Shure SM7 vs. Sennheiser MD421 for Vocals??

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1ManGarageBand

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Hi--

I've been reading a lot about the SM7 for vocals. I've got an MD421 large diaphram dynamic that I've never tried on vox. Is the SM7 significantly better than the MD421 for vocals?

Thanks!

--David
 
pohaku said:
Yes. Not even close.
Click to expand...

Spot on!

What he said...... :cool:

The first mic I ever bought two of was the C414. That was 15 years ago.

The SM7 is the first mic since then that I have again been tempted to get a second one. I love it.
 
Hmm...

Well they're both classic large diaphram dynamics.
IMHO it's the 'ol "it depends" answer.

On my voice for example, the MD421 sounds better compared with the SM7, until you
EQ it. Then it's too close to call. (same goes for SM57 vs. SM7 BTW!)

One nice thing about the 421 is it doesn't need as much gain, and it's less fussy as to which mic pre you use.

The MD421 does particularly well with strong rock and blues voices-it's more agressively voiced than a SM7 set to "flat".

Chris
 
Yeah, I think the not even close remark is way overdone . . . I owned the SM7, MD421, and the Beyer M88. Any of them can do the job of the other. My preference is for the M88, which is warmer than the MD421 and hotter than the SM7. Plus it makes an excellent stage vocal mic.
 
mshilarious said:
Yeah, I think the not even close remark is way overdone . . . I owned the SM7, MD421, and the Beyer M88. Any of them can do the job of the other. My preference is for the M88, which is warmer than the MD421 and hotter than the SM7. Plus it makes an excellent stage vocal mic.
Click to expand...

I find the 88 a little dark, but I still use it on stuff I want that way......
 
I've just never really met a Sennheiser that I liked all that much. But the 421 is probably the best Sennheiser of the few that I've ever used......
 
BTW the Beyer M69 sounds very similar to the M88 (less low end emphasis), and costs less.
Both are also first rate.

Chris
 
The SM7 is hands down gonna be better on the vocals...especially with a good mic pre
 
stupidfatnugly said:
how would you compare the EV RE20 to the SM7?
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SM7 is more presence and drive...the RE20 has more body. I prefer the SM7 for just about everything.

I also think it's the clear winner on vocals over an MD421.

Frank
 
I like my SM7 but find it to be overrated on the internet. It does a job and does it well on some voices but is not the end all dynamic vocal mic. I most times prefer a sennheiser md441 for my voice. Depends on the song though. Never used a 421 so I can't comment there.
 
I couldn't do without both the MD421 and the RE-20. They get a lot of use in my studio.
 
I dig both. You will never, ever, ever find the end/be all of mics, especially if you're recording a lot of different projects. For what it's worth, I love the 421 on some of my regular gutteral death metal singers. I love the SM7 on a lot of em too. Heck, a 57 or 58 will also work. Start collecting, one thing you can't have too many of is microphones. And the solid choices (421, 441, RE-20, SM7) have pretty good resale value if you choose to sell.

I can't stand the hype around the SM7. It's mostly the placebo effect, people pimp it because it's a safe bet. Is it a good bet? Sure is! Is it the right one? Depends on the source :). If everyone in this industry/community were blind, things would be much different.
 
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