Yessir! That is due to the fact the sm7 had a modified capsule that was used in the sm57 and sm58. With the new humbucking coil of the sm7b causes it to be a bit darker. The sm57 was a preferred mic for micing amps by studio engineers at the time and even modern day!
I guess that would be an effect of the humbucking coil, it's a typical sideeffect on guitar pickups as well. But live sometime you can't have the noise that non-humbucking pickups deliver (RF and staglights can be bad). FWIW. Sometimes the highend rolloff can work on the poitive side.
Christian Boddum I hadn’t considered that but that is super interesting. That made me think of a Strat and a Les Paul. Of course the density of the body affects it but also the twanginess of the strat from the single coils and the thickness and darker sound of the Les Paul with the humbuckers.
@@Podcastage I generally don't like vintage correct Strat pickups, they are just too bright and they hum badly, so i opt for DiMarzio HS-2s that are humcancelling, which fare better with high gain plus the tone is a little fatter,which I like, and there is ZERO hum ;-) Actually I've practiced no hum in my guitar for years, so whatever guitar I pick up, I know I will not have to take hum in to the consideration when I choose a guitar. FWIW. Thanks for all the great videos :-)
Agree! also I agree with @RyanVickers I always thought that the 7B was way overrated, and kept wondering why, I only knew that couple of famous used it, like Michael Jackson for Beat it, and it was making no sense to me cause the 7B is way dark, (I've never heard a SM7 before)and hearing this comparison, the SM7 sounds waaaay better, and the 7B is just getting the love that the SM7 had, even though they don't sound alike, the 7B sound cheap by side to the SM7, in all aspects, and it is most noticed when the filters were ON, in the 7B the filters sound unnatural, as in the SM7 they sounded really good. Now with that one, I understood a bit why people love so much the 7B, is because the SM7 was good.
Wow, I can't believe how the SM7 does a much better job at rejecting noise coming from behind. And also it sounds much better in my opinion, but I wouldn't spend that much money on a used microphone almost 50 years old. Great review as always!
Sound is simple. It's waves. Mic and speaker technology is simple. They function like your ear. One does not simply innovate the concept of that. The sound of a great microphone or speaker will always come down to the same things.
I just want to say that I appreciate how much work you put into these videos to make these comparisons so ripe with information.... just for me to listen to them with my phone speakers.
Wow I loved the sound of the SM7 for both guitars. On the electric it just sounded so "dirty", it really let that distortion shine. And the acoustic was beautiful. If I ever record something on guitar I know what mic to ask for.
I really appreciate you showing the instrumental parts. My ear is much better tuned to picking up differences in instrument sounds than voices, and these comparisons make it very clear. Thank you for your work!
There's this OCD part of me that freaking loves watching and listening to you compare tiny minute differences between pretty much identical microphones. I don't even need a new mic (totally happy with the SM7B, and I was totally happy with the sm57 I had before that). I come here for the mind tingling indulgence of my OCD side, thanks for going as far in depth as you go in these comparison reviews.
I also noticed that the SM7B's filter switches sounded significantly more effective than the ones on the SM7. I'm not sure if that's just something that could be attributed to the age of the older microphone, or if that's an actual functional difference, but it stood out to me during the test.
I'm not sure how the original SM7 shipped initially, but the mount is reversible, you can flip it around depending on use (front to back (as you were discussing), but also to either side to make the switches on the back orientated correctly depending on use). Just be careful when you undo the sides, there's a bunch of easy to drop washers.
@@Podcastage According to wgi I would say is the world's single most highly respected authority on microphones, Klause Heyne, modern microphones are just per definition bad compared to their old counterparts, and that there are no exceptions to this rule. The reason being that almost all parts (including capsules) for AKG, Sennheiser, Shure, Røde etc microphones are made in China with dirt cheap components that just doesn't do a great job. According to him the ONLY microphone manufacturer in the world currently that can produce high quality capsules are Neumann, but they suffer with not being able to make other important components of high quality. In fact, the reason Neumann came up with the TLM line of microphones, is not because of lower selfnoise, but becaue they didn't know how to make great transformers anymore, so they had to lower the quality of their microphones by not using a transformer... So building great - not good enough - microphones seems to truly be a dying art, and one we will likely never be able to revive. It simply costs too much to make high quality components for microphones, so even the super expensive 10.000 dollar modern Telefunken u47 will actually have the exact same 20 dollar Chinese capsule that for example AKG uses for their microphones. Sorry to be a debbie downer, but there really isn't any comparison musically between older and newer microphones. I think for podcasting, the new SM7b will work well enough, but for musical uses, it just doesn't have it, it's a bit too bland in my opinion.
This was fascinating. Would love to see more old vs new comparisons just to see what has changed over the years. The RE20 would be an interesting one for this type of video.
i actually have a "vintage" RE20, while i haven't A/B tested it there isnt a noticeable difference. the only difference ive noticed is a small build change, like reeeeaaally small. the roll-off switch was changed in the way it looks. seriously, (that's all i've noticed, there could be more but i doubt it.)
