SM7 for vocals

[johnS]

TapeOp had a review of the Shure SM7 a while back that claimed it's a great (not just good) vocal mike. Michael Jackson's Thriller, etc., etc. Has anyone had experience with the SM7 for recording rock vocals? How does its sound differ from that of a large diaphram condenser (again for vocals)?

[dagosto]

I have an SM7 and it is great on certain vocalists. It will compliment singers with louder voices that have a bit of an edge to them. It kinda smoothes them out without loosing intensity. Singers with quieter, more wispy voices don't sound so great through this one though.

The performance of the mic has a lot to do with the preamp you are using (it will not sound that great going through an old mackie pre). To me it sounds kinda like a 57 that is more open in the upper midrange.

I think there is a presence boost and a mid scoop on the version I have (SM7A). I have never touched them because it sounded so good out of the box for what I use it on.

I think that it is not all too different from other large diaphram condensers not specifically made for kick drum like the RE20 for example. It is way cheaper too.

For all the hype this mic gets in the tech circles you'd think they would be a lot more common. I'm glad I got mine.

[smopo24]

i used one at a post house before, i liked it. never touched the other settings on it myself either.

[johnS]

Thanks for the advice. I'm still looking for the mike that will make a bad singer sound good. . . so I can use it on myself.

[dagosto]

I would recommend this:



Harmonica mics can make you sound bad in a good way.

[clineaudio]

sm7... like any dynamic, is smoother than we're used to hearing on most rock vocals, since it's slower. But therefore, it may also lack some of the edge you want. Again, depends on the singer. They definitely do have a tendency to be a little chesty when people "eat" them.

Great in the studio for a rock singer who is used to putting his mouth ON the mic. eliminates that whole "how close should I be?" thing. As said before, similar sonic character to the 57, but a little broader bandwidth, not as much "gak".

Slap an 1176 on it (the real thing, If you have one) and it'll help brighten it up a bit... Too me, the plug in has a similar compression characteristic, but not the same harmonic character.

[Chaorta]

Originally Posted by dagosto

I would recommend this:



Harmonica mics can make you sound bad in a good way.

I love those. I had one hanging from my ceiling for vocals.

[johnS]

Sure, but how far can you drive a golf ball with one of those?

But seriously, what do you guys like about what it does to your vocals? Can you put it in words?

[GearJunkie]

the green bullets and mics similar to that are great for a nice, gritty, midrangey nasty vocal.

I actually used one on a really high mic stand as a room mic for drums once. pump it a little in the mix and it makes your drums have a little distorted grit to them. Sounded great.

[dagosto]

Originally Posted by johnS

Sure, but how far can you drive a golf ball with one of those?

But seriously, what do you guys like about what it does to your vocals? Can you put it in words?

Getting the sound you want right off the mic gives a much more convincing effect that adding the effects later. The bullet gives you a really "believable" lofi sound right off of the mic.