Ultimate Shure SM7B x SM7dB Vocal Chain - No More Noise!

Wondering why your Shure SM7b or SM7dB sounds noisy and lifeless? In this tutorial, we'll uncover the best plugins and processing tips to get a quiet, crisp and professional vocal sound with these popular microphones.
🎛 Mixing Presets & DAW Templates
NEW Vocal Chains Ultimate (38 All-New Vocal Chains) 🎛 bit.ly/vocal-chains-ultimate
UPDATED Divine Mastering Chains SR (StudioRack): bit.ly/mastering-chains-sr
Divine Mixing Waves Template (Logic Pro X, Cubase & Pro Tools): bit.ly/waves-template
Divine Mixing Vocal Chains - Logic Edition (Logic Pro): bit.ly/vocal-chains-le
Plugins Used 🔌
Waves NS1 Noise Suppressor: bit.ly/ns1-plugin-sd
Waves Manny EQ: bit.ly/manny-eq-sd
Waves F6 Dynamic EQ: bit.ly/waves-f6-sd
Waves RCompressor: bit.ly/waves-rcomp-sd
Waves RVox: bit.ly/waves-rvox-sd
Waves DeEsser: bit.ly/waves-deesser-sd
Waves RVerb: bit.ly/waves-rverb-sd
Waves Manny Delay: bit.ly/manny-delay-sd
Waves L1+ Ultramaximizer: bit.ly/waves-l1plus-sd
🔈 My Studio Gear
seandivine.com/studio
💬 Let's Connect
seandivine.com
Instagram: / seandivine
Facebook: / seandivinemusic
X: x.com/seandivine
0:00 Intro
1:26 Mic Noise and Hiss!
3:38 Frequency Response
4:30 Dynamic EQ
5:32 Serial Compression
7:44 Manny EQ
8:50 Sibilance Issues
9:34 Sidechain FX
10:17 Limiter Last!
11:03 A/B Playback
11:48 Outro
Disclosure: My videos contain affiliate links to products and services I use and recommend. I may receive a small commission on sales through these links, at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support as this helps me continue to create content for the channel!

[@dominicdominic5853]

thank you for this I just started working with this microphone and this is exactly what I need

[@InaktiverUser]

omg yes for the past 4 days i was searching on a sm7b vocal chain thank you soooo much sean ♥

[@SeanDivine]

No problem 😊

[@vadimmartynyuk]

the biggest part is EQ'ing SM7B to sound like a "normal" mic

[@sifer2407]

Welcome back. Glad to see you are doing well. Not sure why I like the sm7b so much. I have a few better mics but I gravitate to it a lot more. I do have a quiet voice. Never need to crank up the input on the ha73, 45 to 50, I do set the output all the way open. Very clean semi treated room. Never notice the white noise, then again do some RX. Great stuff thanks for this cause I do struggle some time getting it to sit in a mix every time.

[@boonong3895]

So glad to see more now. Great music as usual. =)

[@ALVINTRA]

Ayyy! just requested you this the other day, appreciate it man great content as always 💯🔥

[@SeanDivine]

Hope it helps 🙌

[@Timo95isda]

perfect timingas always , thank you ❤‍🔥

[@thee3a]

Love this. Great solutions! 🙌

[@MusicMan-bf4vu]

Glad to have you back! Will there be an updated recording guide?

[@SeanDivine]

I'll see what I can do 😊

[@MusicMan-bf4vu]

@@SeanDivine legend, all the best Sean !

[@stamecec2003]

YESSS MY MAN SEAN

[@godsfrog]

Thank you! This guide is such a blessing. Praise God! 🙂🙏

[@SeanDivine]

You are most welcome 🙏

[@DreErdna]

10:04 coolest part I dig the slap back on the “I just need a reason” segment Ur videos are as smooth as your rap flow 😎👍 Question based on the WAV file: Do you always record the verses / dubs in one take or are the files we see comp’d versions? Thanks, SD

[@SeanDivine]

I recorded this in one take but I do also comp takes often!

[@LaloRacer1]

He's back 💪🏻

[@mkbstudio9575]

Good stuff bro

[@diyumusik1783]

shure sm58 ❤ got one thats older then me (32) and stil works great!! 🤭

[@gazbg123]

Great video! NS1 has been a life saver for sure haha Have you tried Xvox Pro? Cool comp/eq/fx plugin all in one, Been using it alot :) Especially for the reverb/delay module (which you can also duck) Have a good one!

[@SeanDivine]

Nice one, I'll check it out 🙌

[@tigerpdj]

hey Sean I hope you doing good! I really want to use your vocal chain you made nowadays. However, I am not a Big user of wave plugin tho...so, could you make another plug in with only logic internal plugins? is that worse than waves'? hope to wait for your reply bro. thanks in advance. blessing on your every step bro! and take care

[@royalcrystal08789]

Welcome back champ, #GOAT

[@igorsenayoutube]

Sick track as usual, Sean. Where can we hear it?

[@SeanDivine]

Thanks! It will be released on all digital platforms soon :)

[@ONESEVENENTERTAINMENT]

Thanks for the video Sean and welcome back! Your lyrics always seem concerning sometimes I hope you’re doing well and God continues to cover you mentally and spiritually. Life is sure not easy but it’s about making the best out of your situation and seeing and appreciating the good side. In regards to mics, I currently have the rhode nt1a and I find that when I’m singing the high ends are cut off and it tends to sound muffled which I don’t like .. I have been researching mics and the shure smb comes up quite a lot and they’re within the same price range. Watching this video I need advice whether I should get the smb7 or nah? It seems like I still have to play around with EQs and other plugins even with the smb7 so I’m undecided . Your advice will be greatly appreciated Stay blessed 🙏🏻✨

[@SeanDivine]

Appreciate the concern / encouragement! The music has been a place to express past and present struggles… I’m doing much better though and the Lord has been leaning into me on this journey 😊

[@SeanDivine]

It’s surprising that your NT1a is sounding muffled in the top end. It’s a bright mic! How are you processing it? I haven’t found a mic yet that doesn’t require some EQ / light processing, totally dependent on the vocal source. That said, the SM7B is one of the best at masking an untreated room as it rejects reflections and echo well.

