I think the PodMic actually sounds more natural. If you're someone who just really wants to sound manly, the SM7B is a beast. Heck, it's a beast period, but if you're comparing the two, I like the sound of the PodMic better. I need to get the wind screen, though. Great video!
The PodMic is going to sound great on the Rodecaster since they’re both from the same company and designed for each other. In any other situation, it needs to be tweaked a bit to get the most out of it, whereas the SM7b consistently sounds great if it has enough clean gain. It’s still one of the best values though because it can be made to sound so good.
@@tombuck On my very neutral monitors the SM7b sounds muddy, I like the more natural sound of the Rode PodMic as well a lot better never liked the sound of the SM7b regardless of all it's hype and praise, even if it was $100 it has way to much mid base in my opin, and don't feel it's worth $300 over a PodMic if were going to talk about pro broadcast mics then I think the Classic EV RE20 or More Modern version the RE27 sound better then the SM7b and is the way to go in a price class around the SM7b if sticking with dynamics ... thats my 2 cents :-)
PodMic to me is for clarity. So for gaming/streaming/discord/skype style speech. SM7B is for bringing that rich, warm sound with the boosted lows for maybe radio or podcasts where the the room is sound treated and background noise is minimized so intelligibility is not an issue, and you just want a relaxed tone for long-form listenability. Also the lows travel better over radio waves.
Funny story, someone actually accused me of using EQ or a bass boost in my mic to sound deeper when the reality is, I actually used a treble boost and a high pass filter in an attempt to eliminate some of the bass :-P My voice + a deeper sounding mic + proximity effect = incoherent mud.
@@GadesChannel 1. This video is literally about the windscreen 2. The shure literally has a windscreen on it as well You're really proving my point here
I bought these for my co-hosts and before they even spoke into them I made sure the ws2 was on. They not only help with plosives, but they help lower back ground noise just a little. I think this is one of the most slept on mics in the market right now. Especially since it's only $100.
That windscreen makes the podmic sound even better than it already does. Like you said though, it takes away one of my favorite things about the mic - the aesthetic.
120 mic sounds almost as good as 400 . Sorry but it’s a clear answer for most people! I recently bought the pod mic and it’s a great sounding little mic. You can’t really beat it for its price of $100!
SM7B got 2 switches on the back under the back cover (protected by 2 screws), one is a high frequency boost, and high-pass filter that helps tame the low end. those should help make all the options you mentioned
I don't know. To me the PodMic sounds more natural. The Shure SM7B sounds muffled with the lows turned way up and highs/mids way down. But I'm certainly no audio expert.
The reason for that is that the SM7B was/is intended to be used with a preamp that can handle its higher impedance and deliver higher gain with a lower noise floor. The higher impedance being driven by a not-so-pro preamp will result in exactly what you're describing. This is the point of the cloud lifter and things like it; To provide better impedance matching and more gain, resulting in a much more natural sound. I do agree though; For applications like this, the Podmic is much better suited. It sounds great, it's much cheaper, and it's pretty much plug and play. Modern solutions targeted toward the specific application of podcasters and content creators win out in my opinion. Yes the SM7B is classic, and it isn't going anywhere, but I think it's suffering from trendicitus right now, and people don't invest the energy into learning how to use it correctly. I think a lot of people use it for the looks and sideline learning about what is required to drive it, then complain when it doesn't sound quite like they expected.
You talked about the insane bass on the SM7b, which I do agree with, but you didn't mention or test the built in high-pass filter on the back of the SM7b under the cover. I would have liked to hear the comparison between the two with that high-pass filter turned on, and maybe with the presence boost built in turned on as well, I just find that stuff interesting
Funny thing is, RØDE market that Windscreen for pretty much ALL their top address mics except the PodMic. I think they made such a big noise about the inbuilt pop filter that they don’t want to muddy that message by promoting the WS as an accessory, but I agree - it makes a huge difference. By the way - I think the Podmic suits your voice much better than the Shure anyway.
I definitely prefer the PodMic for my weird voice. And I think you're right- there was a lot of hoopla about the built in windscreen, that maybe they didn't want to market a separate one as well.
Whenever it comes to speaking, the podmic brings out the mid range and highs so it’s very clear and good for use in “pod”casts. Don’t get me wrong the sm7b is a beast but when it comes to speaking and clarity, it has way more lower end making it harder to understand. Both still very useable. Podmic is a steal!
I thought the SM7B has been legendary in talk show / broadcast for years precisely because fudging the response to have more low end actually adds clarity and makes it more understandable... Will have to go double check and re-research that now
Considering that podcasts may be hours long having a very annoying boomy mic is an absolute no-no for me. I very much prefer of the Podmic with the nice windscreen.
Went from an AT2020 to the Rode Podmic and can not see my changing ever. The Podmic works perfectly for my voice and that is the most important factor. My Podcast is a very specific niche and my voice is my brand.
Thanks to everyone who recommended the Shure A81WS windscreen! I got one and it REALLY makes the SM57 sound almost identical to the SM7B. Time Markers- 0:00 - PodMic vs. SM7B 0:34 - Test Settings 1:42 - Remove Noise with Adobe Audition 2:13 - PodMic Sound Test 3:46 - SM7B Sound Test 4:42 - Solve the PodMic Plosive Problem 5:03 - PodMic with WS2 Windscreen 6:01 - Windscreen Comparison 7:19 - Why Make this Comparison? 7:59 - Using EQ to Match the Mics 9:40 - The SM7B’s Special Windscreen 11:15 - My Consolation Prize from Rode
@tom I was watching your video on the Rodecaster Pro and then this one with Pod Mic. I’ve powered up the level input to 37 and then I’m using the mic volume at about the 5th notch down from the top on channel 1. I get a lot of white noise at that setting so I’m dropping it down to the mic level 7 down from the top (or three up from the bottom) Ive then boosted the recording by 2 db in garage band before exporting. Do you have any recommendations on how to get cleaner gain from the Pod Mic and Rode Caster Pro?
Based on your videos and recommendations I purchased two Podmics when starting my podcast and couldn’t be happier. From what I have heard here on UA-cam I actually prefer the slightly less boomy sound of the Rode. I think the next purchase will definitely be a couple of these windscreens to deal with plosives. I appreciate your reviews and leading me to the Podmic, especially considering I purchased two of these for less than the price of one Shure SM7B.
Wow, awesome review. I had scratched the Podmic off my list, but the WS2 does two things: besides helping with plosives it gives a "rounder", fuller and richer sound with less harshness up top. I am now a potential fan of this $99 dynamic. Thanks!
wow sm7b has huge portions of the base! I was willing to buy Podmic for a tight budget and now so confirmed about it btw cause both are dynamic, basically it supposed to be a more based-sound no matter if we compare or not
I just want to note that the SM7B only REALLY needs a a Cloud Lifter if you DON'T have a quality pre-amp or interface that can provide enough gain. If you've got enough headroom for a clean gain boost to get the SM7B where you want it, it's not absolutely necessary. Can't say for the Podmic as I don't own one, but I assume it's the same deal.
here's my take on the the pod mic vs the sm7b. The pod mic is very gain hungry, unless paired with the rodecaster pro. even with a cloudlifter if you are just using an audio interface, you will find yourself turning that gain knob all the way up, then having to do a ton of processing in post. when i added a windscreen to the pod mic it added to the problem even with the gain knob maxed out my voice sounded low and it picked up all the background noise. i returned the pod mic and purchased the rodecaster pro and paired it with the sm7b with inline cloudlifter ( witch you need even though people say you don't) but for my taste it's the perfect setup. my advice do go the cheap route get the sm7b paired with the rodecaster pro and save yourself time headaches and money in the long run.
It’s about the sound you’ll get from the mics. The SM7B has much more details. U have to process a record to get the max out of it. But for the fast task the rode got this.
😆 Get out of my head, Tom! Your earlier video was one of the reasons I picked up the Podmic for my live stream setup. Then I added the windscreen to address the plosives. I couldn't be happier with this mic for all the same reasons you talk about here. Thanks again, sir!
I agree 100% with the windscreen on the PodMic transforming it into an amazing mic. It’s amazing how much better it sounds, but unfortunately loses all of the aesthetic of the design. I tried a clip-on windscreen, but it’s not even close in what the foam ones deliver.
