$30 DIY Shure SM7B Microphone!

I made a 3D printed Shure SM7B microphone for $30 and it SOUNDS AMAZING! See how it compares to the real SM7B and how you can make your own DIY version for $30 to $100.

GEAR MENTIONED

This project takes handheld dynamic microphones like the Shure SM58 and Behringer Ultravoice XM8500 and adapts them to an SM7B style microphone.

VIDEO CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
0:26 The SM7B Adapter
1:00 Similarities to SM58
2:06 Mod vs Real SM7B
2:46 Parts Needed
4:36 SM58 Super Budget Option
4:52 Putting Everything Together
5:51 DIY vs Real SM7B Sound Test
6:55 SM7B vs SM58 vs XM800
8:18 Bonus Mod and Conclusion

DISCLAIMERS & AFFILIATIONS

This video was not paid for by outside persons or manufacturers. No gear was supplied to me for this video. The content of this video and my opinions were not reviewed or paid for by any outside persons.

#3dprinting #Microphone

[MichaelVBitoyStory]

Maybe you should sell it as a KIT that includes all the screws and whatnot for convenience.

[Barnacules]

I was just on live stream telling people that I should 3D model a case for the SM58 since they are the same internals and here we find your video where you did exactly that and it sounds exactly the same! What a freaking deal to get a $400 microphone for $135 all in and you're only really out a metal housing and the hi pass and low pass filter thing on the back that nobody uses because everyone is going to DSP that stuff. What a freaking amazing deal!

[dslrvideoshooter]

Original Pinned Comment: Don't get me wrong, the SM7B is a legend and sounds incredible while being built to last. That said, if you want the look and sound without the price tag this alternative is great. Not to mention, you can have several for the price of one SM7B!

[patricksharpe]

The SM7B had a slightly better high frequency response when compared to the SM58, The SM58 had a darker tone with a reduced high frequency response compared to the SM7B, and the Ultra Voice had a punchier mid range that lacked the lower frequency response of the SM58 or the SM7B. At least that's my impression from the video tests. Such a great little mod DSLR Video Shooter and also what a fantastic use case for 3D printing in general. Awesome video! 💖

[ShatterinSpider]

Amazing, I can only imagine the clarity with audio filters to tune it up. It can probably be done near identical, but the XM800 was actually my favorite sound, it had just the right amount of pop in my ears with clarity. I feel like once it's used in obs with proper gain sounds and audio filtering it can be insane.

[AndrewDeer]

It should be noted that the fact that SM58 allows closer proximity to the diaphragm is NOT a flaw. It serves to trigger so-called Proximity effect, where if the source of sound gets close to the diaphragm, there is a sudden build-up of lower frequencies. Singers use this effect to acquire sort of a intimate, smooth voice (usually in verses) which they can use to add emotion to their performance.

[matt_berg_media]

This is sick! Can’t wait to try it out and compare one of my 58s. I modded a 57 years ago but it disappeared in somebody’s pocket at some point. Thank you!

[feverishcully]

Something to consider that could affect the sound quality under certain conditions. The 3D printed shell and grill were designed as an aesthetic modification, and essentially acts as mic holder. The metal head basket (Grill) on metal microphones are connected to ground from pin 1 on the xlr, shielding the sensitive internal components from EMI and RFI. Removing the head basket from the sm58 means the capsule isn't shielded and no matter how identical the 3D print is to sm7b, it's plastic and can't be grounded. Setting the mic up close to noisy electronic's like power supplies and computers will pick up feed back, same as any large ungrounded metal objects and incoming cell signals. Best bet is keeping the sm58 intact, intall it in the new shell without the plastic grill, and put the sm7b foam over the sm58's grill.

[joeyo]

For anyone who doesn’t watch all the way to the end, he mentions something EXTREMELY important- you can remove the transformer from the 58 to get even closer to a real SM7B

[geraldundone]

This is really clever, Caleb. Great idea and great video! 👍

[MuazOsman]

The real DIY hacks we need in this filmmaking life!
this is a great money saver and a surely budget option for so many people and so many uses.
Thank you!

[vanquestgear]

This is the new content you've been hinting to and I'm here for it! The XM8500 actually sounds pretty great, especially considering the cost difference. This might change my upcoming portable podcast set up!

[shortymcsteve]

As a recording engineer with a background in microphone design - this video, and the comments are absolutley baffling to me. People, please do not waste your time doing this. You're going to introduce some issues by placing your perfectly good SM58 into this housing. If you really hate the look, buy an SM57 + the 'presidential' foam windscreen. You do not need an SM7b for your podcast or whatever you're doing. Every studio I've ever stepped foot in around the planet has always had multiple SM57/8's for a reason. Proudly enjoy them like your favourite musicians do, there's no need to pretend they're something else.

[DirkWerning]

Great video. Thanks. I could really not tell much of a difference between the SM7B and the SM58 and the SM58 is a true workhouses I used in my past life as a sound guy.

[lucashylandgames]

Just finished to print mine, months after watching this video and having it in my mind, and well, the results were exactly the same as in the video, I printed the UltraVoice version and compared to the SM7B, I can hear the difference, but for like 35 bucks in total it is insane! you could literally buy the 3d printer, in my case resin, the mic, print it and still would invest $100 to $150 less than the SM7B! thank you so much for this video!

[mryechkin]

Thank you SO MUCH for this!! Been using this with my SM-57 for a few months now, and it 's perfect. For the money this is as good as it's gonna get for me. I was using the SM57 with the A81WS foam cover for awhile - and while it also sounded great, I wasn't a big fan of the look. When I saw this video, I knew I had to give it a shot. Got the factory SM7B foam, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

[Featherlightstudio]

Love the 3D printed case! The differences between the 3 mics become a lot more apparent when used in actual recording circumstances, as the response to sound pressure changes. But for casual use, the 58 and SM7b are definitely in the ballpark. Even closer if you add a little EQ. Great video idea Caleb!

[tombuck]

Brilliant! Really shows how close the 58 and SM7B are. Plus anytime you can incorporate 3D printing into a project, it’s a win 👍

[masonlakephoto]

Just put one of these together. Sounds amazing! I was almost shouting in my room & it picked up no reverb or echo. Amazing! I'll be sure to share your channel to others 😊

[RaindropWorksPDX]

Hey, so made this device for a friend (I don't have the mic, but they do), and few things I've noticed:
1- The base is really solid and has been something of a joy to mess around with.
2- The screw for holding the mic in place, I can't see how it can be an M4x16 screw. Fully screwed in the screw doesn't make it inside the hole at all. An M4x20 appears to fit the bill perfectly, with M4x16s for the mount
3- The grill is a bit structurally weak. I printed at .15 layer height on a Prusa MK3S+ to minimize bridging, but the problem I see I think will be about the same no matter what layer height (and to a lesser extent no matter the filament/temp). The walls are only two perimeters wide and because of all the holes there's next to no grip. Makes it very easy to snap. I'm no sound engineer, and with my hearing issues I hesitate to even think audiophile level, but I'm wondering at the idea of doubling the thickness of the grill wall to give something more of a grip for the filament and/or changing the grill design to be less of a thin sheet of holes and more a brace for the foam cover.

It's definitely something I'd be willing to discuss more and do testing with in the future, but at the moment I'm horribly inexperienced with making/modifying STL files, so I'm not sure how helpful I'd be