It was used in broadcasting for its warm and clear tone that complements the human voice.
Initially, the SM7B was known as the Shure SM7. It can boost the volume of your audio signal up to 25dB in most cases. A Cloudlifter takes phantom power instead of an external DC power source. Is Cloudlifter A Preamp?Ī cloudlifter is essentially a preamp but it works in a different way than a normal preamp does. It is unlikely that you’ll need a Cloudlifter with an SM7B, but these devices do give you a lot more of a “clean” boost before the signal hits your interface or mixer.Ī Cloudlifter or “in-line preamp” can be very useful for situations where the preamps on your interface just aren’t cutting it. With, modern technology and an audio interface that’s at least $100, you can bet on not needing a standalone preamp for your SM7B. It depends on your situation but people who say you NEED one might be remembering the not-too-distant past where audio interface preamps were sub-par at best. I also rent a studio where we have an SM7B – we have preamps but it doesn’t need them either. I have a Shure SM7B and a budget audio interface and the built-in preamp works fine for me. Yes, you do need an amp for a Shure SM7B, but you don’t necessarily need a standalone preamp. To read more about how these mics stack up, check out our article Shure SM7B vs MV7 (Mic Shootout & Comparison). It doesn’t quite have the same sound as an SM7B but it may be all you need. If you don’t want the hassle of an audio interface, you can look at the Shure MV7, which connects to your computer via USB. As we’ve already seen in this article, audio interfaces have built-in preamps, so an interface is good enough for most people. Yes, the Shure SM7B needs an audio interface if you want to record with it on your computer.
Sending phantom power to a ribbon microphone can cause permanent damage so be careful here. In some cases, phantom power can damage preamps and other equipment however, dynamic microphones like the SM7B are unlikely to be damaged. It is advised, however, to turn off phantom power before connecting equipment such as microphones, line-in instruments, and monitors. No, phantom power does not damage a Shure SM7B. The SM7B does not require phantom power because it is not a condenser microphone. An interface will often incorporate one or more preamps in its design.įor a more in-depth look at this, check out our guide to Audio Interface vs Preamp. Simply put, a preamp amplifies a signal while an interface connects to a computer to facilitate recording and playback. No, an interface is not the same as a preamp but will have a built-in preamp. FAQs Is An Interface The Same As A Preamp?
#PRE AMP MIC PROFESSIONAL#
To be able to record at a quality level with the Shure SM7B, I’d recommend simply purchasing an audio interface with a built-in preamp.Īny of the options listed here will be great, but if you are a vocalist working with music or a mix engineer recording vocalists for music, I’d recommend a dedicated preamp for that professional touch. Podcasters, professional streamers, and content creators of all types can rely on the SM7B for its warm, clear tone and professional looks. Shure’s SM7B is a great all-around microphone that just happens to be particularly well-suited to voices. This is probably your best budget preamp for the SM7B but its features may be lacking for some.įor example, if you want to record guitar and sing at the same time, the UMC-22 won’t be enough with its single input. The Behringer UMC-22 is very similar to the UMC-202, except it is a little bit cheaper and features only 1 mic input instead of 2. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Gen) (Best Value) This will generally result in a noisier signal compared to a dedicated preamp, but this noise will still be low enough for most applications.
If you’re using a dynamic microphone like the Shure SM7B with your audio interface preamps, you’ll need to crank them up nearly to the max. This means they are designed to give you control over the input gain over whatever you’re recording, and not much else. Keep in mind that the preamps on audio interfaces are generally quite utilitarian. Best Audio Interfaces For SM7B (With Preamps!)Īs mentioned earlier, a dedicated preamp is not essential and if you are just doing basic podcasting or voiceover work, then an audio interface will suffice. So, if you’re after clean, transparent gain without breaking the bank, the sE Electronics DM1 Dynamite is a great option. The company claims that the DM1 Dynamite only produces half of the noise of any of its competitors on the market, and many reviewers seem to confirm this.
The cheapest option on this list, the DM1 Dynamite packs 28 decibels of gain into its small design.
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