Thanks, Tom! Love your work. Grew up with a dad who would say things like; " I'd call you son...but you're really not that bright!" Puts a grin on my face to hear you go all corny humor. It's most certainly YOUR thing! Keep rockin' it!
I think the Podmic sounds FAR better with your voice. I don't like the sound of the Sure at all, it's so bassy that it almost makes your voice sound muffled. I ordered a windshield for the Podmic as well when I bought it. It was a generic one from Amazon but it works perfectly. The Podmic is one of my best ever purchases (as you know, your review made me pull the trigger), it's such a fantastic mic for the money 🥰
Tom Buck ooooh, I'll be very curious to hear how that goes. I bought the Fethead because it was cheaper and I have to say it's pretty great. Apparently the cloudlifter is top of the line!
No way the SM7B is actually naturally getting a rolling vibrato sound when you talk into it. Must be the Rodecaster Pro making it do that. I have never heard that sound before and it's not pleasant to hear at all.
100% Agree, not sure if its just the proximity effect, the rodecaster, or whatever post-correction is being applied but the sm7b should never sound like that, cloudlifter absent or present.
I tried using an SM7B, I never liked it. My voice is so naturally bassy it just doesn't sound good, especially with any proximity effects. I now own one pod mic and Two RE20's I have EQed out on a Rodecaster pro. The Pod Mic can sound good, but it definitely sounds different. Word of caution, using the pod mic preset on the Rodecaster does give it a more... telephone esque feel. otherwise I do like the Podmic, even tested it out on air to see how many people would notice. Overall it's not bad, just a bit different, and SO much cheaper.
Just for your info Tom, the WS-02 has been around quite a few years. I first saw them when RODE released the Procaster in November of 2008. B+H even offered complete packages for the Procaster which included the Procaster, the RODE WS-02 pop filter, the RODE PSM-1 shockmount and the RODE PSA-1 boom arm. They also work great for the ZOOM ZDM-1 mic, Heil PR-40's even the ElectroVoice RE-20 and RE-320s. I got a bunch in 2010 and still use them today! Excellent product! PodMic still sucks the big one, but thanks for the video!
That tip for Audition was worth the price of admission alone. Thanks! But I also just ordered a couple of those mic condoms, er, windscreens. Thanks for that tip too. We use the Rodeaster Pro with two PodMics for our own podcast about RVs and travel and I have been very happy with this rig.
I came across this channel a while back when I thought I was in the market for a new mic and/or mixer, I still am very interested in all the tech, the breakdowns and opinions, but I'm mostly here for the puns and dad jokes. Please keep doing what you're doing!
Me too, wish I would have bought the Shure years ago. I made so many videos with a yetti. Now hearing it compared my videos with the shure makes me cringe lol
Love my RODE which was already TOO expensive for me and my dear friend carried it from Scotland all the way here to EGYPT :) Thanks for the great video.
We’ve had more than pleasing results with the podmic + some compressor added. We also have a Shure SM7B, but the sound is a bit too bassy to be used together with podcmics, if not using the eq to match the sound.
Tom, have you tested the ProCaster Pro mic? I do not own a PodMic, but one Procaster mic; the second one comes soon - love them. I recently bought the RodeCaster setup. Then I use a Shure SM58Beta as well. Once settings are done it is difficult to hear a difference. I am glad that you highlighted an important aspect about the RodeCaster qualities, namely that the settings can make many mics sounding good. Look, I am a huge supporter of both Rode and Shure mics. Shure stood the test of time and Rode is built extremely well with personal touches. I like the look and feel and audio from Rode for specific purposes. Previously I focused on video mics from Rode. I am equally impressed by these broadcasting mics from Rode. However, I probably will buy my SM7B soon. Keep up with the good work. Worthwhile to mention that the Soyuz booster can contribute to the warmth enhancement of any dynamic mic. Imagine what it will do in combination with the RØDECaster
I had the SM7b but to my ears, it made my voice sound unnatural, way too much bass. I’m not an audiophile but I know what sounds better and more natural to me. The Rode Podmic sounds brighter, more natural and I prefer that for podcasts. I retuned the SM7b and I also tried the Electrovoice RE20 - WOW. IF I am going to pay in the range of $400, I’ll spend that extra bit for a mic that sounds really good but in a natural way. I couldn’t hear that proximity effect or that very deep unnatural sound on the RE20, much better for my voice and ears. So, I settled on an RE20 and Podmics for my guests with the wind screen not the pop filter. 🤗
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head here: it’s important to get what works best for your voice. There’s no right or wrong and personal preference is 100% valid.
Thanks so much man, I've started creating content last year and sound+mic thingy have been my biggest issue so far... gonna order it now and see how it turns out
Not sure if it's your voice but on the podmic there is some sound almost like phasing, metallic and nasally sound at times. You hear it also? I do think the Shure have way too much bass going on, I want to have more of my natural IRL voice and the podmic is closer to that I think. However both can be EQ:ed and then the Shure can sound like the Rode and vice versa.
"I don't care" - but impedance doesn't care if you don't care frankly. The SM7B needs 60db of gain, which a professional preamp can deliver cleanly (emphasis on cleanly) with no issues. The cloud lifter is an inline phantom-powered device that helps get your signal away from the noise floor. You can have it close to the mixer instead of by the mic if you like, and it's hardly another thing to deal with, needing no external power or cables. Bottom line for me is that without a proper preamp, the SM7B simply isn't being used correctly, which is happening more and more frequently with its recent trendy use. If you don't like the look of the wind screen, an actual pop filter, instead of a wind screen, especially a metal one, might be more suited to your use and esthetic taste. A wind screen isn't a pop filter, though it does ok at cutting the plosives a bit.
I wanna use an SM7B for podcasting, music, let’s plays, etc but I wanted to start with the Rodecaster Pro for my audio interface since it has an easier user interface. However, I need to know if it’s gonna need a cloudlifter to have the best sound possible or if the SHURE just isn’t meant for the Rodecaster Pro in general.
RODE all the way. To all the SM7B maxis out there. Be honest with yourself. Is your content really providing so much value to justify a 400$+ purchase? Rode is the way to go if you’re starting out. Great buy in point that won’t break the bank. Great quality. Easy to use. When ur making the UA-cam/Twitch $$$ then consider the big boy mics. 0.02c
@@tombuck I am the same way though, I really like how it looks without the pop filter haha! For livestreams, I might remove and voiceover work I'll put it on!
There's no perfect mic. Every mic depends on your voice and the ears of the listener. Just note with the Shure sm7b you'll need something to boost your gain. The Shure sm7b also has some switches to improve presence and bass roll off.
I like the Rode Podcaster more for different things, ie: price, sound, profile, and ease of use. Like you said you don't need a amplifier for the Pod mic it sounds great straight out of the box. I am going to get myself a full Rode setup when I get a better and more ideal location
I have to crank up gain to over 50db and more for the Podmic it is really silence. Even with feadhat I have gain around 40-44 db. So how can you run it with around 35db or without cloudlifter/feadhat? I have the pop filter too. But damn you loose the awesome look of the Podmic
I'd like to see you do the same test with the HPF and presence boost switched on the Sm7b. It seems like those two things would make the two sound more similar.
Windscreen help Rode Podmic. I did buy 4x Rode mic and it cost about the same than one Shure. Very happy. I did not yet find windscreen for Rode, still looking.
saw ur 1st video last night ... but now hearing ur update ... yes that screen and mod bass boost made u sound to me better. u kept clarity and added some bottom bass.
I was looking to get a different mic and ended up going with the PodMic USB and a RodeCaster Duo instead of a SM7dB. I was only going to get the Shure only because it is the "industry standard", but I am one of the few that absolutely HATES the sound of the SM7B. That whole bassy full broadcaster sound is so annoying to me, especially because I use a subwoofer in my setup. The way you set up the PodMic here made it sound just right. I will be using the PodMic USB in XLR with the Duo, and I am glad they now have a better looking windscreen lol.
