Comparing Shure SM7B with and without a Cloudlifter

When purchasing a Shure SM7B you usually are faced with the decision of pairing it with a mic activator like the cloud microphones cl-1 or cl-2 in order to boost your audio gain before the preamp. In this video I do a direct comparison of the Shure SM7B with and without the Cloudlifter going into the zoom h6 and the zoom h4n.

@javiermercedesx

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[JavierMercedes]

Which one sounds better and do you think it a Cloudlifter is worth it?

[sassulusmagnus]

I have that combo. The real benefit of the Cloudlifter with an SM7B is appreciated when you want to use the SM7B with a preamp that either doesn't have enough gain or doesn't have a low enough noise floor. For spoken word voice-over it may not make a huge difference, but with stacked vocals in a mix it does.

[tuffycampbell]

I love your dedication to re-enacting the intro every time. Quality side by side comparison! Thanks :)

[MikeEdwardsphotography]

I never understood the purpose of a Cloudlifter. Now I do. Thanks Javier.

[Zactivist]

Just going to get a cloudlifter! Your video helped me make the call! For my setup, too much noise without it, and even at full gain on my Scarlett 2i2, barely can get a signal with my SM7B. I have to practically eat the mic to get a decent sound without messing a lot with the recording.

[BlendedFamilyMan]

The lesson I needed from the friend I didn't even know I had. I just ordered a Cloudlifter. Thanks!

[isaiah]

I heard some bass in your voice with the cloudlifter

[kristysensei]

this demonstration was fantastic. your videos are clear, concise, and excellently put together. thank you, kind sir for this glorious contribution to the internet.

[plumdog]

Not a lot of difference when using the first interface, but when you swapped to the older zoom with less gain there was a huge difference in adding the cloud lifter

[tsalami]

This was very informative! The SM7B with the cloudlifter was definitely the better sound one of the two!

[AndrewTanielian]

Thank you for making this and for also testing the Zoom H4N after you showed the H6N. I have the H4N and appreciated you taking the time!

[thephunhouse]

I was on the fence for the CloudLifter. This video pretty much sealed the deal. Ordered! Thank you, Javi! Eres un monstro!

[computerlen]

The Cloudlifter is amazing. I have so far wired up the circuitry and made two of my own.

[gravelfreeman]

I've literally bough the CL-2 while listening to your video, thanks!

[shawncoleman]

I was surprised how subtle the difference is. There's a little more bass and presence with the Cloudlifter; it sounds a bit more EQ'd. But I feel like could replicate that in the box on the non-Cloudlifter. Great video, thanks!

[Kelarys]

I'm about to finally upgrade to this mic and you confirmed that I absolutely do want the CL2. Noise floor has been my archnemesis lol

[CYMotorsport]

SHEESH, finally. thank you. someone who actually went through the trouble of doing it rather just cavalierly shutting down no cloudlifter. I've already made the choice and purchased but good content deserves shoutouts so super well done keep pushing you deserve much, much more.

[iamantoniofernandez]

Thank you for this video! Definitely helped clarify my purchase desision.

[PixelPurist]

Awesome comparison Javier, this really helps illustrate how big of a difference something like this makes to a recording 👍
I bought a Fethead for my h4n setup a few years back, and I used to have so many recordings cranked up almost to 100, but now I'm at a much lower volume where I don't have to deal with the insane hiss from the h4n's preamps.

[Afterburner]

I run a SM7B with a Cloudlifter and a DBX 286s noise gate - It just works SO great in my primary studio! I am getting a second SM7B and of course, a Cloudlifter is standard kit for the SM7B ;>)