Whenever someone mentions the SM7B (in UA-cam reviews etc) they mention that it was the mic used by Michael Jackson. That is FALSE. Bruce Swedien used the SM7 - not the SM7B, for Michael Jackson. As Bandrew's fine comparison video shows, they are two very different sounding microphones. Bruce Swedien said he liked the SM7 but NOT the SM7B. Bruce recorded onto tape for most of his work with Michael Jackson. That further skews the picture when considering the two microphones today, recording onto digital, which doesn't roll-off the high frequences (and smoothens the transients) like tape does. On the other hand, in the 70s, the SM7's increased high-end response might actually be somewhat closer to what an SM7B sounds like today, when recorded to a digital medium. So perhaps Shure did the right, logical thing by slightly attenuating the SM7B's high-end, when updating the SM7? Would make sense, in a world that has changed since the 70s tape-recording practices - and challenges of tape-noises, which meant enginers recorded hotter, and with more high-end boost onto tape, and then attenuating the high-end on the way off the tape, to reduce noise. Not that it matters which mic someone else used for some other project, scenario (acoustics, etc) than yours. Each voice is unique, and the SM7 worked for Michael's. Irrelevant to anyone elses voice, really. And totally irrelevant when talking about the SM7B - a microphone that Michael Jackson did NOT use;)
47 years old and still sounds like new. No doubts about Shure's build quality. Interesting to hear how different they sound on electric guitar. On voice I couldn't tell much difference, but electric guitar was like two completely different mics. The new one definitely sounded _better_ , but I thought the old one sounded really cool too. Definitely some harsh frequencies in there, but with a little EQ it would be perfect for a song with a vintage vibe.
I love your reviews man. They are clear and concise! I have the new SM7B and it was very cool to hear the comparison between that and the original model. I immediately heard the top end in the original. Definitely a fan of the new 2020 version. Thanks!
I've always wondered about this comparison - thank you for doing this! I actually prefer the SM7b. I use it because it has that certain smooth character. That's one of the thing it does that others don't. I have other mics that can do the top end thing. Very interesting comparison.
For singing voice i slightly prefer the SM7. I tend to find the SM7b doesn't have enough air in it and end up boosting around 7-8k just a tad, where as the SM7 models have the opposite problem and I have to bring down around 9-10k. I'd always prefer to bring something down in an EQ rather than bring something up. It's a minor thing, both do their job incredibly well. However, for recording pretty much anything else other than singing voice, I prefer the SM7b. For talking, guitars, percussion, string, brass, anything really. The SM7b is much more versatile and less needs to be done with it across the board.
Well that sure cheered me up- as a 1973 teen I obsessed over Warehouse Sound catalogs and wanted a pair of SM7's but couldn't afford them- in 2020 with the new lower price I just knew it had to be a shadow of the original- I think it is finally time to order that elusive pair
1973 huh? almost half a century old. I couldn't imagine the same model from so back in a day would sound so good. I couldn't decide between the two in the end. Both mics are great, although SM7 does sound v 1973 when it comes to electric guitar. Overall amazing work, SHURE. Thank you for the review, Bandrew! 1337 gamers approve SADW
Glad you made this. I was always a little surprised that this was chosen over a good condensor for so many great recordings (not least M. Jackson.) Very warm sounding.....bit still a modified SM58, and I want one ! 🙂
Started to like the 7, then thought the high frequency boost would become tiring: A) to listen to , and B) to smooth out on every track it’s used in an eq strip or plugin. I like the 7, but the 7b seems to do the job better.
Hey Sir, I don't know if this fits into your channel but there is this new thing calles RTX Voice and a video from you on how it works and how effective it really is would be nice bro, love your content keep up the good work
@@Maradnus What are you on about? The worlds most popular recordings were probably done on an analogue console up until the 00's and 9/10 records today are surely not recorded on a cheese grater. You made that up. But the apple sheep comment was ignorant, i'm with ya.
I do have two of the SM 7 mics. Bought them at a discount, paid ~ $70.00 for each. Still have my SM 57 & Sm 58's still use them. I did notice that you were wearing Sony MDL 7506 head phones. They still have very good feel and response. I've bought them used on line for as little as $15.00, rebuilt them with replacement parts from a co. called Wang. Drivers, ear cushions and cables all available. So far, I have 10 pairs of them and have another 4 to fix. BTW, I'm retired and am the sound guy at the local senior center. Still love it. If you'd like, I could send you pix of the set up. Primitive as compared to today's standards but worked.
Carsten - Thank you very much. I was surprised at the delta in performance as well. Also, the SM7 that I have is 50 years old so it has lived a full life, and anything could have happened to it since it was released. This is just the best that I can do. It would be awesome to get a fresh out of the box 1973 SM7 and compare it to the modern SM7b though. Maybe one day!
Hi, I'm António Filipe from Portugal I follow your channel since 2018, I love the tone as you do your reviews. I saw your review on the Motu M2 sound interface, the Shuer SM7B microphone with the Fethead applicator and ended up buying them. I connected the Shuer SM7B microphone (+ the fethead) and my Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 250 headphones to the Motu M2 sound interface, installed the driver, and was able to record and listen to Adobe Audition, however when I'm not recording (and even recording) no sound comes out of the headphones. What am I doing wrong? Shouldn't sound come out of the headphones at the time of recording? Thank you very much and continued success with your wonderful channel.
At the time the SM7B was intro'd tape recording tamed the high frequencies a bit, and I can easily see the original SM7's top-end being helpful in that context. The re-voicing happened before the transition to digital, but at a time when newer tape formulations had improved matters quite a bit. The yoke can be reversed on both the 7 and 7b, so the placement of the XLR connector is probably something its owner did. Just unscrew the thumbscrews from each side and it comes right off. There are a pair of plastic bushings that sit in the center of each pivot and that are a pain to re-install, but you can do it by nudging with a jewelers' screwdriver until they seat. FWIW I use mine reversed like that when supported by a stand from below. The default configuration (as on your 7b in the video) works better when the mic is hung from a boom.