[@ONESEVENENTERTAINMENT]

In that case I think I will take it to the studio and have an expert engineer / mixer help me out with this lol I’m not an expert yet getting there Thanks for the response bro 👊 glad you’re doing better keep the videos coming!

[@toxicgriefing2766]

Actually, it's an awesome video, been searching for the white noise fix, im currently using this with rode caster duo. I'd really like to find something I could just plug between my sm7b and the caster.. and ideas?

[@SeanDivine]

The Cloud CL1 is the best option for clean gain IMO. It won’t get rid of the white noise though. I haven’t found anything that works as well as the plugin I show in the video.

[@uriel-heavensguardian8949]

im using a Steinberg URRT2 interface. Mic is a Shure Mv7. As you know we have to crank these almost 100%. Was thinking of getting a SE inline dynamite to boost the signal with some clean gain. Your thoughts?

[@SeanDivine]

Cloud CL1 is the best option for the SM7b imo

[@johnnye_music]

Can you do a vocal chain like this for the Rode NT1-A? Alot of people use this mic and it would be very helpful!!

[@SeanDivine]

I'll see what I can do! There's already NT1 / NT1a presets included in both of my Vocal Chains Ultimate and Vocal Chains SR packs.

[@Farabeats70]

افرین🎉🎉

[@TheBoiSos]

Too bad this vid wasn’t around between 2016-2023. I used that Mic for that time and finally got a cloud lifter last yr. Sold it all and bought a Rode NT1A and never looking back. Good looks though SD!!!

[@SeanDivine]

Fair enough! Very different mics but both capable with the right setup 🙌

[@claudiacomas1333]

hey sean I have a questionnn. So I always record vocals on a 2 track beat but im having trouble understanding when to use a limiter. I know this video is only about transitioning but I really hope you can help me out. So when I record vocals on a 2 track instrumental do i use a limiter on my vocal so i can send the song off to a commercial standard since the 2 track is limited alr

[@SeanDivine]

Check this tutorial out, should help 🙌 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYrSgaRjZbKjqZI

[@TheMolysProject]

What’s the setting of that Ozone in the Master Track if you could say?

[@SeanDivine]

It's just the maximizer as a brick wall for the video - IRC LL, ceiling set to -.1

[@MasterOneMusic]

Amazing info man thanks! How do you record your videos? (Software and Hardware) Thanks man

[@startingoverbygrace]

It’s not in the hardware or software, it’s within skills set of what your personal end goal is that you want to accomplished . If you’re running/using Windows, there are many options to choice from. If you’re running Apple OS, you can expect a premium or Apple come bundle with everything that you need. Although these software and gears will get the job done, you have company that sells FX packs to make your task you want to accomplish in editing & post a lot easier if you don’t have the skills set. Just do your research and go from there. Some software and Apps are only exclusive to the OS system you’re running. And some are available to both. If you don’t have a budget, then your options are limitless. But as the saying goes, work what you have, then upgrade later.

[@SeanDivine]

RME Totalmix (UFX) and screenflow!

[@jaymusik1235]

🎉🎉🎉❤

[@RX793]

Like you said, if your just using a budget interface, you get that... I use an Art ProMPA II pre-amp with the SM7B, and that goes into a broadcast interface (Audioarts AIR-4) and dont have that problem.

[@SeanDivine]

It’s still there… just depends on how sensitive you are to the noise. With a good interface and optimal setup, it’s not a problem and like you said you may not even notice it 👍

[@tigerpdj]

7:31 what does FG stand for?

[@SeanDivine]

F6 (dynamic EQ plugin)

[@travsmac]

I don't know why Shure added a mic booster, increased the size, and charged more. They could have used their Beta condenser capsule in the SM7B, lower gain requirements, same cost, same size, and no hiss issues.

[@SeanDivine]

I hear ya! I’d be curious about a shure front addressing condenser… Sm7b isn’t perfect but the sound is iconic, for good reason. I imagine they wanted to change it sonically as little as possible while fixing the biggest issue (clean gain). In that regard, they succeeded imo.

[@Jonathan-dv5xv]

Too many use this mic with no issues, could it be dirty ground causing the hiss for some of us? Whereas some have clean ground and no hiss? I couldnt imagine an entire industry using a mic with an inherent problem.. can anyone confirm or deny having no hiss in this mic? Im curious

[@SeanDivine]

It’s always there. I’ve had many different sm7bs and now the sm7db, different studios, different electrical setups. Just depends on how sensitive you are to noise… in an optimal setup with a good preamp, you may never notice it. In the context of a mix, it’s never been a problem.

[@Jonathan-dv5xv]

@@SeanDivine Thanks, I guess you are right and I'm just super sensitive to it.. I watched a few reviews where they claim their 7b's are dead quiet and really any condenser mic or dynamic mic I've ever used was quieter and didn't have that white noise. I do agree it doesn't show in the mix though.

[@ThisThe1G]

The boost on the sm7b is only if you touch the on body eq