Full Circle - My Love Affair With the Shure SM7B (and the SP VTB-1!)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bigsnake00
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...I think the key here, when listening to recorded files of the SM7/VTB-1 combo on vocals lies in the consistant value of the SM7, more than the VTB-1...

...I have used the SM7 with a broad range of mic pres, and as long as the preamp has the "juice" (65dB +) to drive the SM7, there is a consistant quality of performance, mostly due to the design of this dynamic mic...

...on the other hand, condenser mics (IMHO) tend to respond with much more variation to different preamps, and tend to reveal more about the characteristics of each individual mic/preamp combo...the "tube" drive in the VTB-1 is much more critical when drivng a condenser than a high quality dynamic like the SM7...you will hear the "wooliness" much more quickly when dialing in more tube gain...

...the SM7's consistant performance/reliability is the gem in this combo...the VTB-1 simply offers up more than ample gain to let the SM7 deliver the goods...of course, that's just my take on the combination...;)
 
kidvybes said:
...I think the key here, when listening to recorded files of the SM7/VTB-1 combo on vocals lies in the consistant value of the SM7, more than the VTB-1...

...I have used the SM7 with a broad range of mic pres, and as long as the preamp has the "juice" (65dB +) to drive the SM7, there is a consistant quality of performance, mostly due to the design of this dynamic mic...

...on the other hand, condenser mics (IMHO) tend to respond with much more variation to different preamps, and tend to reveal more about the characteristics of each individual mic/preamp combo...the "tube" drive in the VTB-1 is much more critical when drivng a condenser than a high quality dynamic like the SM7...you will hear the "wooliness" much more quickly when dialing in more tube gain...

...the SM7's consistant performance/reliability is the gem in this combo...the VTB-1 simply offers up more than ample gain to let the SM7 deliver the goods...of course, that's just my take on the combination...;)
Click to expand...

This thread is probably a good response to the question I see a lot posted on gear forums: "what should I get first, a better mic or a better preamp?" or "Which is more important, the mic or preamp". In this example, at least, a good vocal mic sounds real good through a $100 preamp, not because the pre is adding something special, but mainly because it's providing sufficient gain to amplify the mic. So, if someone is just starting out and they can't afford to buy both a good mic AND a good pre, they should probably start with the good mic and any decent low end pre. I was advised something similar by a guy with over 20 years studio experience. I'm more than happy with the Kel HM2D through the $150 Rane ms1b, but I was not so happy with lesser mics. Just my $.02
 
jaz49 said:
This thread is probably a good response to the question I see a lot posted on gear forums: "what should I get first, a better mic or a better preamp?" or "Which is more important, the mic or preamp". In this example, at least, a good vocal mic sounds real good through a $100 preamp, not because the pre is adding something special, but mainly because it's providing sufficient gain to amplify the mic. So, if someone is just starting out and they can't afford to buy both a good mic AND a good pre, they should probably start with the good mic and any decent low end pre. I was advised something similar by a guy with over 20 years studio experience. I'm more than happy with the Kel HM2D through the $150 Rane ms1b, but I was not so happy with lesser mics. Just my $.02
Click to expand...

...that's why I have been recommending the following vocal chain (for some time now) as the best "bang-for-the-buck" setup for serious vocal tracking:

SM7B > RANE MS1-B > FMR RNC > YOUR DAW
 
kidvybes said:
...I think the key here, when listening to recorded files of the SM7/VTB-1 combo on vocals lies in the consistant value of the SM7, more than the VTB-1...

...I have used the SM7 with a broad range of mic pres, and as long as the preamp has the "juice" (65dB +) to drive the SM7, there is a consistant quality of performance, mostly due to the design of this dynamic mic...

...on the other hand, condenser mics (IMHO) tend to respond with much more variation to different preamps, and tend to reveal more about the characteristics of each individual mic/preamp combo...the "tube" drive in the VTB-1 is much more critical when drivng a condenser than a high quality dynamic like the SM7...you will hear the "wooliness" much more quickly when dialing in more tube gain...

...the SM7's consistant performance/reliability is the gem in this combo...the VTB-1 simply offers up more than ample gain to let the SM7 deliver the goods...of course, that's just my take on the combination...;)
Click to expand...

I agree with this theory. I guess one of the main points of this thread was that for the sake of the SM7, I actually got better performance out of a $139 preamp over a $800 "high end one". This result might have been totally different with a high end condenser mic, and in all honesty probably would be. As you stated, you just need something to drive the SM7, so at a lower level the UA 710 might be a better preamp.

As my collection slowly begins to grow, I plan on owning high end mics and preamps, but now know that I will always have this "go to" combination in the SM7b and the VTB-1, and would highly recommend it to anyone who 1) is on some what of a budget (this was still about a $500 package when said and done and 2) finds them self in a position where a dynamic mic just makes sense - small room, high noise.
 
Absolutely nothing wrong with the VTB-1 SM7B combo, imo. I, too, would suggest backing off on the tube blend (I almost never dial any in), but that mic and pre work just fine together. The insert point (for your favorite compressor) and variable input impedance offer some additional versatility. I have a couple of the Rane MS-1B as well, and they're nice clean pres, but I probably use the VTB-1 more than the Rane with the SM7B.
 
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