How To Make A Shure SM57 Sound Like A Shure SM7B

[@phtius]

Love the 'make A equivalent to B' series! Especially, since it allows to bring in the ballpark of MKH 416 so many other quality mics, as you've already brought to everyone's attention in some previous videos. Kudos!

[@TheRecordist]

Hey thanks so much! Cheers!

[@ScottGrammer]

The predecessor to the SM7 was the SM5. Take the foam off an SM5 and guess what you find inside? The guts of an SM57.

[@TheRecordist]

Hmm. I didn’t know that. I knew the SM7 used a variation of the SM57 cartridge (Unidyne III) but I didn’t know about the SM5. Thanks for letting me know!

[@pacovillalta4910]

It does get close. Thanks again for all your work and entertainment!

[@TheRecordist]

Sure does! And thanks for watching!

[@rkc-rob]

Here is a simple way to make a SM57 sound very much like a SM7B. Use the EQ settings below and get a Shure A81WS windscreen. You may recognize it as the windscreen used on the dual SM57s during outdoor presidential addresses. It is really designed for their SDC mics but will fit an SM57 with a little careful persuasion. The windscreen has a similar density to the foam on the SM7B and, just as important, forces the user to keep their mouth a similar distance from the capsule. As a bonus, it is also absolutely plosive proof! 100Hz +2dB Q=1.5 4.2kHz -3dB Q=1 6.4kHz -5dB Q=5 10.5kHz -4dB Q=5

[@TheRecordist]

Yes. That does help a great deal. Thanks for this! When I made my EQ presets for the 57 to sound like a 7B, I removed the pop screen and measured the precise distance to each cartridge-not the grilles. Anyway, this is great info. Cheers!

[@criticalwood1273]

@rkc-rob do you still have the link of this test ? I would be intresting to watch it please

[@ivomartijn7400]

Credit where credit is due. The EQ settings are from Julian Krause: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWSaY6ScichmY6ssi=O8Tn1m8Dzg0vUl53

[@ryanmaurer2630]

@@ivomartijn7400 Julian uses the smaller A2WS windscreen. Do you get similar results with the A81WS?

[@Danny-Lightning-CSR]

On my cheap Sony Bluetooth headphones they sound identical lol.

[@TheRecordist]

Before or after? Hahaha

[@goaway2174]

"Patrick Bateman"? I thought you were Canadian. Another difference: The SM57 also has a transformer while the SM7B does not. Then there are those damned switches too. Sure they still sound different but I think you got it close enough for government work! Good Job!

[@TheRecordist]

Hahaha. Thanks! But it really was the Pro-Q 3. I just let it do it’s thing. I appreciate the comment! Cheers!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Patrick, how hip to be square of you. Love the font on your new business card. Is that Silian Rail?

[@TheRecordist]

Woo hoo! You know it! Haha

[@ScottAsher-il7kf]

Hello. In the video you mention that if you don't have pro-q 3 eq plugin that you had another file that shows eq settings that can be used in any eq plugin to turn SM58 into SM7B. Can you point me to that? I didn't see the link for that addtional file. Iooked on your website and didn't see it there either. Thanks!

[@TheRecordist]

Hey. Do you mean SM57? I never made one for the SM58. If you mean SM57, then this is the link to the download. The same parameters can be entered into almost any parametric EQ: payhip.com/b/e35Ms

[@Izaachou]

Hello I'm taking a chance at asking... I just bought an EVO audio interface to plug my shure SM57 into, but the sound is extremely low even at max gain and max volume. Would you be able to tell me if that's normal? :( I was under the impression the EVO has a pre-amp integrate that was sufficient...

[@TheRecordist]

Hi there. I think the EVO has about 58dB of gain, so it should push a 57 (which in theory requires 56dB of gain). Have you swapped cables to check if the cable is the problem? Also, the SM57 is a dynamic mic so you should NOT have phantom power turned on. Other than that, it seems like there’s an issue that’s not normal. Is this for spoken word?

[@Izaachou]

@@TheRecordist Okay thanks, it's a brand new cable though... and nope for singing !

[@TheRecordist]

@@Izaachou for singing? Then yes, that should work. New cable? It’s not likely that the cable is faulty. Is it low when recorded and played back or live while singing?

[@Izaachou]

@@TheRecordist thank you for taking the time 💜 when playing back but even while recording I can see the volume is nowhere close to clipping, it barely shows 2 nudges if that makes sense. I'm a complete newbie maybe there's something in the settings.

[@TheRecordist]

@@Izaachou give me an email [e-mail] and I’ll do what I can!

[@bassheartstrings]

Just saw your video about the Apollo twin X, you’re so much more charismatic than a lot of creators in the audio space, not to mention getting right to the point and going over info we really care about. Glad to be an early subscriber ;D

[@TheRecordist]

Hey thanks so much! I’m not sure I always go right to the point. Sometimes I think I blab too much! Haha. Anyway, thanks again for the sub! Cheers!

[@HarmonicaTool]

Hmm, the Julian Krause attempt made them both seem more similar than this, but all that is only important, if we all agreed the SM7b was the one that sounds better. Now, I am not convinced of that. Maybe it has to do with me not being an English native listener and maybe the more high and clear sound of the SM57 make it easier for me to listen to English spoken word in a relaxed manner. So far no wish to buy a SM7b or to imitate one. Still, thank you for the effort to produce and for giving us the opportunity to listen to the comparison.

