Shure SM5b Review / Test (vs. SM7, SM7b, RE20) - The Original SM7b

[@KevinWilliams19723]

He'll be the first victim of covid sm5b.

[@seanwebb605]

He'll get it from a Yeti and it will make contact tracing really difficult.

[@ScottGrammer]

If he dies, I get his mic collection!

[@seanwebb605]

@@ScottGrammer Only if you promise to continue the reviews. Who gets the watches?

[@PizzaPowerXYZ]

@@ScottGrammer who said YOU get it! No fair

[@ScottGrammer]

@@PizzaPowerXYZ Cuz I called DIBS! :-) Seriously, I hope he, in the words of Spock, "lives long and prospers." He is one of my favorite KZbinrs.

[@brodiebrazil]

The BLIMP! Such a classic. First mic I used in radio and although that massive windscreen was gross from spit residue… thing sounded GREAT! fun fact I even spoke into the wrong side of it once for almost a minute. Quickly realized what the arrow on the bottom was for. 😂

[@taunbeddes7055]

I've done that. I do a radio show and had that happen more than once. All the mics had signs saying ”talk here.” when I did that I may as well have put a dunce cap on.

[@dantheman_youtube]

The background noise rejection is immense!

[@AldousTyler]

Hey man, I bought the SM7b based on what you said about it, and I don't regret it AT ALL. I've got it on an Audient EVO 4 with a FetHead in line, and my GODS it's amazing. Getting to hear what its older cousin sounded like today was a real treat.

[@deadrituals]

I love that you’re starting to do vintage / older mics!!

[@rickyneedham8286]

Lol'ing at the thought of the SM5B fitting in the tiniest box.

[@davidmarley8387]

That’s what she wanted

[@kennethbailey7105]

A true piece of history right here, ladies and gentlemen

[@SoundSpeeds]

You mean Bandrew, right?

[@kennethbailey7105]

@@SoundSpeeds I stand corrected, 2 pieces of history 😁

[@tombuck]

A small detail, but it’s pretty awesome that the pickup pattern info is printed directly on the mic. I also love how hilariously giant the mic is. Edit: I’ve been searching for Bob Barker’s Sony ECM51 mic, which would be an awesome OOP.

[@redcabinacoustic-official]

I have the Marantz version - SUPERSCOPE EC-12B - have you checked reverb?

[@alexe8375]

Always thought this was such a cool looking mic, with its huge blimp-like presence. Sounds fantastic as well Also, always love to bring up the SM5c when people say “no one ever uses dynamic mics on set for films, it just wouldn’t work!”

[@NathanOakley1980]

Sounds fantastic yes Looks like a big poo…. …..also yes 👍🏼

[@cjp1341]

bro it legit is a fucking pill

[@xandropontillas]

I love how it sounds.

[@fillertext7728]

Still sounds as good as ever though

[@AlbertMilliron]

I loved the Shure SM5B - most of my commercials were recorded with one… I recorded my last commercial in 1987

[@bryanc4491]

YES! Thank you so much for making this video! The SM5 is not known by many people, despite it being the SM7's larger predecessor. I own a SM5B myself despite previously using a SM7B. Fortunately my windscreens were replaced a few years back, so I just have to deal with several years of spit and not decades ;) I will say that my SM5B can pick up some weird electrical noise when nearby an electrical source such as a typical Incandescent light bulb. I'm almost certain it's because the SM5 does not have a faraday cage surrounding it like the SM7 does. My SM7B caught the exact same interference that my SM5B caught from a light I had on, but many magnitudes smaller. Also, yes the windscreens on your microphone are glued onto a shiny metal ring that you need to unscrew. The windscreens are actually perfectly fine without glue, since the rubber bands that are part of the internal shock mount hold the windscreens in place. Overall, a very unique microphone!

[@vitaminzeth3742]

I'm so happy that you are giving this mic a bunch of attention! Super happy and glad it will finally have good tests years later!

[@HungryForTastyFoodAndComicArt]

It works beautifully own your own voice so I'm thrilled that Bandrew is reviewing this Kaiju-mic.

[@phototristan]

This or the Blue Yetti? I can't decide.

[@travsmac]

Sounds like this mic is a real problem! If you need to someone to take it off your hands, shoot me an email… I’m not kidding. Anyway, this is one of your best reviews. The mic sounds awesome on your voice, the rarity of the mic, and the history… top notch! Thanks Bandrew!

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so mcuh Travis!

[@kornicoo]

You should re-review the RE20! I see a lot of content creators purchasing it without understanding it’s strengths and having buyers remorse

[@llaxic]

He has already

[@kornicoo]

@@llaxic a re-review? or the one from years ago?