I really really love your show man. You cut straight to the point and your tests are so effective but you’re still entertaining and informative! Plus the ways you’ve split your videos up is really helpful! My go to when I’m looking at a new mic ❤️✨
I got to talk to Bruce about why he used the SM7 on Thriller. I have pix of him holding the original wind screen Michael sang through. His reason given for using a fairly inexpensive mic on Michael, he said it and the Neumann M149? were the only two mics he liked on Michael's voice. I've read several other reasons online, but that's what he told me.
Very surprising comparison! I recall Bruce Swedien, who used the original SM7 to record Michael Jackson, George Benson, and others, speaking emphatically about the difference between the two. To my ear, the original is definitely brighter and far more open, almost like a condenser.
It definitely has a more open sound to it. For me, I prefer the SM7b because it doesn’t have that 10kHz peak, so if you add a high shelf to it, you’re not also boosting this large 4-5dB peak as well. You’re boosting a more natural top end. But I can absolutely understand why someone would prefer the original SM7. I can say that I was quite shocked with how different they sounded.
@@Podcastage - Hey man. Love watching your stuff. I can't exactly speak too much about these ;), but here's a link to some photos of the actual SM7 used on the Thriller album (along with other SM7 variants used in a "shootout" in Shure's in-house studio). Thought it might be a fun FWIW... drive.google.com/open?id=1BZvUcbP0IMD7J7arCduzK4u9IyK0EPqS
Podcastage Very true. I was also very surprised by the stark contrast in tone. I’d argue perhaps the original could fair better in a dense mix. Often I find that with my own 7B, this isn’t always the case without a cut at 5k, a subtle shelf boost at 7k, and a generous notch at 10k.
Great, methodical, useful A/B comparison process. Thanks! In my monitoring environment, I actually preferred the sound of the acoustic guitar through the SM7B, which counters your assessment. I heard more presence and top-end clarity than in the original SM7 (not a lot, but noticeable). Given other comments that say the opposite about the two mics, I think it's important to keep in mind one's monitoring situation. And, since the mics sound relatively close to one another, not comparing apples to grapefruit, EQ adjustments may essentially make the differences moot.
Hey man, great videos. The XLR ports are reversible on both mics. The whole mounting bracket can be removed and flipped around to position the XLR on whichever side you prefer
So what you’re saying is that the SM7 is a Stratocaster and the SM7B is a Les Paul. Whenever you add a coil (to buck the hum) you completely change the sound. I needed this content. Great work homie!
Enjoyed the vid. It was hands-down, the original 7 for me. It might be useful to present samples of a longer, more uniform length, with less back and forth. The length of the acoustic segment was nice. Also a clean electric gtr with a "classic" rig - one that everyone recognizes as "that sound" would be great for comparison. Appreciate your hard work.
for electric guitar there was a hissy accent on the old model which wasn't super pleasant and the 7b is probably "safer" but for acoustic and spoken the 7b's mids sounded more cluttered while the old one sounded more transparent
P.S. From the Gearslutz Forum, this useful comment, regarding the differences between the original, the A, and the B versions: "The As and Bs have better resistance to RFI and EMI noise. The originals could be noisy, picking up interference from old CRT computer monitors. As to sound, pretty hard to tell the difference."
With regards to the sm7b having the XLR Connection in the front... look at the directions it explains the microphone is packed set up for a overhead boom mic. You can change this by removing the yolk and turning it around and now the XLR connection will be in the back. If you read the directions carefully it will be easy to do
This channel is great. Learn A LOT about mics with some of your videos (amongst others). Can I suggest another battle, but now between audio interfaces? How about the Mackie Onyx Producer 2.2, against the MOTU M2 and the ZOOM UAC-2. with comments on their pre-amps, USB connections, and frequency/clarity. P.S. I saw your review on the MOTU M2 and really wanted to see it up against other ones.
Nice demo! I prefer the SM7 for the reasons you said you liked it less :) But consistently when I use my SM7 (a lot) I don’t need to add high end to it on vocals when mixing. But I can be sibilant. I also often use the large foam cover. And it works great with tube mic preamps
I know it's an "older" video, but the first part describing the differences regarding the XLR placement is just a result of flipping the mount, you will also see this affecting the orientation of the Shure logo on the back, and top of the microphone ;)
Personally, I think the SM7B was nicer to listen to on the instruments, and the SM7 was nicer to listen to on the vocals. Maybe it's just that I haven't listened to it enough and analyzed it, but the bottom end sounded fuller to me and the mic sounded more alive. On the instruments though, especially the electric guitar, it's was extremely harsh, and on the acoustic guitar I think the SM7B gives it a warmer color, which I prefer. Crazy to think that the SM7 series has been around for 47 years now. Great review!
It's really cool to see the original SM7 Back in the 70s gear must have sounded darker so they made the SM7 a bright mic. Also every mic ages differently depending on the studio and life they had. I love that because no two vintage mic's sound the same, even though they are the same model. The mic that recorded Thriller is very tempting and I would go for the SM7b as well. Would be impossible to know but would like to hear what the SM7 sounded like new in 1973. Shame will shall never know but make no mistake Sure created a legend and improved upon it.
