Cap. You can only get extra open beautiful brightness with 3200 more dollars. Or another Neumann. They had to take the pop filter off the sm7 just to get it even close
what are you talking about i can literally produce a track and no one would tell any equalization difference if you know how to mix their marketing tactic obviously overprices the product by a good 1-2k dollars and the frequency response rates barley differ
@@verae3640 well sure u can tryy to make it sound like a Neumann. It’ll probably sound dope. I’m just sayin I can tell when my necklaces is gold plated
@@kickthecheff A quality singer will make an eternal musical hit out of a decent Mic in this case the SM7B. These days 98% music sounds crappy even with the most advanced and expensive gear compared to what Classic real skilled musicians could accomplish with what they had. Gear will never outperform talent in the right hands.
► Time Stamps Intro 0:00 Music test 2:09 - 9:12 Music test (Guitar A RAW) 2:10 Music test (Guitar B RAW) 3:04 Music test (Rapping A RAW) 3:59 Music rest (Rapping B RAW) 4:40 Music test (Rapping A MIXED) 5:20 Music test (Rapping B MIXED) 6:00 Music test (Singing B RAW) 6:36 Music test (Singing A RAW) 7:12 Music test (Singing B MIXED) 7:50 Music test (Singing A MIXED) 8:30 Outro 9:10
Considering the U87 to be one of the best microphones in the world, the Shure is brilliant. That minimal difference in sound is negligible and also proves that you don’t need an expensive microphone to create good sound. Bravo SM7B!
The shure sm7b is a workhorse.. however one is dynamic and the other is a condenser.. Me personally the preference in both would differ according to what genre of music you're creating.. I personally think neumann mics are overrated. There are countless of less expensive mics that would rival it.. It's just about getting a clean clear signal guys.. With the right ear and software you can make a 100 dollar mic sound like an expensive mic... People don't stop on the dance floor questioning what kind of mic that particular song was recorded with.
then how do you get the sound we hear in this video with the guy that's singing?, I have a sm7b with an arrow interface connected to a cloud-lifter c1, but I still get this thin washed out vocal, it sounds nothing like this. also I'm in a storage room or a bedroom when recording, neither are acoustically treated; and can't treat the rooms.
@@toxichatter8387 if your voice sounds thin on an sm7b literally just get closer to the mic, put the pop filter about 2 inches from the mic and back up a few inches from that. Also record in a bigger room and it'll sound better. Even a U87 would sound shitty and mid heavy in a small untreated room.
I have both of these mics, the sm7b works better for less experienced vocalists. The u87 is more sensitive and less forgiving. I’ve been getting great results w the sm7b. The u87 is awesome, but it isn’t always the right choice. Nice video!
I'm guessing A is SM7B and B is U87. B is a lot brighter and sounded better overall raw to me, but they got pretty dang close in the mix. Obviously no one is out here caring about the mic in their favorite song but if it's readily available and it fits your track better than the SM7B, just use it. That isn't a scenario for a lot of home artists, but it applies to everyone going to school or working in a studio. I for one used it on a bunch of tracks for school, but the SM7B was heavily utilized for a bunch of tasks.
Well... I like the SM7B more, and I was more than certain that it was Mic B in the test, since it sounded scooped, and like it softened some of the sound. That's how it tends to sound it comparisons vs the RE20. Thanks for the test! It holds up for vocals.
Honestly, great video too. Detailed, showed all the equipment, many test tracks (appreciate the mixed versions too), instrumental and vocal tests, excellent content.
It wasn't until the very end that i could actually hear a big difference where the TLM sounded a lot better. If I was rich i'd pay that much more but the SM7B is actually very good. at that point what really matters is having a good song and good singer. Beyond that, it's really just all luxury.
the good thing was that I didn't know the price of the U87 when I was hearing the comparison. I was biased towards the SM7B so I thought that mic A was it but I was wrong. However, during the singing session, I could conclude that the difference wasn't great. In conclusion, the U87 is not worth its money despite the tiny difference in sound. I would rather buy the SM7B
To me, u87 clearly sounded better on both vocals, although If I were recording vox on an sm7b I’d put the vocalist a lot closer to the mic and use the sm7 included pop filter. You lose a lot of high end clarity in a dynamic mic at that distance versus a condenser, so in a way, it wasn’t strictly a fair comparison and it was stacked in favor of the u87. Overall though good job on positioning the capsules next to each other and filling/editing etc, great comparison video overall
Knew right off the bat which was which. Dynamic mics have that little bit of suppressed sound while condensers sound more open. Still for a $3k difference, I'll take the SM7B all day. All you need is a rode NT1 and you're straight after that.
Condenser microphones were created for a specific purpose and Dynamic Microphones were created for a specific purpose. I would use the Neumann for delicate vocals and I would use the Sure SM7B for louder strong vocals. The price has absolutely nothing to do with the quality when it comes to these 2 microphones. Great video. Wonder if folks are listening on good calibrated headphones?
I work at a recording studio and they don't use the sm7b, but I have it as my home mic. If you guys want, I can make a video showing what vocal chain I use on that mic to get it sounding nice.
