SM7B right for me?

[ShadowAMD]

Hey peep's

I want to buy an upgraded microphone, me as a singer has had hit and miss result's with mic's.. I don't think they seem to make a massive difference, but some mic's like the Sennheiser E845 seems to strip all the power out of my voice and I had real problems with it whereas a samson LDC or a rhode NT1 seem's to keep all the lovely power in there.

I was looking at the Shure SM7B just on strength of review, but I need as much of my power to come across as possible.. Am I making a mistake with another dynamic or is there a legendary condenser around the same price range I should have a look at?

[Edward Mowinckel]

I wouldn't jump on a mic based on what other people are saying, especially if it's a personal vocal mic. I do own an SM7b, it's awesome. It's sounded great on a lot of the vocalists I've worked with, but it's not always the best. Do some testing, and some looking around, find a mic that sounds good for your voice, and go for that.

When I hear 'power' in terms of vocals, my mind takes me to an SM58, they can take a crapload of level, and not distort, but I don't know your voice, so I can't make a good suggestion.

[Chris Lago]

Can you rent one and try it out?

[ShadowAMD]

I'm afraid i'm in the UK and I don't know anywhere that will let me try before I buy sort of thing..

My voice can be quite powerful when I call upon it, but with some dynamic's I find no matter how loud I scream and shout at the bloody thing's they just don't want to know about it.. I never seem to have these issues with condenser's but low end condenser's like the crap I use seem's to lack warmth.

The SM58 is one if the better mic's def, but it still doesn't have the range I need to get my nuances / warmth out when I'm stood 6 inches away and too close the proximity effect make's it way too muddy.

So warmth, clarity and take a bit of a kicking every now and again but still able to pick up on the subtle bit's.

The example was done with nothing done to my voice on a £35.00 condenser I had some Sennheiser's but they really wasn't working out so they are on Ebay as we type

My room isn't the best treated so that's another reason for wanting the SM7..

I thought I might as well stick a sample in, I'm full of cold here so sorry for the nasal thing also I need to stop smoking.. Bad me, but alot of time's I'm on a schedule and I have to sing with a cold so.. I might as well post.

[creaturestudios]

The EV RE20 should also be on your list- been on mine for a long time! Since your in the UK you should order a bunch of mics from Thomann to try and return the ones you don't want within the 30 day period! The only bother is the last time I did this Ididn't return any!!!

[Jimsi]

Do you ever compress your voice when recording and what kind of compresser do you use? A compresser can make a difference and it may not...but I love singing with one it makes my vox so even sounding...

Originally Posted by Dannyvect

I'm afraid i'm in the UK and I don't know anywhere that will let me try before I buy sort of thing..

My voice can be quite powerful when I call upon it, but with some dynamic's I find no matter how loud I scream and shout at the bloody thing's they just don't want to know about it.. I never seem to have these issues with condenser's but low end condenser's like the crap I use seem's to lack warmth.

The SM58 is one if the better mic's def, but it still doesn't have the range I need to get my nuances / warmth out when I'm stood 6 inches away and too close the proximity effect make's it way too muddy.

So warmth, clarity and take a bit of a kicking every now and again but still able to pick up on the subtle bit's.

The example was done with nothing done to my voice on a £35.00 condenser I had some Sennheiser's but they really wasn't working out so they are on Ebay as we type

My room isn't the best treated so that's another reason for wanting the SM7..

I thought I might as well stick a sample in, I'm full of cold here so sorry for the nasal thing also I need to stop smoking.. Bad me, but alot of time's I'm on a schedule and I have to sing with a cold so.. I might as well post.

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by Jimsi

Do you ever compress your voice when recording and what kind of compresser do you use? A compresser can make a difference and it may not...but I love singing with one it makes my vox so even sounding...

Yeah I alway's do when I'm mixing (Never recording), the example above was to show a quick example.. The less you have to do the easier it is to mix.. Less is more and all that..