Hi Bandrew. I am sorry because i used to be more active in your channel. And i used to ask for song requests on your mic tests. But i am back!!! This mic is my dream mic... But in Brazil, is tooooo expensive. Imagine, my payment is "1.200,00" and the mic costs almost "4.000,00"... just think about it... you work and you get 1000,00 and you have to pay 4000,00 ... THIS IS A DREAM mic. Congratulation
noticeable difference but both are very useable. I have one of each, I go to the older one for vocals a lot but could be the grand lour of vintage gear lol idk both are good mics no doubt
Sm7 definitely has that flatter low end and a bit more high end that made a much more loved vocal mic. Sm7b definitely has a warmer and more smooth overall sound. Both are dope in whatever application in my opinion
As much as I wanted to want the original SM7 all my blind tests I always chose the SM7b with out fail. The high end open sound is nice and shiny sounding, on the SM7 but I was trying to avoid that as this was something I liked isolated but hated in a mix. (I also felt like that clarity was something I had in my condensers and didn’t like/ home studios traffic noise /poor room etc) The SM7b also just worked better for my home studio where the upper frequencies need more taming due to lack of room treatment.
When listening to the voice, I did not notice a significant difference, although the sound of 7b seemed more pleasant. On the electric guitar, the difference is huge. I even thought that it was a testing error, but I know that you treat the tests very carefully.
Yeah. I recorded them at the same time, and measured them on the X,Y,andZ axis to make sure they were the same. I thought the same thing initially as well. And triple checked the measurements.
@@Podcastage I sang into one on a 2019 recording session that included a fair amount of acoustic stuff. Wish we had thought to try that on the guitar 🧐
Are you sure you did not get them mixed up? The 7b sounded brighter and more harsh to me. The 7 sounded smoother and more rounded. Also, the yoke can be turned around. The used 7 you had probably was flipped around by someone. The only real change is that the B has a plate that you can screw onto the back that blocks anyone from getting to the switches. Something radio engineers liked from DJ's messing with them. "B", meaning for Broadcast. And the other changes are different production of the internal components, most notably the internal transformer is likely much more different. The main element might also be slightly different.
Didn't hear a ton of difference on the talking until the filters. 1973 definitely has that top end in the graph and it definitely is super noticeable. The guitar tone was shockingly different. Was not expecting that at all
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on it. The two mics sound drastically different. I really would love to get my hands on a new old stock SM7 from the 70's to try out because after 50 years a microphone is bound to change quite a bit. This would be a lot more interesting if I was able to compare new 1973 SM7 and new 2023 SM7b. That'd be so cool. Thanks for watching!
Top quality comparison! And if you
hit the thumbs down 👎🏼 you live with your parents and have a small wee wee.
I live with my parents and have a small wee wee but I still hit the thumbs up 👍
OMG ! That’s Hilarious 🤣
Hahahaha! Awesome. (Quickly discreetly undoing my thumbs down lol). I agree, great comparison.
@@NaaimSiddiqi Oh my god that's hilarious! You get a thumbs up from me!
Jajajajaj
"Now I am talking into the Shure SM7 which costs,.... I don't want to talk about it"
Nice
$1,120 on reverb lol
His wallet is in horror whenever he mentions the sm7
reverb.com/p/shure-sm7
Money money yeah yeah
@@iandaviesmusic $699 on ebay almost mint condition
The SM7 sounds amazing wtf
Yeah🤣
As a studio guitarist, that electric part made me smile
agreed.
yeah the sm7 sounds better im my opinion
@@marcotomaselliart yeah for thousands of dollars
Shure mics really _are_ built to last.
Built to last, and built to beat intruders to death.
@@Podcastage The 57 may as well be a billy club lol
Microphon-a-holic. I understand. I'm with you. Good job as always.
Me too, ...
Same here
Micaholic😎
You can really hear the 70s when that sm7 comes on in the guitar demos
Yessir! That is due to the fact the sm7 had a modified capsule that was used in the sm57 and sm58. With the new humbucking coil of the sm7b causes it to be a bit darker. The sm57 was a preferred mic for micing amps by studio engineers at the time and even modern day!
Wow
I think I prefer the SM7. The SM7b definitely has a darker tone to it. The SM7 seems to have more clarity in the high-end.
Have to agree with you there.
I guess that would be an effect of the humbucking coil, it's a typical sideeffect on guitar pickups as well. But live sometime you can't have the noise that non-humbucking pickups deliver (RF and staglights can be bad). FWIW. Sometimes the highend rolloff can work on the poitive side.
Christian Boddum I hadn’t considered that but that is super interesting. That made me think of a Strat and a Les Paul. Of course the density of the body affects it but also the twanginess of the strat from the single coils and the thickness and darker sound of the Les Paul with the humbuckers.
@@Podcastage I generally don't like vintage correct Strat pickups, they are just too bright and they hum badly, so i opt for DiMarzio HS-2s that are humcancelling, which fare better with high gain plus the tone is a little fatter,which I like, and there is ZERO hum ;-) Actually I've practiced no hum in my guitar for years, so whatever guitar I pick up, I know I will not have to take hum in to the consideration when I choose a guitar. FWIW. Thanks for all the great videos :-)
Agree! also I agree with @RyanVickers I always thought that the 7B was way overrated, and kept wondering why, I only knew that couple of famous used it, like Michael Jackson for Beat it, and it was making no sense to me cause the 7B is way dark, (I've never heard a SM7 before)and hearing this comparison, the SM7 sounds waaaay better, and the 7B is just getting the love that the SM7 had, even though they don't sound alike, the 7B sound cheap by side to the SM7, in all aspects, and it is most noticed when the filters were ON, in the 7B the filters sound unnatural, as in the SM7 they sounded really good. Now with that one, I understood a bit why people love so much the 7B, is because the SM7 was good.
Wow, I can't believe how the SM7 does a much better job at rejecting noise coming from behind. And also it sounds much better in my opinion, but I wouldn't spend that much money on a used microphone almost 50 years old. Great review as always!