The sm7b is great so is the u87. The u87 sounded a little bit better but not by a big margin. Wit the sm7b you gotta have a good preamp to drive it or it’s really quiet. With the u87, not so much. You should try to check out the Austrian oc818 mic.
If the SM7b had an SE Dynamite or a CloudLifter on it to provide increased gain to the Apollo pre, it would have been different as well ..... different mics for different singers and application .... as W.H. says, "horses for courses" !!! ... My first LDC was a C414-B ULS I bought in the 80's - I made it work with every singer that came in using the tools I had available and ....... my ears !!!
@@tmp3431 I have sm7b tried cloudlifter but changed to Royer Labs - dBooster , much much better more live and presented nuanced results, epic with sm7b , highly recommended :) plus it has 12db (real 14db) and 20db (real 22db) 2 switch boost options, which is for me very convenient :) enjoy & have fun guys ! :)
@Orphan Twin Ended up buying the mic shortly after watching this video. Compared to other cheaper mics (Rode NT1A included, I would agree 100% from my experience. @Kelli should get a commission.
I was going for the Neumann U87 the whole time. Then I find out it was the Shure SM7B. I don't know $3200 seems like a lot extra for a microphone that sounds about the same as a Shure SM7B. But the place where the Shure falls is the self noise from the CloudLifter which is really something I care about as I won't be able to soundproof my studio for a long time (Thanks to COVID-19) and because my singing style requires a microphone with more SPL. Anyone could help me find good Audio Interfaces that have pre-amps that dont bring out the self noise?
I was able to hear the digital gain in the raw recordings, which was more pronounced in one mic, so I guessed correctly (won't spoil). Idk, it's something I'm aware if when I'm recording. Those 610 preamps are pretty finicky. Both mics sounded good in the mix, but the U87 was much clearer.
I guessed correct after hearing the guitar recordings that mic A was the sm7b. Just because I expected a dynamic mic and condenser mic to sound like they did. I love the SM7B sound it’s real tight and clean but then on the mix..you have to be careful not to over process it too much or risk losing body ! I’ve recorded vocals on a SM58 and it gave me the similar pros and cons
Im so tired of the sm7b man. I have a very raspy midrange voice. When I record on this mic the vocals come out very think/harsh. I'm using the ssl2 interface with it (4k) and it just sounds bad. I even send my vocals to professionals engineers and even they send my vocals back sounding this. I even had french montanas engineers mix a record and is ess were so harsh. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Try record without the 4k function. I have the same interface and i don't like the 4k because of what you have mentioned and also because it is colouring the recording a lot.
Always grinding dope video bro you're helping me lot when it comes to mixing and using Adobe. Very insightful and easy to follow instructions. Your mic comparison videos are dope too
****nice mix on the finished vocals - **great video - the classic SM7B shows why it has been used on countless recordings and so good for broadcast - a lesson in great use of autotune
I'm going to add this comment before the reveal is made. A is the Neumann U87 Ai. I can feel the dynamism of the vocals and the mic seems like it filters more unwanted noise like the harshness of the guitar picking at times. It's a more emotional experience as well for me. Fingers crossed that I have the correct answer. If I'm wrong, then I've built an emotional connection with the cheaper mic. It's a win win. Now proceeding to watch the full video to see if I was right. I have a good feeling I should be. Shouldn't be that hard to differentiate an over $3000 cost difference.
I know this is mad late, but would you be able to do a mixing breakdown video for the SM7B, please? A lot of folks tend to use it for bedroom studio music so it could be super helpful when you're starting out.
Yo Kelli can you please tell me how you mixed the vocals both on the rap and on the singing part. I got an SM7B myself but I can't get it to sound like this, especially considering EQ. Thanks in advance, Markus.
people need to understand that audio interface makes A LOT of difference as well. He is using Apollo Twin audio interface which is pretty advanced/high end gear. If he used focusrite scarlett solo instead, the difference between neumann and sm7b might have been more stark. (personal opinion)
Both sound the same mixed the SM7b just makes it harder to tuck the vocals into the beat. The U87ai vocals sound like they are 1 with the music and not 2 separate entities working together. That's the best way I can describe it.
I have both mics and really started to dislike the SM7B after getting the U87ai. The Shure just made my voice sound muddy, whilst the Neumann has a clarity you just can't get from dynamic mics.
Really useful comparison, thank you! Trying to figure out if I should dip my toes with an SM7B, or stick with my current condenser (nice, but not $3600 nice). The Shure has a definite treble/presence bump, and retains less detail, as advertised. It sounded better to my ears raw, and while it cut through the mix slightly better, the processing really brought out the best qualities of the Neumann in the mix. Tough choice… unless you’re on a budget.
I could tell as soon as the second guitar clip played. The frequency response of a dynamic vs condenser it’s pretty blatant imo. They both sound great! But mic b for sure had more low end which gave it away
apollo does the best but there are interfaces that work and depending on which one will decide how good it is and if it even works, i found a way with my m audio fast track but apollo is most convenient and works the best
Late to the comments here, but you did a great job man! I'd say, honestly, you proved that a microphone is only as good as the space it's recorded in and the hands that mold it afterwards. I could listen to any of those mixed takes and just say, "Yeah, that's a professional recording." It doesn't matter if the mic that was used was $400 or $3,600, and the higher price tag doesn't mean that your end result will be better.
