamp such as the simple m101. It is really clear with the SM7B and when I add the CL-1 Cloudlifter I experience very little improvement, but there is a little.
@Brian B Now that you ostensibly had the Cloudlifter for 6 months. What is your verdict with the SM7B? Worth trying it? I'm running my sm7B with the Focusrite Saffire Pro26. I'm just wondering if I should pick up another Presonus "Studio Channel" for the SM7B. "It is powerful enough with initial testing for my 2 RE20s so I'm trying to out weigh the Cloudlifter over a Black Lion Mic Pre.
What would be the cheapest set up here that you think is possible to achieve the best results for just a single mic set up ? (Wires, audio interface or cloud if needed)
Great video, great comparisons!!... One friendly suggestion: it's called SNR (Signal to Noise ratio, not Noise to Signal ratio).. Not a biggee, but when viewing spec ratios it does matter which comes first.
Hey there! I just bought a shure sm7b I’m super new to this form of audio production, I’ve been using a rode h4n pro and a rode NTG4+ but I bought a shure to kind of experiment with it in videos and podcasts etc. and I was wondering ( sorry if this is dumb) I think If I understood your video, if I run my shure into my cloudlifter and into my h4n pro, with the phantom power, it should work without the hiss?
The SM7B requires lots of gain. If you have a preamp with lots of gain, then the preamp should have enough gain to function quietly with the SM7B. Other preamps with minimum gain will be a problem because to use the SM7B, the preamp must be turned all the way up. This high gain introduces lots of white noise. Insert the Cloudlifter to boost gain around 25db before preamp. Now you can lower the gain on the preamp. Yes, the Cloudlifter requires phantom power to operate it's amplifier. Hope that helps!
Short answer: If you have an audio interface with a good built-in preamp, the SM7B doesn't need an additional pre-amp, though one is recommended if it can be afforded. With a low-end audio interface, you'll probably need an additional preamp.
I would have liked to see the Yamaha mixer without the Cloudlifter, but with the Phantom power turned on. The phantom power was only turned on after the Cloudlifter was connected. It would be nice to know if the mixer with the phantom power is enough without the Cloudlifter.
The SM7b is a dynamic mic so it doesn't use phantom power like a condenser mic does. The phantom power was used only because the cloudlifter needs that power to work. So if you turned on the phantom power without the cloudlifter attached it doesn't change or boost the volume of the mic.
The best video I've found on this subject! Any experience on using the SM7B with the Focusrite ISA one? I am using a SM7B with a Focusrite ISA One into my apollo twin, and I'm also experiencing the hiss because I have to drive the pre-amp to hot for some decent gain. I've read alot about that the Isa One combined with the SM7B should be a great mix without the cloudlifter. But I can't seem to get satisfied enough with the hiss still being present. I think you have convinced me to get one and atleast try it out!
Im in the same position, i have same set up, dealing with hiss and have read that cloudlifter isn't necessary, i think im gonna pull the trigger on a used one tho
@@-primitive-1035 funny you replied to this comment I posted 2 years ago but I actually just bought a cloud lifter last week🤣, haven't set it up yet tho but after much research I hear it should help alot, I still have isa one but feel I can get better quality with a cloudlifter included in the chain
@@10thPowerMusic yo,thanks for reply! Please reply with feedback of how it works for u now with CL when u have time..i got Isa One,and interface is RME Adi-2 Pro. Want to add Warm Audio compressor 76 as well. Recording rap vocals. So need to decide if I gonna go Shure+CL road,probably it will sound great,but lets see, still not 100% sure..either Shure or i go with some more expensive condenser in range of lets say 700,800 or even 1k
[Forgive my ignorance please] When I plug my (Sterling ST170 active ribbon) into a Cloudlifter Z and then into Scarlett interface and it does nothing until I activate the Scarlett phantom power. Doesn’t this indicate that the 48V is actually getting through to the mic? Otherwise why would the 48V button do anything at all? Also, despite even the manual for the mic stating that it does not require phantom power, this mic plugged directly into the interface is silent till I hit 48V.
It’s going to sound weird but the 48v is actually powering the Cloudlifters which in turns provided enough gain to the mic. The mic doesn’t need power, the mic needs high GAIN which the cloudlifters does. Becareful connecting the mic directly to the 48v it could damage it.
Hey LO, I realize this video is over 3 years old and you are much wiser and more experienced now, but I just want to point out for the benefit of anyone who might stumble across this video and this post that the audio (and the hiss) that you hear in your headphones isn’t the same as what actually gets recorded. Many recorders and audio interfaces have very noisy headphone amps which can overlay a second level of noise on top of the incoming signal being monitored. So from a testing standpoint, you shouldn’t be judging anything critically from what you are monitoring live, but instead you should record that audio and then play it back to get a true representation of how your audio signal chain is actually performing. Now, one could argue that it doesn’t matter since you are only performing a relative analysis, but even that becomes a useless exercise when you’re deciding whether or not you need to buy a cloud lifter device or not in order to get acceptable noise levels, because while you might be hearing hiss on a signal that isn’t using a CL device as you are monitoring on your headphones, generally speaking, you’ll hear less noise when you play back the recording, assuming your playback amp is cleaner than your monitoring amp. That’s all.
thank you so much for making this video omg. ive read so many comments of people literally having this problem for YEARS. my Shure sm7b came in 2 days ago and i was so disappointed how i neary spent $700-$800 during a pandemic taking risks so i could make music work. and when i set up it hisses and destroys my ears with white noise and i researched and couldnt find anything. my set up is focusrite solo 3rd generation, shure sm7b, cl1 cloud lifter, and windows laptop. so i would just have to replace my interface right ??? any recommendations what i should replace focusrite with?
