Shure SM7 or Beyer M500?

[nuemes]

Shure SM7 or Beyer M500 (the older one)?

The main purpose of the mic will be to record live male pop/rock vocals while trying to keep as much band music out of the mic as possible (drums are in the next room with a nearly open doorway between them). I consistenly hear good things about the SM7 and have also heard good things about the hyper-cardioid M500 which makes me think it would be good for this purpose.

I've been using a SM58 & Audix OM-5 in the past for live vocal recording and am looking for a better sounding mic. Please advise only if you've had experience with one of - or idealy both of - these mics.

Thank you!

 

[Werewolf10]

well I have a SM7b and it's THE go to vocal mic for me.. I got it for the same reason, to keep surrounding noise out of the vocal take. I can't sing with headphones so the only way I can sing is monitor through the speakers.

This mic is not short on character at all, it has a "pre-mixed" quality to it, you will either love it or hate it. I am very sibilant and very plosive, and this is much better for that.. I have heard negative comments from people who don't have a good pre amp.. It needs alot of gain, and seems to only favor good pre's, considering the feedback I have gotten from other people. I was very surprised to find that this is the mic that is used for soooo many famous singers---pearl jam / chevelle / the mars volta / ben folds / System of a Down / metallica / and many many more..

I have even had success recording acoustic guitar with this,, many people will call me crazy, but it takes alot of the annoying "cheap" high freq. out of the guitar, mellows it out a little.

You lose a little bit of the "air" that you find in condensors, but I often find that the same "air" you're hearing also amounts to "harsh" high end and simbilance..

sorry but I don't have any experience with the beyer mic... thats just my 2 cents.. I will post sound clips if you like??? but im not sure how much good it would do, considering I don't have Beyer around to compare it too.

the only thing I can say for sure is,, ITS LIGHTYEARS BEYOND AN SM58

 

[bigtoe]

i think the sm7 is the way to go.

the 500 is a weird mic...especially for a ribbon. it's got a fairly major peak in the mids that doesn't work for everything...i sold mine as when it worked it sounded great but i 'just wasn't using it as much as i paid for it' type of thing.


pax
Mike

 

[pohaku]

I have both. For live pop/rock vocals I would probably select the SM7 if I didn't have the chance to try them out and compare them first. Although the M500 is a wonderful mic on the right voice, I think the SM7 has broader applicability to different voices and instruments, and lends itself better to a rock type vocal. It will definitely be an improvement over your current mics. If you want an M500, try one and get it later. I'd get the SM7 first. They will both require a preamp with some gain, so that is not a determinative factor.

 

[nuemes]

It's pretty clear from your responses that the SM7 is the most appropriate choice between the two. I moved forward with buying one yesterday. $300+tax at GC (yechtt)!

Thanks for your responses!