I could actually tell by listening to the guitar which mic was which. You could hear the tap/knock on the guitar way more clearly on the Neumann vs. the Shure.
I was doing my podcast with an RE20. Just got an SM7B and I love it. Sounds much better than the RE20. I've used Neumanns before and they are great, but I would not pay $3200 for one. The Neuman in your demo definitely beats the SMB7.
My ear perked up for the guitar a little more on neumann but those vocals were damn close. Not to mention i was just comparing on my phone not monitors or headset. I'll have to recheck but it's unbelievable
what people dont understsand is that the sm7b is actually a high end mic for dynamic microphones and of coarse if your looking for the smaller nuances then you'll choose a condensoer, if you are looking to capture vocals your not wrong with the sm7b also its not what makes the 87 special if your doing cardiod then it can be competed against with even something half the price because its multipattern that's what your buying for 3600 not just for a cardiod pattern hopefully no-one got confused
Question for achieving low/mid forward rap vocals would it be better to go for sm7b and utilize proximity affect and boost the highs for clarity or go for a condenser like the u87 or what I use and recommend (AKG C414xlii) and try to boost the low mids and tame the high frequencies given proper room acoustics. Im thinking more traditional rap, not the modernized pop sound
@@jimiboi87 any clones you recommend since that comment I had picked up a u67 clone (warm audio) has this sweet sound like your voice is right there in the room type presence but does lack in the lows you think a Sony clone would be any different? May need to get good with the EQ to make up for that (my voice is nowhere as deep as Dr Dre)
@@WestCoast4L1f3 Well I'm saying Dre doesn't just prefer it for himself, but with other artists he works with, with all different types of voices. Honestly I was checking out the new warm audio sony clone but it seemed to lack low end so I probably wouldn't go with that based off what you're saying. I personally have the slate ml-1 and it has two c800g models, one has a bit beefier of a low end than the other but they are both fire. Ever since I got that, I barely use any of my other mics anymore, including my sm7b and my akg414xlii, because I love how the slate sounds so much. Using it through a 1073 plugin and cl-1b plugin, it sounds silky smooth.
@@jimiboi87 interesting to hear I also hear that Golden Age and Advanced Audio make great clones, but the slate makes me curious, also personally might need to consider my chain more as I feel tho mics may differ sonically here and there thing can be shaped in post. I hear the cl1-1b is a great compressor do you stack stack it with any other compressors? I currently use waves rcomp and la-2a/1176 plugins
@@WestCoast4L1f3 I was considering adding the Advanced Audio one to my collection at some point myself, the cool thing about the slate is that you get all the other mic models too, so it's like a swiss army knife. I do like to use an 1176 with a fast attack and release to tame the transients before the signal hits the cl-1b, and sometimes I use an eq between the compressors. I like the results I get with this for hip hop and pop stuff. rvox and la-2a are dope too though for sure. :)
Dude how did you get the shure sounding that good? I get so much white noise and hiss after compression. I have a pre amp and I also have the uad software. Plz tell me ☹
I'm no expert btw but the white noise is probably because there isn't enough clean gain being given to the mic so you'll need to get something like a cloudlifter or dynamite so you can turn down the gain on your preamp to get a cleaner sound
This is actually a bit insane to me... For Rapping I liked Mic B far more altogether. For singing, the raw sounded better on Mic A, but in the mix B sounded a lot better to me as well. I'm a TLM-103 owner and was thinking of upgrading to the U-87s.. but might just get me the SM7B as an addition to the arsenal as even if my ears are completely wrong (listening in CZcams quality on my HS-50s) the $3000 difference in price really isn't worth it here. Though I'm curious what the sound difference would be on an external pre like an Avalon 737, or the wicked built in pre-amp on the Audient ID interfaces where I find the Neumann's to truly shine
bro i thought the same exact thing. I loved Mic B for the rap vocals but loved A for the singing. The Neuman has that body though. I would love to hear someone with a lower register really bring it out
@@riggz1627 That's the thing with mics. As you get higher and higher in price range the differences become negligible, especially when you factor in cost. The sweet spot for me personally, is the 1,000-2,000 range. Once you're in that ball park, it takes quite a bit of coin the see any noticeable improvements above that, especially when all is said and done in terms of mixing. Obviously there are great mics for less than a grand, my TLM 102 comes to mind, as well as my KEL-HM2D which is a small diaphragm condenser and only ran me 250 bucks when it released years ago, but is great on the occasional odd ball source. But in terms of home recording I think you can have acquire just about all you need for amazing results sub 2,000 that you would ever truly want. My current main mic for my personal recordings is a WA-8000. I have zero complaints with it. I run it into a BAE 1073MPF, into a WA2A. It's great for that modern vocal sound in rap/trap etc. If someone really wanted to cover all of their bases and be set for some time, a quality condenser and something like a SM7B etc should suit just about most of the needs you may encounter. Once you start talking about recording random people on the regular, that can change of course as some voices are finicky.