[@daniel635biturbo]

I'm not saying you should, but you could... Show the text of which mic we are listening to, on their respective side of the screen. With similar names for a noob this was slightly confusing at times. I however, endured this hardship, and came out strong enough to complain in a foreign language. 😇

[@TheRecordist]

Haha. Noted! However, on the left side of the screen I often put other information, so I needed to keep that separate. I’ll see what I can do in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@RadioKrishnaSverige]

Mayapur? You're a vaishnava?

[@TheRecordist]

I am not. Sorry. What makes you ask? ☺️

[@RadioKrishnaSverige]

@@TheRecordist Ah, you mentioned you were in Mayapur, which is filled with vaishnavas. :)

[@paultaylor2968]

Lyle from psionic is so right. Brilliant. Love your personality. Content and quality wow

[@TheRecordist]

Hey thanks so much! That was very nice of you to comment! Cheers, Paul!

[@jakobhuetter]

How do you get so little noise with the Shure SM57?

[@TheRecordist]

It’s the preamps. I used a Sound Devices MixPre 3 II for this video I think. Dynamic mics aren’t noisy on their own, but they do require a lot more gain than a condenser. So if your preamp isn’t the quietest, when you push it, you’ll begin to hear some noise. Hope that helps!

[@peshrawable]

The thing i like about your video is you know exactly what do you talk about🎉

[@TheRecordist]

Why thank you very much, Peshraw! I appreciate it!

[@rounderone8437]

Finally! A video of yours where I don't have to buy anything! Because I already have an SM57, ha, ha! And I don't want an SM7B because EVERYONE has one and I don't follow the crowd and besides, I'm a condenser mic kind of guy. But, oh, boy, I fear your next video because I normally have to buy everything you review. Have mercy.

[@TheRecordist]

Hahaha. You don’t follow anyone’s rules-not even your own. I’m happy you can finally do something without buying something! Once every epoch, the stars and planets align! But don’t rejoice just yet… the pressure to spend lurks in the shadows, drawing ever closer to your unguarded self. Hahahahahah I have one or two in the pipeline that are underwhelming, so have no fear! Cheers, buddy!

[@rounderone8437]

@@TheRecordist So true, so true! I fear more purchases in the future! And it's mostly your fault! I am frightened and chilled at the thought. I believe that the audio disease (G.A.S.) is transmissible through the internet.

[@TheRecordist]

@@rounderone8437 no no. You’re right. It’s TOTALLY transmissible over the internet. But don’t you see? It is my sinister plan to spread GAS to the four winds. So in every wind, comes with it my GAS. Breathe it in, Rounder. Breathe it in…

[@pacovillalta4910]

@@TheRecordist 😂😂😂🙅‍♂😂😂😂

[@Izaachou]

would this work with pro q 1?

[@TheRecordist]

Hmm. That’s a great question. I’m not sure. If this is Isabella, I’ve sent you a jpg of my settings.

[@Izaachou]

@@TheRecordistthanks yes that would be me!

[@dannyshearman7068]

After a few videos I gotta sub, the khalima ceremony got me! Thought that was real first video.

[@TheRecordist]

Hahahaha. Oh yes! My measuring tape tall tales! Welcome! Hahaha

[@dannyshearman7068]

@TheRecordist I like your presentation and humor. Glad I found this channel! Hope to have my own podcast soon.

[@TheRecordist]

@@dannyshearman7068 oh thank you! And getting a podcast together is a lot of fun. Just be sure to realize when the gear-collecting phase is over and when the time to actually make the podcast comes. Haha. It’s so easy to get caught in the never ending loop of GAS gear collection. Cheers!

[@Tewahedo]

Thanks, great content as always!

[@TheRecordist]

Thanks so much!

[@hdihiiehei]

❤❤❤

[@TheRecordist]

Cheers! ❤️❤️❤️

[@patrick5301]

Why is the raw sm7b sound desirable anyways?

[@TheRecordist]

It’s very popular. It’s a familiar sound to many all over the world, I think.

[@patrick5301]

@@TheRecordist I've always seen this mic as a piece of kit that needs a high shelf applied in post. I also don't think to have seen it be used without processing that often. In my opinion, the sm57 raw is closer to the desirable sound

[@skakdosmer]

I hate the SM7B, and I like the SM57. So maybe the better question is: Can you make the SM7B sound like the SM57. Or rather: Why would you? There's not much point in buying the SM7B if you want it to sound like the 57 - you'd be better off buying the 57.

[@TheRecordist]

Oh yes. The SM7B is a love or hate it thing. I really like the sound. But I also really like the sound of the EV RE20. In this video, I also liked the SM57 better. It was way more articulate.

[@skakdosmer]

@@TheRecordist I like the EV RE20 too - except the price! By the way, I've just ordered the NT1 5th generation. I always thought the 4th gen sounded dull, and the NT1A has character but some flaws as well. The NT1 5th gen has the character without the flaws.

[@TheRecordist]

@@skakdosmer I have yet to test out the new NT1. I hear good things. I’ll try to reach Røde again. Thanks!