Gain for sm7b problem

[winterheadphone]

I have a 002 and am buying a sm7b. I've used one and wasn't able to get enough gain without noise. I'm, hopefully, getting a octopre(focusrite) or 8pre(motu) and still won't have enough gain. Everything I've read suggests that I need 70db+ in order to run the mic.

For 100$ I've seen the Fethead pre (gain booster).

Without buying an expensive tube pre(I wish), what else could I do? Has anyone used the fethead pre?

I don't have a lot of money.

Thanks in advance.

[Nelson89]

Ummm, i've just done a mic shoot out that i'll post in a second in another thread between the sm7b, nt1a, md421, cheap ribbon and sm58.

I've got a focusrite octopre mk ii dynamic that i'll play around with and let you know if it suits the sm7b, but i'll let you know now that in my test i used a UA710 which has about 73db of gain...but it wasn't turned up all that much...and i used about the same amount of gain for the sm7b as i did for the ribbon in the test, and i usually use the ribbon with the focusrite anyway...so it SHOULD have enough gain...

Give me about an hour and i'll let you know what happens

[Nelson89]

Ok, just compared it to my 710...while i'm probably sitting on about 9/10 on the focusrite, there doesn't seem to really be much noise. Very usable until you decide you wanna get a higher end pre. With the focusrite turned all the way up, the level peaks, so there's enough gain there i think.

I'm testing this with my vocals by the way...

[WKG]

I've got an SM7B an 003R and the fethead. I don't remember what the available gain is in the 002R but I use my SM7 with my 003R pres occasionally and it has enough for most things. It is pretty source dependent though and if it's soft vocals, acoustic guitar or other quieter sources you'll probably want more available gain. I don't think I'd want to be stuck with less than 60 DB for an SM7 for most stuff I do.

The fethead is an interesting little item and can come in pretty handy. It will give you about 20 DB extra but you have to be careful because although it is pretty quiet it will amplify any self noise from the mic/pre/phantom power. I've found that in my uses I can usually get about 5-8 DB additional gain out of it before I hit a noise level comparable to just jacking the pre up the all the way by itself without it. It definitely helps if you are using dynamic or ribbon mics on softer sources.

[Scott Whigham]

Originally Posted by winterheadphone

I have a 002 and am buying a sm7b. I've used one and wasn't able to get enough gain without noise. I'm, hopefully, getting a octopre(focusrite) or 8pre(motu) and still won't have enough gain. Everything I've read suggests that I need 70db+ in order to run the mic.

If you don't have a mic pre with 70db of gain, why buy the SM7B? FWIW I've never needed more than about 35db of gain for mine but I use it for spoken word and electric guitar.

[Nelson89]

Originally Posted by Scott Whigham

If you don't have a mic pre with 70db of gain, why buy the SM7B? FWIW I've never needed more than about 35db of gain for mine but I use it for spoken word and electric guitar.

i'm sure you're exaggerating a little here, as 35db of gain would be almost describing a hot mic...i.e. condenser...i only ever use about 35db of gain on my nt1a, however the sm7 i use about 50db of gain for voice and guitar, but its good to have some extra gain available just incase you wanna move back further from the mic etc.

35db of gain on the sm7 would be me singing high and loud and pretty much eating the mic...

[Scott Whigham]

It depends on the pre, of course. Maybe it's 35, -35, -20 - I'm not really sure actually. i know that on my Chandler TG2, if I had the amp cooking and the mic 1 7/8" off the grill, I'd have to have the TG2's gain on somewhere between 20 and 35 usually.



My LTD-1 is roughly the same.

[Nelson89]

haha...sorry to say, but if i were in dallas i would probably break into your place for that exact pre....haha....

I think you'll find the output section is probably providing a little bit more gain as well, like in my case i'm pretty sure i'm using about 55db of gain on the focusrite (which goes upto 60) but on my 710, the gain section is probably at about 6.5/10 and the output section at about 8.5/10...no idea how that translates into how much gain its giving the mic though...i can see you only needing a little bit of gain for a driving amp however...

i just want that chandler so much...i should start saving haha...

[Scott Whigham]

lol - you wouldn't find it 'cuz I sold it! It was awesome but, for tracking solo, instrumental guitar I felt the Neve 1073 was thicker and fuller. Since I can't afford a true Neve 1073, I went with the Chandler LTD-1. I want to add another pre now - just decided a few days ago - and it'll be either another Chandler LTD-1, a BAE 1073, a BAE 1084, or an Aurora GTQ2. Ahhhhhh, GAS!

And I meant to say that I always run my Chandler outputs 100%. I like the thickness/color it imparts. On your scale, I'd say that I'm running the TG2 and the LTD-1 probably like 3.5/10 with my SM7B. With my R121 it's more like 1.5/10 and 2.5/10.

[loudboy]

45-50dB is plenty for recording vocals. Less for electric guitars, bass amp or kick drum.

It's about the same output as a SM57 or 58, so try that first and see if your pre has enough gain for it. If it does, you''l be fine with an SM7.

[HammyD]

Originally Posted by WKG

I've got an SM7B an 003R and the fethead. I don't remember what the available gain is in the 002R but I use my SM7 with my 003R pres occasionally and it has enough for most things. It is pretty source dependent though and if it's soft vocals, acoustic guitar or other quieter sources you'll probably want more available gain. I don't think I'd want to be stuck with less than 60 DB for an SM7 for most stuff I do.

The fethead is an interesting little item and can come in pretty handy. It will give you about 20 DB extra but you have to be careful because although it is pretty quiet it will amplify any self noise from the mic/pre/phantom power. I've found that in my uses I can usually get about 5-8 DB additional gain out of it before I hit a noise level comparable to just jacking the pre up the all the way by itself without it. It definitely helps if you are using dynamic or ribbon mics on softer sources.

I just got mine for use with an AEA R84. I am not sure if I should have gotten the one with the highpass beginning at 200 as the ribbons are known for the proximity effect. We'll see!

[WKG]

Originally Posted by HammyD

I just got mine for use with an AEA R84. I am not sure if I should have gotten the one with the highpass beginning at 200 as the ribbons are known for the proximity effect. We'll see!

You can always add a highpass down the line if you need it, I'd rather have the choice.