[@paulcantshutup]

People did that years ago with the Heil PR40, specifically because Leo Laporte was using it on his podcast. (If you have a deep voice, the PR40 is lovely; but if your tone is more in the mid or upper range, it's a sibilant mess.)

[@AironExTv]

Should this not be in the cards for now, people can listen to Stodeh , a streamer that uses the re-20 very well. KZbin and Twitch.

[@MARUKU]

Funny you’d say that lol

[@tcause]

Andrew, I understand and agree with why you use the entry level pre’s for the in production mics… for the oops series something more reflective of the era would be more fun. This mic sounds to me like it would benefit from either a bump from a tube pre or a big transformer pre. Just a thought. Love your work.

[@Podcastage]

Why didn't I think of that. That's such a great idea! Thank you so much for the suggestion Tony!

[@tcause]

@@Podcastage thanks for responding. I have been obsessing over the vintage AKG D30 multi pattern dynamic Microphones. Borrow one of those for us...

[@kleinc2584]

hey just wanted to say thanks for all your reviews! ive been watching and reading mic reviews everywhere for 2 days straight and youre imo the best reviewer. keep it up man!

[@brucebuege6594]

Love the idea of an OOP series, hope to see more. One of the top radio stations here in Milwaukee has three of the SM5bs as their studio mics still to this day. Think of how much spit those foam windscreens have absorbed in that time.

[@northsurrey]

When I see this mic I remember the KZbin vid of the amazing Broadway Bill on Hot97. What a broadcaster. Tip for another OOP, the AKG D202. Dual capsule, vented cardioid and a stalwart of 1970s uk pop radio. It’s successor, the D222, is still in use in the UK parliament.

[@DirectorsGarage]

I think it sounds terrific. I don't know why you keep using the qualifier "for a mic from 1967"? Most of the greatest microphones in existence had been created by then. The U47, u87, u67, 77DX, SM57, SM58, M50, M251, C12, MD 421 were all available in 1967. This mic should stand on its own accolades.

[@georgeknight2229]

That is the most amazing spoken word mic I’ve heard you review, and I hope you get a lot of use out of it. I understand the “ick” factor, but you don’t have to lick it if you don’t want to.

[@Vegetox]

I am totally amazed, for me the SM5b> SM7> SM7b from afar!

[@TahirMusic720]

Learned so many things from you sir. Even when I was searching a mic for my KZbin channel I got that just because of your videos and now my channel recently got monetize. Love your videos and information. ♥️

[@ciggsy]

Man, the plosive rejection, damnnn but sure any other droplet still in there

[@somecallmetim2580]

Love this so much! The SM5b is legendary!

[@g_skinflowers]

big sm7b fan, was always curious to hear an sm5b. thanks.

[@thisissonotafakeaccount]

I know they made SM7b as good as they could, but I absolutely loved the SM5b, even more than SM7b. What a sound.

[@osvaldodomingos9041]

"I hate that my mouth is close to 40 years of other people spit, but now i am right on top of the microphone." 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Bandrew deserve so much more for his effort into making these videos,

[@Matthew_Raymond]

I remember that watching that 14 microphone review. Watching Bandrew slowly go insane over the course of nearly 30 minutes was pure comedy gold! ;)

[@Michaeljamieson10]

good to see youy posting on your original account!

[@Pentti_Hilkuri]

$1000 for 40 years of spit sounds like a bargain.

It seems that you recovered the old YT channel, awesome!!

[@MichaelJ023]

Don’t worry too much about the foam contamination, it has probably been replaced in the last 20 years. The original foam would be decomposing by now. The ones I used in the early 90s all had disgustingly sticky crumbling foam. There were replacement foam windscreens still available until about 9 years ago.

[@DTV998]

So cool seeing such an old piece of technology still working & I mean still world-class even after all this time 😁👌👌

[@thrabitoffical]

😢Sir when I set my mic level 17% I'm unable to use the mic for my recordings , even if I'm using gain it's recording so much noise , please help could you please make a noise a video on post processing of this microphone please humble request please reply

[@DaviddoesStuff]

That’s a cool piece of history. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@majahanson311]

When you do a comparison with the SM57, I'd love to hear it with the A81WS windscreen in addition to "naked". The A81WS is what POTUS uses outdoors, and some people have likened the sound to a "poor man's SM7B"

[@7171jay]

Agreed, the 57 really benefits from the A81WS. Kind of unfair to compare the 57 without using the A81WS on it when putting it up against the blimp of the SM5b.

