In the world of professional broadcasting and recording, the dynamic microphone, Shure SM7B, has been the industry standard for a long time. The vast majority of users do not have a full appreciation for one of the most essential features of the SM7B, and that is changeable mic plates. Now, with the recent introduction of the SM7dB, this concept is taken to another level! Understanding mic plates and how they affect your sound can substantially elevate your recording quality.
What Are Mic Plates?
Mic plates, also sometimes referred to as presence boost plates or EQ plates, are removable metal parts found behind a microphone's grille. They each have acoustical cavities and filtering components designed to change the frequency response of the microphone. You can think of them as a built-in hardware EQ that changes the way the microphone picks up the sound, instead of applying digital processing afterward.
The SM7B Plate System
The SM7B has two different plates you can swap out with ease:
Flat Response Plate (Default)
The flat response plate gives you the SM7B's signature sound that's made it the favorite of broadcast studios around the world. The plate gives a fairly flat frequency response with just a touch of presence enhancement around the 5-9 kHz, which makes the sound sound like it is coming from a speaker in the room rather than an abstract distant capsule with no air. This plate is able to work for a majority of vocal applications—everything from podcasting to music recording.
Presence Boost Plate
The presence boost plate increases the high-frequency response much more, adding roughly 3-4 dB of boost in the upper midrange with treble frequencies (roughly 4-10 kHz). This plate is advised when you are recording speakers with more depth in their voices or to give yourself a big start in terms of clarity and articulation in your recordings. You can register the extra boost in dense mixes in particular when it may provide space for the vocal line to cut through to make their words more intelligible when banded into broadcast applications.
The SM7dB—The New Revolution
The SM7dB is a new evolution of the iconic SM7B. While it retains the same dimensions and mounting capabilities, the SM7dB employs a more sophisticated mounting plate system.
New Mounting Plate Features
The SM7dB employs completely redesigned mounting plates that provide better frequency shaping capability. The engineering advancements provide better control over the tone of the microphone while still providing very close to the natural sound that the SM7B was famous for.
Improved Low-End Handling
Another of the more notable advancements in the SM7dB is its improved handling of low frequencies. The new mounting plates play a role in this, along with the updated internal components, to provide cleaner bass response and less unwanted proximity effect, helping it to be less fussy when close-miking.
How to Change Plates
Changing the plates on both microphones is simple:
Unscrew the front grille, turning it in a counterclockwise direction.
- Gently remove the existing plate.
- Insert the new plate, making sure you are putting it facing the right direction.
- Screw the grille back clockwise.
- It should take no longer than a minute to do the whole process, and the only tools you need are your hands.
When to Use Each Plate
Use the Flat Response Plate when:
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You are recording music vocals or instruments.
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Your voice has a good natural presence.
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You're in a well-treated acoustic space.
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You are okay with adding EQ in post.
Use the Presence Boost Plate when:
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You're broadcasting or podcasting from an untreated room.
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Your voice is lacking high-end natural content.
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You are recording dialogue that needs to cut through background noise.
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The speaker you are recording tends to mumble or has trouble articulating.
Technical Considerations
The plate system will affect more than frequency response. Different plates can change the polar pattern and sensitivity of a microphone slightly. Typically, the presence boost plate makes the microphone somewhat more sensitive in the high frequencies, but with the same overall pickup pattern as the other plates.
It is important to remember that these plates will work best when they are matched to your voice and the recording environment. What is optimal for one person could be suboptimal for another, so trying different combinations is critical.
Conclusion
The mic plate system from both the SM7B and the SM7dB has shown careful engineering, with both systems providing users with hardware control over sound. Rather than using only a digital EQ, the mic plate will contribute acoustic shaping that can improve how your recordings sound at the source. If you're a podcaster, broadcaster, or musician, understanding and using the mic plates can make your life easier and allow you to achieve a more professional sound with significantly less post-processing. The SM7dB takes the mic plate system one step further, as you can now refine how the mic will react to any audio situation that you deem appropriate for a professional application. For users looking for accessories or maintenance solutions, keep in mind that a proper shure sm7db & sm7b mic cover can also play a role in protecting your mic while maintaining sound clarity.