Best Budget Audio Interfaces for SM7B

  • Thread starter Thread starter wheelema
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wheelema

wheelema

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Recording Hacks tested a number of relatively inexpensive audio interfaces so as to recommend those that worked well with the Shure SM7B (a notoriously demanding dynamic microphone) and those that did not. The link to the article appears below but in summary-
Best Budget Audio Interfaces for SM7B | recording hacks
 
Umm the Apogee One is VERY, VERY god with that mic. Im confused why integration with a mic anyway? kinda weird if you ask me. Alot of those interfaces that are a "No" are very good indeed. Whats more important and what you need to add in this equation is what is your Pre Amp? I mean it is a SM7B ..so what pre amp do you have?
 
I'd assume it's a "not enough gain" thing with most of those preamps... just guessing.
 
Armistice said:
I'd assume it's a "not enough gain" thing with most of those preamps... just guessing.
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True those interfaces posted by the OP I mean wouldnt rely on a high Output gain so using a Pre Amp is a must really.
 
I'm surprised the Mackie is a no without add-on. The Mackie is an incredible interface!!
 
Note the caveat by the author-

I think the most unexpected part of this test was just how similar most all these interfaces sounded. There may have been one or two that sonically stood out, but all the rest were fairly indistinguishable. My decision pretty much came down to noise and price. All that being said, the M-Audio Fast Track C400 stood out the most for me. If you are in the market for a small audio interface and a microphone, I strongly suggest you give the M-Audio C400 and Shure SM7B a try.

Caution!

Readers, please be aware that this evaluation is not intended as a comprehensive review of any of the participating audio interfaces. I suspect all of these units perform admirably for common home recording tasks. Our results are specific to the Shure SM7B, a famously low-gain dynamic microphone, and a quiet source (a speaking voice).
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I suppose I never really use mine for quiet speech....Fair point.
 
There are lot better choice if this is for voice over. I say you do your own shootout wheelma might find his review to be a little "shakey" at best.
 
jaynm26 said:
There are lot better choice if this is for voice over. I say you do your own shootout wheelma might find his review to be a little "shakey" at best.
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Oh Heavens. Tuck Mr. Happy away, I'm not looking for a pissing contest. This thread was simply to draw attention to the results of a shootout by a respected industry source.

I use my SM7B with a Sound Devices USBPre 2 for voiceover, which... at $425 per channel... better blow all of the interfaces tested out of the water. But I'm painfully aware that it's a matter of degree... are the pres in the USBPre 2 REALLY $700 better sounding then the M-Audio C400? Hell if I know. As you may know Behringer bought Midas and is now using the Midas preamps in their new X32 digital mixers. Midas preamps are freaking awesome, clearly better IMO then Mackie ONYX preamps. But you know what? I'm listening through MY EARS and at my age my ears kind of suck. YMMV.

Actually when it comes to analog evaluations YM will ALWAYS V.

:guitar::listeningmusic:
 
wheelema said:
Midas preamps are freaking awesome, clearly better IMO then Mackie ONYX preamps. But you know what? I'm listening through MY EARS and at my age my ears kind of suck. YMMV.

Actually when it comes to analog evaluations YM will ALWAYS V.

:guitar::listeningmusic:
Click to expand...

On an interface going for $150, is there an option with better pres than the ONYX??
 
If your problem is the low gain of the sm7, simply budget an extra $100-150
and get a Cloudlifter or Fethead. They are 'boosters' that run on phantom power
and give an extra 25db of gain. It is a common solution for low-gain dynamic
and ribbon mics.
 
Quick rule of thumb for a $100 product is that the components should cost about $20 or so.
Remember they have to make packaging, screenprint the box, advertising, taxes, etc., etc.

Sure if you know how to design a circuit and solder up a pcb there's nothing stopping you from making the same.

Like everything else, most people would skip the 2 or 3 days required to just buy the darn thing and be over it.
 
Why not just buy a used M-Audio DMP3 and use it with whatever audio interface you want?
 
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