Hey can you turn the music up louder, feel like moshing to your commentary

Great to see some love for the SM7b! It's fantastic on guitars and as a hi hat mic too. Stellar video as always.

I own a Neumann TLM 107 ($1699) and the Shure SM7B and I have to say that I find myself tracking vocals with the Shure 90% of the time. Thought I was crazy for choosing it but like you said Jordan, it sounds great especially in a home or small studio. I run it through an Avalon M5 or Heritage Audio DMA73.

Background music too loud dude ...... but great video man 😎👊

Moreover, I think your approach is the right one. Who cares about the price of the gear used? What matters is the "price" of the song, if it rocks, it freaking rocks!

Great advise dude, I may add two philosophies that I Follow regarding mics or gear in general. 1.- Some clients look for high end gear in Budget studios, rather than your skills as an engineer. Sale your sound not the gear or where you did it. If you are looking for outstanding wacky awesome result your actions should be equal as well. 2.- Be aware of your potencial market, is no good to have a million dollar studio without potential clients before you build it. If you are staring up better be with attitude and quality that becomes your trademark. Don’t spend too much money on gear that you can’t market in your price range or lease you’re working on budget and in deficit that will eventually kill you. Keep bringing more videos, and greetings from CDMX.

Although I have those expensive mics at the studio I work out of, I use the mics I use at home because I just felt like it sounded better. There are probably $10,000 worth of mics at the studio, but I get better quality out of the box with just $1500 worth of mics. I use the SM7b you mentioned for vocals and hi hat, I actually use the Audio Technica ATM230 instead of the Sennheiser 421, and for SDC, I've been using the Aston Starlights. They're all pretty affordable and they sound great.

It's funny you mentioned the E604s. When I did my BTEC Diploma at college, we used E604s on toms. I'll tell you the mics we used on Drums. Kick - AKG D112 (Known as the "Egg Mic") Snare top - SM57 (Same goes for the bottom mic) Hihat - AKG C414 (it was the same for the Ride and Crash cymbals) Toms - Sennheiser E604 Sometimes we'd do the room mics, and on those occasions we used one AKG C12 that our college had for the overheads. All of that was going through an Allen & Heath GSR24M.

Can't say I'm surprised that a low sensitivity dynamic mic works better than a U87 in a small or not very treated studio

I have found that I really like my U87 much better after I figured out to engage the -10 db pad. This made it not quite as sensitive I believe and allowed my to push my 1073 a little harder and really add some of the Neve colour to the track. Much happier after I started using this concept. I do want to try the SM7B though as I have heard lots of positive reviews on this mic.

Sennheiser FTW! Their drum mics are the bomb. Did HUNDREDS of live shows using them.

Option B: make the room sound good. The reason the SM7 sounded better was because of the limitation on detail. That also translates to lost detail on the source as well.

I just bought a matched pair of Behringer C2s for overheads and am absolutely floored by how great they sound. $60 for the set AND they come with a stereo bar.

I work in rooms that have U87s, U67s, U47s, M49s, etc... etc... I find that for most cases, there is a significantly cheaper alternative that works just as well as the big boys. Source is what matters most.

Solid, user-based information. The internet should have more of it. Good job.

my favorite alternative to the e604's is the audix d2 and d4. I personally like these better because they pick up more low end from toms, but they are so so good and so affordable too.

Carefull! The 421 sound bad becouse the new black version has a different eq, than the beige old ones. Look up comparisons, especially on amps the old ones are by far superior.

I'm in love with the Sm58. Best and cheaper purchase ever! The 57 sounds good but I'm all for the 58!

So true. Sad when I do a A/B on a 57 and 87 lead vocal From a friend that mixed for 20+ years. And I chose the sm57 thinking was the 87. Check out the Roswell mini k47. $299 new Great mic for what’s under the hood Love the slate stuff to

Miktek cv4, MXL Revelation (the first one)(yes I'm serious), Telefunken M80, Vanguard v13, Lauten Audio Clarion FC-357. Peluso P-12. Youre welcome...