PodMic for the win! Definitely sounds nice for voice. The SM7B will sound nicer in your headphones because it adds to the bine conduction you are already experiencing. But record both and play them back and I think you'll notice the clarity of the PodMic over the SM7B. BUT, the magic of the SM7B are the switches on the back which no one seems to really discuss - which make a huge difference. Plus you really need to EQ mics to balance the mic response to the sound source.
Nice. I'm glad you got around to actually comparing with/without. I could here a pretty clear difference in that video. You should borrow the Shure SM7B again sometime and try it with the cloudlifter. I know it gave my SM7B a whole different sound profile. Granted I'm using the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 though so super entry level interface. Cloudlifter probably makes a bigger difference on it than with your Rodecaster, but it definitely sounded really off & flat in this video compared to what I'm used to so I'm guessing it matters a bit more than with your PodMic.
Great extensive real life overview. I think for the price, the podmic offers a lot of value, but I can totally hear you on the radio in the Shure mic. Def getting that podmic! Will be sure to use your link!
The SM7B is just too bassy, boomy and muffled. Almost like there is a blanket on it that needs to be removed. The PodMic sounds much clearer and better, especially on smaller devices with poor speakers, or earbuds. The SM7B works well with really good speakers and in optimal scenarios, but the podmic sounds better for spoken words in less optimal scenarios.
Listening through Sony's MDR7506's and there is a noticable difference between the final tuning of both. There is more bass on the Sure aswell as the sure seems to be more booming. These have never let me down as far as true sound goes so just a tip from an audiophile
Yeah I had a similar experience with my JBL 305p's. With the Podmic and WS2 it sounds just like a beautiful mic should sound, no complaints at all, maybe a bit of a nasaly sound to it but still something I could listen to for hours on end. With the SM7B tho it sounds like someone attached a subwoofer to my monitors and used it exclusively to reproduce the sound from that microphone. Absolutely ruined the intelligibility and is very unsuited for any application longer than 20min. Kinda felt like he shook all my windows in my room just by speaking in the microphone. Quite a disappointment considering the uncharge.
I think that windscreen on the Podmic completes it! To my untrained ear, I would say that the Shure changes your voice too much. The way we have gotten used to your voice (and your vids) is with the "Røde sound". The Shure changes your voice too much. Since your voice on the Røde sounds more how it does in the other videos, the Røde wins in my book. But then again, you also use Røde as a boom. So it makes sense they sound more alike. I heard you said on the last video (or was it the podcast?) that someone twittered you and said they bought the rodecaster due to you. Well, if Røde reading this, I will buy the Rødecaster Pro + 2 ProdMics w/Windscreens (and colored XLR's) due to Tom. The cap is cool, but send him some more cool swag Røde. Fair dinkum!
Yes! Send me free gear! haha Honestly, I didn't realize how much Rode stuff I had until I started making videos about it. I guess it's always sat at the sweet spot of price/functionality/reliability for me. They make good stuff!
Nice! I think you mentioned the windscreen on your podcast, so ordered one (backordered!) from B&H. Bummer to hide the good looks of the PodMic, but sounds lots better. Thanks for another solution that doesn't cost lots of money.
I was really happy to see that the windscreens aren't too expensive. I've found other ones for smaller audio recorders that aren't nearly as nice and cost twice ads much (or more).
Just received my Podcmic today (from my AT2020). Purely to get a much cleaner sound for those quiet moments in my podcast (meditation). Have to say, so far its giving just as rich a sound as the 2020 but with so much less background noise. Happy me (and next week I get the Livetrak L8 )
To me, the SM7B on your voice with these settings sound muddy. There is just too much boom in your bass frequencies. Did you try to use the low cut switch and maybe the presence boost switch on the SM7B? I mean, that SM7B doesn't have to make your voice boom so much.
You don't clarify what settings you have the Shure SM7B on. Under the faceplate at the back of the mic, are two switches, one to bump high frequencies called presence boost, and one to roll off low bass frequencies. You are supposed to set each of those in the proper orientation to adjust to your voice before doing any other EQing. Since you did not show these settings, I'm assuming you don't know they're there? Changing those two settings alone would most likely solve your lack of high frequency, and heavy low end. When you get the SM7B new, it doesn't' come with the backplate installed, but usually, you only have to set it up once, since the backplate is there for aesthetics. Feel free to try it and retest. After setup, you should always EQ your mic, regardless of expensive or not it is. EQing alone can make very inexpensive mics sound amazing.
Yes. I was hoping someone would bring this up. I found out about the back switches and have flipped them both up to "Presence" so now it sounds - more natural to my voice and.... more like my podmic LOL
Auditon’s noise floor isn’t nearly as good as Logic and ProTools. Also, the plosives will always be worse when you are taking off square on the Rode. The SM7B was designed for big voices and is very angle forgiving. Shure also makes a similar windscreen for the SM7. You have to pull the thin stock screen to put that on and it really changes the mic.
Honestly, I think the Shure muffles/suppresses a lot of the high end and takes the brightness and clarity out of your vocals. What you lose in low end on the PodMic, you make up for with its "realism". Maybe not as "smooth" across the spectrum, but more honest?
I can definitely say that PodMic is the most accurate for my voice. It’s pretty much exactly how I sound in real life 👍 Whether that’s good or not, I don’t know...😁
@@tombuck Depends who you ask I'm sure. :) I just purchased a PodMic for myself. Seems like a good return on investment, and if my podcasting aspirations crash and burn, I can always pursue my mid-life rap career Thanks for the reply, Tom. I've found your videos well-produced, clearly written and most importantly… informative.
Haha the end was funny 😄👌 Yo that was a very nice video man! I actually enjoyed watching it.. just wanted to skip to the sound but ended up eatching every damn second without noticing 😂❤️ Keep this up! PS: Im on thr market to buy myself a setup and oh boy.. actually your voice sounds much better on the PodMic than on the SM7B.. idk why but you're right... makes your voice sound more natural.
Thanks Pascal! I really appreciate the kind words. I will say, this video is sort of an oddity because I think the SM7B normally sounds quite a bit better, but both mics are great. The PodMic works really well on specific voices (it can REALLY shine), while the SM7B is easier to work with a wider variety of voices.
@Tom Buck - Perhaps you should mention the proximity affect to account for the heavy bass in your voice on the Shure SM7B? My SM7B is nowhere as bassy as your Shure because I have a nasally voice (which I dread). Also, those interested in the SM7B sound should consider the Shure SM57 ($99) and the optional A2WS windscreen ($15) PLUS some EQ'g. Both the SM7B ($399) and the SM57 mics use very similar mic capsules (e.g. the internals) - many are resorting to the SM57 and there are a lot of YT videos comparing both Shures. And good luck finding a Rode Podmic until the end of 2020. They are sold out worldwide for a good reason, obviously.
I've used the SM7B quite a bit, and to be totally honest, I'm not sure why it sounds extra bassy in this video. I double checked that all processing was turned off and both mics were EQ's the same to start with. Super strange. And it's funny you mention the SM57...that's the video I'm working on for this week. To give a spoiler: it matches very nicely with the SM7B (which sounds more natural in the new video).
@@tombuck Looking forward to your review. I just ordered an SM57 w/ A2WS (for no good reason, ugh...) and will be trying to match the audio across the two Shures. Thanks for the update!
I briefly put a windscreen on my PodMic but it's just too aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. All I did was angle the mic and worked on my voice techniques. I could increase the gain to keep the mic out of the camera view but nah. I like the way the mic looks and I seem to be dealing with plosives a lot better when I angle it slightly off from the sound source (my mouth). Overall, this is a keeper mic. I don't feel comfortable traveling with my SM7B. At least with the PodMic, if my luggage gets lost or the mic gets damaged, $99 is an easier loss to stomach vs. $399
@@tombuck First of all, thanks for responding to me! I really enjoy your channel! You, Booth Junkie, Bandrew (PodCastage), and Harris Heller are my go-to channels for audio equipment! I caved. My wife said "I can still hear your plosives. Why not throw a windscreen on your PodMic? Just try it!" - And yep, I sound a heck of a lot better with a windscreen (better plosive elimination!) and I can actually talk directly to the PodMic for better audio quality. So yeah. I'm still bummed that I have to put this thing and cover an aesthetically pleasing looking mic but I prefer sound over looks. The point you made in this video is legit! Anyways, thank you for the awesome UA-cam content!