Definitely the Sm7. Why don't they just make it the SAME.
Sounds amazing for a 1973 mic
A lot of great audio hardware came before the year 2000
I mean, the original U47s and C12s are even older...
Majority of equipment is from the mid 60s and before
The amazing world of analog recording.
Sound is simple. It's waves. Mic and speaker technology is simple. They function like your ear.
One does not simply innovate the concept of that. The sound of a great microphone or speaker will always come down to the same things.
I just want to say that I appreciate how much work you put into these videos to make these comparisons so ripe with information.... just for me to listen to them with my phone speakers.
Bloody hell that mic is as old as me lol.
Haha, it's the same age as my dad, I'm 20 next month.
welp this looks like your regular family reunion
It's 32 years older than me lol
Soo older than me like 33 yrs older
that thing’s older than my dad lmao
Wow I loved the sound of the SM7 for both guitars. On the electric it just sounded so "dirty", it really let that distortion shine. And the acoustic was beautiful. If I ever record something on guitar I know what mic to ask for.
I really appreciate you showing the instrumental parts. My ear is much better tuned to picking up differences in instrument sounds than voices, and these comparisons make it very clear. Thank you for your work!
Man the old guy really biffs a guitar tone for some reason. Great video!
Thanks so much fluff.
50 años y se sigue escuchando igual de bien que su versión actual, increíble la calidad de los micrófonos de hace decadas
There's this OCD part of me that freaking loves watching and listening to you compare tiny minute differences between pretty much identical microphones.
I don't even need a new mic (totally happy with the SM7B, and I was totally happy with the sm57 I had before that).
I come here for the mind tingling indulgence of my OCD side, thanks for going as far in depth as you go in these comparison reviews.
I also noticed that the SM7B's filter switches sounded significantly more effective than the ones on the SM7. I'm not sure if that's just something that could be attributed to the age of the older microphone, or if that's an actual functional difference, but it stood out to me during the test.
I'm not sure how the original SM7 shipped initially, but the mount is reversible, you can flip it around depending on use (front to back (as you were discussing), but also to either side to make the switches on the back orientated correctly depending on use). Just be careful when you undo the sides, there's a bunch of easy to drop washers.
I didn’t expect it to sound that much better. Even on my phone speakers it just had this clear musical color to it. Almost sounded more detailed too.
Yeah the original has much more top end to it, that's for sure. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@@Podcastage According to wgi I would say is the world's single most highly respected authority on microphones, Klause Heyne, modern microphones are just per definition bad compared to their old counterparts, and that there are no exceptions to this rule. The reason being that almost all parts (including capsules) for AKG, Sennheiser, Shure, Røde etc microphones are made in China with dirt cheap components that just doesn't do a great job. According to him the ONLY microphone manufacturer in the world currently that can produce high quality capsules are Neumann, but they suffer with not being able to make other important components of high quality. In fact, the reason Neumann came up with the TLM line of microphones, is not because of lower selfnoise, but becaue they didn't know how to make great transformers anymore, so they had to lower the quality of their microphones by not using a transformer... So building great - not good enough - microphones seems to truly be a dying art, and one we will likely never be able to revive. It simply costs too much to make high quality components for microphones, so even the super expensive 10.000 dollar modern Telefunken u47 will actually have the exact same 20 dollar Chinese capsule that for example AKG uses for their microphones. Sorry to be a debbie downer, but there really isn't any comparison musically between older and newer microphones. I think for podcasting, the new SM7b will work well enough, but for musical uses, it just doesn't have it, it's a bit too bland in my opinion.
This was fascinating. Would love to see more old vs new comparisons just to see what has changed over the years. The RE20 would be an interesting one for this type of video.
i actually have a "vintage" RE20, while i haven't A/B tested it there isnt a noticeable difference. the only difference ive noticed is a small build change, like reeeeaaally small. the roll-off switch was changed in the way it looks. seriously, (that's all i've noticed, there could be more but i doubt it.)
the shure sm7b has been my dream mic for years and years now. even when i didn't even know the name
Whenever someone mentions the SM7B (in UA-cam reviews etc) they mention that it was the mic used by Michael Jackson. That is FALSE. Bruce Swedien used the SM7 - not the SM7B, for Michael Jackson. As Bandrew's fine comparison video shows, they are two very different sounding microphones. Bruce Swedien said he liked the SM7 but NOT the SM7B.
Bruce recorded onto tape for most of his work with Michael Jackson. That further skews the picture when considering the two microphones today, recording onto digital, which doesn't roll-off the high frequences (and smoothens the transients) like tape does.
On the other hand, in the 70s, the SM7's increased high-end response might actually be somewhat closer to what an SM7B sounds like today, when recorded to a digital medium. So perhaps Shure did the right, logical thing by slightly attenuating the SM7B's high-end, when updating the SM7? Would make sense, in a world that has changed since the 70s tape-recording practices - and challenges of tape-noises, which meant enginers recorded hotter, and with more high-end boost onto tape, and then attenuating the high-end on the way off the tape, to reduce noise.
Not that it matters which mic someone else used for some other project, scenario (acoustics, etc) than yours. Each voice is unique, and the SM7 worked for Michael's. Irrelevant to anyone elses voice, really. And totally irrelevant when talking about the SM7B - a microphone that Michael Jackson did NOT use;)
What a surprise! There is a reason some people goes crazy about the original SM7.
47 years old and still sounds like new. No doubts about Shure's build quality.