SM7B in an untreated room would be better than the U87. I wouldn't even think about getting the U87 if my thing wasnt treated nice. There is definitely a difference though. The u87 has a really nice sheen on the high end that sounds nice on a mix. The SM7B has a more neutral sound but i like that, feel like it gives it more versatility (Workhorse). I Prefered the U87 on the guitar though. Should of brought down the levels on both mic inputs a little bit for both vocal test as there was slight distortion. Other than that, I appreciate the video.
Think it was without... he said the gain was almost maxed out! Cloudlifter would’ve helped that big time.. also the sound would’ve been a little better....
He's using the Pre-Amp on the Apollo Twin, the Cloudlifter has the most annoying hiss which is not noticeable in a mixed project. But it is there and it is really annoying. The Pre-Amp on the Apollo sort of reduces the hiss so its not as bad as the Cloudlifter.
@@matthewk.matthews1900 I have the Cloudlifter Z and I have no such issue. So.. i'd say you have an issue yourself. I don't think it's a Cloudlifter problem. Mine is the CL-Z.. maybe that's the diff? But, yeah. My noise floor is incredible. My interface is an Apogee Element24.
Neumann TLM 103 vs Shure SM7B comparison video now available!🤘czcams.com/video/FN2Z7rhkRtk/video.html
seeing sm7b without a popfilter is like seeing a person without clothes lol
😂
😂😂😂
worse actually its like seeingthem without skin
More like seeing fingers/toes without nails
it creeps me out lol
Is no one gonna talk about the mixing and mastering skills 👀, that was a whole ass different song after being mixed.
ya..the mix done on vocal was on another level
We need another video for mixing 🥰
Homeboy wasn't singing in tune lol
Bro foreal. I want to know what plug-ins he is using. It sounded amazing.
@@mrbouncelol he say free style..
there is a difference, but not a 3200 dollar difference
Cap. You can only get extra open beautiful brightness with 3200 more dollars. Or another Neumann. They had to take the pop filter off the sm7 just to get it even close
what are you talking about i can literally produce a track and no one would tell any equalization difference if you know how to mix their marketing tactic obviously overprices the product by a good 1-2k dollars and the frequency response rates barley differ
@@kickthecheff so basically you're paying 3200 dollars for an extra 3 different polar patterns
@@verae3640 well sure u can tryy to make it sound like a Neumann. It’ll probably sound dope. I’m just sayin I can tell when my necklaces is gold plated
@@kickthecheff A quality singer will make an eternal musical hit out of a decent Mic in this case the SM7B. These days 98% music sounds crappy even with the most advanced and expensive gear compared to what Classic real skilled musicians could accomplish with what they had. Gear will never outperform talent in the right hands.
► Time Stamps
Intro 0:00
Music test 2:09 - 9:12
Music test (Guitar A RAW) 2:10
Music test (Guitar B RAW) 3:04
Music test (Rapping A RAW) 3:59
Music rest (Rapping B RAW) 4:40
Music test (Rapping A MIXED) 5:20
Music test (Rapping B MIXED) 6:00
Music test (Singing B RAW) 6:36
Music test (Singing A RAW) 7:12
Music test (Singing B MIXED) 7:50
Music test (Singing A MIXED) 8:30
Outro 9:10
Considering the U87 to be one of the best microphones in the world, the Shure is brilliant. That minimal difference in sound is negligible and also proves that you don’t need an expensive microphone to create good sound. Bravo SM7B!
Agree! Just record the raw then add some cherries ( E.Q) to the mix, $400 sounds almost as good as $3600. In a mix it is very hard to tell.
Shure is garbage
It sounds so realistic and natural
@@zanem9022 are you deaf?
@@ojvic7297you can definitely hear a difference but your average listener won’t be able to. SM7B sounds pretty damn good.
The shure sm7b is a workhorse.. however one is dynamic and the other is a condenser.. Me personally the preference in both would differ according to what genre of music you're creating.. I personally think neumann mics are overrated. There are countless of less expensive mics that would rival it.. It's just about getting a clean clear signal guys.. With the right ear and software you can make a 100 dollar mic sound like an expensive mic... People don't stop on the dance floor questioning what kind of mic that particular song was recorded with.
then how do you get the sound we hear in this video with the guy that's singing?, I have a sm7b with an arrow interface connected to a cloud-lifter c1, but I still get this thin washed out vocal, it sounds nothing like this. also I'm in a storage room or a bedroom when recording, neither are acoustically treated; and can't treat the rooms.
@@toxichatter8387 pream homie is in the preamp
@@toxichatter8387 eq and compression dude, also reverb. You can’t really just plug in and listen to any mic and expect a professional sound
@@MizzzyMike forreal bro🤣🤣. Literally just learn to mix and master and you’re good
@@toxichatter8387 if your voice sounds thin on an sm7b literally just get closer to the mic, put the pop filter about 2 inches from the mic and back up a few inches from that. Also record in a bigger room and it'll sound better. Even a U87 would sound shitty and mid heavy in a small untreated room.
Neumann vocal sounds more crisp and clean but the smb7 sounds warm and thicker. It is all about your taste. Can't go wrong with either one.
