Howdy doody partner, if this review helped you make your decision, I got these links handy thank ya very much Amazon: SM57 - amzn.to/2P1pUXC V7x - amzn.to/3nwfRIn Sweetwater: SM57 - imp.i114863.net/LPY3gM V7x - imp.i114863.net/9WBaQQ
First of all there´s a terrible hum on your recordings with the V7x - and secondly - like a promient audio engineer once said: if the SM57 would be a microphone it would be like the Beyer M201. And I support that opinion whole heartedly.
What mic do you recommend for recording acoustic guitar with an entry level interface on an untreated room? I like the Idea of using a dynamic mic (because of the untreated room) but then I remember that I used to have a focusrite 2i2 (probably v2), and I think it didn't have enough power for my sm57, in front of and amp it did fine but for acoustics and vocals volume was really low. So I either had a bad copy of the SM57 or the entry level interface was not able to power it. Condensers volume was great but too much ambient noise.
The amount of room rumble from the V7 was pretty noticeable. Also for voice/speech the Shure A2WS wind screen is gold on the 57, works better than the 58 grille and has a slicker visual profile too.
Yeah? What do you think it is? I noticed an excessive amount of low end, but figured since they notated that on the frequency response that must have been par for the course.
@@AudioHaze Anton Browne did a video comparing the v7 and v7x alongside the sm58 I believe. Since he has a particularly bassy voice, you can tell a clear difference in bass response and proximity effect. The V7 is a lot more neutral with its proximity effect, might be more to your liking.
Love both mics, but especially for live use (in my case, snare drum) the V7X sounds a whole lot smoother on the top end once you start boosting high end. That makes it a lot easier for me to get the snare present, but not harsh, in a dense live setting. The SM57 works, too, I just prefer the V7X for this specific use case. My two cents :)
What I find really interesting about the SM57 is that while it's very much a take it or leave it kind of presence boost, it doesn't have to stay that way. If you use it for spoken word and want to get rid of the plosives and wind noise while leaning on the proximity, the A81WS wind foam cuts the high frequencies exactly where they could have otherwise been detrimental, while also dealing with the wind. It's like this is what the engineers had in mind from the start. Enjoyed the video, fair comparison. The V7x isn't my thing but I wouldn't have known that without your taking the time to try them.
Which would u suggest for the sm57: the a81ws windscreen or the a2ws, which most retailers label it as THE associated windscreen to the sm57, as if they were in a bundle for some reason
@@S2condHeartbeat I would absolutely use the A81WS because I like to use dynamic mics for the proximity effect. The bigger foam gives me better plosive rejection when I eat the SM57 which to me is much of the point of using the mic for spoken word in the first place. I've no experience wirh the smaller foam, but with proper technique that would also work well
@@LajosNagy Would that foam muffle the sound a bit too much? I assume that based on how big the foam is (even though that's the main reason why it rejects plosives in such an effective way), but you might not have that problem if you're "on" the mic
@@S2condHeartbeat it's surprisingly little colouration on the sound but it does cut some of the high-end. That's the trick though, the SM57 is a little top-heavy for voice out of the box, but paired with the big foam it sounds very pleasant. One could argue it becomes a lot more SM7B-like but i've had them side by side and prefer the Sm57 on my voice. There's videos of this exact comparison on youtube, worth checking out!
Don't forget that sE V7x is supercardioid, meaning that it picks up sound from the rear. Also due to the extended frequency response in the low end, it will pick up any rumbling noise from your environment, especially coming from the rear or front. Remember when you tested Neumann vs NT1 . The Neumann mic has that sensitivity of picking up low frequency, which is actually good for studio recording but not very good in a non-forgiving environment. As for electrical buzz, I don't experience that even though I place it just 1 meter from monitor/audio interface and power source.
Yeah good point! I will note though there have been other mics with that extension that don't seem to have the same issue with rejection environment sounds. For example the RE20 has a similar extension to the v7x and doesn't seem to pick up on this at the same intensity :/
YES THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO!! I literally bought the V7x last week and I have this EXACT issue with excessive RF/EMI. My Procaster and Q2U don't have anywhere NEAR as much interference. It's been kind of haunting me these past few days so seeing this video gives me such a huge wave of validation... I actually really love the tone of the V7x, but seeing that the microphone, by design, picks up all that interference has just now convinced me to return it. Awesome work by the way
No way?? Dude thank you for saying this!! I was worried I just got a faulty unit then, glad (well maybe sad lol) it wasn't just my unit and I was representing the product and not just a faulty unit
Both the V7 and V7x are quite susceptible to EMI/RF noise in my experience, and I'm quite sure it is due to the magnet they use in the capsule (which makes me think it is EMI in particular). It is the reason for the extended responses of both mics, but also increases sensitivity to this type of noise it seems. I like my V7 since I find the high end extension pleasing compared to most dynamics. (BTW the V7 has a way more controlled proximity effect than the V7x variant so that might be a better fit for a more neutral response) Can be difficult to use at a computer for podcasting or streaming due to EMI, but with some adjusted positioning and/or extra shielding on the pc case you can make it work very well.
Also I have heard that the cause for more EMI from electronic devices can also be due to bad grounding and dirty power in said devices. And some have recommended a power conditioner to fix this but that seems like an expensive fix for most people.
I'm starting to wonder if my mic just had bad grounding issues, its displaying some of the same behaviors as an ungrounded pickup (as another commenter said). that being said, happy to hear I wasn't the only one with RF issues, may be a product fault, or just a trade off for its tonal characteristics.
My SM57 too is like an EMF magnet. It's picking up strange EMF sounds that my other mics do not pickup. Did a little experiment and placed (loosely) a mic grille on top of the 57 (not screwed in because it has no threads), and magically it worked like a faraday cage. EMF is gone. What i'm hearing from your V7x is similar.
Great review! I prefer the sound of the SM57. I've watched a lot of comparison videos where the V7 was up against the SM58. In those comparisons I liked the V7 more (on vocals). But the RF interference thing and the proximity issue has put me of the V7. Did you ever compared the SM58 / 57 against the AKG D5 for vocals?
The second blind test with the soft guitar, the V7x really shines. The higher sensitivity made a difference. The SM57 recording of the same part was barely useable without additional processing. Otherwise the SM57 seem to hold it's place as the budget 1 mic do-it-all workhorse. In the end you really need several colors on your palette.