Interesting to hear how different they sound on electric guitar. On voice I couldn't tell much difference, but electric guitar was like two completely different mics. The new one definitely sounded _better_ , but I thought the old one sounded really cool too. Definitely some harsh frequencies in there, but with a little EQ it would be perfect for a song with a vintage vibe.
I love your reviews man. They are clear and concise! I have the new SM7B and it was very cool to hear the comparison between that and the original model. I immediately heard the top end in the original. Definitely a fan of the new 2020 version. Thanks!
I've always wondered about this comparison - thank you for doing this! I actually prefer the SM7b. I use it because it has that certain smooth character. That's one of the thing it does that others don't. I have other mics that can do the top end thing. Very interesting comparison.
I’m blown away that the design is almost EXACTLY the same now as it was in 1973! Kind of cool honestly
Father and son
For singing voice i slightly prefer the SM7. I tend to find the SM7b doesn't have enough air in it and end up boosting around 7-8k just a tad, where as the SM7 models have the opposite problem and I have to bring down around 9-10k. I'd always prefer to bring something down in an EQ rather than bring something up. It's a minor thing, both do their job incredibly well. However, for recording pretty much anything else other than singing voice, I prefer the SM7b. For talking, guitars, percussion, string, brass, anything really. The SM7b is much more versatile and less needs to be done with it across the board.
Well that sure cheered me up- as a 1973 teen I obsessed over Warehouse Sound catalogs and wanted a pair of SM7's but couldn't afford them- in 2020 with the new lower price I just knew it had to be a shadow of the original- I think it is finally time to order that elusive pair
0:58 Didn't know there is a Neewer SM7B, yet. :D
Lol!
The grammar is actually correct there ;) I can see how you thought it to be weird though.
1973 huh? almost half a century old. I couldn't imagine the same model from so back in a day would sound so good. I couldn't decide between the two in the end. Both mics are great, although SM7 does sound v 1973 when it comes to electric guitar.
Overall amazing work, SHURE.
Thank you for the review, Bandrew!
1337 gamers approve SADW
What a nice video. Tech evolves so fast, it's nice to have a look into the past and just appreciate the beginnings of stuff.
Glad you made this. I was always a little surprised that this was chosen over a good condensor for so many great recordings (not least M. Jackson.) Very warm sounding.....bit still a modified SM58, and I want one ! 🙂
Started to like the 7, then thought the high frequency boost would become tiring: A) to listen to , and B) to smooth out on every track it’s used in an eq strip or plugin. I like the 7, but the 7b seems to do the job better.
That music test should be an actual song. I love it for so much for some reason. lol I'm an SM7B owner thanks in part to you!
Hey Sir, I don't know if this fits into your channel but there is this new thing calles RTX Voice and a video from you on how it works and how effective it really is would be nice bro, love your content keep up the good work
He talked about it on his podcast.
He probably can't use it cause he is a Apple sheep mac peasant.
Ryan Lennox-Bradley may be an Apple sheep but 90% of the music you enjoy was made on them ❤️
@@Maradnus nahh most done on fl studio. Pc's are powerhouses compared to macs when it comes to price
@@Maradnus What are you on about? The worlds most popular recordings were probably done on an analogue console up until the 00's and 9/10 records today are surely not recorded on a cheese grater. You made that up.
But the apple sheep comment was ignorant, i'm with ya.
I've been using a SM7b for 5 years for audiobook narration and love it. I engage the presence boost. And I use a Golden Age Pre-73 MK II preamp.
I can't tell a difference I might be deaf, both good. 👍
For recording guitar the SM7b sounds way better, i'm guessing it's because of the hum bucking coil
I do have two of the SM 7 mics. Bought them at a discount, paid ~ $70.00 for each. Still have my SM 57 & Sm 58's still use them. I did notice that you were wearing Sony MDL 7506 head phones. They still have very good feel and response. I've bought them used on line for as little as $15.00, rebuilt them with replacement parts from a co. called Wang. Drivers, ear cushions and cables all available. So far, I have 10 pairs of them and have another 4 to fix. BTW, I'm retired and am the sound guy at the local senior center. Still love it. If you'd like, I could send you pix of the set up. Primitive as compared to today's standards but worked.
Super interesting comparison.
I didn't expect the differences to be so significant. Thank you ✌🏼
Carsten - Thank you very much. I was surprised at the delta in performance as well. Also, the SM7 that I have is 50 years old so it has lived a full life, and anything could have happened to it since it was released. This is just the best that I can do. It would be awesome to get a fresh out of the box 1973 SM7 and compare it to the modern SM7b though. Maybe one day!
Great video! Never have thought they would sound so different.
The 70's one sounds sooo sooo perfect...
Hi, I'm António Filipe from Portugal
I follow your channel since 2018, I love the tone as you do your reviews.
I saw your review on the Motu M2 sound interface, the Shuer SM7B microphone with the Fethead applicator and ended up buying them.
I connected the Shuer SM7B microphone (+ the fethead) and my Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 250 headphones to the Motu M2 sound interface, installed the driver, and was able to record and listen to Adobe Audition, however when I'm not recording (and even recording) no sound comes out of the headphones.
What am I doing wrong?
Shouldn't sound come out of the headphones at the time of recording?
Thank you very much and continued success with your wonderful channel.
At the time the SM7B was intro'd tape recording tamed the high frequencies a bit, and I can easily see the original SM7's top-end being helpful in that context. The re-voicing happened before the transition to digital, but at a time when newer tape formulations had improved matters quite a bit.