I have both of these mics, the sm7b works better for less experienced vocalists. The u87 is more sensitive and less forgiving. I’ve been getting great results w the sm7b. The u87 is awesome, but it isn’t always the right choice. Nice video!
what about michael jackson using sm7 .. was michael jackson less experienced ? hahahha
@@gtmgaming9871 he meant that it’s more forgiving and therefore would sound better on less experienced singers too
@@gtmgaming9871 2 years late, but the sm7 and the sm7b are two very different microphones
finally a shootout that actually compares those kinds of mics in a context that makes sense. thanks
i think the the mics require different mixes due to how different their tones are
I'm guessing A is SM7B and B is U87. B is a lot brighter and sounded better overall raw to me, but they got pretty dang close in the mix. Obviously no one is out here caring about the mic in their favorite song but if it's readily available and it fits your track better than the SM7B, just use it. That isn't a scenario for a lot of home artists, but it applies to everyone going to school or working in a studio. I for one used it on a bunch of tracks for school, but the SM7B was heavily utilized for a bunch of tasks.
For the record Michael Jackson mostly recorded with the shure sm7b microphone... The entire thriller album was recorded on it.
Shure SM7, not SM7B, you idiot.
@@sevchyk LMAOOO CHILLL
@@sevchyk Sm7b is the same design and capsule as the sm7, just a larger windscreen
I’m pretty sure thriller was with a Neumann U47. Whatever album rock the night away was on was done with a Sm7
@@sevchyk LMAO....
In my opinion SM7B sounds fucking amazing..
There is a difference, but both microphones sits equally well in the mix, and none of them has problems with sibilance. The Shure is incredible!
It is Shure incredible right?
Well... I like the SM7B more, and I was more than certain that it was Mic B in the test, since it sounded scooped, and like it softened some of the sound.
That's how it tends to sound it comparisons vs the RE20. Thanks for the test! It holds up for vocals.
I like ur mics comparison over every other on CZcams
I just keep coming to this video to listen to you guys rap and sing
Honestly, great video too. Detailed, showed all the equipment, many test tracks (appreciate the mixed versions too), instrumental and vocal tests, excellent content.
Never interested in microphone comparison until find this series, all just because of beautiful Horizon Wake vocal
It wasn't until the very end that i could actually hear a big difference where the TLM sounded a lot better. If I was rich i'd pay that much more but the SM7B is actually very good. at that point what really matters is having a good song and good singer. Beyond that, it's really just all luxury.
the good thing was that I didn't know the price of the U87 when I was hearing the comparison. I was biased towards the SM7B so I thought that mic A was it but I was wrong. However, during the singing session, I could conclude that the difference wasn't great. In conclusion, the U87 is not worth its money despite the tiny difference in sound. I would rather buy the SM7B
To me, u87 clearly sounded better on both vocals, although If I were recording vox on an sm7b I’d put the vocalist a lot closer to the mic and use the sm7 included pop filter. You lose a lot of high end clarity in a dynamic mic at that distance versus a condenser, so in a way, it wasn’t strictly a fair comparison and it was stacked in favor of the u87. Overall though good job on positioning the capsules next to each other and filling/editing etc, great comparison video overall
Knew right off the bat which was which. Dynamic mics have that little bit of suppressed sound while condensers sound more open. Still for a $3k difference, I'll take the SM7B all day. All you need is a rode NT1 and you're straight after that.
Condenser microphones were created for a specific purpose and Dynamic Microphones were created for a specific purpose. I would use the Neumann for delicate vocals and I would use the Sure SM7B for louder strong vocals. The price has absolutely nothing to do with the quality when it comes to these 2 microphones. Great video. Wonder if folks are listening on good calibrated headphones?
I work at a recording studio and they don't use the sm7b, but I have it as my home mic. If you guys want, I can make a video showing what vocal chain I use on that mic to get it sounding nice.
The sm7b is great so is the u87. The u87 sounded a little bit better but not by a big margin. Wit the sm7b you gotta have a good preamp to drive it or it’s really quiet. With the u87, not so much. You should try to check out the Austrian oc818 mic.
If the SM7b had an SE Dynamite or a CloudLifter on it to provide increased gain to the Apollo pre, it would have been different as well ..... different mics for different singers and application .... as W.H. says, "horses for courses" !!! ... My first LDC was a C414-B ULS I bought in the 80's - I made it work with every singer that came in using the tools I had available and ....... my ears !!!
@@tmp3431 I have sm7b tried cloudlifter but changed to Royer Labs - dBooster , much much better more live and presented nuanced results, epic with sm7b , highly recommended :) plus it has 12db (real 14db) and 20db (real 22db) 2 switch boost options, which is for me very convenient :) enjoy & have fun guys ! :)
Every time Mic A played, I listened. But when Mic B played...I fell into the music. No wonder.
@Orphan Twin Ended up buying the mic shortly after watching this video. Compared to other cheaper mics (Rode NT1A included, I would agree 100% from my experience. @Kelli should get a commission.
@@user-pr4uq3vz3w which mic did you end up buying?
@@lawlinyourface would reckon sa87
Awesome vid man. I think I'm set on the sm7b based off my type of vocals. Thank you sm and keep grinding out these fire vids.
🙌
I love your rapping man its very professional sounding
I was going for the Neumann U87 the whole time. Then I find out it was the Shure SM7B. I don't know $3200 seems like a lot extra for a microphone that sounds about the same as a Shure SM7B. But the place where the Shure falls is the self noise from the CloudLifter which is really something I care about as I won't be able to soundproof my studio for a long time (Thanks to COVID-19) and because my singing style requires a microphone with more SPL. Anyone could help me find good Audio Interfaces that have pre-amps that dont bring out the self noise?