It’s a weird test, but with AirPods, the SM7B sounds super muffled and bassy. The PodMic sounds significantly better on this setup. (As a PodMic owner/user as well, I might be biased but I think it’s pretty clear here).
The Shure sounded exceptionally bassy here, but I don't know why. I didn't adjust the sound at all and double checked that all processing was turned off.
straight up the standard dynamic setting on that rodecaster is already boosting presence as is so it makes the sm7b sound like big muddy crap to my headphones and the pod mic sound perfect where as a normal flat eq input will show the sm7b be perfect and the podmic be really bright and almost shrieky but add some low cut some high and little mid and its spot on with the sm7b. Was hoping for a better comparison here but i cant blame you for your gear. I also hate the way the podmic looks with a windscreen lol as dumb as it sounds it is like looking at a dog with two legs its just not right.
I found a return goxlr on Amazon for 180$ two days ago and bought it and then got rode podmic with the wind screen and now my audio is 1000% better! Just couldn’t see me spending 1000$ on audio right now and ended up getting lucky !
@@tombuck yeah man it was someone’s return I bought on Amazon it said their was a scratch on the front panel but when it got here the scratch was on the plastic peel off sticker that was never removed lol I peeled it off and no more scratch haha it was literally scratched plastic peel 😂
The shure Mike does have a wider presence but a bit muddy to me. the rode seems to sound honed in the center but has a clipy sound or should I say the talking into a fan sound. Not sure if that makes sense but if I had to pick id go with the rode with the windscreen with a little eq cleanup
@@tombuck cool , i ust ordered sm7b, will let u know how i get on, i hated the mv7, i actually reviewed it on my channel, am not a professional, but i found the lows too low, its now after seeing your video, i realised it probably needed pre amp or cloudlifter to have the lows louder
Love the SM7B, one of the most iconic sound signatures of any mic BUT for a 30+ min podcast, the bass can really wear on you. I really enjoy the PodMic sound, especially with the WS2. I feel that combination would not give the listener the same amount of fatigue you get with the SM7B.
I may be way off with this one, but I prefer the sound of the PodMic. The SM7B sounds more can-ey to me or like it was recorded in a box. My preference is a more natural sound and to me, the PodMic gets the nod.
Are you able to go back and check the comparisons of the PodMic to the SM7B when they're raw? They don't sound raw to me... There are phasing artifacts that are actually boosting the lower frequencies sympathetically. I'm not sure this is wholly accurate to the true sonic signature of each mic.
@@tombuck Thanks so much for the reply.... Are you able to do some tests on another interface other than the RodeCaster? I simply wonder if you would get different results. Thanks again for taking the time to chat.
Impossible to find a place in a mix with the Rode if you are a singer without too much processing, SM7B is way better in that aspect. For podcasters I think the Rode will sound more natural, the mic was designed with that in mind
It comes down to performance to dollar spend AND the application. If you are just a streamer on Twitch I see no reason to invest in a $400 mic. But the Rode Podmic, and take the savings and spend it on a stream deck or some graphics for your channel or towards a mixer (GoXLR etc). Great reviews. I love my Rode Podmic.
I don't think this is an unpopular opinion to say the backwards hat looks good on you! I also chuckled when you said you look exactly like your wife and then your facial hair became that more prominent in my mind lol. What a good sport 😁
pod have a bit up in mid range frequencies, 7b have more boost on 90hz and cut on 1khz, so on pod should cut the mid frequencies with 3dB, and boost on 80hz with 2dB
What did you do to the SM7b EQ? I know that mic is heavy on the low frequencies, but this just felt muddled and not worthy a 400-buck item. The podmic was way more intelligible. Great tip about the podmic windscreen though, did not know they had one... :)
@@tombuck I would actually like to see a remake of this comparison at some point. You make some 1st class content, but I feel this one does not truly reflect your usual high standards as it is a shoot-out style and a fair comparison is paramount. That said, my personal opinion is that the SM7b is over hyped for most media to be consumed over a non-live compressed format such as UA-cam. Keep up the good work. I highly enjoy your videos!
I watched a YT clip about putting the WS2 on until the bottom gril, so leaving that bottom gril exposed, I tried it and like it + the mic still looks awesome.
"if you're not SHURE which RODE to go down" LOL. nice one.
he made this whole video just for this pun
I almost closed out the video after that 😂
Fantastic channel and never misses
I liked the video only for this line!! :D
I think the PodMic actually sounds more natural. If you're someone who just really wants to sound manly, the SM7B is a beast. Heck, it's a beast period, but if you're comparing the two, I like the sound of the PodMic better. I need to get the wind screen, though. Great video!
I really like the sound of the PodMic and it’s the closes to how I sound in real life, for better or worse.
The PodMic is going to sound great on the Rodecaster since they’re both from the same company and designed for each other. In any other situation, it needs to be tweaked a bit to get the most out of it, whereas the SM7b consistently sounds great if it has enough clean gain. It’s still one of the best values though because it can be made to sound so good.
@@tombuck On my very neutral monitors the SM7b sounds muddy, I like the more natural sound of the Rode PodMic as well a lot better never liked the sound of the SM7b regardless of all it's hype and praise, even if it was $100 it has way to much mid base in my opin, and don't feel it's worth $300 over a PodMic if were going to talk about pro broadcast mics then I think the Classic EV RE20 or More Modern version the RE27 sound better then the SM7b and is the way to go in a price class around the SM7b if sticking with dynamics ... thats my 2 cents :-)
PodMic to me is for clarity. So for gaming/streaming/discord/skype style speech.
SM7B is for bringing that rich, warm sound with the boosted lows for maybe radio or podcasts where the the room is sound treated and background noise is minimized so intelligibility is not an issue, and you just want a relaxed tone for long-form listenability. Also the lows travel better over radio waves.
Funny story, someone actually accused me of using EQ or a bass boost in my mic to sound deeper when the reality is, I actually used a treble boost and a high pass filter in an attempt to eliminate some of the bass :-P My voice + a deeper sounding mic + proximity effect = incoherent mud.
Podmic with windscreen sounds very natural. Shure SM7B is very boomy, hurts my ears.
I've felt the same. The SM7B has just a touch too much bass for me.
Agreed. Shure SM7B is so bassy that it just sounds muddled.
@@GadesChannel this is supposed to be a comparison on the raw sound. You can make almost anything sound good with post processing
@@GadesChannel 1. This video is literally about the windscreen
2. The shure literally has a windscreen on it as well
You're really proving my point here
@@GadesChannel are you done?
I bought these for my co-hosts and before they even spoke into them I made sure the ws2 was on. They not only help with plosives, but they help lower back ground noise just a little. I think this is one of the most slept on mics in the market right now. Especially since it's only $100.
That windscreen makes the podmic sound even better than it already does. Like you said though, it takes away one of my favorite things about the mic - the aesthetic.
120 mic sounds almost as good as 400 . Sorry but it’s a clear answer for most people!
I recently bought the pod mic and it’s a great sounding little mic. You can’t really beat it for its price of $100!
And then you also add on all the add ons you'll probably have to get if this is your first xlr AND dynamic mic and it becomes even more clear lol.
@@ItsLynkedYo fax
You can make an XM8500 sound like a $400 mic too. It’s all about EQ and post work.
SM7B got 2 switches on the back under the back cover (protected by 2 screws), one is a high frequency boost, and high-pass filter that helps tame the low end. those should help make all the options you mentioned
I don't know. To me the PodMic sounds more natural. The Shure SM7B sounds muffled with the lows turned way up and highs/mids way down. But I'm certainly no audio expert.
I don’t think you need to be an “expert” to know which sound you prefer. There’s nothing wrong with just going off of personal preference 👍
The reason for that is that the SM7B was/is intended to be used with a preamp that can handle its higher impedance and deliver higher gain with a lower noise floor. The higher impedance being driven by a not-so-pro preamp will result in exactly what you're describing. This is the point of the cloud lifter and things like it; To provide better impedance matching and more gain, resulting in a much more natural sound. I do agree though; For applications like this, the Podmic is much better suited. It sounds great, it's much cheaper, and it's pretty much plug and play. Modern solutions targeted toward the specific application of podcasters and content creators win out in my opinion. Yes the SM7B is classic, and it isn't going anywhere, but I think it's suffering from trendicitus right now, and people don't invest the energy into learning how to use it correctly. I think a lot of people use it for the looks and sideline learning about what is required to drive it, then complain when it doesn't sound quite like they expected.