The yoke can be reversed on both the 7 and 7b, so the placement of the XLR connector is probably something its owner did. Just unscrew the thumbscrews from each side and it comes right off. There are a pair of plastic bushings that sit in the center of each pivot and that are a pain to re-install, but you can do it by nudging with a jewelers' screwdriver until they seat. FWIW I use mine reversed like that when supported by a stand from below. The default configuration (as on your 7b in the video) works better when the mic is hung from a boom.
I really really love your show man. You cut straight to the point and your tests are so effective but you’re still entertaining and informative! Plus the ways you’ve split your videos up is really helpful! My go to when I’m looking at a new mic ❤️✨
I got to talk to Bruce about why he used the SM7 on Thriller. I have pix of him holding the original wind screen Michael sang through. His reason given for using a fairly inexpensive mic on Michael, he said it and the Neumann M149? were the only two mics he liked on Michael's voice. I've read several other reasons online, but that's what he told me.
Very surprising comparison! I recall Bruce Swedien, who used the original SM7 to record Michael Jackson, George Benson, and others, speaking emphatically about the difference between the two. To my ear, the original is definitely brighter and far more open, almost like a condenser.
It definitely has a more open sound to it. For me, I prefer the SM7b because it doesn’t have that 10kHz peak, so if you add a high shelf to it, you’re not also boosting this large 4-5dB peak as well. You’re boosting a more natural top end. But I can absolutely understand why someone would prefer the original SM7. I can say that I was quite shocked with how different they sounded.
@@Podcastage - Hey man. Love watching your stuff. I can't exactly speak too much about these ;), but here's a link to some photos of the actual SM7 used on the Thriller album (along with other SM7 variants used in a "shootout" in Shure's in-house studio). Thought it might be a fun FWIW... drive.google.com/open?id=1BZvUcbP0IMD7J7arCduzK4u9IyK0EPqS
Jeff Pelletier nice 👍
@@Jjf109nine - you're welcome
Podcastage Very true. I was also very surprised by the stark contrast in tone. I’d argue perhaps the original could fair better in a dense mix. Often I find that with my own 7B, this isn’t always the case without a cut at 5k, a subtle shelf boost at 7k, and a generous notch at 10k.
Great, methodical, useful A/B comparison process. Thanks! In my monitoring environment, I actually preferred the sound of the acoustic guitar through the SM7B, which counters your assessment. I heard more presence and top-end clarity than in the original SM7 (not a lot, but noticeable). Given other comments that say the opposite about the two mics, I think it's important to keep in mind one's monitoring situation. And, since the mics sound relatively close to one another, not comparing apples to grapefruit, EQ adjustments may essentially make the differences moot.
Hey man, great videos. The XLR ports are reversible on both mics. The whole mounting bracket can be removed and flipped around to position the XLR on whichever side you prefer
So what you’re saying is that the SM7 is a Stratocaster and the SM7B is a Les Paul. Whenever you add a coil (to buck the hum) you completely change the sound. I needed this content. Great work homie!
Enjoyed the vid. It was hands-down, the original 7 for me. It might be useful to present samples of a longer, more uniform length, with less back and forth. The length of the acoustic segment was nice. Also a clean electric gtr with a "classic" rig - one that everyone recognizes as "that sound" would be great for comparison. Appreciate your hard work.
I think your vids are really consistent, I must’ve watched at least 10 today. Definitely subscribing keep it up man 🙌
I still think the SM7B is kind of dull without the presence function engaged. This is a fantastic comparison. Great video!
Okay, best microphone comparison video I’ve heard. Great work.
The slaps at the end really... slapped. Loved that part.
for electric guitar there was a hissy accent on the old model which wasn't super pleasant and the 7b is probably "safer" but for acoustic and spoken the 7b's mids sounded more cluttered while the old one sounded more transparent
We're using the SM7b with great results. Also getting a Rode NT1 to keep things interesting. Thanks for the video
SM7B is piercing my ear compared to SM7. SM7 SOUNDS GREAT! I'd buy one if I get an opportunity !
Color coordination even... (shirt and electric guitar). thanks. helped me pull the trigger on the SM7B.
The Mic must have been taken care of perfectly! It sounds amazing!
P.S. From the Gearslutz Forum, this useful comment, regarding the differences between the original, the A, and the B versions: "The As and Bs have better resistance to RFI and EMI noise. The originals could be noisy, picking up interference from old CRT computer monitors. As to sound, pretty hard to tell the difference."
With regards to the sm7b having the XLR Connection in the front... look at the directions it explains the microphone is packed set up for a overhead boom mic. You can change this by removing the yolk and turning it around and now the XLR connection will be in the back. If you read the directions carefully it will be easy to do
Wen the hight pass filter was enabled it sounded so good
apologies if this was already mentioned, but you can spin the yoke around, at least on the 7B. It is removable.
This channel is great. Learn A LOT about mics with some of your videos (amongst others).
Can I suggest another battle, but now between audio interfaces?
How about the Mackie Onyx Producer 2.2, against the MOTU M2 and the ZOOM UAC-2.
with comments on their pre-amps, USB connections, and frequency/clarity.
P.S. I saw your review on the MOTU M2 and really wanted to see it up against other ones.
This was super interesting and fun to watch/listen to the comparisons between the two. Very well said too. Thanks for sharing! 🤘
Wow, the old one sounds so much warmer and bassier. I was surprised
This is an old comment but I thought the sm7 sounded brighter then the 7b.
Great comparison! The SM7B is on my list of mics to buy for my youtube and podcast! Thanks for the review!