Couldn't agree with you more on the SM7b. Not only is it a great sounding mic, it's also a great mic if your recording environment is less than ideal. Also, for a really good set of cheap SDCs, I'd recommend checking out the Rode M5s. I've got a set, great set of mics for only $260 Canadian. The only catch is that they don't come with a carrying case, but I already had a case that I could put them in so I didn't mind.

I've never liked U87's in general...U47's are amazing but 87's have a high end that just isn't pleasant. As for 421's, I prefer them to the Sennheiser's but I record a lot of stoner/doom and vintage 421's bring the depth whereas the Sennheiser's have more of an attack high/mid emphasis. I also don't use SDC's for overheads...I'm a ribbon on overhead kinda guy most of the time from m160's to an AEA R88 or No Hype large ribbons for a budget model. l like the way ribbons smooth out the highs so I can crank the overheads without ripping the head off the listener plus it brings out the body of the ride and snare. SM7B's are great on various things, an RE20 is another great one along the same lines...great for vocals, horns, guitar, bass and even kick.

So true. The KM184s do work well (especially on some acoustic guitars) in imperfect rooms in close proximity, though, and aren't so expensive as most other Neumanns. The AKG 251B is also killer -- as you point out -- on some things.

I mean, sure the sm7b is a totally valid choice. But also, a totally different tone, compared to a neumann condencer. I wouldnt think of it as a replacement. Simply a different equally valid option.

I guess the title should be the best cheap mic that beat experienced one in metal and rock... All those mics are dynamic especially sm7b if you are not a screamer you defiantly need a good preamp to lift it up...

Love the 421. Sennheiser e904s are my go to. They sound amazing, they're small like the 604s, and they just are rock solid.

Okay....what's with the music? It's just not right for a mic review video.

Hi Jordan. I have an SM7B and I'm happy AF with it. Much less ambience noise than other mics i've tested, much clarity and the ability to withstand shakes from screamers without compromising the capture of performance and delivery. But I wanted to know your (and public) opinion on the Behringer B2 PRO. It was my first and only (along with a Behringer C1) condenser mic. I've read that the B2 PRO is worth modifying to improve quality and reduce ambience noise and noise floor and still get a decent U87 replication. Any thoughts on this?

I am trying to figure out a simple setup to record guitar, banjo, mandolin. Just the solo instrument. My room is a rectangular narrow room with wood walls and ceiling, carpet floor, room full of computer, instruments etc. No treatment. I have tried a number of large condensers (Rode NT1-a, Lewitt 440, Roswell K87), small condenser pair (Rode M5). Then I just wanted to try a dynamic and got the Shure SM57. My interface is Focusrite 2i2 3rd gen. Shockingly I like the SM57 recording the best. Testing with the banjo. SM57 need to be placed very close otherwise the output is low. I hear clean sound from it. LDCs sound fuller and more warm but doesn't sound good. If I tap my foot super gently on the carpet they pick that sound up. I put the LDCs 2 to 3 feet away. The SDC pair sounds nice. I have to do more experiment with a single SDC. My question to you would be why the LDCs not sounding good and the SM57 does. The SM57 sounds thinner (as if it is missing out some frequencies) but cleaner. Should I try the SM7/SM7B? The Shure SDCs you mentioned will they be better than the Rode M5? Should I try mono recording for solo instrument or stereo? Do you have any recommendation for less expensive Ribbon Mic? Banjo is naturally a loud and creates sharp spikes. I think a mic that can smoothen these out can do a good job. I don't want to spend much time (or any time at all) in post. Please advice.

Even cheaper than the SM7 is the RE-320, which has become my go to vocal mic and kick/bass mic to boot. Crazy good value! But I love my friend's 421s on toms. I've tried tons of mics for this, and they just keep winning. Though simple 57s are almost as good and significantly cheaper. Heck, I don't even hate the cheapo Samson tom mics in a pinch!