I just got the sm7b yesterday and I'm maxing out the gain on my focusrite Scarlett solo 3rd gen but it's not creating any hiss or noise. I recorded using audition and it sounded completely clean on playback.
Helpful video. Next time you do one, leave about 5-10 seconds of non speaking on each preamp so we can compare the noise levels. It's a little difficult to hear the noise when you're talking, especially with youtube compression.
I actually have not. But in general, I try not to have my cords, especially the mic and speaker cord tangled together. The *cords* are suppose to be shielded a enough not to cause interference but I still don’t trust it. Maybe it’s the cord?
@@LoKnows Thank you! I will try to see if it fixes it, I had a unbalanced xlr to trs 6.3mm cable before, going from my dbx to my interface, and that cable wasn't good at all, but when I changed it to a balanced cable I had no more issues with interference, I thought that a cloudlifter would make it even better, but I was wrong, it sounds even worse than with a unbalanced mono cable, strange!
Hey Lo, so I'm testing out two SM7Bs with the 2 channel Cloudlifter on the Yamaha MG12XU and I am hearing a fairly decent amount of self noise. I thought it might be the Cloudlifter because I'm hearing it in both SM7B's, so I tested each on a Sound Devices MM1 with pad activated and am getting the same amount of self noise. Even without the Cloudlifter, gain is almost maxed, I can start hearing the self noise. Is your completely quiet of self noise or do you still hear it? and have to Gate it out in post? Cause right now, I want to refund these "dynamic mics" and stick with my condensers, 0 self noise.
Hey what ended up happening? I will say this. When I had mine set up it was completely quite. Of course my mic would still pic up room noise. But it was always noisier without the cloudlifter because I would be stressing the line ins with to much gain to the mic
Hey Lo, I don't know if its maybe the monitor levels, but monitoring levels from the MG12XU, I definitely hear some noise floor, but playing back in Audition, the noise is barely there. MY NT1's self noise is non existent. So the SM7B's should be super quiet then? I have two and they both have the same level of self noise.
when it comes to recording a loud source, like singing louder as opposed to singing quietly, do you need to lower gain? For example If my gain seems right under normal singing but know I will get louder aswell, will the the gain setting be fine? or will it "clip" etc? Im going to be recording my music and I am not a newbie writer but a newbie when it comes to technical recording stuff. Also when someone is recording with 2 mics, can the gain be adjusted individually? I was thinking of a focusrite so idk if a feature like that depends on the models out there BTW is that an AKG 214? Thats literally one of the mics I like the idea of using for vocals, I feel it is def a tad bit sibilant but hope a d easer could work and maybe the pencil infront of the mic trick along with pop filter/foam cover. I feel that mic has good character to bring out depth in the voice and clarity, I tried a neumann 103 at Guitar center next to the AKG and it just sounded so far away /quiter/bland in comparison. although im starting to question if they have those mics gained differently and all that causing big discrepancies. - Actually could a cloud lifter allow me to lower gain in the AKG and possible reduce the sibilance aswell?
what if you wanted to just use this for streaming/talking with friends, i know its a bit overkill for just that but i got given it a few days ago by a mate, can you just use an xlr to usb cable straight into your pc or do you actually need something to bring it to 0 DB?
@@LoKnows ah okay, i did just see a video on it, and a guy used xlr to usb cable and on about 30-40% gain on a mac, it seemed to work just fine, as i already have the mic im going to order the xlr to usb cable and see if it works, thanks :)
Anyone who stumbles on this the mic activators on the H series recorders actually disables the horrible built in preamps so you are using the activator instead which is about 10dB better noise floor than the ones built into the H series recorders. The gain has nothing to do with this part.
The Yamaha MG10 can do the same as the MG10Xu just without the effects?? I'm looking for a good interface + the Cloud CL-1 for this Microphone. They don't sell the MG10Xu in Mexico but the MG10. Thanks!
Question: why could we not hear the "self noise" in the recording for the video? I notice that when I crank a good preamp with the SM7b I get a lot of noise in the monitors but when I listen back to the recording it is crystal clear. Why does it do this?