I use either samplitude / pro tool's compressors or Massey or if I feel like it I'll use my outboard DBX compressor's.. I generally use 2 different types one for the lead and another for the double'd parallel compression.

But still the less I have to do the better, especially when I perform live.. I would much rather get my performance right besides relying on mixing...

[edva]

Originally Posted by creaturestudios

The EV RE20 should also be on your list- been on mine for a long time! Since your in the UK you should order a bunch of mics from Thomann to try and return the ones you don't want within the 30 day period! The only bother is the last time I did this Ididn't return any!!!

+1 I love this mic. Stevie Wonder's vocal mic for many hits. Others too. Not too expensive either, if you look around.

[binarymilton]

Originally Posted by Dannyvect

I'm afraid i'm in the UK and I don't know anywhere that will let me try before I buy sort of thing..

I used Richmond Film Services when I wanted to buy a ribbon mic. Hired a bunch of them and did a shootout before I went for the Coles 4038.

Search results: You searched for... Mono Microphones - Sound Equipment Hire from Richmond Film Services

It's surprisingly cheap to hire a load of mics for the day, and it's well worth it.

i'm gearing up to having a day of trying out valve condensers.

KMR audio also hire by the day. Then there's Matt Snowball.

Google - there's plenty of places in the UK.

[lgsp90]

[QUOTE]
..

My voice can be quite powerful when I call upon it, but with some dynamic's I find no matter how loud I scream and shout at the bloody thing's they just don't want to know about it.. I never seem to have these issues with condenser's but low end condenser's like the crap I use seem's to lack warmth.
.

So warmth, clarity and take a bit of a kicking every now and again but still able to pick up on the subtle bit's.

I work with a singer with the same problem,After a lot of testing,we found the Sennheiser e 865 could handle her complete range and power. It is very smooth in it's transision from soft to full power. The high end does not thin out and delivers full power of the vocals with clearity. For live work, it has very good feedback rejection.

[ShadowAMD]

[QUOTE=lgsp90;6476755]

..

My voice can be quite powerful when I call upon it, but with some dynamic's I find no matter how loud I scream and shout at the bloody thing's they just don't want to know about it.. I never seem to have these issues with condenser's but low end condenser's like the crap I use seem's to lack warmth.
.

So warmth, clarity and take a bit of a kicking every now and again but still able to pick up on the subtle bit's.

I work with a singer with the same problem,After a lot of testing,we found the Sennheiser e 865 could handle her complete range and power. It is very smooth in it's transision from soft to full power. The high end does not thin out and delivers full power of the vocals with clearity. For live work, it has very good feedback rejection.

Yeah I had a look at the e865, another handheld vocal condenser.. I kind of been put off Sennheiser a little after the e845 but I suppose it won't harm to try it.

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by binarymilton

I used Richmond Film Services when I wanted to buy a ribbon mic. Hired a bunch of them and did a shootout before I went for the Coles 4038.

Search results: You searched for... Mono Microphones - Sound Equipment Hire from Richmond Film Services

It's surprisingly cheap to hire a load of mics for the day, and it's well worth it.

i'm gearing up to having a day of trying out valve condensers.

KMR audio also hire by the day. Then there's Matt Snowball.

Google - there's plenty of places in the UK.

That's the kind of responses I like, I had a look at some rental places and they are bloody extortionate.. But that site looks nice and cheeeap.. Me likey..

[lgsp90]

[QUOTE=Dannyvect;6477962]

Originally Posted by lgsp90

Yeah I had a look at the e865, another handheld vocal condenser.. I kind of been put off Sennheiser a little after the e845 but I suppose it won't harm to try it.

I'm not a fan of the e845 either, the e865 is about $200 more but is in another class. What I find is that the channel strip gain needs to be run lower than normal and start with the eq set flat.the high eq may need to be dropped abit from flat to keep the highs under control.This is not a mic for everyone , you need a strong voice to get the best out of this mic.