[@elginfans]

really well done, informative video. you put a lot of time and work into all those mic change outs, i really appreciate it! thank you. ps."blown out" very funny! lol

[@mdexterc2894]

could you do the Shure PGA181 next? It's a mic I could afford, but most of the videos I've seen of it are showcases, unboxing, or not in english

[@frankrush582]

The sm5 is a broadcast icon and if it was less than a thousand today (for a decent one) I would have one. I use a 7b everyday but if given a choice I would trade it for a 5

We must sign a petition to force Shure to make SM5B again! Brilliant sounding microphone!

[@pip5528]

I honestly had no idea this existed. It is awesome. It honestly looks like a giant peanut to me. Shame it was discontinued. I hope someday Shure reissues it even if it's just limited edition. In that instance I would buy it.

[@lundsweden]

The SM5b looks like a large medicine capsule!

[@justsomeone953]

wow the SM5b sounds really nice the sound rejection is awesome too shure knows what they are doing

[@barrysalberg3350]

good vid...we used this mic at KROY Sacramento, knowing that it was also used at KYA in San Francisco...how 'bout a review of the RCA 5k-5!

[@Lyander25]

Random thought: what acoustic characteristics does dried up saliva have? Wondering how much of the microphone's congested and nasally tone is attributable to that :)

[@seanwebb605]

Imagine that it was used for 40 years shooting pornography. That's not all saliva.

[@Lyander25]

@@seanwebb605 That is not a mental image that was necessary but.... slow clap?

[@seanwebb605]

@@Lyander25 My hope is that he reads this and throws up a little bit in his mouth and thinks about it every time he uses the microphone.

[@Lyander25]

@@seanwebb605 ... please post another comment XD

[@ericanderson7059]

Is the Sennheiser MD 431 MK I a possibility for a future vintage mic review ?

[@patrickchase5614]

Something sounds "off" with your SM7b, like a weird buzzing resonance that your voice triggers at certain tones. I own one and have used several, and I don't believe I've ever heard that before (including in your SM7b review). Is it possible that something has worked its way loose or otherwise broken? The OG SM7 sounded much better to my ear.

[@gaurav.anirbandutta]

Can you review the EVO SR1 Microphone that comes with the EVO Start Recording Bundle?

[@riyunimation]

Please review the zoom v6 vocal processor! I have one but I don’t know how to use it 😅

[@AlbertMilliron]

I was surprised that so few were sold.

[@bobk1467]

Given how great your SM5B sounds, I suspect that you could sell it for well over $1k. Just heard that there is a new manufacturer of the Nurf muffs and they should be available by end of year..

[@meranomusic7084]

Please review the Neumann TLM107!

[@cassiothird]

I honestly really liked the SM5b for your voice, better than all the compared mics.

[@Podcastage]

Yeah the SM5 is a wild one. If only they made new foam I'd totally use it.

[@banksyjr6832]

@@Podcastage I'm almost certain you looked but just in case it's a fairly rare post I found a couple for sale right now :)

[@icestorm_rb9057]

Not an OOP suggestion, but can you review 12GaugeMicrophones' Green 12? Its a condenser microphone inside a shotgun shell. Would love to see you review it

[@BrianMeloche]

Didn't they use those as boom mics on the set of TV and films?

[@BamPlan]

what I would do for Bandrew to tap my body and check for resonant frequencies

[@trevorcedric]

You are doing a great Job! Awesome Work! Have you tested the BOYA M 1000 ? Is it a good Mic for Broadcasting?

[@jackgray5750]

How do u set the gain at 100% with no noise? Plz answer I am very curious

[@MarkDavidTeo]

Hey I saw you comment on a creator academy video saying that you hadn't taken a holiday from youtube for 3 years. Did you take one yet?

it sounds so much fresher thant the sm7b i love it ! Now wonder hoe the SHURE SM7A sounds

[@lowry9359]

That is the strangest looking mic I've ever seen but it sounds great, ngl

[@finickyfoxx]

That rejection is amazing!

[@dylinquent]

Any chance you’d be willing to do a video comparing and contrasting the top two voiceover mics, the Sennheiser 416 and the Neumann U87?

[@RangerX5]

Think the RE20 looked and sounded the best of the bunch personally

[@mintumondal1030]

Sir which xlr cable is good for buy.. I have audio Technica at2020 mic

[@matthews1584]

I grew up in radio, this is the mic that was in all the studios, one of the major problems with the design was it was easy to speak I to the wrong end. You should also be glad you wouldn't get the foam off, you really see the build up of spit, and potentially smoke if it was used in a smoking studio

[@tyssenbecker1244]

Have you ever compared the ElectroVoice 664?