In regard to the U87, your experience really outlines the importance of the physical recording space and its acoustic properties. I have been to countless recording booths and rooms around the world that look great but sound terrible for lack of understanding of what it takes to treat a space properly. I have designed treatments for several problematic rooms and it often has to do with the low-mids causing the headaches. Therefore, if your room sounds good, practically any mic will do. You are completely correct in saying the sensitive mic will cause headaches in a mix if the room itself is not balanced. As well, the U87 and U47 clones from both Warm Audio and Stam Audio have been getting great reviews at a fraction of the cost. Thanks for the vid, this kind of stuff is always helpful.

Completely agree. Though I do still like to use the 451 with a 57 on a guitar cab.

If the Shure SM7 was good enough for Michael Jackson to sing the whole Thriller album through, it's good enough for our cheap-ass studios!! Other classic broadcast mics (like the E/V RE20 or RE320) also make great vocal mics. Close-miking ANY instrument, including toms, snare, guitar amp or horns...? nothing beats a $100 SM57! For an SDC, people hate on the AKG C1000s, but I don't know why... I LOVE them!

Right now I'm trying to build my mic locker, I already have 1 Shure SM57, a matched-pair of AKG C414 XLS, 1 Sontronics STC20 and 1 AKG D112. Next I think I'll buy 2 more SM57 (snare and guitars), 3 Earthworks DM20 (snare, toms and guitars) and a Stam Audio SA47F (kick, bass and vocals). What do you think about my picks? I'm recording all styles of music, but I mainly work with pop, rock and hard-rock.

I am a one to track my own drums. I did a lot of searching and shopping. Coincidently I found the Shure KSM 137s do a lot of wonders for overheads and rhythm cymbals. I found a few used and I have a total of 4. I actually use SM57s on toms. I do own a set of 606s but they seem to work better for live sound for me. My snare I got a Grenelli SM57 on top and a Beta 57 on the snare bottom. I plug in kick triggers to my drum module for kick hits with an intention of sample replacement. If you do enough shopping, you can buy used and get mics for a really good deal.

In the first example the problem seems to be the lack of acoustic treatment in your environment, not the more expensive mic.

awesome man! Please make more budget videos for us third world country! I'll try these Sennheiser E604 and one of these shures SDC's for shure! Thanks a lot for the advice! Other budget pro sounding mikes i've been using are the Lewit Lct040 (SDC's), the AT2035's and the Shure SM57 (already cliche lol). Are there cheaper alternatives to the distressor? (here in brazil even used is way too expensive) - Cheers!

On the kick drum, do you recommend using the AKG on the inside and outside?

Why don't you add sound samples for the comparison? I would like to hear that the Shure SM7b sounds better than the Neumann U87 - I own both and sorry… I can't agree to your rating.

Another great affordable option for Small Diaphragm Condensers are Octava MC 012 if you can find them. Guitar Center used to sell them for $99 each or a matched pair (which I have) for $249. Warning though if you want 2 get a MATCHED pair...I have found the gain amount on them can vary but with my matched pair they were fine. Oh, and I also have a matched pair of KM 184's ;)

I think in 2021, pretty well everyone has an SM7B. It's very popular these days. These are good suggestions. Thanks from the future.

I was thinking about the SM7B thinking "man, I want something a little cheaper, hopefully this video will recommend something better lower cost for vocals" and sure enough, the mic I thought was expensive is actually budget! I think I'm just going to hold off on buying a mic and save up until I can buy one.

100% agree. using u87 in a non treated environment and/or with a non experienced singer is just waste of time (and money) That's why I love my SM7b. Just place it where you are, no matter, it sounds good. Same for OM7. One of the big advantage of the Om7 is that the singer can handle it! a lot of signer are way more comfortable when handling the mike! Performance first

I use D2 for rack toms and D4 for floor toms, i like them better than the 421. Much more moderns sounding.

What do you think about going work horse. 4 piece kit. SM57 all around, beta 52 on kick, Sm81 over head. And a couple of whatever out in the room mid side? Keep it simple clean workhorse. Live or studio should do the job, reliable, and sound pro.

The e604's are used everywhere in the pro sound world. As a working drummer, I have to say that I have seen more e604's on toms than any other mic. And the SM7B has become a 'go-to' mic for recording rock and metal singers. In all fairness here, a large diaphragm condenser is preferable on most vocal projects and acoustic instruments. But Roswell Pro Audio (to name just one) makes some world beating LDC's at bargain basement prices. No need to pay Neumann's extortion prices.

