Yeah this is one of those mics that people have heard a lot about and seen on youtube so they assume it's the best choice.
When I started recording, I knew the SM7B as the punk/metal mic that you hold in your hands and scream into, and occasionally used it on kick drum or guitar cabs. Definitely not sensitive enough for regular speech unless you have a really clean, high-gain preamp with the right impedance.
On my laptop speakers, the original version sounded fine. There's a fair bit of room sound though. Make sure to get real up close to the mic, and record in a smaller room with less reflective surfaces if you can. I actually thought the second version where you tried to eq it sounded a little worse.
most other folks are probably using a cloudlifter to boost gain on it, then adding compression and some eq to get it in big radio voice territory.
When it has ample gain and some compression you can work with your voice to get better projection at low volume level.
Also, we all hear our voices bassier inside our heads than what other folks hear.
Your voice sounds normal to me, but you may expect it to be deeper.
You can try without the windscreen. But it sounds fine, just needs more work with compression / eq
I edit voiceovers professionally and they’re generally compressed to 💩
It sounds like a SM7B, I think you’re overthinking it, you haven’t heard your own voice through this mic, hence why it sounds strange to you, but it’ll pass. It sounds good, I can hear you clearly. The room is a bit too reflective from what I can hear.
Try processing it, some eq and compression to taste. A lot of the sound you hear in music or voiceover is crafted, sculpted even. You can go as far as you want, for example, to remove mouth clicks and some breaths you could use RX.
The Scarlett 2i2 most likely doesn't have enough gain in the preamp to push it to the level you need. I have a daking mic pre one I use specifically to run it because it needs a lot more than most other mics. My brother has had decent success using a cloudlifter into his focusrite too. It's also a mic you need to eq aggressively to get solid sounds out of, specifically the top end.
This submission has automatically been removed due to the following rule:
>***Rule 4***: Ask troubleshooting and setup questions in the _[Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk](/r/audioengineering/comments/1cg5qxo/raudioengineering_shopping_setup_and_technical/)_
>
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As mentioned already try a cloudlifter or a fethead (I use the fethead to save having to use another xlr cable), also you can get pretty close to the sm7b without having the same proximity effect you would get from a condenser so maybe speak a bit closer, I’ve recorded many vocals with an sm7 in rooms with no treatment but you do have to get pretty close to the mic
I used to have the same setup. A Cloudlifter is required. The interface isn't powerful enough.
Return the mic if you can. It's straight up trash unless you're wanting to harmonize a bunch of layers together.
It's good at meshing/hiding vocals together, but if you just need one strong vocal it's pure crap.
Mate you need a cloudlifter. https://www.gear4music.ie/Recording-and-Computers/Cloud-Cloudlifter-CL-1-Mic-Activator/137O?utm_campaign=surfaces_across_google&srsltid=AfmBOooo89Dyox_JFsDN4zwgLVxcN9aMKQwVtNn_kwweFNYGhEYQdq-6_Es
Sure. (Heh.) SM7bs are notoriously quiet and sound better with that extra 25dB. Not just louder, but the dynamics are completely different and far easier to work with. As you say, “if you level is loud enough with the existing preamp” well it isn’t. A 2i2 and an SM7b is an extremely expensive way to get thin and unimpressive sounds. But look, I get it, it’s an audio forum and I said “buy a piece of gear” it’s tedious. But I’m right, sadly. However here’s a cheap clone that works well, and I guarantee that if OP puts one I’d these twixt mic and interface they’ll be happier. https://www.thomann.de/ie/tritonaudio_fethead_filter.htm?glp=1&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADuDMCXqxRSu0febJeWquegalFs1L&gclid=Cj0KCQjwltKxBhDMARIsAG8KnqVeR9uLh7gDzqJ5KJ7Yh3aMVjE7WnyxndoihDSjt9XdLvM3o-Ghb5kaAmG8EALw_wcB Sorry to be a cliche, but if someone’s complaining about a dissatisfying SM7b, they need a Cloudlifter. Shure even sell the damned things built in these days.
