These two mics are the alpha and the omega of dynamic microphones. As a comparison without both in front of a person, its hard to describe them.Both are excellent.The 421 may be a bit more versatile in that it will reproduce a bit more of a variety of sources more acurately.As for voice, when I had one at my disposal, the SM7 never left the stand and made a lot of voices sound great even in the company of a couple of older U87i's,a U67, and a Sony Condenser.As with all dynamics, a great preamp can bring these to a level unimagined without it.

I agree with DaDog. The 421 is a more flexable and more often usefull mic. I've used the 421 for vocals, guitar, bass, drums, horns in live PA/FOH and for recording many times with great results. The SM7 is one of those mics that you get specific for voice over work or that you get down the road to complete an already basic filled mic locker.

Johnny, if you have any issues with sibilance,
the SM7 may well turn out to be one the for you
among these two choices.

Sometimes a MD421 will bring that out, and the
new MKII version is considerably brighter than
the prior 421's.

If you don't, then also consider the Beyer M88.

It can be also used as a hand held microphone
in live performance BTW.

Chris

I was talking to the guy from Cello Studios and he said he used the SM7 exclusivly on Steven Tyler, Bon Scott and many others. As a side note the signal path was,sm7, Neve 1073, LA2a,to a pultec...or vise versa..but you probably could have guessed that one ...good luck they're both nice mics.

also just too throw in a RE20 is also a nice mic to have in your locker if you don't own one. Its great on gritier voices, expecaily when working with agressive blues vocals.

At this point my best pre is a Joe Meek Vc1Q which so far is yielding decent results with a 57 on guitar and less ok reuslts on vocals with an NT1000,the vocals are bright and a little thin sounding.The NT1000 has sounded quite good on my Martin D-28 through the Meek,bright but not thin.

I have a bluesish voice but in the sense of a Nick Cave or a Jim Morrison,not a Screamin Jay Hawkins or Big Joe Turner.My voice is pretty wooly.I read that Sprinsteen recorded the vocals to Darkness On the Edge of Town with an SM7,that's close to what I'm after.

I don't have issues with sibalence and will likely go with the 421,though I have this sneeking suspician that the SM7 is the vocal mic for me.

I have both and I like both on my voice. I've not tried the SM-7 on a guitar amp, but apparently Sum 41 use them live on their guitar amps.

If you're going to end up with a "collection" then you'll probably get each of the dynamic mics in this thread: M88, RE 20, SM-7, MD-421. If you want to hear them before committing to one, pm me-- I'm in New Jersey too.

I understand the Soundstar MK-II is Beyer's rival for this group.

My choices would be among the Beyer M-88 and the Sennheiser 441. But I already own a few 421s. The RE-20 is also a nice choice.

Bill

from DaveDog:

As with all dynamics, a great preamp can bring these to a level unimagined without it.

Could you give some examples of pre's where this 'added magic' starts to take place ?

I'm currently in Mackie/Beh.-preamp territory
and am curious which decent but modestly priced pre's would give that extra for my 421/441/57.
Preamp models that can be DIYed would be even greater.

Thanks,

Peter

Could you give some examples of pre's where this 'added magic' starts to take place ?

Even something as simple as the Mindprint Envoice will bring out "the added magic"...and it just gets better as you go up the food chain.

Don't forget to consider the EV RE16 in your dynamic mic quest...they absolutley slay most of the lower/mid grade condensers, and have many vocal hits to their credit (Sinatra, Elvis later years, et al)

I also own/use the EV RE16 and the Beyer Soundstar MKII.

The free "mod" is to take the foam pop screen out
on a RE16 in order to get better clarity.
I have two, so that was done to one of them.

The Soundstar MKII sounds a LOT like the SM7.
Just doesn't have the tone flexibility of the
SM7, as that has the on board EQ options.

Harvey Gerst tipped me off to these BTW.
He just bought one (he has three now) that used to be mine. I kept one. Big sleeper like the RE's.

Chris

Don't eat for a month and buy both. ;-)

I would get the 421 first, but as has been sed, you'll likely end up with both someday. You're making good choices, though: both will useful long term....