Nice demo! I prefer the SM7 for the reasons you said you liked it less :) But consistently when I use my SM7 (a lot) I don’t need to add high end to it on vocals when mixing. But I can be sibilant. I also often use the large foam cover. And it works great with tube mic preamps
Nice review! It's possible to flip the yoke around on the new one to make it like the old one if you want.
I know it's an "older" video, but the first part describing the differences regarding the XLR placement is just a result of flipping the mount, you will also see this affecting the orientation of the Shure logo on the back, and top of the microphone ;)
they are IDENTICAL! cant fix what ain't broken
The SM7B is definitely one of my favorite mics of all-time
I knew I liked you! Haha. You have good taste CJ. =)
Both sound great! Though I only hear a minor difference and can't say which one I prefer.
Personally, I think the SM7B was nicer to listen to on the instruments, and the SM7 was nicer to listen to on the vocals. Maybe it's just that I haven't listened to it enough and analyzed it, but the bottom end sounded fuller to me and the mic sounded more alive. On the instruments though, especially the electric guitar, it's was extremely harsh, and on the acoustic guitar I think the SM7B gives it a warmer color, which I prefer. Crazy to think that the SM7 series has been around for 47 years now. Great review!
It's really cool to see the original SM7 Back in the 70s gear must have sounded darker so they made the SM7 a bright mic. Also every mic ages differently depending on the studio and life they had. I love that because no two vintage mic's sound the same, even though they are the same model. The mic that recorded Thriller is very tempting and I would go for the SM7b as well. Would be impossible to know but would like to hear what the SM7 sounded like new in 1973. Shame will shall never know but make no mistake Sure created a legend and improved upon it.
Hey man, great detail and great video, nice easy comparisons, adn thorough, even the logo remark was helpful,
x
Hi Bandrew. I am sorry because i used to be more active in your channel. And i used to ask for song requests on your mic tests. But i am back!!! This mic is my dream mic... But in Brazil, is tooooo expensive. Imagine, my payment is "1.200,00" and the mic costs almost "4.000,00"... just think about it... you work and you get 1000,00 and you have to pay 4000,00 ... THIS IS A DREAM mic. Congratulation
I like the added presence of the old sm7 on voiceover, but I prefered the sm7b on electric and acoustic guitar.
isn't it crazy that all tech has evolved beyond recognition for the last 50 years but microphones are basically the same? I think it is :)
noticeable difference but both are very useable. I have one of each, I go to the older one for vocals a lot but could be the grand lour of vintage gear lol idk both are good mics no doubt
has audio just gotten as good as it can? Obviously there are some differences, but I don't see how it could get any better lol
Microphones are pretty damn great already yeah.
I prefer SM7B 😌
It sounds very versatile for mixing
SM7 on the other hand
has specific character on the mic
which sounds very vintage
Sm7 definitely has that flatter low end and a bit more high end that made a much more loved vocal mic. Sm7b definitely has a warmer and more smooth overall sound. Both are dope in whatever application in my opinion
As much as I wanted to want the original SM7 all my blind tests I always chose the SM7b with out fail.
The high end open sound is nice and shiny sounding, on the SM7 but I was trying to avoid that as this was something I liked isolated but hated in a mix. (I also felt like that clarity was something I had in my condensers and didn’t like/ home studios traffic noise /poor room etc) The SM7b also just worked better for my home studio where the upper frequencies need more taming due to lack of room treatment.
Can't you just flip the yoke over in the SM7? It looks exactly the same as the SM7B, it's just mounted the other way around.
When listening to the voice, I did not notice a significant difference, although the sound of 7b seemed more pleasant. On the electric guitar, the difference is huge. I even thought that it was a testing error, but I know that you treat the tests very carefully.
Yeah. I recorded them at the same time, and measured them on the X,Y,andZ axis to make sure they were the same. I thought the same thing initially as well. And triple checked the measurements.
That SM7 sounded amazing on the acoustic.
The SM7 sounds really good for sure. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
@@Podcastage I sang into one on a 2019 recording session that included a fair amount of acoustic stuff. Wish we had thought to try that on the guitar 🧐
Excellent video. I do hope one day you'll be able to review the Shure SM5B.
That was a great comparison! Thanks for making this one it helped make my purchase decision!
Let’s go!!! I keep seeing these old ones listed online lately
Are you sure you did not get them mixed up? The 7b sounded brighter and more harsh to me. The 7 sounded smoother and more rounded. Also, the yoke can be turned around. The used 7 you had probably was flipped around by someone. The only real change is that the B has a plate that you can screw onto the back that blocks anyone from getting to the switches. Something radio engineers liked from DJ's messing with them. "B", meaning for Broadcast. And the other changes are different production of the internal components, most notably the internal transformer is likely much more different. The main element might also be slightly different.
Used to record thriller. Awesome. Good review as always.
For Mixing I'd prefer SM7B.....It sounds amazing from mixing perspective
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. The SM7b does sound great.
Oh I'm here for all Shure SM7 / SM7B Talk!
Didn't hear a ton of difference on the talking until the filters. 1973 definitely has that top end in the graph and it definitely is super noticeable. The guitar tone was shockingly different. Was not expecting that at all
II thought I might prefer the SM7 to SM7B (like I do with the NT1 vs the NT1a) but I definitely preferred the SM7B over the SM7 in all the tests.
Lovers of the SM7 must have been to way too many concerts. That high end is piercing, this dude's right
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on it. The two mics sound drastically different. I really would love to get my hands on a new old stock SM7 from the 70's to try out because after 50 years a microphone is bound to change quite a bit. This would be a lot more interesting if I was able to compare new 1973 SM7 and new 2023 SM7b. That'd be so cool. Thanks for watching!