shure sm7b users: signal/noise ratio...

[drtechno]

my not too noisey when used with the right mic pre. there like some impedence thing going on. funny thing as it is my mbox firewire 1814 mic pre gives me better levels and less noise than my api unit (8mx2)

heres a sample left channel sm7 thur mbox right channel at4040 thru api 8m2x running protools @ 88.2 then ran thu wavelab w/peakmaster plugin only
happy now.mp3

[owni]

Hey everyone, I have a similar issue. I just started using my sm7b for the first time after having it for a couple months (I had papers and exams). I'm using the apogee duet as a pre, and I am using sony mdr7506 headphones to monitor. All of my cables are monster cables with the exception of the mic-input which is a pretty basic but good cable (Tom Lees didn't have any monsters at the time).

Anyway, after doing some research on GS, these are the mic settings recommended for the sm7b/duet combo: (a) remove the windscreen (b) turn the gain all the way up (c) select "OUT LR" in Maestro and not "NONE" for the "Hardware" setting (d) make sure all the faders are up to 0 and and not all the way down

THE PROBLEM: I'm hearing a considerable "hissing" noise when I record, sometimes it creeps away but it always comes back.

I'm using garageband, the input source is "mono" input 1 for the mic, with the monitoring turned off.

The recording level (the gain?) is turned all the way up.

If anyone has any suggestions, or can identify whether I'm doing something wrong, please help me out.

[AllAboutTone]

I would not buy a SM7, its been proven that a SM7 and a sm57 are the same mic, just use a 57 and buy a rather large wind screen, put some distance between the source and you got the sound, this has been proven on GS, do the search.
Sorry I'm off topic about noise.

[Hardtoe]

Whatever ToneBone...

[hazelmossobrien]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

I would not buy a SM7, its been proven that a SM7 and a sm57 are the same mic, just use a 57 and buy a rather large wind screen, put some distance between the source and you got the sound, this has been proven on GS, do the search.
Sorry I'm off topic about noise.

didn't find it. can you link the thread? thanks.

I always had that suspicion about the SM7 and SM57.

[Hardtoe]

It's not true - if you own and frequently use both mics (as I do) you will know that this just isn't the case. They have a different sound that is quite clear once you know each mic.

[Mike Brown]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

I would not buy a SM7, its been proven that a SM7 and a sm57 are the same mic, just use a 57 and buy a rather large wind screen, put some distance between the source and you got the sound, this has been proven on GS, do the search.
Sorry I'm off topic about noise.

Clearly isn't the case.

The cartridge for the SM7b is bigger around than the whole sm57 is.

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by hazelmossobrien

didn't find it. can you link the thread? thanks.

I always had that suspicion about the SM7 and SM57.

Here is one but its not the main one Im looking for by all means, I will keep looking.
Shure SM7 SM57 How do they differ?

[AllAboutTone]

Another thread..... read the link and graphs from the other site, makes sense.
SM7 no "better" than an SM57?? Read link

[Hardtoe]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

Here is one but its not the main one Im looking for by all means, I will keep looking.
Shure SM7 SM57 How do they differ?

The thread linked here has a lot of people posting how they DON'T sound the same, despite some similarities in design.

This is something that is discovered through actual use of the microphones - not by surfing the internet.

[hazelmossobrien]

Originally Posted by Hardtoe

The thread linked here has a lot of people posting how they DON'T sound the same, despite some similarities in design.

This is something that is discovered through actual use of the microphones - not by surfing the internet.

I have both, and I find them dangerously similar. I sincerely doubt with a bit of effort you couldn't get the 57 and Sm7 sounding the same with a little mic placement. However I keep the Sm7 around because it looks so damn cool for people when I stick it in front of them. I generally only use it for rap or guys with guitars who need to sing and play. It's never the best choice for a singer though. I dunno why everyone here loves it so much. It's just ok.

[Hardtoe]

You might be able to get a SM7 to sound like the 57 (with the Bass rolloff and mid-range emphasis filters on), but I cant see that happening in reverse. The SM7 is just has much clearer full range response.