I'm a fello sm57 fan boy. I recently started buliding a home studio and the mic I IMEDIATLY went to buy was the sm57. I grew up in a family of musicians so I saw that mic and the sm58 everywhere, I knew it was a tried and true microphone that I can use for everything. And I'm super happy with my purchase, does everything I need it to do and then some. But, I gotta say, I prefered the tone of the V7x. There was more boos in the mid bass and bass and a tastful boost in the high end as well. Gave it a nice 'V' sound, and when you did the proximity effect thing, I just found it sounded even better. Great bass, and a much more significant boost in the mid bass. For the raw samples, the V7x sounded better. But, the noise rejection from the sm57 was insane in comparison, the amount of noise coming from the V7x was like, really annoying. Meanwhile everything would go quiet the second the sm57 is the mic your using. I think that the raw tone of the V7x is better in terms of raw tone, but with EQ you can get the sm57 to sound better then it, which is what I do anyway. And the noise rejection of the sm57 is just so much better, it really counts when your in a really loud environment like brooklyn, or montreal, canada which is where I live. TL;DR is that the tone of the V7x imo is better then the tone of the sm57 but the noise reduction on the sm57 is so much better to the point where I would take the sm57 10 times out of 10.
the trick to make the v7x useable, if not better than a 58, for vocals, is to take the grille of a regular v7 and put that on the v7x. proximity effect gone, problem solved. my only gripe with the v7 series is that there is a little bit too much of 840 Hz in it. something easily fixed with a bit of EQ
I’m still using the SM58 into the Zoom Podtrak P4 for my spoken word, but recently started applying Julian Krause’s EQ (SM58=>SM7b) into my Fairlight vocal chain. Still wish I had heard of the V7 before I bought the SM58 for the extended high end. I speak about two fists from the added foam wind screen to tame proximity & sibilance. But the SM 58 definitely gets the job done!
Just recently found your channel in the last week or so. I'm really enjoying your stuff man. I'm definitely newer to everything audio but I still find pleasure in watching your videos whether I understand most of it or not. The quality of your channel is incredible and your videos are very informative and inviting. Keep up the great work!
I find the SM57 picks up more RF noise than my V7, especially while plugged into a Fethead (and VERY touchy around dimmer lightbulbs). After some desperate googling, I found others having the same SM57 issue, mainly due to it having a single coil capsule. The V7 (I don't have the V7x), has less RF noise in the same setup for me?!?
My POV on the whole SM57 thing (after trying numerous other brands) is the SM57 is what I grab when I have a guitar rig I like the tone of and simply need to capture it….If I’m not happy with the tone or having a hard time finding a good spot on the cabinet, I’ll opt for a e609, ATM650 or something else to massage what I want to hear into the frequency response. I think the SM57 captures a good source best and other dynamics aren’t as good at that, but they’re better at re-working or improving a not quite optimal tone than a 57. On the flip side, Mutt Lange did a pretty great job capturing the Young Brother’s Marshalls with just Neumann’s! 😎
I say yes. I absolutely love the V7. Have a few of them. Never really been a huge fan of the SM57 or 58 if I’m honest. The V7 is such a Big Bang for your buck. Especially since it sounds amazing and also comes in quite a few different colors lol
Hypercardioid only means that rejection will be 45º from the back (instead of straight from the back like regular cardioid). Hypercardioid will, most likely, have more proximity effect due to resemblance to figure 8 pattern (as a rule of hand: omni has the less proximity and fig8 the most). You can take advantage of that using a mic with weak bass response and lots of proximity to avoid bleed from other sources (regular V7 may be taylored better for this). Nice video!
The VX7 is a new favorite for lots of people for snare drum recordings in particular. I use it in my home studio and I really like how it sounds. Has a nice beefiness to it. Not too much though.
I'd always rather deal with a low-Q, smooth response since I'll only need a gentle, low Q correction to bring it flat. Even the 2" proximity boost is easily taken out by one very low Q parametric cut. By the way, boosting "all frequencies" is called gain and doesn't amount so some uncontrollable hot mess. Your comments at 10:38 "now you've got a huge boost in the low-end as well" seemed like you wanted to convey that this was very bad indeed. If you're going to have a super-cardioid pattern, you're going to have proximity effect (c.f., the Beta 57a), but I don't think any competent engineer is going to find it hard to work with. (RF susceptibility is another matter, however. Good catch on that one.)
Nice review! Good that I saw this, I already got V7x, gorgeous mic! but using for vocals. I plan to buy SM57 bec of popularity but now that they’re similar, I will pass. The only problem I noticed with V7x for vocals is the proximity effect, so sensitive to plosives. Thanks for confirming that one! I thought i got a defective one. I have to put pop filter like condense which is odd since it’s a dynamic mic 😂 . I’m going to DIY some extra stockings layer and put it inside the capsule cover to address this issue. Since I want to showcase that beauty.
haha those commenting asking for comparison actually could be referring to V7x- that x version is meant for instruments just like Sm57. I got V7x, but now I’m curious if Sm57 is better since I dont have one lol😅
Not surprised. That is one of the worst mics 🎤 on the market. The xm8500 beats the pants off these in blind tests. Then once the pants are off it goes balls deep.
@@charlesg5085 I disagree with that. While the V7 was not my favorite, I would take it over the Behringer any day. The smeared, veiled, hollow, resonant sound of the XM8500 does not sound “good” to me.
@@DapperDanLovesYou It must be your voice or bias. You need to do blind test with your mics. Also, try clearing the flem like substance from your mouth and throat before you talk.
@@charlesg5085 to each their own! I would use the XM8500 over *nothing,* but given a budget of $100 for a single dynamic mic, I would never once consider using it. That being said, is a $50 pawn shop guitar “good?” Well, if the alternative is *no* guitar, then it's the best guitar in the world!
OMG The 60Hz ground hum picked up by the V7x / your signal chain somewhere drove me insane with headphones that have a +5dB or so bass boost. It had too much bass for vocals anyway!
Yeah no definitely. So thats not the v7 or anything wrong in the vocal chain, thats literally the apartment buildings heater lol While monitoring while recording it didn't sound as drastic as it does after hearing the finished product. So basically the only thing to take away here is the v7x seemed to do a worse job at rejecting those vibrations, the 57 clearly had no issues with that. EDIT: which confuses me because the 57 doesn't have that suspended diaphragm.
