Advice for using my Shure SM7b...

[WhiteStrat]

You can allways go to youtube and watch the videos...and there is a visual difference between the two mics...the 441 is narrower...you will see that Elton John was using the MD421...Stevie Nicks used both mics...but you wont see her with the 421 near as much...the other members of Fleetwood mac used the 421 extensively including Bob Welch....cept Lindsey...he used a Beyer M69
Elton using the 421
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxeBccvWDRQ

Heres Stevie using the 441
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OZ9F3NTvzY&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVR-kaeEW2Y&feature=related

 

[darrin_h2000]

Why....dont you like good music?

 

[pohaku]

I'm sure that Elton and Stevie have used all kinds of mics. There was a point, however, when the 441 was identified quite strongly with Stevie though. Elton less so, although he apparently used it frequently live at one point. Zappa was another frequent user of the 441 at one time. It shows up frequently in his videos as well.

I have a couple MD541s (the all black touring version of the 441) as well as 421s and 431s. Personally, I'd prefer the 551 (441) or the 431 for vocals, but that's just me. Now if only Sennheiser would come up with better clips for the 441 and the 421.

Of course you really need the duck suit to make it sound right

 

[darrin_h2000]

Now if only Sennheiser would come up with better clips for the 441 and the 421.

Yeah...I think that is how they get you...the clips are cheap and dont support the weight of the mics as good as they should....I have made a shockmout adapter for my MD421 that works well in its place.

 

[soundchaser59]

Should I sell it and get a better suited mic in the same price range? If so what mic would that be for the vocals I described?

My devious voice says, "Yeah, sell it, quick, that's right...... I'll help you.... let me do the dirty work for you....I'll buy it from you, and I'll take care of it.....worry free for you....yeah.... that's it!"


My honest voice says, "Do yourself a favor and NEVER let go of your SM7b. Find a better vocal preamp that works with the mic, dont start second guessing mic choices based on the budget preamp you happen to have handy."

I promise that someday you WILL regret selling the SM7 if you let go of it......

I bought a Soundcraft Compact 4 on a whim, and it has performed extremely well for home basement recording. It has at least 50db gain, and I only have to crank the gain trim up about half way or 2/3rds to get a strong and clean signal from the SM7. I can crank it up full gain and not notice any hiss. I got mine new for $99 bucks, but they dont make them any more. And what I play back sounds indistinguishable from what goes in.

Just dont buy anything that uses a starved plate tube. If you cant afford a full voltage mic pre, then solid state is a much better bet for getting a clean mic signal.

 

[soundchaser59]

Should I sell it and get a better suited mic in the same price range?

Now........ how much do you want for that pesky SM7?

 

[Big Kenny]

I was just thinking the same thing, lol

 

[darrin_h2000]

My devious voice says, "Yeah, sell it, My honest voice says, "Do yourself a favor and NEVER let go of your SM7b. .

Yeah...the SM7 is a keeper...you will get good results with it...all you really need is more clean gain...but if you wanted to sell it...its pretty easy to get your investment back

 

[lttoler]

This may seem stupid, but would using a clean solid state bass amp head not work for more clean gain???

 

[darrin_h2000]

Not really.

 

[lttoler]

What would make it different?