Hi, this is an awesome explanation. Can you help me with 1 qustion: Is cloudlifter + native instruments ka6 will be ok to use with sm7b(or re20) without maxed out gain on soundcard? Thank you!
i have a mbox pro 3 and sm7b i usually set the gain at about 75-80% i get a peak of -16 db on my DAW .. is it worth it to get the cloudlifter ? btw the wave that i get on my daw is small, on the same DB peak on my condenser mic its doubled the size but same volume .. does this mean my condenser has less noise ? the condenser is a telefunken m16 mkii
Yes get the lifer. The mbox pro 3 is struggle to provide enough gain and when you normailize it or try to raise the gain you’ll be increasing the line noise as well. So it would be a good bet to get the cloudlifer. Condesors are way more sensitive that’s why your levels appear so big
ive been recording for about a year now without a cloudlifter this is the result soundcloud.com/elie-kawas/bein i think ill follow your advice but i need to get my arse a job soon lloll ty tho
Hi... I am thinking to buy this mic but did know nothing about these gain issues. I was thinking of buying TC Helicon voice tone pedals. They have their own gain knobs. So, would those pedals solve those gain issues?
I have been looking into getting a Shure SM7b and have been considering getting this my Audio Interface that i have is a Presonus Audiobox USB 96 would this be sufficient enough if i decide to forgo the Cloudlifter?
Hi! So I recently purchased the Zoom H6 along with the cloudlifter and Shure SM7B. I'm not sure if that's everything I need? Because I'm using the microphone but there's a lot of humming in the background. I don't think the cloudlifter is working and I just replaced it with another one. But I'm wondering if it could be something else that I'm missing? Is there another part I need to purchase before I can use this microphone to the best of its ability?
this video could have been so great if he actually tested more common audio interfaces that people will use in there homes P.S. actually my church dose use the zoom handy recorder H4n ;-)
Hi! I wanted to know if would be nice to pick the scarlet with the tritonaudio or if i should pick the cloud, or for instance the steinberg ur22 mk2 with cloud/tritonaudio Thx💙
Your videos are really amazing! I plan to purchase the SM7B along with the cloudlifter and the Zoom H6. I was wondering if I needed to purchase any additional cables to get it to work, or does it come with them?
Great video!! I’m looking for some help and you may know the answer. I just picked up this Mic along with the cloudlifter and somehow you cannot hear the sound through Apple AirPods - I didn’t know if you had any idea why this wouldn’t work? I’ve tried multiple devices and the speakers and all other Bluetooth devices work great just not AirPods which is crazy. Apple had no clue
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“Do need you one?” Amazing title
It's very interesting to observe how we don't know how can audio get improved until we hear something better. The main learning of this awesome video for me was the fact of thinking the audio quality was good enough in a way that it couldn't get better, until seeing the next equipment combination/setting. I think that when we, as a human being, develop the capacity of absolutely saying "this is good", or "this is bad", or better, "this can be improved by doing XYZ", we become real "sound technicians". Great job man.
if I remember Correctly I think the Preamps for the Yamaha line is intended to power the SM7B without trouble. They literally designed the whole line behind being able to use any microphone.
This video is an amazing piece of content seriously. thank you
Hey thanks so much, im glad it helped
Helped alot and disproved another youtubers vid completely.. Thx
Yeh man.
The key: SM7B outputs at -59.0 dB, if you have a pre-amp or a mixer that can boost gain to 60db, you're fine without the cloudlifter. I have a $69 mixer that can boost gain to 60db, and it sounds just fine. A lot of popular pre-amps and mixers only do 48db (like the zoom) so naturally you won't get the sound you need.
Best SM7b/Cloudlifter video ever. They need to cut you a check sir.
A few years late, but I sincerely appreciate just how in-depth you went with this video. I've been thinking of grabbing myself a Shure SM7B with a MG10XU and either a Fethead or Cloudlifter. I've been wanting to eliminate any kinds of hissing and background noise, as my recording location isn't treated what so ever. Thanks for the video!
Nice demo. The CL-1, as you showed, can definitely do the job with the SM7b. Personally, I've been glad I got the DBX 286s, which costs not much more than the Cloudlifter, but has enough clean gain to drive the SM7b while doing other enhancements like noise gate, compression and EQ, if you want. You still need an interface with it, but you can get away with a cheap one since you'll be able to keep its gain at 0 while the DBX does all the work.
Nice! I want one.
This is also a really good suggestion. I've been watching a couple videos on the DBX 286 and I like that it has all those other options which potentially reduces the need for additional resources from your DAW if you like the way the compressor, gate, etc works on the DBX. I like having those additional options as well as the gain boost.
This video gives answers to all questions relating to amplification sm7b. This information is not provided by our respected lazy manufacturer, but you made it instead of them! great job man, thumbs up
Great video man , thank you , it has made me decide to purchase the cloudlifter . Have an SM7B and the MX10 purchased and in transit . Have the Avid Mbox in house so I am happy that you got such a good result on it . Will order the Cloudlifter within the next 5 mins . Really appreciate your help here in Ireland .
Awesome man, glad to hear!!
Just bought the sm7b and have a warm audio WA73 and luckily its handling it well 👍
Dude...you were so thorough. Thank you so much for this. I know this is a 3+ year old video but yea, you're right about most older preamps; they are underpowered. I can confirm the the Zoom H6 and the H5 by far, are better than most budget interfaces in terms of SNR.