[Denny C]

I argree with hardtoe. When I was physically a "youth" our main singer always used a 57. He was so good he would have sounded great gargling into a tailpipe. For me, it was the pe55. I liked the bassier and mid response of that mic more. The SM7B is a great mic. I use it for practicing and writing as it can handle some volume without feeding back. It also has a nice mid response. Of course you know that as you own one. Notwithstanding, the SM7B certainly is also a great recording mic. Fortunately, I have two great mic pres so the noise issue has not been a problem.

[Topgear]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

Another thread..... read the link and graphs from the other site, makes sense.
SM7 no "better" than an SM57?? Read link

The graphs don't even look the same. Only at first glance maybe, but they are very different in the high end. As somone said: Everything above 8kHz and below 90Hz is totally different.

There's also some urban legend misconceptions going around, such as "It's the same mic, the capsules are the same" It's not. Those are two completely different capsules.

There was a shoot out on another site, the purpose was to showcase the similarities between the two mics, and yet it was extremely easy to identify the sm7b.

[camus]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

I would not buy a SM7, its been proven that a SM7 and a sm57 are the same mic, just use a 57 and buy a rather large wind screen, put some distance between the source and you got the sound, this has been proven on GS, do the search.
Sorry I'm off topic about noise.

You'd have to remove the transformer from the 57 as well. And even then they still sound different. Btw, what does "proven on GS" mean?

[Topgear]

Originally Posted by camus

You'd have to remove the transformer from the 57 as well. And even then they still sound different. Btw, what does "proven on GS" mean?

It means nothing. It's not been proven on GS, and in fact the contrary is more true.

[AllAboutTone]

You would have to admit after seeing the graphs that they are not off the difference between 350.00 vs 90.00 imo
I mean, on a sm7 why do you need that much space on a dynamic mic between the source ? You surely don't use that on a sm57.

[nosebleedaudio]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

I would not buy a SM7, its been proven that a SM7 and a sm57 are the same mic, just use a 57 and buy a rather large wind screen, put some distance between the source and you got the sound, this has been proven on GS, do the search.
Sorry I'm off topic about noise.

WOW...
Proven its the same mic...???
By who???
Different output levels, different frequency response, different output impedance..yet same mic...

Don't think so..
I just called Shure, different mic..

[Mike Brown]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

I would not buy a SM7, its been proven that a SM7 and a sm57 are the same mic, just use a 57 and buy a rather large wind screen, put some distance between the source and you got the sound, this has been proven on GS, do the search.
Sorry I'm off topic about noise.

Go go gadget hyperbole!

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

You would have to admit after seeing the graphs that they are not off the difference between 350.00 vs 90.00 imo
I mean, on a sm7 why do you need that much space on a dynamic mic between the source ? You surely don't use that on a sm57.

Go go gadget backpedaling!

The reason for the space is to reduce proximity effect and to make it easy to maintain a consistant sound for broadcast (by having your mouth right on the windscreen).... similar to the RE20 design.

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by Mike Brown

The reason for the space is to reduce proximity effect and to make it easy to maintain a consistant sound for broadcast (by having your mouth right on the windscreen).... similar to the RE20 design.

True but I'm sure you could come close with the 57 just like the pictures showed you, also you need a great preamp, I never got into the sm7 due to the proximity effect, the RE20 is a much better mic for voiceovers, at least its in a frame/basbet unlike the sm7 with its huge windscreen.

[mattg082]

it's good to have some isolation... and you have to watch your gain and how you crank it as it requires a lot but you can still overdue it depending on your pre. another thing i have run into that can make it noisy is cables touching and other hardware in your rack giving hum...if you get a hum move your pre around and your chords. i figured that out real fast and it works very smooth now. just need to fine tune and adjust and make sure of that. but 9/10 if you get hum it's a cable or hardware issue that are to close.

[vonhagen]

Originally Posted by dreamsongs

Hmmm...this sounds like you need a power conditioner. Are you plugging your pres and other equipment right into the wall ?

I hope you're not...

Can you name any decent power conditioners that reduces line noise? And if you please will take a look at thomann.de because it's there I intend to shop.

[James Lehmann]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

I would not buy a SM7, its been proven that a SM7 and a sm57 are the same mic, just use a 57 and buy a rather large wind screen, put some distance between the source and you got the sound, this has been proven on GS

Like many others here I read this statement with some scepticism.