While you spend your week, think about a cathode ray tube with a mic receiver also. Like a mega-a/v collector. With it, you can record or backup any and every allegation afronting you. You can have it to keep your portion.

great video...but the background music!!!! Why?!

A great small diaphragm condenser option are the Slate Digital ML-2s. I realize they seem like a gimmick on the surface, but they sound great without any emulation added & the emulations add a lot of tonal options. They test out well above their price point, in my opinion. Now, if only Slate would produce enough to meet demand...

sm 57 can give you same sound as 7b with EQ and effort, but the only drawback of sm57 is the freq. range 15KHz max. but the 7B is 18KHz, both mics are legend, but sm57 price is 1/3 7B price

What lavalier mic do you use?

Good comparisons. However, there isn't any replacement for the 421 in my book. For example, it will pickup things on a Cajun or bass drum that other mics miss. As far as I'm concerned, the 421 is always in the mix when it comes to percussion and guitar cabinets. It sounds good on other things too but you need a high quality pre-amp for that.

the 604s are good on toms as as a decent dynamic should. but the clamp is the luxury and i didn't notice any unwanted elements in the signal due to the clamp which i feared.

background music is too distracting to get the video point... leave it for introduction. thanks for the thought though

Hi, just another gentle nudge that you do not need background music for this video. Especially for gear reviews, sans music just works better.

I use a Warm 87 and while it's not as smooth as as a U87 I'll tell u right now as long as you don't go too loud it's close enough !!! I love the SMb. I wouldn't compare it to a Neuman 87 AT ALL !!!! With that said your right, if your room doesn't sound great a true 87 won't either. An SM 7B sounds great in any room unlike an 87 but boy you get an 87 in a perfect room and it's gold.

Absolutely agree. I've been using e-604's on my toms for over a decade and they always sound great. I dig MD-421's too, but good luck fitting them into my drums. Also, an SM7B with a Cloudlifter inline sounds freakin' awesome.

Any more options for overheads and spot cymbal mics ? Thanks!

I’ve had someone tell me my kick isn’t hard enough because I didn’t use a neumann tube mic😭😭

I gotta agree, although I haven't had chance to try some of those you mentioned, in studio I prefer condenser mics, with decent preamps they capture nicer sound imo, as a general purpose mic (for kick, toms, bass, sax, guitars, amps etc..) I prefer sE X1D (very close to U47 FET), large and fast titan-diagraphm does wonders and doesn't mind extreme acoustic pressure, sometimes with combination of HSMC001 (large diagraphm condenser for less than 60$, usually for overheads and instruments which need more life, like dull amps), for vocals the sE 4400a (more of an alternative to AKG 414), which I like more than vintage U87 (which I don't use much at all by now), also being more versatile thanks to various switches and lesser weight, most convenient dynamic mic I have been using is t.bone CD 56 beta (despite I do have MD 421), which is a smaller copy of SM57 (maybe a copy of 56 who knows) and can be easily mounted especially on snare without drummers hitting it, sturdy build quality and great sound despite being cheaper than shure SM mics

Try the Beta 57A for acoustic guitar.

SM7b is the best studio vocal mic I tried on most people, much more adept than most LDCs... A very cool SDC is the Rode M3 for super cheap, especially on acoustic guitar.

You are 1000% correct and besides, the Neumann mics have quality control issues. German products are JUNK now. there is no way one of their mic costs 30 time more to make than a Rode or a Shure mic.