Audible Evo 4 makes the job
My dude
I was able to hear the digital gain in the raw recordings, which was more pronounced in one mic, so I guessed correctly (won't spoil). Idk, it's something I'm aware if when I'm recording. Those 610 preamps are pretty finicky.
Both mics sounded good in the mix, but the U87 was much clearer.
The issue with the SM7B is it is almost required to use a cloudlifter. Cranking the gain without one will always end badly.
@@Snapahh true. I use a FetHead.
I didn't know about this when I made my comment.
Man I just bought a SMB7, and while you were testing I tought mic A was the U87. So I’m totally convinced I’ve made the right purchase, thanks a lot!
SM7B***
Str8 up, Sm7b sounds better, neumann u87 gives a little bit of weak sound
I guessed correct after hearing the guitar recordings that mic A was the sm7b. Just because I expected a dynamic mic and condenser mic to sound like they did. I love the SM7B sound it’s real tight and clean but then on the mix..you have to be careful not to over process it too much or risk losing body ! I’ve recorded vocals on a SM58 and it gave me the similar pros and cons
Would the SM7 be much better than the SM58?
Man, i could've sworn mic A was gonna be the u87 until the reveal. The SM7B sounded better to me
I thought exactly the same, sound much more full and airy, I am chocked!! Wooow!! I always thought the SM7 sounded a bit doll, it must be wrong????
Mic B all day through my bowers and Wilkins. Both sound good but mic A sounds a little harsh and much more sensitive to slight movement off axis.
Im so tired of the sm7b man. I have a very raspy midrange voice. When I record on this mic the vocals come out very think/harsh. I'm using the ssl2 interface with it (4k) and it just sounds bad. I even send my vocals to professionals engineers and even they send my vocals back sounding this. I even had french montanas engineers mix a record and is ess were so harsh. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Try record without the 4k function. I have the same interface and i don't like the 4k because of what you have mentioned and also because it is colouring the recording a lot.
What else was in your chain? Just that one interface?
🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👏🏻, I don’t know, but it sounds like the shure SM 7B sounds even better than the Naumann u87 that’s incredible!
I definitely heard the price tag on the acoustic guitar recording. The SM7b was too boxy compared to the U87.
Always grinding dope video bro you're helping me lot when it comes to mixing and using Adobe. Very insightful and easy to follow instructions. Your mic comparison videos are dope too
Glad I could help! Thank you 🙏
****nice mix on the finished vocals - **great video - the classic SM7B shows why it has been used on countless recordings and so good for broadcast - a lesson in great use of autotune
the difference between raw and mixed vocals should be a crime. i fuck with pitch correction but that was almost a different person
I'm going to add this comment before the reveal is made. A is the Neumann U87 Ai. I can feel the dynamism of the vocals and the mic seems like it filters more unwanted noise like the harshness of the guitar picking at times. It's a more emotional experience as well for me. Fingers crossed that I have the correct answer. If I'm wrong, then I've built an emotional connection with the cheaper mic. It's a win win. Now proceeding to watch the full video to see if I was right. I have a good feeling I should be. Shouldn't be that hard to differentiate an over $3000 cost difference.
The song is dope! Damn. Forgot about the shoot out for a minute there lol
I know this is mad late, but would you be able to do a mixing breakdown video for the SM7B, please?
A lot of folks tend to use it for bedroom studio music so it could be super helpful when you're starting out.
Yo Kelli can you please tell me how you mixed the vocals both on the rap and on the singing part. I got an SM7B myself but I can't get it to sound like this, especially considering EQ. Thanks in advance, Markus.
I have a few mixing tutorials that might help. Definitely more on the way 🙏
Kelli need that!
people need to understand that audio interface makes A LOT of difference as well. He is using Apollo Twin audio interface which is pretty advanced/high end gear. If he used focusrite scarlett solo instead, the difference between neumann and sm7b might have been more stark. (personal opinion)
I don't think that's true. Both mics would have sounded equally less good
@@steelesaldutti Exactly.
You should have said interface with your special delay, interface interface interface.. love these vids bruv 💜💜💜
😂🙏🙌
That’s what “mixed vocals” means
Both sound the same mixed the SM7b just makes it harder to tuck the vocals into the beat. The U87ai vocals sound like they are 1 with the music and not 2 separate entities working together. That's the best way I can describe it.
I need the song with vocal of the minute 3 at 6
I was blown away by that! SM7b all the way for me.
I'm interested to know the settings you used on the SM7b please..
damn its hard to hear the difference.....sm7b is holding its own though even though its price point is on the affordable side
u87 for rap. that sm7b on his singing was hi king outrageous the FEEL was there it was vibrant
For some reason I feel it’s actually the opposite the u87 is good for the singing while the sm7b is good for rapping 😂
why would you not make it clear which A and B is... thats like the entire point of this video right?
The SM7B sounded way crisper after being mixed, but the Neumann U87 was much crisper before being mixed. I could tell off the second test.
