Ideal, Cheap Preamp + Interface Combo for SM7B

[Fluency]

Hey guys -

I recently moved into a new apartment, hooked up my recording equipment & to my surprise, none of it worked. I have an SM7B>MS1B pre>M-Audio MobilePre (it doubles as an interface)>G4.

I get no signal from the mic when trying to record, so I tried another mic & got the same results - obviously it's not the mic. Both pre's power lights are on, so I'm not certain which is at fault. However, I've had the MS1B less than a year, & the M-Audio for 3 years or so - & based on what I've read, I'd bet that the M-Audio is at fault opposed to the Rane.

Either way, I don't know the first thing on how to diagnose a problem like this, so I figured I'd at least take the M-Audio out of the chain & replace it w/ another interface, but also just might buy another preamp just in case.

I know that the SM7B requires a lot of gain (70-80 if I remember right), & being that the MS1B only puts out 65-70 clean gain, I'm guessing that it might not have enough power to push the SM7 alone (since my interface was also assisting it w/ additional gain before) - so I might have to go another route w/ a preamp.

Bottom line: are there any good preamp/interface combos that would be able to push the SM7B for around $600 tops? I know that's stretching it, but I figured that the interface isn't nearly as important as the pre, & the MS1B works miracles considering its price. For now, I'm satisfied w/ the quality that my current chain produced - not looking for top-of-the-line studio quality, but a chain that could produce decent quality w/out an incredibly significant difference when compared to that on..... say, mixtapes?

Click my Myspace for a sample of the quality that I'm satisfied w/ now (the first track is the most recent).

Thanks in advance -

Flue

[Fluency]

bump

[ShellTones]

Originally Posted by Fluency

Hey guys -

I recently moved into a new apartment, hooked up my recording equipment & to my surprise, none of it worked. I have an SM7B>MS1B pre>M-Audio MobilePre (it doubles as an interface)>G4.

I get no signal from the mic when trying to record, so I tried another mic & got the same results - obviously it's not the mic. Both pre's power lights are on, so I'm not certain which is at fault. However, I've had the MS1B less than a year, & the M-Audio for 3 years or so - & based on what I've read, I'd bet that the M-Audio is at fault opposed to the Rane.

Either way, I don't know the first thing on how to diagnose a problem like this, so I figured I'd at least take the M-Audio out of the chain & replace it w/ another interface, but also just might buy another preamp just in case.

I know that the SM7B requires a lot of gain (70-80 if I remember right), & being that the MS1B only puts out 65-70 clean gain, I'm guessing that it might not have enough power to push the SM7 alone (since my interface was also assisting it w/ additional gain before) - so I might have to go another route w/ a preamp.

Bottom line: are there any good preamp/interface combos that would be able to push the SM7B for around $600 tops? I know that's stretching it, but I figured that the interface isn't nearly as important as the pre, & the MS1B works miracles considering its price. For now, I'm satisfied w/ the quality that my current chain produced - not looking for top-of-the-line studio quality, but a chain that could produce decent quality w/out an incredibly significant difference when compared to that on..... say, mixtapes?

Click my Myspace for a sample of the quality that I'm satisfied w/ now (the first track is the most recent).

Thanks in advance -

Flue

I am not familiar with the Mobile Pre, but the Rane MS1B has a stellar reputation. It should handle the SM7B just fine.

Check your cables.

You should be going going MS1B line out to Mobile Pre line in. Wait, I just checked the specs at the M-Audio website and it appears ithe Mobile Pre has only mic inputs and hi-z inputs. That may be the problem, but I'm not sure.

Regardless, I would dump the USB Mobile Pre and for $150 pick up a decent PCI card like the M-Audio Delta 44 or the EMU 1212--both around $150. The converters will be much better. The specs on that Mobile Pre are awful.

[Fluency]

I've actually had the chain working before - that's why I was surprised when I plugged everything in after moving & I wasn't getting a signal. Appreciate the feedback though. I'll definitely take a look at your suggestions.