Help with SM7B

[popmann]

Why upgrade the interface? Get the mic. See if that does fine. ART makes good low end stuff, IME.

[jrghetto602]

Ive heard the gain is only 48db which is remarkably lower the gain required for the SM7B. Have you used the SM7B with a low end interface?

[crying1986]

If it doesnt work, just score a cloudlifter or something similar and you're good to go.

[Aaron Miller]

Originally Posted by jrghetto602

Ive heard the gain is only 48db which is remarkably lower the gain required for the SM7B. Have you used the SM7B with a low end interface?

Confirm the Focusrite pre has at least 55-60db of gain. Should be easy enough to find the specs. Or, as one of the above posters said, just get the SM7B and decide later whether you want/need a new preamp. You may decide your current one is fine.

Don't believe this BS that you absolutely need an expensive preamp for the SM7B to sound good. It sounds good on it's own with any decent preamp with about 60 db gain. Of course a good preamp with an EQ will help, but that's true for all mics.

[jrghetto602]

Thanks guys i really appreciate your help. I currently have a ART dual pre usb. I am going to buy the SM7B + Cloudlifter and then go from there as i know the ART doesn't have the required gain.

Again thank you all!

[Nizzyo]

You could always get the icarly microphone...

[SevereWX]

Take it with a grain of salt, but Recording Hacks did a low end interface shootout with the SM7B and the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 wasn't recommended for it.

Best Budget Audio Interfaces for SM7B | recording hacks

If I remember right, the 2i2 has 55dB max gain, while stepping up to the 8i6 gets you 60dB, and probably a little less preamp hiss pushing the gain up that high.

I'd take popman's advice first and try the mic with what you have and see how it goes first. Then decide if a cloudlifter would be the way to go, or investing in a new preamp or interface.