In your Aphex test, the noise is coming from the CL-1. That device is a preamp as well, and although it has a very very low noise floor, it still does produce noise. Excellent video as always!
You deserve more than 300k subscribers. Learned a lot. Very useful information. I already have a cloudlifter. Very happy with it. Thank you .
The Cloudlifter has been help power my SM7B's and RE20's for a long time now. VERY good investment if you're trying to get the best signal to noise ration for recording any types of music or vocals. This is definitely a great video as well showcasing the different types of recorders and they preamps, because you CAN record without a CL, but you will introduce a lot of noise into the recordings.
We use Izotope in the studio so cleaning audio isn't too much of an issue, but so much nicer when you can get a clean signal right from the bat! I'm a big fan of this video!
when you using the cloud lifter do you still need the 48v on ? on SM7b
@@tonycalderamx yes. You'll use phantom power to send to the cloudlifter 🤙🏽
I have the Cloudlifter and the SM7b. Both are great. They need each other. You'll be happy you have the Cloudlifter.
I've been using a simply sound ss-1 ($75) for a few months now and absolutely love it with my SM7b and focusrite 2i2.
Jordan Jones nice! Will have to look into that one
Thoroughly explained with time stamps in the video description. Thank you sir. This is exactly what I was looking for.
I really wished someone showed a video of compressing both the original and the one with cloud lifter. i feel the SM7b's noise isn't too bad its just when you compress it you start to hear the sound become worse.
5:37 I heard H3H3
PigToots hi pigtoots
Good video. Couldn’t handle the frequency of commercials so had to keep moving. IDK what settings you have that on, but it’s a big turnoff.
Great video mate. I just got a Cloudlifter for my Focusrite 4i4 and Rode Podmic and I could immediately tell the difference. I can now turn the gain up to a good level without much hiss from the 4i4. What I don’t get is why don’t they build something like a Cloudlifter into interfaces, or a Fethead type device into microphones. The only gripe I have with the Cloudlifter is it’s size and shape. It’s awkward to fit it into one’s setup.
My best guess is cost.
Excellent video... I’ve toyed with getting the cloud lifter and you sold me
WoooHoooo, glad to have helped!
watching so many videos my self, you sir just made me buy one. Great video!
this is making me so happy i bought this little thing along with the sm7B. Thank YOU!!
Extremely helpful and well edited video, Lo! thanks for taking the time to make such a thorough video. I've been considering buying a cloudlifter as of recently and your video is very helpful.
What you said about newer recording devices and audio interfaces "catching up" and working better out of the box with newer mics is also a trend I've noticed.
Cheers!
So...here's my story. I tried Scarlett Solo at 80-90% gain, 10% dB boost in my EQ on my PC + Shure SM7B, and it's magic. I tried with the cloudlifter, the only difference was I toned the gain on my solo to 60% roughly, and it sounds 100% the same. I paid $230 to lower my gain knob, but I have 0 noise in both scenarios. I'm probably going to return the cloudlifter. I have 30 days.
Oh wow! What gen is your Scarlett?
@@LoKnows It's the 3rd gen solo. The absolute cheapest one. I've just done the test about 10 times to make sure I'm not crazy. I use OBS Studio as my recording software, and I use FabFilter VST's or BIAS FX 2 which is a guitar effects processor, but it has noise gates, comps, EQ's, etc. So I tried a variety of VST's within OBS Studio, and for my scenario, the cloudlifter I would argue is of 0 use. I know some who swear by it, which is why ultimately everyone needs to at least try it. Most stores offer 30 day returns. I absolutely love your channel by the way. I just found you, and I'm glad I did. I don't tend to like many TH-camrs lol. You're simply one of my favourites now.
That’s great man! The cloudlifter has been out for yearssssss. During that time, interfaces have been getting better and better. I would definelty think with newer hardware, cloudlifter not required.
@@LoKnows Indeed, also I want to note that with the cloudlifter I lose that headroom, as I'm forced to scale back my gain knob on the scarlett solo to roughly 1-2 o'clock before it glows yellow. Without the cloudlifter, I can almost max it to roughly 5 o'clock before it starts glowing yellow. I am baffled because I am finding my audio interface to be amazing, but not quite powerful enough. It's a 56dB, and the Shure SM7B likes 60dB which is close. In the end the cloudlifter did not allow me to crank the overall output of my mic as I end up going in the yellow and red in my OBS Studio audio mix at the same dB. I am at a loss. I might make a video on this just to share my experience.
Short answer... No. Long answer, any mic pre will work. Not just the built in preamps in what ever interface you have. I have a DBX 286s channel strip and mic pre for powering dynamic mics like the 7B.
Great video. I wish more people knew that the Avalon is really only appropriate when you're using a condenser mic that doesn't need a lot of gain. An API, Vintech, Great River, Apex, etc are all a much better choice.
Can i say that cloudlifter cl-1 can make the recording volume louder without compromising quality?
