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The Shure SM7B is a very popular microphone, but for a remote meetings use case I'd suggest starting with a quality XLR capable audio interface (this is a requi

The Shure SM7B is a very popular microphone, but for a remote meetings use case I'd suggest starting with a quality XLR capable audio interface (this is a requirement for the 7B anyway) and a Shure SM57 mic. The reason I suggest not starting with an SM7B is because this microphone is expensive at nearly $400, and requires high quality mic preamps to get a proper signal out of the mic (often people add a $150 cloudlifter) which adds to the expense. The SM57 on the other hand is an excellent XLR dynamic microphone, used on countless recordings and live sound applications. It is super durable, and can be purchased used at around $50. Plus Shure makes an optional $20 foam windscreen for the SM57 called the "A2WS" which helps filter out pops and plosives, and makes the mic look similar to a 7b. There are many comparisons available on youtube to see if you can hear a $350 difference yourself, for example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFba93OLLig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFba93OLLig

meremortals 5y ago
any recommendations for a budget - midrange XLR interface?
- deeblering4 5y ago
  I'd recommend checking out the SSL2, Universal Audio Volt and Focusrite Scarlett. IMO always worth shopping used too. I'd avoid the super cheap Behringers, M-Audios, and the like. These will typically be noisy and have essentially no resale value in the future, while quality brands hold most of their value and can be re-sold later if/when upgrading.
  - meremortals 5y ago
    Thanks!
    - Acen 5y ago
      As a cheaper alternative, Presonus have some solid interfaces.
      - popinman322 5y ago
        Can confirm, my Presonus Audiobox works well enough and passes through just fine to the windows VM I use for AV stuff. Still needed another amp though.
    - mlac 5y ago
      I bought a behringer UMC-22 this week for ~$60. I went down a huge rabbit hole, and it seems like at about $120 you run into the focusrite Scarlett (solo, I needed two channels so $169), and for an upgrade of $20, you can get the new Universal Audio Volt II (again, I needed two channels, the solo channel is cheaper). My use case is remote guitar lessons. I need an instrument in and a microphone in. My Microphone is the Audio Technica ATR2100 I bought a few years back. After doing a lot of research, I bought the behringer with the agreement that if I use it enough and it’s a limiting factor on what I’m doing, I will upgrade to the UA Volt II when it actually is on sale and not just pre-order. But the limiting factor in my signal chain is the compression on Skype… so I just went with a cheapie interface it gets the job done. There is some noise I pick up when monitoring with Sony MDR-V6’s and I need the volume up pretty high to get good direct monitoring levels, but overall testing has gone well. Again, if I had a more important use case or I was recording, I’d spend for the focusrite or just wait for the UA Volt II. But this is “Streets Ahead” of just using a laptop mic with my electric guitar unplugged (or to my headphones) because my kid is sleeping. The other option I had was just to swap between microphone and guitar, but that made lessons awkward.
      - deeblering4 5y ago
        https://vdo.ninja https://vdo.ninja may provide better quality in terms of audio/video and lower latency than Skype. It's a different approach, and has more buttons/knobs, but provides a high quality and free solution supporting rooms and multiple participants. Can be incorporated into OBS as well for recording, streaming etc. I've found it to be a useful tool for connecting with musicians remotely.
meheleventyone 5y ago
I use a Shure PGA-48 with a windscreen with good results as well.
olivierlacan 5y ago
But I specifically do not recommend the Shure SM7B in the post, if you read it or even skip to my recommendation table toward the end of the post. I highly recommend the Rose NT-USB instead. No interface needed, live feedback in-mic with a headphone jack and return control (volume mix of computer sound vs. your own mic feedback), solid construction. It’s not the cheapest but it’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. I even demonstrate it in the post.
- deeblering4 5y ago
  Indeed, I wasn’t trying to say you did. Just my own experience regarding a low cost 7b alternative. Nice article.

meremortals 5y ago

any recommendations for a budget - midrange XLR interface?

deeblering4 5y ago
I'd recommend checking out the SSL2, Universal Audio Volt and Focusrite Scarlett. IMO always worth shopping used too. I'd avoid the super cheap Behringers, M-Audios, and the like. These will typically be noisy and have essentially no resale value in the future, while quality brands hold most of their value and can be re-sold later if/when upgrading.
- meremortals 5y ago
  Thanks!
  - Acen 5y ago
    As a cheaper alternative, Presonus have some solid interfaces.
    - popinman322 5y ago
      Can confirm, my Presonus Audiobox works well enough and passes through just fine to the windows VM I use for AV stuff. Still needed another amp though.
  - mlac 5y ago
    I bought a behringer UMC-22 this week for ~$60. I went down a huge rabbit hole, and it seems like at about $120 you run into the focusrite Scarlett (solo, I needed two channels so $169), and for an upgrade of $20, you can get the new Universal Audio Volt II (again, I needed two channels, the solo channel is cheaper). My use case is remote guitar lessons. I need an instrument in and a microphone in. My Microphone is the Audio Technica ATR2100 I bought a few years back. After doing a lot of research, I bought the behringer with the agreement that if I use it enough and it’s a limiting factor on what I’m doing, I will upgrade to the UA Volt II when it actually is on sale and not just pre-order. But the limiting factor in my signal chain is the compression on Skype… so I just went with a cheapie interface it gets the job done. There is some noise I pick up when monitoring with Sony MDR-V6’s and I need the volume up pretty high to get good direct monitoring levels, but overall testing has gone well. Again, if I had a more important use case or I was recording, I’d spend for the focusrite or just wait for the UA Volt II. But this is “Streets Ahead” of just using a laptop mic with my electric guitar unplugged (or to my headphones) because my kid is sleeping. The other option I had was just to swap between microphone and guitar, but that made lessons awkward.
    - deeblering4 5y ago
      https://vdo.ninja https://vdo.ninja may provide better quality in terms of audio/video and lower latency than Skype. It's a different approach, and has more buttons/knobs, but provides a high quality and free solution supporting rooms and multiple participants. Can be incorporated into OBS as well for recording, streaming etc. I've found it to be a useful tool for connecting with musicians remotely.

meheleventyone 5y ago

I use a Shure PGA-48 with a windscreen with good results as well.

olivierlacan 5y ago

But I specifically do not recommend the Shure SM7B in the post, if you read it or even skip to my recommendation table toward the end of the post. I highly recommend the Rose NT-USB instead. No interface needed, live feedback in-mic with a headphone jack and return control (volume mix of computer sound vs. your own mic feedback), solid construction. It’s not the cheapest but it’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. I even demonstrate it in the post.

deeblering4 5y ago
Indeed, I wasn’t trying to say you did. Just my own experience regarding a low cost 7b alternative. Nice article.