Late comment (again) but I feel like people want to dethrone the 57 because its so popular. A lot of people hate on popular things even though there's a reason why they're so popular
The SE electronic v7 is shaping to be the new fan favourite, but for GENERAL usage you can’t really go wrong with the 57/58. Old but still good, but can they really stand the *test of time?*
There is a really, REALLY good long form example of how this V7 mic sounds. It is a 22-song concert by The Warning recorded live in a small theater, with completely separate mixes for the house sound and the video. I've probably watched it ten times. If you like rock, I'll bet you can't STOP watching it. th-cam.com/video/7hbBa1-1p7M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=WXsGgxEGJXYfsPgA For years, they used to use SM-58s on the bassist and guitarist. Now they seem to use V7s. It may have something to do with the way it enhances female vocals. Music starts at 2:06. Songs are mostly English. Band is Mexican, playing in Mexico.
Thanks for an informative video. I immediately figured out which was which and preferred the added top end clarity of the SE. The solution to the proximity “problem” lies in the name, you back off! This is what every professional voice artist do, adapt the distance to the environment, the context and the sound pressure. An added bonus of using this kind of microphone, like the SM 57, 58 … is that the cardioid shape is created by the holes at the “back” of the top of the mik, letting in sound waves that are out of phase with those coming in at the business end. If you cover these holes you get close to omni response. Resulting in a much more open sound. The downside being the susceptibility to leakage and feedback. Don’t grab a SM-58 right behind the wire mesh and lean over the monitor, you’ll get FEEEEEDBACK! I’ll put an order on the SE asap.
V7x is a much more “complete” microphone with more natural sound and wider frequency response. But it’s also picking up a ton of low frequency sound from your environment. So the sm57 is probably better in a less then ideal studio
There is one thing I did notice: literally every dinamic mic sounds on your tests less muddy and more crispy. Could you please tell me, how did you do that 🙏🙏
First, thanks for all the amazing content! You put so much work into your videos and I hope it’s fully appreciated. I have a quick question I hope you can help me with: I live in a tiny, shoebox apartment in Taipei, and it’s impossible for me to acoustically treat the space. Would you recommend the CC8 or an SM57 paired with the 4th Gen Focusrite in order to record my ukulele videos with as little post processing as possible. Thanks so much if you can respond! Either way, have an amazing day! ☀️
The 57 is definitely more flexible, but the V7 is a better vocal mic. These mics that you are reviewing are instrument mics, so of course the V7x would not match up with a 57 because the frequency is set for instruments not vocals. The regular V7 is better with that on vocals. I would love to hear them matched up on horns or drums instead of vocals. The guitar cab thing was telling though. Lots of RF noise on the first mic.
For mostly voice (for videos, voice-overs) or vocals, what do you think of SM 57a vs Shure SM57 vs SE Electronics V7x ? Really would be interested in your input :) (I've got a NT2A as well as a SM 58 and a scarlet 2i2)
The V7X might have more rumble and RF sensitivity than the regular V7, my V7 does not exhibit those issues, and has a slightly different sound (that I actually prefer)
The V7 sounds better than the V7x on vocals as the former doesn’t have the low end boost of the V7x. I use the V7 predominately for vocals and rarely use my Beta58a’s anymore. I and the artists much prefer the V7. Nice video,
Something is off here. Either your audio chain has low end boost somewhere or your environment has negatively compensated for the presence boost of SM57 so that a flat frequency response microphone sounds V shaped. The mids are not neutral at all. My V7x doesn't sound like that. I swapped V7 grill head on V7x but that didn't alter sound much if any.
Wait you think the SM57 sounds V shaped? I personally didn't think that. I do however think the v7 perhaps had too much low end to be accurate to how it sounds. Judging from the comments here from V7 owners, it does smell like perhaps something wasn't quite right with it. That being said, both were run through the same vocal chain, same environmental conditions, same dB level upon export, no processing done through a Scarlett 18i20 interface. The crappy heating does mess with my takes sometimes, and that DOES result in a boost in low end, it seemed as though the V7 picked this up more than the 57. Perhaps this is what you're hearing?
@@frankluo230 Got it, yeah the environmental sounds are a good point. That being said, the proximity effect of that V7 is pretty intense, a solid 10dB boost at 2 inches away it pretty drastic. I think some of that V shape could be contributed to its sensitivity to proximity
Shure makes the best mics, hands down. Every single "basic" or "standard" shure mic (7b, sm81, 137, ksm32, 57) has out performed any other mics I've tried. They're so underrated it's criminal. Yet everyone owns one or 5 lol.
Shure mics haven’t even seen underrated. They’re for some reason used everywhere, even though they’re so damn old and we have better mics nowadays for the same price.
@@josku5 idk, the sm7b is probably the best mic ever made, dynamic or condenser, (best as in captures the largest variety of sources reliably and even BIC in many cases) for under $400. Same goes for the sm81 as far as sdc's go. I'd say 84s have a hair more of that mojo but they're definitely not twice as good despite being twice the price.
@@tallmccartneymusic There are many small and large diaphram condenser mics that capture detail much more accurately in the 400$ price range than the sm7b. The sm7b is known for having a darker sound, which to some might be the perfect result they are looking for, but it definitely isn’t clearer than condensers. Also the 7b is good for podcasting and singing, maybe guitars and snares as well but it just can’t do everything that a more versatile condenser can (overheads, lower frequency instruments, etc.)
I hate to admit it, but I haven't used my 57 often since my cheap neewer stand broke, too lazy to take my nt1 off my wave mic arm. The sm57 makes my voice sound smooth, while (with a de-esser) the nt1 makes me sound like me 😆
On rf noise: I had the exact opposite results. The sm57 had *way* more noise than my v7x; even just on the mic stand the sm57 hummed. I bought another one to check if the first one was just faulty, same thing.
I for myself- for once cannot say I prefer one sound over the other here. Both microphones seem to do a similarly good job. Wether you prefer whatever microphone might depend on the style you are aiming for and it certainly does come down to personal preference. However, RF rejection is something, I cannot ignore, because I had to deal with issues like that myself before. And for that simple reason, I am with you here. I too prefer the Shure SM57.
Yay team 57!! Yeah, to be fair this may just be my specific microphone and I didn't want to fault it too much for RF rejection, who knows it may vary from microphone to microphone. I can definitely see sm7b lovers liking the low end on the v7x though.