So Your mic is connecting to the CL-1 cloudlifter, then straight into the ur Mbox? do u have a mixer after that or is the Mbox the only one?
Excellent review brother! Can't get any better info than this. Kudos
Still can't use my shure sm7b... i only have the mic and a scarlett solo 2.0, ain't that enough? please, i've had it since september 19 and still haven't tried my mic :(
isn't the whole point of a amplifier to do the exact same thing? Boost signal clarity while keeping the noise floor as low as possible ? I am wondering if a Cloudlifter is a budget alternative to a decent amplifier ?
a "decent amplifier" isn't clear.
A pre-amp is exactly what it says. It's a clean, colorless gain control device. The goal is to boost the SIGNAL without changing the color, or tone, of the sound.
An amplifier, in the general sense, will amplify the signal to produce a loud sound. This would be for a live performance. A podcast or studio recording wouldn't typically use an amplifier.
So, no. From what I know, unless you're getting a decent pre-amp, then no. The cloudlifter will be great.
Check out SpectreSoundStudios channel. He is an actual Audio Engineer and really know what he is doing. I've never seen a more knowledgeable channel.
Thank you for going into such detail in this video. It's helped me get more of an idea of what setup I need when buying the SM7B :)
I have a CL-1 and CL-2 and they are indispensable! I will soon have a CL-4 as well. An additional $150.00 for higher quality is pennies in the big
picture.
1:36 You're not introducing any noise that isn't already there. It only means the SNR has maxed out at that point. But it's not going to get any noisier relative to the signal amplitude at higher gain. This plateau in clean signal in interface pres at 150 ohm resistance (a typical mic load) usually occurs at 45dB, well past the halfway point.
The reason why the Cloudlifter helps provide clean gain in many cases is is because of it's exceptionally low self noise (compared to most low end pres) with an EIN (Equivalent Input Noise) of about -131 dB. However it's only going to be as effective as your preamps are noisy and a law of diminishing returns. Several of the pres tested here, particularly the H6, the H4n and the Avalon are stated to have relatively high self noises with the Zooms having an EIN of around -120 dB, the Avalon about -116 dB and see the most improvement. The Pres on the Yamaha Mixer and the Mbox are both stated to be at -128 dB which is why they already do so well on the 7B without the Cloudlifter. But that's where most preamps EINs have got to on most low end desktop interfaces these days, so in most cases Cloudlifters will not be such a dramatic improvement. The SSL 2 and M-Audio Air actually have quieter pres than Cloudlifter, so in those cases the Cloudlifter only adds noise.
Helping with my audio decisions. Thanks for making this for all of us!
Great and useful video! Looking to buy the RE20 with the Zoom H6 and it looks like the CL-1 will be bought in conjunction with them. By the way, what cables do you use?
A Yamaha + CL-1 seems the most priceworthy combination to me. The Yamaha even has a useful compressor on each microphone channel.
Was a bit concerned bout gettin an activater like this, thank you
Greetings from Russia 🇷🇺
Thank you so much for the extensive test! You actually tackled both studio and mobile usage with the Cloudlifter. It does result in lower noise and a cleaner signal. Just a minor concern--- is it just me or there seems a slight bass penalty or low freq degradation when Cloudlifter CL-1 does it's thing?
There are quite a few old preamps that can power that thing, its just the new stuff now is catering to podcasters who love this mic. Years ago they just made these things for condensers.
what do you think about using the Focusrite scarlet interface?
Absolutely nothing wrong with using the focusrite. Some people use it straight up without a cloudlifter but it adds a bunch of white noise. So if you got the extra money go all in with it. This is a mic that will last a century
In 3 minutes, you already addressed my question. You rule man. Thanks
What you should try is set your pre amp at +20db then boost signal in daw manually. And Then compare That to cloudlifter + preamp. See if there is any difference.
Ill try it!
Lo Knows, Sort Of how did it go
are you talking about the mbox pro 3 ? im really interested in knowing if it does the job when pulling the knob
Thumbnail reads like "Do need you one?" thats literally the only constructive thing I have to say here. Good video, in all honesty.
Yeah i need one wanna buy the mic too please?
Yes, CL is needed. It’s a worthy $149 investment. Quality sound is amazing.
Thanks a lot for this video!! I have an EV 320 that I'm looking to boost the volume on and I am going to do a similar test with my mixer like you did with your Yahama board to see how it handles. I have a feeling my results will be similar so I may be investing in a cloudlifter soon as well.
It helps. I did a review of the RE27 with the cloudlifter as well
I have an SM7B that I use with a Rode AI-1 interface. While I do have to bring the preamp gain to 100% to make it workable, it is pretty low noise.
I did like your comparisons. You should try the Grace Design Preamp such as the simple m101. It is really clear with the SM7B and when I add the CL-1 Cloudlifter I experience very little improvement, but there is a little.
My cloud lifter is coming in a few days. I feel confident in this purchase. Great video!
@Brian B Now that you ostensibly had the Cloudlifter for 6 months.