You talked about the insane bass on the SM7b, which I do agree with, but you didn't mention or test the built in high-pass filter on the back of the SM7b under the cover. I would have liked to hear the comparison between the two with that high-pass filter turned on, and maybe with the presence boost built in turned on as well, I just find that stuff interesting
Funny thing is, RØDE market that Windscreen for pretty much ALL their top address mics except the PodMic. I think they made such a big noise about the inbuilt pop filter that they don’t want to muddy that message by promoting the WS as an accessory, but I agree - it makes a huge difference.
By the way - I think the Podmic suits your voice much better than the Shure anyway.
I definitely prefer the PodMic for my weird voice. And I think you're right- there was a lot of hoopla about the built in windscreen, that maybe they didn't want to market a separate one as well.
Whenever it comes to speaking, the podmic brings out the mid range and highs so it’s very clear and good for use in “pod”casts. Don’t get me wrong the sm7b is a beast but when it comes to speaking and clarity, it has way more lower end making it harder to understand. Both still very useable. Podmic is a steal!
I thought the SM7B has been legendary in talk show / broadcast for years precisely because fudging the response to have more low end actually adds clarity and makes it more understandable... Will have to go double check and re-research that now
Considering that podcasts may be hours long having a very annoying boomy mic is an absolute no-no for me. I very much prefer of the Podmic with the nice windscreen.
Went from an AT2020 to the Rode Podmic and can not see my changing ever. The Podmic works perfectly for my voice and that is the most important factor.
My Podcast is a very specific niche and my voice is my brand.
I'm so glad to hear it! It feels so good to find the right tool for the job.
Thanks to everyone who recommended the Shure A81WS windscreen! I got one and it REALLY makes the SM57 sound almost identical to the SM7B.
Time Markers-
0:00 - PodMic vs. SM7B
0:34 - Test Settings
1:42 - Remove Noise with Adobe Audition
2:13 - PodMic Sound Test
3:46 - SM7B Sound Test
4:42 - Solve the PodMic Plosive Problem
5:03 - PodMic with WS2 Windscreen
6:01 - Windscreen Comparison
7:19 - Why Make this Comparison?
7:59 - Using EQ to Match the Mics
9:40 - The SM7B’s Special Windscreen
11:15 - My Consolation Prize from Rode
Brilliant good Sir, yes I have both Mics and use the SM7B as my A-mic with the PodMic as B-mic. Great video and Loved the Wig (you hippy you) 👍🏻
@tom I was watching your video on the Rodecaster Pro and then this one with Pod Mic.
I’ve powered up the level input to 37 and then I’m using the mic volume at about the 5th notch down from the top on channel 1.
I get a lot of white noise at that setting so I’m dropping it down to the mic level 7 down from the top (or three up from the bottom)
Ive then boosted the recording by 2 db in garage band before exporting.
Do you have any recommendations on how to get cleaner gain from the Pod Mic and Rode Caster Pro?
Based on your videos and recommendations I purchased two Podmics when starting my podcast and couldn’t be happier. From what I have heard here on UA-cam I actually prefer the slightly less boomy sound of the Rode. I think the next purchase will definitely be a couple of these windscreens to deal with plosives. I appreciate your reviews and leading me to the Podmic, especially considering I purchased two of these for less than the price of one Shure SM7B.
I’m so glad to hear it! I really like the PodMic’s tone too- I’ve found it to be very accurate/natural. 👍
Wow, awesome review. I had scratched the Podmic off my list, but the WS2 does two things: besides helping with plosives it gives a "rounder", fuller and richer sound with less harshness up top. I am now a potential fan of this $99 dynamic. Thanks!
It’s a great mic! I know I say it in the review, but it’s really been my go-to for a long time.
wow
sm7b has huge portions of the base! I was willing to buy Podmic for a tight budget and now so confirmed about it
btw cause both are dynamic, basically it supposed to be a more based-sound no matter if we compare or not
I just want to note that the SM7B only REALLY needs a a Cloud Lifter if you DON'T have a quality pre-amp or interface that can provide enough gain. If you've got enough headroom for a clean gain boost to get the SM7B where you want it, it's not absolutely necessary. Can't say for the Podmic as I don't own one, but I assume it's the same deal.
here's my take on the the pod mic vs the sm7b. The pod mic is very gain hungry, unless paired with the rodecaster pro. even with a cloudlifter if you are just using an audio interface, you will find yourself turning that gain knob all the way up, then having to do a ton of processing in post. when i added a windscreen to the pod mic it added to the problem even with the gain knob maxed out my voice sounded low and it picked up all the background noise. i returned the pod mic and purchased the rodecaster pro and paired it with the sm7b with inline cloudlifter ( witch you need even though people say you don't) but for my taste it's the perfect setup. my advice do go the cheap route get the sm7b paired with the rodecaster pro and save yourself time headaches and money in the long run.
I guess it's the "buy once, cry once" philosophy. Glad you have a setup that's working for you!
It’s about the sound you’ll get from the mics. The SM7B has much more details. U have to process a record to get the max out of it. But for the fast task the rode got this.
Wow, with the bass boost on the podmic I actually prefer its sound! Thank you for showing!
😆 Get out of my head, Tom! Your earlier video was one of the reasons I picked up the Podmic for my live stream setup. Then I added the windscreen to address the plosives. I couldn't be happier with this mic for all the same reasons you talk about here. Thanks again, sir!
Great minds think alike!
I agree 100% with the windscreen on the PodMic transforming it into an amazing mic. It’s amazing how much better it sounds, but unfortunately loses all of the aesthetic of the design. I tried a clip-on windscreen, but it’s not even close in what the foam ones deliver.
That’s what I figured about the clip on ones 🤔
The 1 billion Dollar question is why can‘t they build great mics with great pop filter?
Thanks, Tom! Love your work. Grew up with a dad who would say things like; " I'd call you son...but you're really not that bright!" Puts a grin on my face to hear you go all corny humor. It's most certainly YOUR thing! Keep rockin' it!
Thank you sir! Just gotta go with what comes naturally 😁
I think the Podmic sounds FAR better with your voice. I don't like the sound of the Sure at all, it's so bassy that it almost makes your voice sound muffled. I ordered a windshield for the Podmic as well when I bought it. It was a generic one from Amazon but it works perfectly. The Podmic is one of my best ever purchases (as you know, your review made me pull the trigger), it's such a fantastic mic for the money 🥰
I caved in and ordered a CloudLifter, so we’ll see how that helps the PodMic. 😎
Tom Buck ooooh, I'll be very curious to hear how that goes. I bought the Fethead because it was cheaper and I have to say it's pretty great. Apparently the cloudlifter is top of the line!
Yeah the SM7B sounded horrible here. Something is wrong - sounded far better on this video: ua-cam.com/video/-y6RWBA9tDk/v-deo.html
No way the SM7B is actually naturally getting a rolling vibrato sound when you talk into it. Must be the Rodecaster Pro making it do that. I have never heard that sound before and it's not pleasant to hear at all.
100% Agree, not sure if its just the proximity effect, the rodecaster, or whatever post-correction is being applied but the sm7b should never sound like that, cloudlifter absent or present.
Watching this I realized I didn’t do my firmware upgrade last week when I got my Rodecaster Pro 🤦🏻♂️. Great vid. Tom Buck! 🍻
It’ll be like a whole new device 😁
I tried using an SM7B, I never liked it. My voice is so naturally bassy it just doesn't sound good, especially with any proximity effects. I now own one pod mic and Two RE20's I have EQed out on a Rodecaster pro. The Pod Mic can sound good, but it definitely sounds different. Word of caution, using the pod mic preset on the Rodecaster does give it a more... telephone esque feel. otherwise I do like the Podmic, even tested it out on air to see how many people would notice. Overall it's not bad, just a bit different, and SO much cheaper.