Looking to get a ribbon or SM7B soon. Been using a 57 with windscreen and AT-2035 with capsules lined up behind a single pop filter and it sounds really good particularly for the vocalist of one of the bands I’m in.

thank you for doing this jordan

I have vintage (white) MD-421 in MINT condition (unused since they were made in 1961), 3 of them. Frequency matched by the factory for the German Radio NDR. They are fine. But.. never use them for toms.. way to bulky, bleed is horrible, low end is not really good. Good for snare tough (if you dont mind the bleed). I use E604 or SubZero SZM-10 (yep!.. a 35$ mic) on toms.. and LOVE them. on large floortoms I will often use a bd mic though.

aaaaaaaawesome recomendations brother... thank you very much for your honesty

Agree 100% , for toms i love the e604, and also found out the atm230 from audiotechnica sound amazing in the same price range

in a VERSATILITY situations(comerciall studio with al kind of clients) you will prefer the expensive ones and lots of them..but as long as you run a small 'personal' home studio you are ok with the budget ones

show samples. sm7b has a lot of noise if you don't have a good preamp. u87 is totally different mic.

Great Video & advice - have you tried any virtual mics & software like the Slate mics & software & hardware -

Hi Jordan, Great video and information. You know... I've noticed the same things you're describing. I have an expensive Neumann TLM 103 Large‑diaphragm Condenser Microphone that I use for tracking vocals and acoustic guitars. Of course it's married up to pro level pre's and It's a great mic. However, it's not always the best for vocals. It's hard to get my vocal to sit in the mix with this mic at certain times. It's like it captures too much and I'll have to use EQ treatment to fix. I have an inexpensive Audio Technica AT4040 that will get my vocal to sit better. Like you had said, expensive mics and gear may not always be the trick. It helps for sure, but you can yield similar or even better results with an inexpensive alternative.

Have you used the Sennheiser E609 for guitar cabs at all? I use it live but I haven't tried it recording yet. Also have you tried any of the KAM mics?

I almost agree with everything but the sm7 sounds bad until you put a cloudlifter cl1 , the change is big

Great alternative to the Sennheiser's for Toms at the same price point is the Audio Technica ATM230's. Just bought a set and COULDN'T be happier with the results.

Awesome video and some very valuable advice. Interesting enough, Michael Jackson recorded the entire Thriller album with the SM7b..

hi! what is your prefer as overheads?? sm81 or ksm137 ? and why?

For vocals it’s Sure sm58, it never lies

I agree with you the SM7B is an amazing sounding mic But you better have a high gain fancy micpre cause they need a lot of gain.

I like the sm7b for sure! And I line the MD421 on toms! It always worked for me. But it is true. Get a good basic set of mics and do not fancy one that keeps you waiting for instead of being creative.

I picked up the Aston Origin yesterday, what do you think of that?

If you’ve never heard an SM58 on toms, you should check it out.

sounds like super vague subjectivity but i like idea of not support overpriced mic companies.

Any advice on ribbon mics for guitar cabs? Would love to pair a ribbon with my SM57 for guitar cabs but a Royer r121 is out of the question in regards to $$$.

Any suggestions for U47.

Nice! I absolutely love KSM 137's. They're just a great go-to SDC

Sometimes I try to be fancy and use condensers on Guitars but to be honest the SM57 always wins. It just sounds right. What app do you use for your Video editing Jordan? Text looks swish!

Personally I would never use dynamic mics for vocals in studio conditions. They just make the sound too dull and dark to my liking. But then again I'm the guy who prefers condensers when close-miking drums and always on guitar cabinets, so maybe it's just me. I agree, you should put the money where it makes the most impact, but for me it's definately mics! I'd rather use high-end mics with mediocre preamps than mediocre mics with high-end preamps. Especially if the room isn't well treated, because cheaper mics tend to have much worse off-axis performance, which makes the reflections sound ugly and unnatural, instead of blending them nicely to the on-axis sound. Nevertheless this is a good subject and something for everyone to think: does expensive automatically mean better quality.

As far as toms and snare go I actually use SM 57s. It’s the scenario of using free standing mics to prevent extra resonance hum. The Sennheiser 604 pack which I do own I preferring use for live sound.

Many will disagree that the SM81 is better than the Shure KSM137 or 141.