[@justinroark88]

I recommend a Cetec vega stick mic OOP The 90s kids in all of us will appreciate it

[@OysterPir8]

This was GREAT! Thank you. I think, I like the SM7B best.

[@johanwillfred6139]

Hey hey, what about EPOS B20? Is that any good?

[@nickr5213]

Yes!! I really wanted to see this.

[@HansonProMusic]

The screws on the ring hold the foam parts in place.

[@MikeVincentVO]

You CAN replace the windscreen on this mic. I just replaced mine - $150 for the windscreens on EBAY.

[@charlyavefenix3100]

Sounds pretty good, however, for podcasting any of the other mics in the comparison would do a great job. If you already have one abandoned in your basement go for it, if not, you can get excellent mics for any aplication on that price range. Another option if you have one in your basement is to sell it for more than 1,000 and buy a great mic.

[@By_Rant_Or_Ruin]

NPR uses the U87 in many of their broadcast rooms.

[@vlastneme]

can you explain why you dont use the uad audio interface and you use the 18i20 in most of your vids? whats the reason behind that?

[@Podcastage]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4S6mZtthsyNrtE

[@chrisisasavage]

I really like the way it sounds for spoken word. I'm assuming it wasn't popular because of the size.

[@onetwo3088]

SM5b surprises me AF! Great mic! Do you plan to review Oktava microphones? MK-105 as example

[@onetwo3088]

SM5b sounds like condenser mic

[@annekedebruyn7797]

The mic was great to manipulate on an arm due to the size. Still sounds great too.

[@gears101]

They do make a replacement windscreen , someone else makes it but you have to reuse the ring on old one and have to buy silicone adhesive to adhere the ring to new one

[@Podcastage]

I tried contacting Alliance Broadcast Supply. They do not have replacement windscreens.

[@ChristianWheel]

The company that made the replacements ceased operations in 2017, unfortunately.

[@IslandStone_]

Very cool! Would love to see more OOP mics :)

[@swschilke]

If shure has a museum, you should go there and make a video (videos) with them!

[@DJAultric]

please review the sm35 xlr

[@RATsnak3]

I like when companies are frank. "We weren't making money, so we stopped making that" is infinitely better than what some companies do, making excuses, etc.

[@dami5263]

Is Shure Sm7 still exist?

[@stephencarlson7297]

Cant wait for the next one

[@officialWWM]

This thing is massive! That’s what she said…

[@mindsway7036]

How did you get that mic?

[@WeeklyHow]

That shure is massive geez

[@Lyander25]

5:42 Not something I'd ever get (knock on wood,have mercy on your wallet) but this video was well worth the watch just for the face you made testing how it performed in an untreated room-- hilarious! Somehow not really a fan of the modern SM7b with my headphones (just an HD600 out of a Schiit Fulla 2 at the moment)-- flat was too dead and the presence boost mode was actually a bit aggravating, whereas the vintage SM7 was Goldilocks. The SM5b feels oddly too focused and forward in presentation besides the somewhat elevated sibilance. Glad to hear my ears don't entirely disagree haha.

[@larrymarso4492]

You sounded better on the re20 than any other (sane) mic in the bunch.

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on that. The RE20 is a great mic.

[@NathanOakley1980]

Sounds great 👍🏼

[@NathanOakley1980]

…..until you hear the U87

[@mohamedsaad4738]

It's really sounds amazing 😍

[@redcabinacoustic-official]

One of the issues you may be having with the sound of this mic is due to digital recording. If you were laying down a loud track on analogue tape (1970) you would be getting some nice saturation - just a thought from a guy who has a reel-to-reel in his studio . . . peace context is important

[@frrrostie]

I was really hoping to hear from someone who knows where to find replacement windscreens for this great mic.

[@ChristianWheel]

Mooretronix used to be the place. Unfortunately Bob Moore seems to have retired after a pretty bad motorcycle accident in 2017.

[@Podcastage]

Yeah. I contacted him as well about it but didn't hear back. Then I stumbled across an article about that which was posted in 2017. I also saw Shure recommend Alliance Broadcasting, and contacted them, but they don't have anything either. Completely out of luck.

[@ChristianWheel]

@@Podcastage I just learned he passed away about 3 weeks ago unfortunately.

[@jacksonhall3151]

I really want one of the *OOP* episodes to be the RCA BK-5A/BK-5B! Unfortunately they're selling for about 2 thousand dollars online. But please remember me when you've saved up enough dough 10 years from now.

[@mahimahoo9178]

You should take a look at the oktava mk012