Shure’s SM7 vocal mic for recording applications was introduced in 1976, which hardly makes it vintage, but it is a mic (available today at SM7B) with an amazing history.

Case in Point: Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking album “Thriller”.  Quincy Jones and recording engineer Bruce Swedien used an SM7 for most of Michael’s vocals and according to legend, all of Vincent Price’s.

In the fall of 2008, Shure Associate Dave Mendez was researching the use of Shure microphones in world-famous recordings. One of his first interviews: Bruce Swedien. 

Here’s what Dave discovered: not only did Bruce have vivid memories of the SM7 used in those sessions, he still had it.  As in possessed it and knew where it was.   Sadly, it had been rendered signal-less in an accident.  Could Shure bring it back to life?

Dave returned to Shure headquarters and placed the ailing mic in the capable hands of technician John Wubker, who performed major surgery on the 25-year old vocal mic.  The repaired, renewed and ready-for-recording mic was returned to an appreciative Bruce Swedien.   “John Wubker was able to bring that microphone back to life so it could be used again for its intended purpose”, noted Dave, “to capture the kind of vocal magic that Bruce and Quincy were able to capture some 25 years ago on the Thriller album.“

According to Shure Artist Relations Associate Ryan Smith, “It continues to be used on major recordings, both as the lead vocal mic and on other applications — guitar amp, bass amp, kick drum, hi-hat, snare drum, horns, and many more.  There are many high profile artists and engineers who love this mic for those applications.

For instance, the lead singer of Red Hot Chili Peppers has used the SM7B of numerous recordings for his vocals, including the last record, which won several GRAMMYs.”

3D Audio Puts the SM7B to the Test

Today’s SM7B has been updated from earlier models with an improved bracket design that offers greater stability.  But is the “original still the greatest”?  When manufacturers retool a classic, is anything lost in the translation?

Lynn Fuston, host of 3D Audio’s Recording Forum put a 20-year-old SM7 and a brand new SM7B to the test. 

Listen
(SM7 and SM7B through Millennia HV-3D preamp.)

SM7 through MM preamp

SM7B through MM preamp

Look

Exact same vocal performance with both mics equidistant from my mouth. (See graph below.) Same gain. Both mics set flat.

“I am surprised that the SM7 has more upper mids, since the SM7B seemed brighter to my ear. I guess I noticed the 4-8K boost on the SM7 less than the 8K and up where the SM7B is definitely hotter.

Honestly, it's shocking how close the two are, considering probably twenty years difference in their date of manufacture: identical from 150 to 3K.”

To check more of Lynn’s audio threads, visit www.3daudioinc.com.  You can purchase comparison CDs at his online store - www.3daudioinc.com/catalog/

DISCLAIMER: Samples from the two mics that Lynn Fuston used may not be representative of all SM7 and SM7B mics.