Echo Audiofire 8 + Sm7b?

[jakeis]

Does this sounds like a good combo for best bang for your buck? I hear the sm7b needs a decent amount of gain to get good sound. Any opinions? suggestions? Im tryign to decide what to buy right now and its driving me crazy so any help would be appreaciated. thanks

 

[jakeis]

anyone have any input? im having the hardest time choosing the best sounding interface for around 500-600....i would get the duet if i had a mac...anything compare with the duet under 600 for pc?

 

[tabiggs]

I own an Echo AudioFire 8 but not an SM7B. I can tell you that I have been extremely pleased with this interface for the past 3 years. What I really like about it is that Echo has done a great job with the drivers and firmware. I've had it connected to 2 PC's one running XP and and another running Vista and recently bought an IMac. I updated the drivers and firmware was in business within a few minutes. The preamps very useable and converters are top notch. I'm told and have also read that Echo uses the same converter chip as the more expensive RME equip.

I have often wondered if the available gain on the Echo would be enough to drive the SM7B. It has 60db of gain and probably should. I've had the gain set fairly high on both my AT4040 and SM57 and didn't notice any additional noise. Maybe someone will jump in and let us both know.

 

[jakeis]

^^ yea exactly! i want to know if anyone have experience with the sm7b and echos audifire series for input on that gain issue....any input is greatly appreciated