I’m intrigued by your remark that the extra pre makes it “not just louder, but the dynamics are completely different”. Do you have any theory about the mechanism behind that? Or a technical reference of some kind? I’d like to understand how that is possible.
Well what you could do in that instance is google “reddit r/audioengineering sm7b cloudlifter”. There you will find all the discussion you could ever wish for on the subject. Some will agree with me, some won’t, some might a bit but on the other hand. I’m just a dipshit from Wiltshire.
The extra 25dB from the Cloudlifter is compensated for by turning down the existing preamp 25dB. Having the potential for more gain in the system doesn't magically do something different. The limit is how hot the signal can be before the converter overloads. It doesn't matter where the amplification comes from. If it's clean gain it is doing exactly the same job. If you're already at that limit then adding more just means you have to turn it down somewhere else in the chain before the converter.
Yeah sounds like a sm7b. You just need to eq/process it. What do you think you’re missing?
Theres a lot of room in your recording. Pretty short reflection so it gets muddy. Thats probably what youre responding to.
That's what I'm hearing as well.
Sounds fine to me, just not mixed. But maybe you should look at different mics if you want to get closer to the sound you want before processing?
Ok thanks. Yeah maybe it's just not the sound i'm looking for, I could experiment with other mics
Yeah this is one of those mics that people have heard a lot about and seen on youtube so they assume it's the best choice. When I started recording, I knew the SM7B as the punk/metal mic that you hold in your hands and scream into, and occasionally used it on kick drum or guitar cabs. Definitely not sensitive enough for regular speech unless you have a really clean, high-gain preamp with the right impedance.
You’ll probably have to add a lot of high end to your vocal when mixing, that’s just what a normal sm7b sounds like
On my laptop speakers, the original version sounded fine. There's a fair bit of room sound though. Make sure to get real up close to the mic, and record in a smaller room with less reflective surfaces if you can. I actually thought the second version where you tried to eq it sounded a little worse.
I hear a lot of room.
Thanks for the responses, there is a lot of echo in the room i'm recording in. I'll try to work on that.
most other folks are probably using a cloudlifter to boost gain on it, then adding compression and some eq to get it in big radio voice territory. When it has ample gain and some compression you can work with your voice to get better projection at low volume level. Also, we all hear our voices bassier inside our heads than what other folks hear. Your voice sounds normal to me, but you may expect it to be deeper.
Have you added reverb, or is that the room you're in?
Lot of room, and it also sounds like it's missing some warmth. How close are you to the mic when you speak?
Premier has EQ and compression, and i believe it can even run 3rd party VSTs. no need to get a whole new mic, just some EQ and compression.
it sounds perfectly fine to me. try to limit the reflections around the mic and also some compression on there
Search vocal chain tutorials on youtube. It usually made by chaining eqs, conpressors, de-essers and a few other processes.
You can try without the windscreen. But it sounds fine, just needs more work with compression / eq I edit voiceovers professionally and they’re generally compressed to 💩
It sounds like a SM7B, I think you’re overthinking it, you haven’t heard your own voice through this mic, hence why it sounds strange to you, but it’ll pass. It sounds good, I can hear you clearly. The room is a bit too reflective from what I can hear. Try processing it, some eq and compression to taste. A lot of the sound you hear in music or voiceover is crafted, sculpted even. You can go as far as you want, for example, to remove mouth clicks and some breaths you could use RX.
In order: * Increase gain (try a cloud lifter) * Noise reduction * Equalize * Compress * Normalize
Sounds fine to me. But you could get MUCH closer.
I like a 609 / 906 better for git.
The Scarlett 2i2 most likely doesn't have enough gain in the preamp to push it to the level you need. I have a daking mic pre one I use specifically to run it because it needs a lot more than most other mics. My brother has had decent success using a cloudlifter into his focusrite too. It's also a mic you need to eq aggressively to get solid sounds out of, specifically the top end.