Well, let’s say it’s a variation thing. In this case, you maybe could fault sE electronics’ quality control here. That I am not very partial to, knowing how RF rejection usually is realized.
No, definitely, the Shure SM57 is much better! I own two of them, sir, I totally agree; by the way, huge fan of your channel, and my name is Josh -- I'm trying to develop a career in Voice Over.
Nice to meet you Josh! Good to know you like the 57 better :) I love that no matter what the role we all just universally and collectively like the 57 haha
hey man .can you check is v7x works with xlr to usb cable?? i just got sm57 but it seem it only get 50% volume if i use the xlr to usb cable..i know sm58 work with that cable perfectly but i want to know is v7x works with the cable just like the sm58????
I wouldn't count on it, dynamic mics in general are going to need a decent amount of gain in order to get up to proper volume, a USB to XLR will not provide this level, it will also introduce a ton of noise. If you're working on a budget, I would recommend the Behringer UMC202HD (I think there way also be a $40 one?) that will power the v7x great and are actually pretty great quality!
Soooooo, I just installed a jfet pre amp and replaced the (SUPER TINY SHIT WIRES) in the mic with some thicker shielded wire and now the RF noise is gone. I'm not sure if Se are skimping on the wiring on just this mic or if its the same with the v7 and the MK varient but its not great. Its a shame because this mic is fantastic.
Which would u suggest for the sm57: the a81ws windscreen or the a2ws, which most retailers label it as THE associated windscreen to the sm57, as if they were in a bundle for some reason
Yeah the excessive low end was weird, part of that can be attributed to the environment, but the SM57 didn't seem to have that same issue rejecting. The RF noise is suspect too, idk maybe I just got a nasty example
A singer who moves around a lot while recording on the v7 will give you a lot of work during editing. I also prefer the sound of the sm57. It is going to cut through the mix better with less EQ. If you move away from the V7 enough to balance the frequency response (proper amount of bass) you are going to have more of the room (or outside noise) on the recording as well. No thanks.
The SE V7 is what Billie Eilish uses for all her live show vocals. Uh, if the Vx is not produced for vocals, why are you using it as a voice mic in the review?
Dont like the se v7. The 1st time you switched from 57 to v7 the i can hear a very loud rumbling sound. Sounds like mains hum or a mechanical vibrations from the stand. And its also very susceptible to Rf so thats very bad for a live band setup.
Wow, with that RF noise you’d almost have to wonder if that V7 was a dud?! Difficult to believe SE would manufacture a workhorse type mic with such poor rejection..
Yeah I think thats sort of true, I think if its mid forward with a nice controlled presence boost, thats my style. BUT, definitely not too much high end
in my opinion it is! And i think its a really bad habit, that engineers always recommend an 57 or 58, its lazy and both arent the best in their pricebracket.
To me anythang close i go with shure mics, simply because a mic been 50 plus years and for new mics including all this up to date modern technology they still got to go thru The GRAND DAADY of them all SHURE and shure has not change their patent AGAIN anythang close go with the name u knows 4 "SHURE"!!!!
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Howdy doody partner, if this review helped you make your decision, I got these links handy thank ya very much
Amazon:
SM57 - amzn.to/2P1pUXC
V7x - amzn.to/3nwfRIn
Sweetwater:
SM57 - imp.i114863.net/LPY3gM
V7x - imp.i114863.net/9WBaQQ
First of all there´s a terrible hum on your recordings with the V7x - and secondly - like a promient audio engineer once said: if the SM57 would be a microphone it would be like the Beyer M201. And I support that opinion whole heartedly.
What mic do you recommend for recording acoustic guitar with an entry level interface on an untreated room?
I like the Idea of using a dynamic mic (because of the untreated room) but then I remember that I used to have a focusrite 2i2 (probably v2), and I think it didn't have enough power for my sm57, in front of and amp it did fine but for acoustics and vocals volume was really low. So I either had a bad copy of the SM57 or the entry level interface was not able to power it. Condensers volume was great but too much ambient noise.
The amount of room rumble from the V7 was pretty noticeable. Also for voice/speech the Shure A2WS wind screen is gold on the 57, works better than the 58 grille and has a slicker visual profile too.
Haven't tried the V7x, but I love the V7. There's something funky going on with the V7x here. Weird stuff. Thanks for the video.
Yeah? What do you think it is? I noticed an excessive amount of low end, but figured since they notated that on the frequency response that must have been par for the course.
@@AudioHaze Anton Browne did a video comparing the v7 and v7x alongside the sm58 I believe. Since he has a particularly bassy voice, you can tell a clear difference in bass response and proximity effect. The V7 is a lot more neutral with its proximity effect, might be more to your liking.
Love both mics, but especially for live use (in my case, snare drum) the V7X sounds a whole lot smoother on the top end once you start boosting high end. That makes it a lot easier for me to get the snare present, but not harsh, in a dense live setting. The SM57 works, too, I just prefer the V7X for this specific use case. My two cents :)
What I find really interesting about the SM57 is that while it's very much a take it or leave it kind of presence boost, it doesn't have to stay that way. If you use it for spoken word and want to get rid of the plosives and wind noise while leaning on the proximity, the A81WS wind foam cuts the high frequencies exactly where they could have otherwise been detrimental, while also dealing with the wind. It's like this is what the engineers had in mind from the start.
Enjoyed the video, fair comparison. The V7x isn't my thing but I wouldn't have known that without your taking the time to try them.
Absolutely agreed! That isolated presence boost also makes it very easy to eq out even if you don't have the A81WS
Which would u suggest for the sm57: the a81ws windscreen or the a2ws, which most retailers label it as THE associated windscreen to the sm57, as if they were in a bundle for some reason
@@S2condHeartbeat I would absolutely use the A81WS because I like to use dynamic mics for the proximity effect. The bigger foam gives me better plosive rejection when I eat the SM57 which to me is much of the point of using the mic for spoken word in the first place. I've no experience wirh the smaller foam, but with proper technique that would also work well
@@LajosNagy Would that foam muffle the sound a bit too much? I assume that based on how big the foam is (even though that's the main reason why it rejects plosives in such an effective way), but you might not have that problem if you're "on" the mic
@@S2condHeartbeat it's surprisingly little colouration on the sound but it does cut some of the high-end. That's the trick though, the SM57 is a little top-heavy for voice out of the box, but paired with the big foam it sounds very pleasant. One could argue it becomes a lot more SM7B-like but i've had them side by side and prefer the Sm57 on my voice. There's videos of this exact comparison on youtube, worth checking out!