I agree that all of the expensive mics are not worth the money. I've worked with several versions of the U87, and the best one was okay. The worst one was the current model, the U87Ai. It absolutely sucks. What I have to shout out a loud "what, What, WHAT!??!!" to is the Shure SM7B. That thing is horrible to work with. I do mostly voice acting and some long form narration where the vocal is bare and only very mildly effected. The SM7B requires the gain on the preamp to be turned up so high to get a decent signal out of it that you get a lot of noise compared to a condenser. My all time favorite mic for VO, musical vocals, kicks, and any real instrument (especially the cello) is the original CAD e100 that was made in the U.S.. Not the e100 2 which was garbage, or the current e100s, but the 90s version that's just the plain e100. It has a warm, vintage, tube-like sound with far superior bottom end pick up to any of the Neumanns except the TLM 107, a smooth, subtle presence boost, a graceful dip in the sibilant range, and just a touch of shimmery air. Its diaphragm is suspended between internal shock absorbers, and it has a built in metal pop filter behind the outer brass grill. It also comes with 2 rechargeable 9 volt batteries that provide extra power if it needs it to capture intense transients with perfect clarity and they can also be used to supply phantom power if needed. It also has a super tight cardioid pickup pattern, so you get some of the benefits of a shotgun's off-axis noise reduction, but a little more room to move around. The proximity effect is like butter. And, if all that wasn't enough, it uses the sleekest shock mount you've ever seen. You can't even tell it's there, and it uses standard o-rings that you can get at any hardware store should they ever break. I never used to tell people about them because they are hard to track down, but I managed to find two in a night and picked them both up for just over $300. Also, the RØDE NT1 (not the anniversary edition) is another sleeper. It uses a modded version of the K7 capsule and has a very similar sound to the U87 up top, but smoother, and has a much richer bottom end. It comes with a dual-layered, metal pop filter and a metal, lyre-style shock mount. The SM7B can be alright for very loud metal singers, but it's far from what I'd call the best. I was a very loud, metal singer for many years. People would tell me it sounded like the walls were gonna break down. 4+ octave range with Dio-esque power. The SM7B was flat and dull sounding compared to the mics I used (primarily different Neumanns, EV, AKG, and AT LDC mics), and all I can say is I wish the CAD e100 or RØDE NT1 was around at the time. The original Oktava Mk 329 actually sounded a lot better than a U87 on a couple of albums that I did. And the Shure was always a disappointment. Love Jordan's advice, but I've gotta say my preferences are very different when it comes to that mic. Next the the U47 and U87, I think it's one of the most over rated mics there are. I don't even think it sounds good for vlogging compared to many less expensive options.

Jordan, you almost have me convinced to buy an SM7B just to try it out! I have a huge mic locker for vocals already though. For toms, I prefer the Audix D4's over the 604's but I don't dislike the 421's on toms. The size of the 421's make them harder to place on a kit and I don't always trust the drummer too not hit them during a take. I don't dislike the sound of the 604's necessarily but themounts are flimsy and cause the mic to move a lot whenever the drummer hits the tom it's mounted to. As far as the SDC's go, I couldn't dislike the SM81's more.. I like the KM137's. Alternatively, the Sennheiser 614's or the Audix ADX51's are good choices. I'm really surprised you're not a bigger fan of Audix mics for drum tracking for heavy music! Great video as always! -Art ACP Audio

I have the SM7b and the Warm wa87 and the Avantone CV12 and a Rode NT1000 and all of them are under $700. It’s not the mic....it’s who’s in front of the mic

I would take e604s or nice condensers (414 or josephsons) on toms over 421s any day.

Any good ribbon mics to mix with a sm57 for electric guitar ? Less expensive thant Royer 121

Agreed! I’ve been using sm7 and 81s for years.

Sir, I'm commenting from Trinidad and Tobago, in the Caribbean . Your video was really great. Can you recommend some affordable, but acceptable condenser and shotgun microphones, for voice over please . I've just started out, so I can't afford any microphone above $300. Thanking you in advance . Also, do you have an email address I can use to communicate with you.

i like to use the sm7b on toms but for vocals i prefer the sm57

Hi-I like your philosophy! And enjoyed your video. I’m a cellist, and my AKG 220 LDC sounds scratchy and harsh, not smooth and warm like I’d like. Any suggestions for a mic that would sound good for me to try, and no more money?

The 604's are nothing compared to the 421's. They are nice though, for live applications.