What is your verdict with the SM7B? Worth trying it? I'm running my sm7B with the Focusrite Saffire Pro26. I'm just wondering if I should pick up another Presonus "Studio Channel" for the SM7B. "It is powerful enough with initial testing for my 2 RE20s so I'm trying to out weigh the Cloudlifter over a Black Lion Mic Pre.
What would be the cheapest set up here that you think is possible to achieve the best results for just a single mic set up ? (Wires, audio interface or cloud if needed)
Great video, great comparisons!!... One friendly suggestion: it's called SNR (Signal to Noise ratio, not Noise to Signal ratio).. Not a biggee, but when viewing spec ratios it does matter which comes first.
Thanks man. I won’t make that mistake again.
Lo Knows, Sort Of Okay, sounds good! Thanks again for the video..
Hey there! I just bought a shure sm7b I’m super new to this form of audio production, I’ve been using a rode h4n pro and a rode NTG4+ but I bought a shure to kind of experiment with it in videos and podcasts etc. and I was wondering ( sorry if this is dumb) I think If I understood your video, if I run my shure into my cloudlifter and into my h4n pro, with the phantom power, it should work without the hiss?
The SM7B requires lots of gain. If you have a preamp with lots of gain, then the preamp should have enough gain to function quietly with the SM7B. Other preamps with minimum gain will be a problem because to use the SM7B, the preamp must be turned all the way up. This high gain introduces lots of white noise. Insert the Cloudlifter to boost gain around 25db before preamp. Now you can lower the gain on the preamp. Yes, the Cloudlifter requires phantom power to operate it's amplifier. Hope that helps!
Bradley Smith Thank you!
@@MMTV Good luck!
Short answer: If you have an audio interface with a good built-in preamp, the SM7B doesn't need an additional pre-amp, though one is recommended if it can be afforded. With a low-end audio interface, you'll probably need an additional preamp.
i have mbox pro 3 the 8 inputs one.. like the one in the video but bigger i guess.. do i need a cloudlifter ?
I would have liked to see the Yamaha mixer without the Cloudlifter, but with the Phantom power turned on. The phantom power was only turned on after the Cloudlifter was connected. It would be nice to know if the mixer with the phantom power is enough without the Cloudlifter.
Yes sir, the mixer is powerful enough without the cloudlifter
The SM7b is a dynamic mic so it doesn't use phantom power like a condenser mic does. The phantom power was used only because the cloudlifter needs that power to work. So if you turned on the phantom power without the cloudlifter attached it doesn't change or boost the volume of the mic.
The best video I've found on this subject! Any experience on using the SM7B with the Focusrite ISA one?
I am using a SM7B with a Focusrite ISA One into my apollo twin, and I'm also experiencing the hiss because I have to drive the pre-amp to hot for some decent gain. I've read alot about that the Isa One combined with the SM7B should be a great mix without the cloudlifter. But I can't seem to get satisfied enough with the hiss still being present. I think you have convinced me to get one and atleast try it out!
Im in the same position, i have same set up, dealing with hiss and have read that cloudlifter isn't necessary, i think im gonna pull the trigger on a used one tho
@@10thPowerMusic Hi both.. did u get CL in end and are u happy with ISA One plus it?
@@-primitive-1035 funny you replied to this comment I posted 2 years ago but I actually just bought a cloud lifter last week🤣, haven't set it up yet tho but after much research I hear it should help alot, I still have isa one but feel I can get better quality with a cloudlifter included in the chain
@@10thPowerMusic yo,thanks for reply! Please reply with feedback of how it works for u now with CL when u have time..i got Isa One,and interface is RME Adi-2 Pro. Want to add Warm Audio compressor 76 as well. Recording rap vocals. So need to decide if I gonna go Shure+CL road,probably it will sound great,but lets see, still not 100% sure..either Shure or i go with some more expensive condenser in range of lets say 700,800 or even 1k
the avalon was louder than both zoom devices, at least on my headphones..
EDIT: *had louder NOISE than both zoom devices, when gain matched..
[Forgive my ignorance please] When I plug my (Sterling ST170 active ribbon) into a Cloudlifter Z and then into Scarlett interface and it does nothing until I activate the Scarlett phantom power. Doesn’t this indicate that the 48V is actually getting through to the mic? Otherwise why would the 48V button do anything at all? Also, despite even the manual for the mic stating that it does not require phantom power, this mic plugged directly into the interface is silent till I hit 48V.
It’s going to sound weird but the 48v is actually powering the Cloudlifters which in turns provided enough gain to the mic. The mic doesn’t need power, the mic needs high GAIN which the cloudlifters does. Becareful connecting the mic directly to the 48v it could damage it.