It’s definitely got its own character, and whether or not it’s good is really just personal preference. I definitely love it!
Just for your info Tom, the WS-02 has been around quite a few years. I first saw them when RODE released the Procaster in November of 2008. B+H even offered complete packages for the Procaster which included the Procaster, the RODE WS-02 pop filter, the RODE PSM-1 shockmount and the RODE PSA-1 boom arm. They also work great for the ZOOM ZDM-1 mic, Heil PR-40's even the ElectroVoice RE-20 and RE-320s. I got a bunch in 2010 and still use them today! Excellent product!
PodMic still sucks the big one, but thanks for the video!
Haha, the end of your comment really made me laugh 😁
Super cool that it's been around that long though!
That tip for Audition was worth the price of admission alone. Thanks! But I also just ordered a couple of those mic condoms, er, windscreens. Thanks for that tip too.
We use the Rodeaster Pro with two PodMics for our own podcast about RVs and travel and I have been very happy with this rig.
That's great to hear! And yeah, Audition can really work some magic.
I came across this channel a while back when I thought I was in the market for a new mic and/or mixer, I still am very interested in all the tech, the breakdowns and opinions, but I'm mostly here for the puns and dad jokes. Please keep doing what you're doing!
Yep. Keeping my Shure SM7B. Works. :)
Me too, wish I would have bought the Shure years ago. I made so many videos with a yetti. Now hearing it compared my videos with the shure makes me cringe lol
I do like my PodMic although I must agree using the SM7B is simply the best.
This is awesome Tom!!
@@DJSkandalous same.
One problem
I'm broke
Definitely like the sound of the Shure SM7B much better, for many reasons.
Love my RODE which was already TOO expensive for me and my dear friend carried it from Scotland all the way here to EGYPT :) Thanks for the great video.
Wow! Sounds like you've got quite a dedicated friend 😁
We’ve had more than pleasing results with the podmic + some compressor added. We also have a Shure SM7B, but the sound is a bit too bassy to be used together with podcmics, if not using the eq to match the sound.
Tom, have you tested the ProCaster Pro mic? I do not own a PodMic, but one Procaster mic; the second one comes soon - love them. I recently bought the RodeCaster setup. Then I use a Shure SM58Beta as well. Once settings are done it is difficult to hear a difference. I am glad that you highlighted an important aspect about the RodeCaster qualities, namely that the settings can make many mics sounding good. Look, I am a huge supporter of both Rode and Shure mics. Shure stood the test of time and Rode is built extremely well with personal touches. I like the look and feel and audio from Rode for specific purposes. Previously I focused on video mics from Rode. I am equally impressed by these broadcasting mics from Rode. However, I probably will buy my SM7B soon. Keep up with the good work. Worthwhile to mention that the Soyuz booster can contribute to the warmth enhancement of any dynamic mic. Imagine what it will do in combination with the RØDECaster
I just love that there are so many great options out there. I haven’t used a Procaster before, but they always sound nice to my ears.
Thank you for showing the bass boost on the Rodecaster Pro.
This actually made me 100% decide on the Rode. The mic was really missing that low end!
I had the SM7b but to my ears, it made my voice sound unnatural, way too much bass. I’m not an audiophile but I know what sounds better and more natural to me. The Rode Podmic sounds brighter, more natural and I prefer that for podcasts. I retuned the SM7b and I also tried the Electrovoice RE20 - WOW. IF I am going to pay in the range of $400, I’ll spend that extra bit for a mic that sounds really good but in a natural way. I couldn’t hear that proximity effect or that very deep unnatural sound on the RE20, much better for my voice and ears. So, I settled on an RE20 and Podmics for my guests with the wind screen not the pop filter. 🤗
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head here: it’s important to get what works best for your voice. There’s no right or wrong and personal preference is 100% valid.
Thanks so much man, I've started creating content last year and sound+mic thingy have been my biggest issue so far... gonna order it now and see how it turns out
btw I'm using focusrite scarlett solo... sometimes when i'm editting... the sound quality makes me wanna cry dunno how to get the best out of it
Not sure if it's your voice but on the podmic there is some sound almost like phasing, metallic and nasally sound at times. You hear it also? I do think the Shure have way too much bass going on, I want to have more of my natural IRL voice and the podmic is closer to that I think. However both can be EQ:ed and then the Shure can sound like the Rode and vice versa.
"I don't care" - but impedance doesn't care if you don't care frankly. The SM7B needs 60db of gain, which a professional preamp can deliver cleanly (emphasis on cleanly) with no issues. The cloud lifter is an inline phantom-powered device that helps get your signal away from the noise floor. You can have it close to the mixer instead of by the mic if you like, and it's hardly another thing to deal with, needing no external power or cables. Bottom line for me is that without a proper preamp, the SM7B simply isn't being used correctly, which is happening more and more frequently with its recent trendy use. If you don't like the look of the wind screen, an actual pop filter, instead of a wind screen, especially a metal one, might be more suited to your use and esthetic taste. A wind screen isn't a pop filter, though it does ok at cutting the plosives a bit.
I wanna use an SM7B for podcasting, music, let’s plays, etc but I wanted to start with the Rodecaster Pro for my audio interface since it has an easier user interface. However, I need to know if it’s gonna need a cloudlifter to have the best sound possible or if the SHURE just isn’t meant for the Rodecaster Pro in general.
RODE all the way.
To all the SM7B maxis out there. Be honest with yourself.
Is your content really providing so much value to justify a 400$+ purchase?
Rode is the way to go if you’re starting out. Great buy in point that won’t break the bank. Great quality. Easy to use.
When ur making the UA-cam/Twitch $$$ then consider the big boy mics.
0.02c
Just ordered! Thank you for this, I noticed my plosives have been tough to clean up with my setup!
I think you'll really be happy with how much it helps!
@@tombuck I am the same way though, I really like how it looks without the pop filter haha! For livestreams, I might remove and voiceover work I'll put it on!
There's no perfect mic. Every mic depends on your voice and the ears of the listener. Just note with the Shure sm7b you'll need something to boost your gain. The Shure sm7b also has some switches to improve presence and bass roll off.
I like the Rode Podcaster more for different things, ie: price, sound, profile, and ease of use. Like you said you don't need a amplifier for the Pod mic it sounds great straight out of the box. I am going to get myself a full Rode setup when I get a better and more ideal location
Nice! I haven't used the Podcaster myself, but it always sounds really good when I hear others using it.
I have to crank up gain to over 50db and more for the Podmic it is really silence. Even with feadhat I have gain around 40-44 db. So how can you run it with around 35db or without cloudlifter/feadhat? I have the pop filter too. But damn you loose the awesome look of the Podmic
I'd like to see you do the same test with the HPF and presence boost switched on the Sm7b. It seems like those two things would make the two sound more similar.
I always feel the boominess on the 7B is just too much, the pod sounds more present, i like it!!
Me too 👍
Tom Buck Yup! Thanks!!!
There’s switches on the back of the SM7b to cut the bass and/or boost the mids.
joel8x I wish there was a switch to cut the price too, sadly never found it.
Windscreen help Rode Podmic. I did buy 4x Rode mic and it cost about the same than one Shure. Very happy. I did not yet find windscreen for Rode, still looking.
Thanks for the link.
saw ur 1st video last night ... but now hearing ur update ... yes that screen and mod bass boost made u sound to me better. u kept clarity and added some bottom bass.
Thanks for the feedback!
I was looking to get a different mic and ended up going with the PodMic USB and a RodeCaster Duo instead of a SM7dB. I was only going to get the Shure only because it is the "industry standard", but I am one of the few that absolutely HATES the sound of the SM7B. That whole bassy full broadcaster sound is so annoying to me, especially because I use a subwoofer in my setup. The way you set up the PodMic here made it sound just right. I will be using the PodMic USB in XLR with the Duo, and I am glad they now have a better looking windscreen lol.
Glad you're enjoying your setup! The PodMic USB + RC Duo is a terrific combo.
PodMic for the win! Definitely sounds nice for voice. The SM7B will sound nicer in your headphones because it adds to the bine conduction you are already experiencing. But record both and play them back and I think you'll notice the clarity of the PodMic over the SM7B. BUT, the magic of the SM7B are the switches on the back which no one seems to really discuss - which make a huge difference. Plus you really need to EQ mics to balance the mic response to the sound source.