Don't forget that sE V7x is supercardioid, meaning that it picks up sound from the rear. Also due to the extended frequency response in the low end, it will pick up any rumbling noise from your environment, especially coming from the rear or front. Remember when you tested Neumann vs NT1 . The Neumann mic has that sensitivity of picking up low frequency, which is actually good for studio recording but not very good in a non-forgiving environment. As for electrical buzz, I don't experience that even though I place it just 1 meter from monitor/audio interface and power source.
Yeah good point! I will note though there have been other mics with that extension that don't seem to have the same issue with rejection environment sounds. For example the RE20 has a similar extension to the v7x and doesn't seem to pick up on this at the same intensity :/
thank you for recommending the sm57. Saved me a LOT of money I was prepared to drop on the SM7B
Glad I could help!!
YES THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO!! I literally bought the V7x last week and I have this EXACT issue with excessive RF/EMI. My Procaster and Q2U don't have anywhere NEAR as much interference. It's been kind of haunting me these past few days so seeing this video gives me such a huge wave of validation... I actually really love the tone of the V7x, but seeing that the microphone, by design, picks up all that interference has just now convinced me to return it. Awesome work by the way
No way?? Dude thank you for saying this!! I was worried I just got a faulty unit then, glad (well maybe sad lol) it wasn't just my unit and I was representing the product and not just a faulty unit
Both the V7 and V7x are quite susceptible to EMI/RF noise in my experience, and I'm quite sure it is due to the magnet they use in the capsule (which makes me think it is EMI in particular). It is the reason for the extended responses of both mics, but also increases sensitivity to this type of noise it seems.
I like my V7 since I find the high end extension pleasing compared to most dynamics. (BTW the V7 has a way more controlled proximity effect than the V7x variant so that might be a better fit for a more neutral response)
Can be difficult to use at a computer for podcasting or streaming due to EMI, but with some adjusted positioning and/or extra shielding on the pc case you can make it work very well.
Also I have heard that the cause for more EMI from electronic devices can also be due to bad grounding and dirty power in said devices. And some have recommended a power conditioner to fix this but that seems like an expensive fix for most people.
I'm starting to wonder if my mic just had bad grounding issues, its displaying some of the same behaviors as an ungrounded pickup (as another commenter said). that being said, happy to hear I wasn't the only one with RF issues, may be a product fault, or just a trade off for its tonal characteristics.
My SM57 too is like an EMF magnet. It's picking up strange EMF sounds that my other mics do not pickup. Did a little experiment and placed (loosely) a mic grille on top of the 57 (not screwed in because it has no threads), and magically it worked like a faraday cage. EMF is gone. What i'm hearing from your V7x is similar.
Great review! I prefer the sound of the SM57. I've watched a lot of comparison videos where the V7 was up against the SM58. In those comparisons I liked the V7 more (on vocals). But the RF interference thing and the proximity issue has put me of the V7. Did you ever compared the SM58 / 57 against the AKG D5 for vocals?
I have not! Perhaps someday I'll get the chance :)
The second blind test with the soft guitar, the V7x really shines. The higher sensitivity made a difference. The SM57 recording of the same part was barely useable without additional processing. Otherwise the SM57 seem to hold it's place as the budget 1 mic do-it-all workhorse. In the end you really need several colors on your palette.
I'm a fello sm57 fan boy. I recently started buliding a home studio and the mic I IMEDIATLY went to buy was the sm57. I grew up in a family of musicians so I saw that mic and the sm58 everywhere, I knew it was a tried and true microphone that I can use for everything. And I'm super happy with my purchase, does everything I need it to do and then some. But, I gotta say, I prefered the tone of the V7x. There was more boos in the mid bass and bass and a tastful boost in the high end as well. Gave it a nice 'V' sound, and when you did the proximity effect thing, I just found it sounded even better. Great bass, and a much more significant boost in the mid bass. For the raw samples, the V7x sounded better. But, the noise rejection from the sm57 was insane in comparison, the amount of noise coming from the V7x was like, really annoying. Meanwhile everything would go quiet the second the sm57 is the mic your using.
I think that the raw tone of the V7x is better in terms of raw tone, but with EQ you can get the sm57 to sound better then it, which is what I do anyway. And the noise rejection of the sm57 is just so much better, it really counts when your in a really loud environment like brooklyn, or montreal, canada which is where I live.
TL;DR is that the tone of the V7x imo is better then the tone of the sm57 but the noise reduction on the sm57 is so much better to the point where I would take the sm57 10 times out of 10.
the trick to make the v7x useable, if not better than a 58, for vocals, is to take the grille of a regular v7 and put that on the v7x.
proximity effect gone, problem solved.
my only gripe with the v7 series is that there is a little bit too much of 840 Hz in it. something easily fixed with a bit of EQ
nice i have the V7x i love it, but true that its a noise magnet 😬
SM57 still seems to be the goat in terms of versatility and balance. great video
I’m still using the SM58 into the Zoom Podtrak P4 for my spoken word, but recently started applying Julian Krause’s EQ (SM58=>SM7b) into my Fairlight vocal chain. Still wish I had heard of the V7 before I bought the SM58 for the extended high end. I speak about two fists from the added foam wind screen to tame proximity & sibilance. But the SM
58 definitely gets the job done!
Nice! I mean personally I would say you made the right choice, but thats just based on my ears and personal preference :/
Just recently found your channel in the last week or so. I'm really enjoying your stuff man. I'm definitely newer to everything audio but I still find pleasure in watching your videos whether I understand most of it or not. The quality of your channel is incredible and your videos are very informative and inviting. Keep up the great work!
Wow thank you so much my friend!! Glad I could help and teach at least a little :)
I’d second that! Can’t stop watching your videos! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Never seen any other youtubers like u! Learned so much!
Great reveiw. The SM sounded like it controlled the low end rumble and plosives much better. The SE while sounding very good sounded boomy at times.