Hey LO, I realize this video is over 3 years old and you are much wiser and more experienced now, but I just want to point out for the benefit of anyone who might stumble across this video and this post that the audio (and the hiss) that you hear in your headphones isn’t the same as what actually gets recorded. Many recorders and audio interfaces have very noisy headphone amps which can overlay a second level of noise on top of the incoming signal being monitored. So from a testing standpoint, you shouldn’t be judging anything critically from what you are monitoring live, but instead you should record that audio and then play it back to get a true representation of how your audio signal chain is actually performing. Now, one could argue that it doesn’t matter since you are only performing a relative analysis, but even that becomes a useless exercise when you’re deciding whether or not you need to buy a cloud lifter device or not in order to get acceptable noise levels, because while you might be hearing hiss on a signal that isn’t using a CL device as you are monitoring on your headphones, generally speaking, you’ll hear less noise when you play back the recording, assuming your playback amp is cleaner than your monitoring amp. That’s all.
Great video. I learned a ton about stuff I didn’t even know I needed to learn. Thanks so much!
SUPER useful video. Glad I watched the whole thing. Thank you.
thank you so much for making this video omg. ive read so many comments of people literally having this problem for YEARS. my Shure sm7b came in 2 days ago and i was so disappointed how i neary spent $700-$800 during a pandemic taking risks so i could make music work. and when i set up it hisses and destroys my ears with white noise and i researched and couldnt find anything. my set up is focusrite solo 3rd generation, shure sm7b, cl1 cloud lifter, and windows laptop. so i would just have to replace my interface right ??? any recommendations what i should replace focusrite with?
and some interfaces are just normally loud because they’re not used to giving out so much power to power up a mic, correct?
I just got the sm7b yesterday and I'm maxing out the gain on my focusrite Scarlett solo 3rd gen but it's not creating any hiss or noise. I recorded using audition and it sounded completely clean on playback.
My dude, FANTASTIC video
this was a very well done video. thanks for the effort!
Helpful video. Next time you do one, leave about 5-10 seconds of non speaking on each preamp so we can compare the noise levels. It's a little difficult to hear the noise when you're talking, especially with youtube compression.
Hey! @Lo Knows Tech I just bought a cloudlifter CL-1, but it seem very prone to interference, have you experienced that?
I actually have not. But in general, I try not to have my cords, especially the mic and speaker cord tangled together. The *cords* are suppose to be shielded a enough not to cause interference but I still don’t trust it. Maybe it’s the cord?
@@LoKnows Thank you! I will try to see if it fixes it, I had a unbalanced xlr to trs 6.3mm cable before, going from my dbx to my interface, and that cable wasn't good at all, but when I changed it to a balanced cable I had no more issues with interference, I thought that a cloudlifter would make it even better, but I was wrong, it sounds even worse than with a unbalanced mono cable, strange!
Good stuff and thanks for the education, nice work.
Just curious if a Rodecaster Pro 1 would be compatible enough to not need the Cloud CL-1?
How do you think this would fare with a Focusrite Clarett 2pre?
Crazy that slapping the mic wasn't picked up at all...
please make a video on the dbx286 with this mic, I cant get rid of my hiss, I think i need the cloud lifter
Just buy it.
Hey Lo, so I'm testing out two SM7Bs with the 2 channel Cloudlifter on the Yamaha MG12XU and I am hearing a fairly decent amount of self noise. I thought it might be the Cloudlifter because I'm hearing it in both SM7B's, so I tested each on a Sound Devices MM1 with pad activated and am getting the same amount of self noise. Even without the Cloudlifter, gain is almost maxed, I can start hearing the self noise. Is your completely quiet of self noise or do you still hear it? and have to Gate it out in post? Cause right now, I want to refund these "dynamic mics" and stick with my condensers, 0 self noise.
Hey what ended up happening? I will say this. When I had mine set up it was completely quite. Of course my mic would still pic up room noise. But it was always noisier without the cloudlifter because I would be stressing the line ins with to much gain to the mic
Hey Lo, I don't know if its maybe the monitor levels, but monitoring levels from the MG12XU, I definitely hear some noise floor, but playing back in Audition, the noise is barely there. MY NT1's self noise is non existent. So the SM7B's should be super quiet then? I have two and they both have the same level of self noise.
Definitely need a pre amp. I have this mic
I have a mixer yamaha mgp24x it's bigger than the one you have in their will it solve the gain issues of sm7b thanx
when it comes to recording a loud source, like singing louder as opposed to singing quietly, do you need to lower gain? For example If my gain seems right under normal singing but know I will get louder aswell, will the the gain setting be fine? or will it "clip" etc? Im going to be recording my music and I am not a newbie writer but a newbie when it comes to technical recording stuff.
Also when someone is recording with 2 mics, can the gain be adjusted individually? I was thinking of a focusrite so idk if a feature like that depends on the models out there
BTW is that an AKG 214? Thats literally one of the mics I like the idea of using for vocals, I feel it is def a tad bit sibilant but hope a d easer could work and maybe the pencil infront of the mic trick along with pop filter/foam cover. I feel that mic has good character to bring out depth in the voice and clarity, I tried a neumann 103 at Guitar center next to the AKG and it just sounded so far away /quiter/bland in comparison. although im starting to question if they have those mics gained differently and all that causing big discrepancies. - Actually could a cloud lifter allow me to lower gain in the AKG and possible reduce the sibilance aswell?