FYI You really need the cloudlifter. Seriously it's a night & day difference and your voice sounds much more flat than it should with the SM7B.
ua-cam.com/video/rkGCWTZTHV0/v-deo.html
Nice. I'm glad you got around to actually comparing with/without. I could here a pretty clear difference in that video. You should borrow the Shure SM7B again sometime and try it with the cloudlifter. I know it gave my SM7B a whole different sound profile.
Granted I'm using the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 though so super entry level interface. Cloudlifter probably makes a bigger difference on it than with your Rodecaster, but it definitely sounded really off & flat in this video compared to what I'm used to so I'm guessing it matters a bit more than with your PodMic.
It would definitely be worth checking out 👍
Great extensive real life overview. I think for the price, the podmic offers a lot of value, but I can totally hear you on the radio in the Shure mic. Def getting that podmic! Will be sure to use your link!
Thanks man! I really love the PodMic overall and am super happy with it.
The SM7B is just too bassy, boomy and muffled. Almost like there is a blanket on it that needs to be removed. The PodMic sounds much clearer and better, especially on smaller devices with poor speakers, or earbuds. The SM7B works well with really good speakers and in optimal scenarios, but the podmic sounds better for spoken words in less optimal scenarios.
@tom I’ve been using the WS2 on my Podmic and loving it. Such a warm sound. Thanks for the tip.
Great to hear! Pun intended.
I wish you had done the triple P's directly facing the mic with the added windscreen. Still an invaluable analysis. Thank you.
I like how compact the podmic is. I wish they made an all black version (matte black grill).
Oh that'd be awesome!
Listening through Sony's MDR7506's and there is a noticable difference between the final tuning of both. There is more bass on the Sure aswell as the sure seems to be more booming. These have never let me down as far as true sound goes so just a tip from an audiophile
Yeah I had a similar experience with my JBL 305p's. With the Podmic and WS2 it sounds just like a beautiful mic should sound, no complaints at all, maybe a bit of a nasaly sound to it but still something I could listen to for hours on end. With the SM7B tho it sounds like someone attached a subwoofer to my monitors and used it exclusively to reproduce the sound from that microphone. Absolutely ruined the intelligibility and is very unsuited for any application longer than 20min. Kinda felt like he shook all my windows in my room just by speaking in the microphone. Quite a disappointment considering the uncharge.
it sounds like you were recording the microphones with monitoring enabled
Not just me thinking this apperently it was so trippy
I think that windscreen on the Podmic completes it!
To my untrained ear, I would say that the Shure changes your voice too much. The way we have gotten used to your voice (and your vids) is with the "Røde sound". The Shure changes your voice too much. Since your voice on the Røde sounds more how it does in the other videos, the Røde wins in my book. But then again, you also use Røde as a boom. So it makes sense they sound more alike.
I heard you said on the last video (or was it the podcast?) that someone twittered you and said they bought the rodecaster due to you. Well, if Røde reading this, I will buy the Rødecaster Pro + 2 ProdMics w/Windscreens (and colored XLR's) due to Tom. The cap is cool, but send him some more cool swag Røde. Fair dinkum!
Yes! Send me free gear! haha
Honestly, I didn't realize how much Rode stuff I had until I started making videos about it. I guess it's always sat at the sweet spot of price/functionality/reliability for me. They make good stuff!
Nice! I think you mentioned the windscreen on your podcast, so ordered one (backordered!) from B&H. Bummer to hide the good looks of the PodMic, but sounds lots better. Thanks for another solution that doesn't cost lots of money.
I was really happy to see that the windscreens aren't too expensive. I've found other ones for smaller audio recorders that aren't nearly as nice and cost twice ads much (or more).
Just received my Podcmic today (from my AT2020). Purely to get a much cleaner sound for those quiet moments in my podcast (meditation). Have to say, so far its giving just as rich a sound as the 2020 but with so much less background noise. Happy me (and next week I get the Livetrak L8 )
Woo hoo! This is super exciting!
To me, the SM7B on your voice with these settings sound muddy. There is just too much boom in your bass frequencies. Did you try to use the low cut switch and maybe the presence boost switch on the SM7B? I mean, that SM7B doesn't have to make your voice boom so much.
You don't clarify what settings you have the Shure SM7B on. Under the faceplate at the back of the mic, are two switches, one to bump high frequencies called presence boost, and one to roll off low bass frequencies. You are supposed to set each of those in the proper orientation to adjust to your voice before doing any other EQing. Since you did not show these settings, I'm assuming you don't know they're there? Changing those two settings alone would most likely solve your lack of high frequency, and heavy low end. When you get the SM7B new, it doesn't' come with the backplate installed, but usually, you only have to set it up once, since the backplate is there for aesthetics. Feel free to try it and retest. After setup, you should always EQ your mic, regardless of expensive or not it is. EQing alone can make very inexpensive mics sound amazing.
Yes. I was hoping someone would bring this up. I found out about the back switches and have flipped them both up to "Presence" so now it sounds - more natural to my voice and.... more like my podmic LOL
Auditon’s noise floor isn’t nearly as good as Logic and ProTools. Also, the plosives will always be worse when you are taking off square on the Rode. The SM7B was designed for big voices and is very angle forgiving. Shure also makes a similar windscreen for the SM7. You have to pull the thin stock screen to put that on and it really changes the mic.
Honestly, I think the Shure muffles/suppresses a lot of the high end and takes the brightness and clarity out of your vocals. What you lose in low end on the PodMic, you make up for with its "realism". Maybe not as "smooth" across the spectrum, but more honest?
I can definitely say that PodMic is the most accurate for my voice. It’s pretty much exactly how I sound in real life 👍
Whether that’s good or not, I don’t know...😁
@@tombuck Depends who you ask I'm sure. :) I just purchased a PodMic for myself. Seems like a good return on investment, and if my podcasting aspirations crash and burn, I can always pursue my mid-life rap career Thanks for the reply, Tom. I've found your videos well-produced, clearly written and most importantly… informative.
Your puns and one liners are epic everytime I hear them.
I love this.
Haha the end was funny 😄👌
Yo that was a very nice video man! I actually enjoyed watching it.. just wanted to skip to the sound but ended up eatching every damn second without noticing 😂❤️ Keep this up!
PS: Im on thr market to buy myself a setup and oh boy.. actually your voice sounds much better on the PodMic than on the SM7B.. idk why but you're right... makes your voice sound more natural.
Thanks Pascal! I really appreciate the kind words. I will say, this video is sort of an oddity because I think the SM7B normally sounds quite a bit better, but both mics are great.
The PodMic works really well on specific voices (it can REALLY shine), while the SM7B is easier to work with a wider variety of voices.
Congrats on taking the leap on your channel name. Found the podcast episode you were talking about it full of food for thought.
Thanks Scott! Hopefully there was helpful info in there 😁
@Tom Buck - Perhaps you should mention the proximity affect to account for the heavy bass in your voice on the Shure SM7B? My SM7B is nowhere as bassy as your Shure because I have a nasally voice (which I dread).
Also, those interested in the SM7B sound should consider the Shure SM57 ($99) and the optional A2WS windscreen ($15) PLUS some EQ'g. Both the SM7B ($399) and the SM57 mics use very similar mic capsules (e.g. the internals) - many are resorting to the SM57 and there are a lot of YT videos comparing both Shures.
And good luck finding a Rode Podmic until the end of 2020. They are sold out worldwide for a good reason, obviously.
I've used the SM7B quite a bit, and to be totally honest, I'm not sure why it sounds extra bassy in this video. I double checked that all processing was turned off and both mics were EQ's the same to start with. Super strange.
And it's funny you mention the SM57...that's the video I'm working on for this week. To give a spoiler: it matches very nicely with the SM7B (which sounds more natural in the new video).
@@tombuck Looking forward to your review. I just ordered an SM57 w/ A2WS (for no good reason, ugh...) and will be trying to match the audio across the two Shures. Thanks for the update!