I find the SM57 picks up more RF noise than my V7, especially while plugged into a Fethead (and VERY touchy around dimmer lightbulbs). After some desperate googling, I found others having the same SM57 issue, mainly due to it having a single coil capsule. The V7 (I don't have the V7x), has less RF noise in the same setup for me?!?
My POV on the whole SM57 thing (after trying numerous other brands) is the SM57 is what I grab when I have a guitar rig I like the tone of and simply need to capture it….If I’m not happy with the tone or having a hard time finding a good spot on the cabinet, I’ll opt for a e609, ATM650 or something else to massage what I want to hear into the frequency response.
I think the SM57 captures a good source best and other dynamics aren’t as good at that, but they’re better at re-working or improving a not quite optimal tone than a 57. On the flip side, Mutt Lange did a pretty great job capturing the Young Brother’s Marshalls with just Neumann’s! 😎
Krause in the morning and Haze at night? This really is my day!
lol I'm honored to be mentioned along with Krause :)
@@AudioHaze He has the best sweaters.
I like the 57 much better. The brightness added so much for my ears
I say yes. I absolutely love the V7. Have a few of them. Never really been a huge fan of the SM57 or 58 if I’m honest. The V7 is such a Big Bang for your buck. Especially since it sounds amazing and also comes in quite a few different colors lol
Thanks for the info! Have you ever gotten the chance to compare the V7 to V7x?
@@AudioHaze not yet unfortunately. But I plan on getting one at some point!
It's a tried and true microphone with the sm57. This mic can do anything with audio.
100% Facts!!
Hypercardioid only means that rejection will be 45º from the back (instead of straight from the back like regular cardioid).
Hypercardioid will, most likely, have more proximity effect due to resemblance to figure 8 pattern (as a rule of hand: omni has the less proximity and fig8 the most).
You can take advantage of that using a mic with weak bass response and lots of proximity to avoid bleed from other sources (regular V7 may be taylored better for this).
Nice video!
Think of it as a 5k-10k fun run.
I'm so glad you you mentioned the airplane
The VX7 is a new favorite for lots of people for snare drum recordings in particular. I use it in my home studio and I really like how it sounds. Has a nice beefiness to it. Not too much though.
The 57 is THE mic. There are other mics that are "better" at specific roles but usually there more expensive and no where near as versatile.
Absolutely, I think (at least for dynamics) it should serve as home base, and compare from there to find a specific mic for the role.
I actually plan on buying a third SM57 around Christmas time.
I'd always rather deal with a low-Q, smooth response since I'll only need a gentle, low Q correction to bring it flat. Even the 2" proximity boost is easily taken out by one very low Q parametric cut. By the way, boosting "all frequencies" is called gain and doesn't amount so some uncontrollable hot mess. Your comments at 10:38 "now you've got a huge boost in the low-end as well" seemed like you wanted to convey that this was very bad indeed. If you're going to have a super-cardioid pattern, you're going to have proximity effect (c.f., the Beta 57a), but I don't think any competent engineer is going to find it hard to work with. (RF susceptibility is another matter, however. Good catch on that one.)
Nice review! Good that I saw this, I already got V7x, gorgeous mic! but using for vocals. I plan to buy SM57 bec of popularity but now that they’re similar, I will pass. The only problem I noticed with V7x for vocals is the proximity effect, so sensitive to plosives. Thanks for confirming that one! I thought i got a defective one.
I have to put pop filter like condense which is odd since it’s a dynamic mic 😂 . I’m going to DIY some extra stockings layer and put it inside the capsule cover to address this issue. Since I want to showcase that beauty.
Nice! Let me know how that DIY treatment goes, curious to know if it works out :)
haha those commenting asking for comparison actually could be referring to V7x- that x version is meant for instruments just like Sm57. I got V7x, but now I’m curious if Sm57 is better since I dont have one lol😅
57 sounds so natural. With the pop filter it sounds perfect. The v7 has way too bass has terrible plosive rejection and harsh sibilant sounds.
The lighting looks so good mate!
Eyyy thank you my friend
What about GLS microphones? The ES-57 and the ES-58. Consider doing a video featuring them.
I'll check them out!
You're very good at what you do. Keep it up.
I had a V7 (not x) that picked up RF hum from my keyboard. It was rarely an issue, but setting it down on the desk was always a surprise to my ears 😂
Not surprised. That is one of the worst mics 🎤 on the market. The xm8500 beats the pants off these in blind tests. Then once the pants are off it goes balls deep.
@@charlesg5085 I disagree with that. While the V7 was not my favorite, I would take it over the Behringer any day. The smeared, veiled, hollow, resonant sound of the XM8500 does not sound “good” to me.
@@DapperDanLovesYou It must be your voice or bias. You need to do blind test with your mics. Also, try clearing the flem like substance from your mouth and throat before you talk.
@@charlesg5085 to each their own! I would use the XM8500 over *nothing,* but given a budget of $100 for a single dynamic mic, I would never once consider using it.
That being said, is a $50 pawn shop guitar “good?” Well, if the alternative is *no* guitar, then it's the best guitar in the world!
OMG The 60Hz ground hum picked up by the V7x / your signal chain somewhere drove me insane with headphones that have a +5dB or so bass boost. It had too much bass for vocals anyway!
Oh thank you. I was trying to think of how to describe that. It was making me batty.
Yeah no definitely. So thats not the v7 or anything wrong in the vocal chain, thats literally the apartment buildings heater lol While monitoring while recording it didn't sound as drastic as it does after hearing the finished product. So basically the only thing to take away here is the v7x seemed to do a worse job at rejecting those vibrations, the 57 clearly had no issues with that. EDIT: which confuses me because the 57 doesn't have that suspended diaphragm.
@@AudioHaze That's good to know. It tells us more about the microphone and assures me that I'm not going crazy.
Late comment (again) but I feel like people want to dethrone the 57 because its so popular. A lot of people hate on popular things even though there's a reason why they're so popular
Yeah I feel that, its edgy to hate on the most popular option. I'm definitely guilty of this sometimes.
The SE electronic v7 is shaping to be the new fan favourite, but for GENERAL usage you can’t really go wrong with the 57/58. Old but still good, but can they really stand the *test of time?*
There is a really, REALLY good long form example of how this V7 mic sounds. It is a 22-song concert by The Warning recorded live in a small theater, with completely separate mixes for the house sound and the video. I've probably watched it ten times. If you like rock, I'll bet you can't STOP watching it. th-cam.com/video/7hbBa1-1p7M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=WXsGgxEGJXYfsPgA For years, they used to use SM-58s on the bassist and guitarist. Now they seem to use V7s. It may have something to do with the way it enhances female vocals. Music starts at 2:06. Songs are mostly English. Band is Mexican, playing in Mexico.
