sm7b for RnB vocals?

xqtion · 28th July 2006, 05:42 PM

Hi,

I hear so many comments/threads about shure sm7b being great for rock vocals but how is it on RnB vox (Usher, Joe, Blackstreet or even Mariah Carey type) ?

I heard they are a bit dark sounding, would it possibly work pretty good for RnB vox if I add in lots of highs with maybe an Avalon EQ ?

Thanks!!

danasti · 28th July 2006, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xqtion

Hi,

I hear so many comments/threads about shure sm7b being great for rock vocals but how is it on RnB vox (Usher, Joe, Blackstreet or even Mariah Carey type) ?

I heard they are a bit dark sounding, would it possibly work pretty good for RnB vox if I add in lots of highs with maybe an Avalon EQ ?

Thanks!!

It's really hard to quickly explain why it's such a bad idea to begin with the intention of adding in lots of highs on a vocal.

Some say the sm7b is a dark mic. I don't visualize it like that when I think of it. I choose a mic for a specific sound first - then the track/song - then the singer. I think it would be good for all kinds of different people at different times. It's also a great mic to have hanging around for other stuff too.

macle · 28th July 2006, 09:27 PM

Hey, I just got one to try out. I don't do R&B though. But I think it has a somewhat surprising airy quality (moreso than I would have guessed). Might not be the quality you're referring to, perhaps darker than all those bright bright condensors, but I would think that a really good R&B singer is going to sound really good through this mic.

defjamm · 29th July 2006, 05:11 PM

imho for the style you want it to use for you'll need some nice condenser, no other way to get it(i tried it myself and it didn't work for the application you want). when i think about modern rnb vocals something like neumann, brauner, akg and sony c800g come to my mind.

Jamz · 29th July 2006, 05:44 PM

IMO It's a very good utility mic. I've used it on kick drum, floor tom, bass amps and vocals. Primarily hip hop or rock vocals...more shouting than articulation. That's just me.
A few years back the engineers at Ruffhouse Records used it a lot for rap vocals. My studio was in the same building. Never liked the mic much back then. Eventually, I used it and started to really like it. Wouldn't call it a dark mic. It can take high SPL. It has low output. It's relatively inexpensive.
While there are no rules I do tend to agree with defjamm regarding types of mics for more "modern" RnB voocals.

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28th July 2006, 05:42 PM	#1
xqtion Gear nut Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Los Angeles , USA Posts: 138	sm7b for RnB vocals? Hi, I hear so many comments/threads about shure sm7b being great for rock vocals but how is it on RnB vox (Usher, Joe, Blackstreet or even Mariah Carey type) ? I heard they are a bit dark sounding, would it possibly work pretty good for RnB vox if I add in lots of highs with maybe an Avalon EQ ? Thanks!! Last edited by xqtion; 28th July 2006 at 05:50 PM.. Reason: mistake on title

29th July 2006, 05:44 PM	#5
Jamz Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bucks County/Philly, PA Posts: 2,151	IMO It's a very good utility mic. I've used it on kick drum, floor tom, bass amps and vocals. Primarily hip hop or rock vocals...more shouting than articulation. That's just me. A few years back the engineers at Ruffhouse Records used it a lot for rap vocals. My studio was in the same building. Never liked the mic much back then. Eventually, I used it and started to really like it. Wouldn't call it a dark mic. It can take high SPL. It has low output. It's relatively inexpensive. While there are no rules I do tend to agree with defjamm regarding types of mics for more "modern" RnB voocals. __________________ Jim Salamone http://myspace.com/cambridgesoundstudios http://cambridgesoundstudios.com http://myspace.com/onajerecording

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28th July 2006, 09:27 PM	#3
macle Gear nut Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 146	Hey, I just got one to try out. I don't do R&B though. But I think it has a somewhat surprising airy quality (moreso than I would have guessed). Might not be the quality you're referring to, perhaps darker than all those bright bright condensors, but I would think that a really good R&B singer is going to sound really good through this mic.

29th July 2006, 05:11 PM	#4
defjamm Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 566	imho for the style you want it to use for you'll need some nice condenser, no other way to get it(i tried it myself and it didn't work for the application you want). when i think about modern rnb vocals something like neumann, brauner, akg and sony c800g come to my mind.