I have both mics and really started to dislike the SM7B after getting the U87ai. The Shure just made my voice sound muddy, whilst the Neumann has a clarity you just can't get from dynamic mics.
I don't care about mics i just listening the mix et rap performance 😅😂 ! Big UP to the singer performance too 🙏.
Do you have any of the switches in the back enabled on the sm7b?
Bro, sound quality is nuts. I'd love it if you shared what plugins you used to mix the vocals
I wish he would lol
melodyne, autotune, eq & compression
Really useful comparison, thank you! Trying to figure out if I should dip my toes with an SM7B, or stick with my current condenser (nice, but not $3600 nice). The Shure has a definite treble/presence bump, and retains less detail, as advertised. It sounded better to my ears raw, and while it cut through the mix slightly better, the processing really brought out the best qualities of the Neumann in the mix. Tough choice… unless you’re on a budget.
I could tell as soon as the second guitar clip played. The frequency response of a dynamic vs condenser it’s pretty blatant imo. They both sound great! But mic b for sure had more low end which gave it away
I heard the first pass on mic B, that frequency response and clean high end was totally neumann
How both microphone sound is same I saw many always they show same fake
I am confused! Wich is the microphone in A and B used vocal recording?
The shure mic or nt1 rhode? You guys tell me. Im deciding.
Yea you shoved me to the edge🔥
Question: do i absolutely need an Apollo interface to have 0 latency while using autotune live? (Monitoring)
apollo does the best but there are interfaces that work and depending on which one will decide how good it is and if it even works, i found a way with my m audio fast track but apollo is most convenient and works the best
no bro u dont! u can use waves realtime... lil uzi vert uses it bro and me too ;) it s rrlly good. 0 latency for real
Brother Jane even with an usb mic? cause ain't got a interface at the moment
@@jenzo3331 ye bro, for sure ! dont worry. just get it asap. best realtime autotune. and it s rlly cheap my brother.
the neumann sounds clearer but the shure has more emotion
woh that mix on the second guy saved his voice. sounded so much better. does anybody how to do that?
Autotune, EQ, reverb, delay, and compression?
I can if you need something mixed and mastered don’t hesitate to message me on ig el_torito24
@@Reyesramon24 I’ll add you now. Thank you
Why did the Shure sound more clear? Using ibuds.
wait wtf?!?! which is mic A and B????
Late to the comments here, but you did a great job man! I'd say, honestly, you proved that a microphone is only as good as the space it's recorded in and the hands that mold it afterwards. I could listen to any of those mixed takes and just say, "Yeah, that's a professional recording." It doesn't matter if the mic that was used was $400 or $3,600, and the higher price tag doesn't mean that your end result will be better.
I could actually tell by listening to the guitar which mic was which. You could hear the tap/knock on the guitar way more clearly on the Neumann vs. the Shure.
I was doing my podcast with an RE20. Just got an SM7B and I love it. Sounds much better than the RE20. I've used Neumanns before and they are great, but I would not pay $3200 for one. The Neuman in your demo definitely beats the SMB7.
crazy i preferred the sounds of the Neumann for the first two but the Sm7b on the last one. close for sure.
My ear perked up for the guitar a little more on neumann but those vocals were damn close. Not to mention i was just comparing on my phone not monitors or headset. I'll have to recheck but it's unbelievable
what people dont understsand is that the sm7b is actually a high end mic for dynamic microphones and of coarse if your looking for the smaller nuances then you'll choose a condensoer, if you are looking to capture vocals your not wrong with the sm7b also its not what makes the 87 special if your doing cardiod then it can be competed against with even something half the price because its multipattern that's what your buying for 3600 not just for a cardiod pattern hopefully no-one got confused
Question for achieving low/mid forward rap vocals would it be better to go for sm7b and utilize proximity affect and boost the highs for clarity or go for a condenser like the u87 or what I use and recommend (AKG C414xlii) and try to boost the low mids and tame the high frequencies given proper room acoustics. Im thinking more traditional rap, not the modernized pop sound
I would go for a Sony c800g clone for traditional OR modern rap vocals. It’s even Dr. Dre’s favorite mic to use with artists
@@jimiboi87 any clones you recommend since that comment I had picked up a u67 clone (warm audio) has this sweet sound like your voice is right there in the room type presence but does lack in the lows you think a Sony clone would be any different? May need to get good with the EQ to make up for that (my voice is nowhere as deep as Dr Dre)
@@WestCoast4L1f3 Well I'm saying Dre doesn't just prefer it for himself, but with other artists he works with, with all different types of voices. Honestly I was checking out the new warm audio sony clone but it seemed to lack low end so I probably wouldn't go with that based off what you're saying. I personally have the slate ml-1 and it has two c800g models, one has a bit beefier of a low end than the other but they are both fire. Ever since I got that, I barely use any of my other mics anymore, including my sm7b and my akg414xlii, because I love how the slate sounds so much. Using it through a 1073 plugin and cl-1b plugin, it sounds silky smooth.