As I have both mics sitting here I made a quick WAV file shoot-out on my voice so that interested slutz (who don't already know the actual answer) can judge for themselves.

As my sig states "Words or WAVs?".

SM7B vs SM57 shoot-out on Voice-Over

[blairl]

Noise from dynamic microphones is not an issue.

When you look at specs from condenser mics, you will see "self-noise" or "signal to noise ratio" specs, because it is an issue with this kind of design. Not so with dynamic mics.

However, it is true that dynamics mics require much more gain than condenser mics. This is where the noise specs of a mic pre become important.

Any noise problems you are having with the SM7B are most likely coming from the pre rather than the mic.

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by dreamsongs

Hmmm...this sounds like you need a power conditioner. Are you plugging your pres and other equipment right into the wall ?

I hope you're not...

hisssss ? is that a power issue?? .. buzzzz hmmmmmm pop click yeah but hissssss??/ I thought that was just an artifact of gain and amplifing thermal noize..

not saying a conditioner is not a good idea but I doubt using one will cure hiss from a preamp

interested to know

[shobud]

Your hiss is coming from your preamp.
I have an SM7B and I use a UA Solo 110 with it. No problem getting enough gain, even on quiet sources, with no appreciable hiss.
My True Systems P-Solo on the other hand, which has less gain than the 110, shows very noticable hiss on quiet sources because the gain has to be cranked so much.
Either of those pres sound fine when I'm micing a loud source such as a guitar cab.

Dan

[Amplitude]

I realize this thread is old, but I just got an SM7B and a Focusrite ISA One and am getting hiss when I turn it up to 60dB (which is what it needs to get a good signal in Pro Tools).

Ironically, everyone is saying it's probably the pre, and I bought the ISA One because so many people said it was so clean and quiet and a great combo with the SM7.

Did I make a bad move on the amp, or do you think it's faulty?

[mattg082]

I find with my Great River I have to crank it pretty hard which makes it a bit colored, but not really noisy. My API 512c on the other hand takes really well to it, as anything you plug into it goes nuts unless you get something to trim it down. The API 512c and SM7b fit really well together. As far as noise it probably just depends on your pre. I've heard the SM7b on some lower range gear that could pump it and it was crap. The sm7b usually requires a good build preamp to get the most out of it the way everyone talks about it.

[Amplitude]

I expected the ISA One's EIN (Equivalent Input Noise) of -126dB to be a good match for the SM7B. And it has a really good reputation around here.

My suspicion is that most folks who are reviewing it, are using it for purposes that will ultimately involve a music mix, which hides the noise floor. I'm using it for voiceovers and often ones without music beds of any kind. I see -40dB of noise in a treated room with nothing else going on if the preamp gain is at 60-70dB. Specifically HISS which I've been led to believe is probably the amplified self-noise of the pre.

I've been reading a lot about the Cloudlifter and the Fethead, and just ordered the latter. Supposedly it will allow me to get up to a 20dB gain boost before the signal hits the pre, which should negate the need to turn up the pre gain as much thereby lowering the amount of pre-amp self-noise at the higher gain ranges.

[psilas]

Originally Posted by Amplitude

I realize this thread is old, but I just got an SM7B and a Focusrite ISA One and am getting hiss when I turn it up to 60dB (which is what it needs to get a good signal in Pro Tools).

Ironically, everyone is saying it's probably the pre, and I bought the ISA One because so many people said it was so clean and quiet and a great combo with the SM7.

Did I make a bad move on the amp, or do you think it's faulty?

Amplitude you do NOT need to order anything for an SM7 + ISA One combo unless its for room treatment or ground hum issues and the ISA One certainly doesn't need a pre gain stage.

I use this combo a lot and also a Joe Meek VC3v2 with the SM7 and BOTH are quiet when in isolation and not in a mix. I was surprised just how quiet the Meek was given its noise floor being higher than the ISA.

I suspect you need to 1st try using the combo somewhere else where there maybe no ground issues.The ISA One is portable so nothings stopping you. Also try new leads etc but DEFINITELY no pointless preamp 'before' going into the ISA.

The ISA is a top notch,quiet,crispy and slightly warm preamp and perfect for an SM7.You have other issues my friend, imho not gear related.