Thanks for an informative video.
I immediately figured out which was which and preferred the added top end clarity of the SE.
The solution to the proximity “problem” lies in the name, you back off!
This is what every professional voice artist do, adapt the distance to the environment,
the context and the sound pressure.
An added bonus of using this kind of microphone, like the SM 57, 58 …
is that the cardioid shape is created by the holes at the “back” of the top of the mik,
letting in sound waves that are out of phase with those coming in at the business end.
If you cover these holes you get close to omni response. Resulting in a much more open sound.
The downside being the susceptibility to leakage and feedback.
Don’t grab a SM-58 right behind the wire mesh and lean over the monitor, you’ll get FEEEEEDBACK!
I’ll put an order on the SE asap.
is it just me or is there a really disturbing bassy rumble on the v7x?
When you're using the se, there's a TON of low end hum that's consistent
57 hands down on the high gain guitar tone; the ambient stuff was a toss up. V7x sounds good on floor toms, imo.
Nice! I wish I could check that out, unfortunately my room has no space for a kit :/
I own a couple of SM57s and always considered getting an SE V7. After this, maybe not. Thanks for another great video Ricky.
Glad I could help you!! I still think the v7 is a decent mic, just not as flexible for me
He tested the V7X, apparently the V7 is quite different
V7x is a much more “complete” microphone with more natural sound and wider frequency response. But it’s also picking up a ton of low frequency sound from your environment. So the sm57 is probably better in a less then ideal studio
v7x is awesome. absolutely prefer it over a 57 every show I work
Is it only me, or there's a constant low rumble on the V7x?
U da best I heard or seen doing shoot outz
There is one thing I did notice: literally every dinamic mic sounds on your tests less muddy and more crispy. Could you please tell me, how did you do that 🙏🙏
there is one application the V7X exceed at: SNARE
First, thanks for all the amazing content! You put so much work into your videos and I hope it’s fully appreciated.
I have a quick question I hope you can help me with: I live in a tiny, shoebox apartment in Taipei, and it’s impossible for me to acoustically treat the space.
Would you recommend the CC8 or an SM57 paired with the 4th Gen Focusrite in order to record my ukulele videos with as little post processing as possible.
Thanks so much if you can respond! Either way, have an amazing day! ☀️
The 57 is definitely more flexible, but the V7 is a better vocal mic. These mics that you are reviewing are instrument mics, so of course the V7x would not match up with a 57 because the frequency is set for instruments not vocals. The regular V7 is better with that on vocals. I would love to hear them matched up on horns or drums instead of vocals. The guitar cab thing was telling though. Lots of RF noise on the first mic.
For mostly voice (for videos, voice-overs) or vocals, what do you think of SM 57a vs Shure SM57 vs SE Electronics V7x ? Really would be interested in your input :)
(I've got a NT2A as well as a SM 58 and a scarlet 2i2)
I gotta go with the 57 in combination with A2WS! Super flexible for any occasion
The V7X might have more rumble and RF sensitivity than the regular V7, my V7 does not exhibit those issues, and has a slightly different sound (that I actually prefer)
The V7 sounds better than the V7x on vocals as the former doesn’t have the low end boost of the V7x. I use the V7 predominately for vocals and rarely use my Beta58a’s anymore. I and the artists much prefer the V7. Nice video,
Thanks Scott! Thanks for letting me know, hope I get to try out the V7 soon :)
Something is off here. Either your audio chain has low end boost somewhere or your environment has negatively compensated for the presence boost of SM57 so that a flat frequency response microphone sounds V shaped. The mids are not neutral at all. My V7x doesn't sound like that. I swapped V7 grill head on V7x but that didn't alter sound much if any.
Wait you think the SM57 sounds V shaped? I personally didn't think that. I do however think the v7 perhaps had too much low end to be accurate to how it sounds. Judging from the comments here from V7 owners, it does smell like perhaps something wasn't quite right with it. That being said, both were run through the same vocal chain, same environmental conditions, same dB level upon export, no processing done through a Scarlett 18i20 interface. The crappy heating does mess with my takes sometimes, and that DOES result in a boost in low end, it seemed as though the V7 picked this up more than the 57. Perhaps this is what you're hearing?
@@AudioHaze i mean your environment makes SM57 sound neutral ish which makes a very flat V7x sound V shaped.
I found V7x is surprisingly close to NT1 albeit a lot less sensitive
@@frankluo230 Got it, yeah the environmental sounds are a good point. That being said, the proximity effect of that V7 is pretty intense, a solid 10dB boost at 2 inches away it pretty drastic. I think some of that V shape could be contributed to its sensitivity to proximity
@@frankluo230 I could definitely see the NT1 similarities, I said in the review it’s very condenser like! I quite like it
The SM57 is so lovely.
Agreed!
Danke!
Thank you as always Rainer!
Shure makes the best mics, hands down. Every single "basic" or "standard" shure mic (7b, sm81, 137, ksm32, 57) has out performed any other mics I've tried. They're so underrated it's criminal. Yet everyone owns one or 5 lol.
Shure mics haven’t even seen underrated. They’re for some reason used everywhere, even though they’re so damn old and we have better mics nowadays for the same price.
@@josku5 idk, the sm7b is probably the best mic ever made, dynamic or condenser, (best as in captures the largest variety of sources reliably and even BIC in many cases) for under $400. Same goes for the sm81 as far as sdc's go. I'd say 84s have a hair more of that mojo but they're definitely not twice as good despite being twice the price.
@@tallmccartneymusic There are many small and large diaphram condenser mics that capture detail much more accurately in the 400$ price range than the sm7b. The sm7b is known for having a darker sound, which to some might be the perfect result they are looking for, but it definitely isn’t clearer than condensers.
Also the 7b is good for podcasting and singing, maybe guitars and snares as well but it just can’t do everything that a more versatile condenser can (overheads, lower frequency instruments, etc.)
That’s a V7X a mic for instrument not a V7 which is made for vocals
Uhhh but what if you need a frequency that doesn't have the 57 roll off?
