In this MASSIVE Microphone Shootout we compare 6 large dynamic microphones. Audio-Technica BP40 vs Electro-Voice RE320 vs Shure SM7B vs Heil PR40 vs Rode Procaster vs Art D7.
To help provide samples for multiple use cases, the test is run 3 times – once with the raw audio, another with some enhancement by the DBX286, another with the raw audio and compression added in post-production and another with the DBX286 enhancements plus compression in post-production.
Finally, there’s also a noise-reduction test run two times – once with the raw audio, and looped again with some compression.
We hope this helps you. Timecodes below.
1:11 – Shootout begins
1:11 – TEST #1 START – RAW SOUND (DBX286 INSERT)
1:12 – Audio-Technica BP40 Raw Sound
1:20 – Electro-Voice RE320 Raw Sound
1:27 – Shure SM7B Raw Sound
1:35 – Heil PR40 Raw Sound
1:43 – Rode Procaster Raw Sound
1:51 – Art D7 Raw Sound
2:00 – TEST #2 STARTS – DBX286 ENHANCEMENT
2:01 – Audio-Technica BP40 DBX286 Enhanced
2:09 – Electro-Voice RE320 DBX286 Enhanced
2:17 – Shure SM7B DBX286 Enhanced
2:24 – Heil PR40 DBX286 Enhanced
2:32 – Rode Procaster DBX286 Enhanced
2:40 – Art D7 DBX286 Enhanced
2:49 – TEST #3 START – RAW SOUND PLUS POST PRODUCTION COMPRESSION
2:50 – Audio-Technica BP40 Raw Sound + Compression
2:58 – Electro-Voice RE320 Raw Sound + Compression
3:06 – Shure SM7B Raw Sound + Compression
3:14 – Heil PR40 Raw Sound + Compression
3:21 – Rode Procaster Raw Sound + Compression
3:28 – Art D7 Raw Sound + Compression
3:38 – TEST #4 BEGINS – DBX286 ENHANCEMENT PLUS POST PRODUCTION COMPRESSION
3:39 – Audio-Technica BP40 DBX286 Enhanced + Compression
3:48 – Electro-Voice RE320 DBX286 Enhanced + Compression
3:55 – Shure SM7B DBX286 Enhanced + Compression
4:04 – Heil PR40 DBX286 Enhanced + Compression
4:10 – Rode Procaster DBX286 Enhanced + Compression
4:18 – Art D7 DBX286 Enhanced + Compression
4:27 – NOISE REJECTION TESTS BEGIN
4:27 – Side of Microphone Test with Raw Sound (DBX286 Insert)
5:02 – Back of Microphone Test with Raw Sound (DBX286 Insert)
5:21 – Typing and Talking Test with Raw Sound (DBX286 Insert)
5:55 – Side of Microphone Test with Raw Sound (DBX286 Insert) PLUS COMPRESSION
6:30 – Back of Microphone Test with Raw Sound (DBX286 Insert) PLUS COMPRESSION
6:50 – Typing and Talking Test with Raw Sound (DBX286 Insert) PLUS COMPRESSION
7:24 – Tests Conclude
Cool video Stephen.
The best sounding mic here was the RE320 (overall) and the PR40 (in its RAW state).
You sounded off mic with the SM7B though, that mic has a much more specific sweet spot which requires being right on the mic.
What was really obvious was how much better EV’s Plosives resistance is compared to all the other mics incl. the ProCaster, which was surprising, but still good to know.