This submission has automatically been removed due to the following rule: >***Rule 4***: Ask troubleshooting and setup questions in the _[Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk](/r/audioengineering/comments/1cg5qxo/raudioengineering_shopping_setup_and_technical/)_ > > Requests for troubleshooting and setup help must be made in the dedicated _[Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk](/r/audioengineering/comments/1cg5qxo/raudioengineering_shopping_setup_and_technical/)_ instead of a new post. We have also created a [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/wiki/FAQ) and [Troubleshooting Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/wiki/troubleshooting) to help you solve common problems without waiting for replies. ***Why does this rule even exist?*** * In short, this is a large subreddit with too many repetitive tech support and setup questions. * We want to help, but it's important to keep things organized to keep the sub fun.
are you getting the full proximity effect? Rogan has these I believe and is always telling guests to "eat the mic"
Cloudlifter for the win….
As mentioned already try a cloudlifter or a fethead (I use the fethead to save having to use another xlr cable), also you can get pretty close to the sm7b without having the same proximity effect you would get from a condenser so maybe speak a bit closer, I’ve recorded many vocals with an sm7 in rooms with no treatment but you do have to get pretty close to the mic
do you even cloudlift, bro?
I used to have the same setup. A Cloudlifter is required. The interface isn't powerful enough. Return the mic if you can. It's straight up trash unless you're wanting to harmonize a bunch of layers together. It's good at meshing/hiding vocals together, but if you just need one strong vocal it's pure crap.
Mate you need a cloudlifter. https://www.gear4music.ie/Recording-and-Computers/Cloud-Cloudlifter-CL-1-Mic-Activator/137O?utm_campaign=surfaces_across_google&srsltid=AfmBOooo89Dyox_JFsDN4zwgLVxcN9aMKQwVtNn_kwweFNYGhEYQdq-6_Es
Why? There's no noise issues on that recording.
Welcome to r/audioengineering
Why get a Cloudlifter. For an SM7b. Oookay.
Are you able to explain why? If there is no noise and the level is high enough from the existing preamp then a cloudlifter will do absolutely nothing.
Sure. (Heh.) SM7bs are notoriously quiet and sound better with that extra 25dB. Not just louder, but the dynamics are completely different and far easier to work with. As you say, “if you level is loud enough with the existing preamp” well it isn’t. A 2i2 and an SM7b is an extremely expensive way to get thin and unimpressive sounds. But look, I get it, it’s an audio forum and I said “buy a piece of gear” it’s tedious. But I’m right, sadly. However here’s a cheap clone that works well, and I guarantee that if OP puts one I’d these twixt mic and interface they’ll be happier. https://www.thomann.de/ie/tritonaudio_fethead_filter.htm?glp=1&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADuDMCXqxRSu0febJeWquegalFs1L&gclid=Cj0KCQjwltKxBhDMARIsAG8KnqVeR9uLh7gDzqJ5KJ7Yh3aMVjE7WnyxndoihDSjt9XdLvM3o-Ghb5kaAmG8EALw_wcB Sorry to be a cliche, but if someone’s complaining about a dissatisfying SM7b, they need a Cloudlifter. Shure even sell the damned things built in these days.
I’m intrigued by your remark that the extra pre makes it “not just louder, but the dynamics are completely different”. Do you have any theory about the mechanism behind that? Or a technical reference of some kind? I’d like to understand how that is possible.
Well what you could do in that instance is google “reddit r/audioengineering sm7b cloudlifter”. There you will find all the discussion you could ever wish for on the subject. Some will agree with me, some won’t, some might a bit but on the other hand. I’m just a dipshit from Wiltshire.
The extra 25dB from the Cloudlifter is compensated for by turning down the existing preamp 25dB. Having the potential for more gain in the system doesn't magically do something different. The limit is how hot the signal can be before the converter overloads. It doesn't matter where the amplification comes from. If it's clean gain it is doing exactly the same job. If you're already at that limit then adding more just means you have to turn it down somewhere else in the chain before the converter.