@@jimiboi87 interesting to hear I also hear that Golden Age and Advanced Audio make great clones, but the slate makes me curious, also personally might need to consider my chain more as I feel tho mics may differ sonically here and there thing can be shaped in post. I hear the cl1-1b is a great compressor do you stack stack it with any other compressors? I currently use waves rcomp and la-2a/1176 plugins
@@WestCoast4L1f3 I was considering adding the Advanced Audio one to my collection at some point myself, the cool thing about the slate is that you get all the other mic models too, so it's like a swiss army knife. I do like to use an 1176 with a fast attack and release to tame the transients before the signal hits the cl-1b, and sometimes I use an eq between the compressors. I like the results I get with this for hip hop and pop stuff. rvox and la-2a are dope too though for sure. :)
Dude how did you get the shure sounding that good? I get so much white noise and hiss after compression. I have a pre amp and I also have the uad software. Plz tell me ☹
I'm no expert btw but the white noise is probably because there isn't enough clean gain being given to the mic so you'll need to get something like a cloudlifter or dynamite so you can turn down the gain on your preamp to get a cleaner sound
Thanks buddy.
This is actually a bit insane to me...
For Rapping I liked Mic B far more altogether. For singing, the raw sounded better on Mic A, but in the mix B sounded a lot better to me as well. I'm a TLM-103 owner and was thinking of upgrading to the U-87s.. but might just get me the SM7B as an addition to the arsenal as even if my ears are completely wrong (listening in CZcams quality on my HS-50s) the $3000 difference in price really isn't worth it here.
Though I'm curious what the sound difference would be on an external pre like an Avalon 737, or the wicked built in pre-amp on the Audient ID interfaces where I find the Neumann's to truly shine
bro i thought the same exact thing. I loved Mic B for the rap vocals but loved A for the singing. The Neuman has that body though. I would love to hear someone with a lower register really bring it out
@@riggz1627 That's the thing with mics. As you get higher and higher in price range the differences become negligible, especially when you factor in cost. The sweet spot for me personally, is the 1,000-2,000 range. Once you're in that ball park, it takes quite a bit of coin the see any noticeable improvements above that, especially when all is said and done in terms of mixing.
Obviously there are great mics for less than a grand, my TLM 102 comes to mind, as well as my KEL-HM2D which is a small diaphragm condenser and only ran me 250 bucks when it released years ago, but is great on the occasional odd ball source. But in terms of home recording I think you can have acquire just about all you need for amazing results sub 2,000 that you would ever truly want. My current main mic for my personal recordings is a WA-8000. I have zero complaints with it. I run it into a BAE 1073MPF, into a WA2A. It's great for that modern vocal sound in rap/trap etc. If someone really wanted to cover all of their bases and be set for some time, a quality condenser and something like a SM7B etc should suit just about most of the needs you may encounter. Once you start talking about recording random people on the regular, that can change of course as some voices are finicky.
Wow, I chose the Shure sm7b hands down for that ast tune. Madness
SM7B in an untreated room would be better than the U87. I wouldn't even think about getting the U87 if my thing wasnt treated nice. There is definitely a difference though. The u87 has a really nice sheen on the high end that sounds nice on a mix. The SM7B has a more neutral sound but i like that, feel like it gives it more versatility (Workhorse). I Prefered the U87 on the guitar though.
Should of brought down the levels on both mic inputs a little bit for both vocal test as there was slight distortion. Other than that, I appreciate the video.
Were you using the cloud lifter with the Shure SB7B or without it?
Great video by the way
Think it was without... he said the gain was almost maxed out! Cloudlifter would’ve helped that big time.. also the sound would’ve been a little better....
I need that second song🙌🏽🙌🏽
that was such a good flow 🔥
you should have done this comparison using a CLOUD LIFTER on the SM7B smh
He's using the Pre-Amp on the Apollo Twin, the Cloudlifter has the most annoying hiss which is not noticeable in a mixed project. But it is there and it is really annoying. The Pre-Amp on the Apollo sort of reduces the hiss so its not as bad as the Cloudlifter.
@@matthewk.matthews1900 how do you think sm7b would be on the ART voice channel ? I have the ART
@@matthewk.matthews1900 I have the Cloudlifter Z and I have no such issue. So.. i'd say you have an issue yourself. I don't think it's a Cloudlifter problem. Mine is the CL-Z.. maybe that's the diff? But, yeah. My noise floor is incredible. My interface is an Apogee Element24.
@@kerose You have acoustic treatment?
@@reezyisback The Shure SM7B is incredible for Voice Overs, It's one of the most amazing voiceover/podcast/singing microphone.
singing part was saved by the mixing lmao
What song is the rapping part please respond
Excellent and Thanks
Mic a or mic b is neumann? Which is neumann
Hey! Kelli What's your computer configuration
Do you need a wind screen for the shure????
thats it..m getting sm7b now
What is the microphone a and what is the B?
Awesome video Bro! DO you happen to have the uncompressed dry wav files?
complete opposite of what i thought. 👀 B sounded darker to me, so I thought it was the SM7B. Both sound great, especially after the mix.
Awesome
what was the settings on the smb7? on the actual microphone it has switches on the back
Use flat you can achieve both of the settings with an eq
The u87 was more full and had a more smooth top end and I can hear that through Apple headphones 😂
of course. It's cost 3,600$
I’ve recorded on the WA87 a U87 alternative and it’s great and around the same price as the shure. You should check it out!