CAD TSM411 TRY ONE.......... AMAZING MIC for cheap. It is a super cardioid and blocks out external sounds better too.
I love your reviews thank you I like the V7 but the quality of the sound not too happy with it I would just have to sing higher
That RF test saved me from buying it. Dang. I have these issues with some mics
Try SE V7 not VX
I hate to admit it, but I haven't used my 57 often since my cheap neewer stand broke, too lazy to take my nt1 off my wave mic arm. The sm57 makes my voice sound smooth, while (with a de-esser) the nt1 makes me sound like me 😆
lol "too lazy to get my mic of the arm" is definitely a mood sometimes, my Sm7b has been on the arm for too long at this point
On rf noise: I had the exact opposite results. The sm57 had *way* more noise than my v7x; even just on the mic stand the sm57 hummed. I bought another one to check if the first one was just faulty, same thing.
SM57 all day every day!
Thanks!
I for myself- for once cannot say I prefer one sound over the other here. Both microphones seem to do a similarly good job. Wether you prefer whatever microphone might depend on the style you are aiming for and it certainly does come down to personal preference. However, RF rejection is something, I cannot ignore, because I had to deal with issues like that myself before. And for that simple reason, I am with you here. I too prefer the Shure SM57.
Yay team 57!! Yeah, to be fair this may just be my specific microphone and I didn't want to fault it too much for RF rejection, who knows it may vary from microphone to microphone. I can definitely see sm7b lovers liking the low end on the v7x though.
Well, let’s say it’s a variation thing. In this case, you maybe could fault sE electronics’ quality control here. That I am not very partial to, knowing how RF rejection usually is realized.
Do you have this mic?
No, definitely, the Shure SM57 is much better! I own two of them, sir, I totally agree; by the way, huge fan of your channel, and my name is Josh -- I'm trying to develop a career in Voice Over.
Nice to meet you Josh! Good to know you like the 57 better :) I love that no matter what the role we all just universally and collectively like the 57 haha
Thank you for this helpful review, but can you do what is the best broadcast microphones ?
I could do something similar! I tend to stray away from "best" by any objective measurements, but I could do a subjective method
Great review, I am still thinking of se v7x, on stage for instrument like Hammered dulcimer, to make it sound softer and warmer ,advice please :)
I read recently that Steve Albini doesn’t consider the SM57 a microphone
Yeah I saw once he doesn't like them, to each their own I guess
hey man .can you check is v7x works with xlr to usb cable?? i just got sm57 but it seem it only get 50% volume if i use the xlr to usb cable..i know sm58 work with that cable perfectly but i want to know is v7x works with the cable just like the sm58????
I wouldn't count on it, dynamic mics in general are going to need a decent amount of gain in order to get up to proper volume, a USB to XLR will not provide this level, it will also introduce a ton of noise. If you're working on a budget, I would recommend the Behringer UMC202HD (I think there way also be a $40 one?) that will power the v7x great and are actually pretty great quality!
Soooooo, I just installed a jfet pre amp and replaced the (SUPER TINY SHIT WIRES) in the mic with some thicker shielded wire and now the RF noise is gone. I'm not sure if Se are skimping on the wiring on just this mic or if its the same with the v7 and the MK varient but its not great. Its a shame because this mic is fantastic.
Which would u suggest for the sm57: the a81ws windscreen or the a2ws, which most retailers label it as THE associated windscreen to the sm57, as if they were in a bundle for some reason
I would choose the A2WS personally :)
@@AudioHaze May I ask why? :P
@@S2condHeartbeat just for what seems like the tighter fit, plus it just looks nicer in my opinion 🤷🏻♂️
Didn't you get new socks for Christmas?
Haha they always rip because no one makes my size of sock
I did
Both mics have their own characteristics.
Would like to know if non-x V7 has the same problem with noise. Sounds like a humbucker which was not wired properly.
Yeah the excessive low end was weird, part of that can be attributed to the environment, but the SM57 didn't seem to have that same issue rejecting. The RF noise is suspect too, idk maybe I just got a nasty example
A singer who moves around a lot while recording on the v7 will give you a lot of work during editing. I also prefer the sound of the sm57. It is going to cut through the mix better with less EQ. If you move away from the V7 enough to balance the frequency response (proper amount of bass) you are going to have more of the room (or outside noise) on the recording as well. No thanks.
V7 great mic. I think it would be really hard to be consistent with it. So sm57 wins 😮
i dont know if its me but i hear some vibrations in v7, thus making sm57 more clear/cleaner
Yeah thats true, its some of my environmental conditions, but both the 57 and v7x were subjected to this same thing.
The SE V7 is what Billie Eilish uses for all her live show vocals. Uh, if the Vx is not produced for vocals, why are you using it as a voice mic in the review?
Should I do the mic review while speaking into a mic the review ISN'T about?
Why with sound card focusrite I need to boost in audition very much audio and it is a lot of noise if I boost
Dont like the se v7. The 1st time you switched from 57 to v7 the i can hear a very loud rumbling sound. Sounds like mains hum or a mechanical vibrations from the stand. And its also very susceptible to Rf so thats very bad for a live band setup.
That hmm is killing me
Wow, with that RF noise you’d almost have to wonder if that V7 was a dud?! Difficult to believe SE would manufacture a workhorse type mic with such poor rejection..
Nope that is normal for that mic. The xm8500 beats the pants off these in blind tests. Then once the pants are off it goes balls deep.
Aww your mic has a little beanie @ 4:26
I think the v7 could be good for snare
But no doubt SE make the best kick drum mics
can you review the EV ND76
Maybe some day!
Do you have this mic?
I got a v7 brand new for $15 last week. V7 wins.
By this time most of your viewers know that you prefer brighter mics.
Yeah I think thats sort of true, I think if its mid forward with a nice controlled presence boost, thats my style. BUT, definitely not too much high end
I Do you have this mic?
in my opinion it is! And i think its a really bad habit, that engineers always recommend an 57 or 58, its lazy and both arent the best in their pricebracket.
I still support the SM57
To me anythang close i go with shure mics, simply because a mic been 50 plus years and for new mics including all this up to date modern technology they still got to go thru The GRAND DAADY of them all SHURE and shure has not change their patent AGAIN anythang close go with the name u knows 4 "SHURE"!!!!
Yep, the 57 all the way!
Wooo team 57!!