Do you think the Yamaha MG10XU would need a C1 for SM7B? Or would it be fine without?
No, mg10xu uses the same preamps as the 12xu. So go in confidence
what if you wanted to just use this for streaming/talking with friends, i know its a bit overkill for just that but i got given it a few days ago by a mate, can you just use an xlr to usb cable straight into your pc or do you actually need something to bring it to 0 DB?
I’m only guessing, but from my experience with microphones, I don’t think it would provide enough gain and the usb may actually introduce noise.
@@LoKnows ah okay, i did just see a video on it, and a guy used xlr to usb cable and on about 30-40% gain on a mac, it seemed to work just fine, as i already have the mic im going to order the xlr to usb cable and see if it works, thanks :)
DarkyV1 awesome man, hey, please let me know,
How it works out for you, ivebeen looking at those xlr to usb as well.
Anyone who stumbles on this the mic activators on the H series recorders actually disables the horrible built in preamps so you are using the activator instead which is about 10dB better noise floor than the ones built into the H series recorders. The gain has nothing to do with this part.
The Yamaha MG10 can do the same as the MG10Xu just without the effects?? I'm looking for a good interface + the Cloud CL-1 for this Microphone. They don't sell the MG10Xu in Mexico but the MG10. Thanks!
Question: why could we not hear the "self noise" in the recording for the video? I notice that when I crank a good preamp with the SM7b I get a lot of noise in the monitors but when I listen back to the recording it is crystal clear. Why does it do this?
Did you say the Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen is ok on its own with the SHURE SM7B microphone but not the 2nd or 1st gen?
cheers.
Hi, this is an awesome explanation.
Can you help me with 1 qustion: Is cloudlifter + native instruments ka6 will be ok to use with sm7b(or re20) without maxed out gain on soundcard?
Thank you!
The hiss you're taking about is clearly in your headphone amp as there's nothing coming into my HD580s that you described.
I disagree. When I use a different mic on my rodecaster pro, the hiss goes away.
Can you test this with a c300 mark II? I want to know if the pre amps in there are good enough....
really organic, really helpful, informative and just sick man, thanks :)
i have a mbox pro 3 and sm7b i usually set the gain at about 75-80% i get a peak of -16 db on my DAW .. is it worth it to get the cloudlifter ? btw the wave that i get on my daw is small, on the same DB peak on my condenser mic its doubled the size but same volume .. does this mean my condenser has less noise ? the condenser is a telefunken m16 mkii
Yes get the lifer. The mbox pro 3 is struggle to provide enough gain and when you normailize it or try to raise the gain you’ll be increasing the line noise as well. So it would be a good bet to get the cloudlifer. Condesors are way more sensitive that’s why your levels appear so big
ive been recording for about a year now without a cloudlifter this is the result
soundcloud.com/elie-kawas/bein
i think ill follow your advice but i need to get my arse a job soon lloll ty tho
the ts cable would be giving you the noise, whenever you go from xlr to ts cable you get noise regardless the cable. idk why.
Very nice vid. I have the shure sm7b and this solves my problem. Btw you sure are a pretty man!
Hi... I am thinking to buy this mic but did know nothing about these gain issues. I was thinking of buying TC Helicon voice tone pedals. They have their own gain knobs. So, would those pedals solve those gain issues?
I have been looking into getting a Shure SM7b and have been considering getting this my Audio Interface that i have is a Presonus Audiobox USB 96 would this be sufficient enough if i decide to forgo the Cloudlifter?
Hi! So I recently purchased the Zoom H6 along with the cloudlifter and Shure SM7B. I'm not sure if that's everything I need? Because I'm using the microphone but there's a lot of humming in the background. I don't think the cloudlifter is working and I just replaced it with another one. But I'm wondering if it could be something else that I'm missing? Is there another part I need to purchase before I can use this microphone to the best of its ability?
how did it go now??
this video could have been so great if he actually tested more common audio interfaces that people will use in there homes
P.S. actually my church dose use the zoom handy recorder H4n ;-)
What cable do you use for SM7B?
This is great! This is exactly what I was looking for
Hi! I wanted to know if would be nice to pick the scarlet with the tritonaudio or if i should pick the cloud, or for instance the steinberg ur22 mk2 with cloud/tritonaudio
Thx💙
Your videos are really amazing! I plan to purchase the SM7B along with the cloudlifter and the Zoom H6. I was wondering if I needed to purchase any additional cables to get it to work, or does it come with them?
2 xlr cables and you are good to go. Make sure it’s (2) female to male xlr cables.
Lo Knows, Sort Of Thank you so much!
i would be interested to know how you had the setting on the back of the sm7b set cause i didnt have that much trouble powering mine
Great video!! I’m looking for some help and you may know the answer. I just picked up this Mic along with the cloudlifter and somehow you cannot hear the sound through Apple AirPods - I didn’t know if you had any idea why this wouldn’t work? I’ve tried multiple devices and the speakers and all other Bluetooth devices work great just not AirPods which is crazy. Apple had no clue