I briefly put a windscreen on my PodMic but it's just too aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. All I did was angle the mic and worked on my voice techniques. I could increase the gain to keep the mic out of the camera view but nah. I like the way the mic looks and I seem to be dealing with plosives a lot better when I angle it slightly off from the sound source (my mouth). Overall, this is a keeper mic. I don't feel comfortable traveling with my SM7B. At least with the PodMic, if my luggage gets lost or the mic gets damaged, $99 is an easier loss to stomach vs. $399
These are all great points- especially the durability for the price. 👍
@@tombuck First of all, thanks for responding to me! I really enjoy your channel! You, Booth Junkie, Bandrew (PodCastage), and Harris Heller are my go-to channels for audio equipment! I caved. My wife said "I can still hear your plosives. Why not throw a windscreen on your PodMic? Just try it!" - And yep, I sound a heck of a lot better with a windscreen (better plosive elimination!) and I can actually talk directly to the PodMic for better audio quality. So yeah. I'm still bummed that I have to put this thing and cover an aesthetically pleasing looking mic but I prefer sound over looks. The point you made in this video is legit! Anyways, thank you for the awesome UA-cam content!
It’s a weird test, but with AirPods, the SM7B sounds super muffled and bassy. The PodMic sounds significantly better on this setup. (As a PodMic owner/user as well, I might be biased but I think it’s pretty clear here).
The Shure sounded exceptionally bassy here, but I don't know why. I didn't adjust the sound at all and double checked that all processing was turned off.
straight up the standard dynamic setting on that rodecaster is already boosting presence as is so it makes the sm7b sound like big muddy crap to my headphones and the pod mic sound perfect where as a normal flat eq input will show the sm7b be perfect and the podmic be really bright and almost shrieky but add some low cut some high and little mid and its spot on with the sm7b. Was hoping for a better comparison here but i cant blame you for your gear. I also hate the way the podmic looks with a windscreen lol as dumb as it sounds it is like looking at a dog with two legs its just not right.
Right now I’m using the sm 57 I think I will be upgrading to the sm7b. I like the tone and warmth of the sm7b
That's a great combo too- the SM57 will work really well as a guest mic or a backup for the SM7B.
@@tombuck I agree , awesome review 👍👍
I have a podmic and I have thought the same it is quite high endy and have thought about getting a shield, so now I am!
Totally worth it!
I found a return goxlr on Amazon for 180$ two days ago and bought it and then got rode podmic with the wind screen and now my audio is 1000% better! Just couldn’t see me spending 1000$ on audio right now and ended up getting lucky !
That’s a great deal!
@@tombuck yeah man it was someone’s return I bought on Amazon it said their was a scratch on the front panel but when it got here the scratch was on the plastic peel off sticker that was never removed lol I peeled it off and no more scratch haha it was literally scratched plastic peel 😂
The shure Mike does have a wider presence but a bit muddy to me. the rode seems to sound honed in the center but has a clipy sound or should I say the talking into a fan sound. Not sure if that makes sense but if I had to pick id go with the rode with the windscreen with a little eq cleanup
This is great! I have been looking for another mic, but didn't want to spend on another SM7B. This was really helpful Thanks Tom!
Perfect! That's exactly the scenario I figured many people might find themselves in.
good luck finding a Podmic......and REALLY GOOD LUCK to find one for $99. I loathe price gougers,
The pun at the beginning got me. haha Nice video!
I was very proud of the one 😁
Podmic much better for your voice. The clarity is better. Microphone should be picked for the voice.
can u connect sm7b to zoom h6 and another cable from zoom to usb to mac and rec straight to fcpx as voiceover on timeline ?
Yes, the H6 can act as an interface 👍
@@tombuck cool , i ust ordered sm7b, will let u know how i get on, i hated the mv7, i actually reviewed it on my channel, am not a professional, but i found the lows too low, its now after seeing your video, i realised it probably needed pre amp or cloudlifter to have the lows louder
Love the SM7B, one of the most iconic sound signatures of any mic BUT for a 30+ min podcast, the bass can really wear on you. I really enjoy the PodMic sound, especially with the WS2. I feel that combination would not give the listener the same amount of fatigue you get with the SM7B.
This is great! By the way, I've added a Fethead to my podmic (going into a 2i2) and the improvement is insane.
I bet it really gives you room to play with the levels!
Same here. Made a huge difference in noise floor.
I’ll definitely be ordering WS2. Thanks for the tip.
The SM7B makes your voice sound muffled and harder to understand.
depends how you use it
Romeo Mariano Agreed.
I may be way off with this one, but I prefer the sound of the PodMic. The SM7B sounds more can-ey to me or like it was recorded in a box. My preference is a more natural sound and to me, the PodMic gets the nod.
The cool thing about microphones is most of it just comes down to personal preference, so whatever YOU like is the best one. 👍
Still love the sound of my Rode podmic. I may pick up the windshield
The PodMic is truly terrific.
Are you able to go back and check the comparisons of the PodMic to the SM7B when they're raw? They don't sound raw to me... There are phasing artifacts that are actually boosting the lower frequencies sympathetically. I'm not sure this is wholly accurate to the true sonic signature of each mic.
I think this is as “raw” as the Rodecaster can do.
@@tombuck Thanks so much for the reply.... Are you able to do some tests on another interface other than the RodeCaster? I simply wonder if you would get different results. Thanks again for taking the time to chat.
Impossible to find a place in a mix with the Rode if you are a singer without too much processing, SM7B is way better in that aspect. For podcasters I think the Rode will sound more natural, the mic was designed with that in mind
Yep, I think you're right. The SM7B is just so easy to use in such a wide variety of situations.
It comes down to performance to dollar spend AND the application. If you are just a streamer on Twitch I see no reason to invest in a $400 mic. But the Rode Podmic, and take the savings and spend it on a stream deck or some graphics for your channel or towards a mixer (GoXLR etc). Great reviews. I love my Rode Podmic.
Being practical and realistic is _definitely_ important 👍
I don't think this is an unpopular opinion to say the backwards hat looks good on you! I also chuckled when you said you look exactly like your wife and then your facial hair became that more prominent in my mind lol. What a good sport 😁
Haha, I mean there's no way I could hope to be even 1/10th as gorgeous as she is, so I had to work with what I've got.
Your videos have great uplifting vibes
Thank you! That means a lot to hear since I know the internet isn’t always an uplifting place to be 😬
pod have a bit up in mid range frequencies, 7b have more boost on 90hz and cut on 1khz, so on pod should cut the mid frequencies with 3dB, and boost on 80hz with 2dB
keep coming back to this video to try and find your colourful xlr cables! where are they from?
The brand is Dremake on Amazon 👍
What did you do to the SM7b EQ? I know that mic is heavy on the low frequencies, but this just felt muddled and not worthy a 400-buck item. The podmic was way more intelligible. Great tip about the podmic windscreen though, did not know they had one... :)
I really did nothing to it, but I do know that it sounds odd here. I have no idea why though and it's never happened since.
@@tombuck I would actually like to see a remake of this comparison at some point. You make some 1st class content, but I feel this one does not truly reflect your usual high standards as it is a shoot-out style and a fair comparison is paramount. That said, my personal opinion is that the SM7b is over hyped for most media to be consumed over a non-live compressed format such as UA-cam. Keep up the good work. I highly enjoy your videos!
I watched a YT clip about putting the WS2 on until the bottom gril, so leaving that bottom gril exposed, I tried it and like it + the mic still looks awesome.
How interesting 🤔
There is something wrong with the audio of this video. 8:02 is where it is most noticeable. A sort of echo/delay going on.
I was not ready for the hat/wig combo. Lol! Loved this video, thank you!
The world was not ready for that.
I'd pay $400 for the sound of the Rode and $120 for the SM7B. That eq curve on the SM7 is wayyyy too bass heavy.
I like my Podmic. I thought about the Shure mic. But I’ll rock with what I have.
Thank you Buck! You have helped me make up my mind for my mic for my BraodCast. Going the Rode way!! Cheers from Costa Rica!!
Woo hoo! so glad to hear it, best of luck with your show!
No, you are not dumb saying 'looks matter'. It's a valid consideration. Podmic got that vintage kind of look and windscreen sort of ruined it.
Thank you for the validation 😁