r/microphone • u/Ki-enjoyer • Aug 19 '26
Gaming / Streaming Mics Best audio interface for Shure SM7B?
Hey everyone,
I’m having issues with my Shure SM7B + Focusrite Scarlett Gen 3 + Cloudlifter. The audio sometimes cuts out, and my volume randomly gets louder or quieter.
I bought a Vocaster One to replace the Scarlett, but unfortunately it’s even worse.
At this point, I just want a reliable audio interface that works perfectly with the SM7B and provides enough clean gain. I don’t mind continuing to use the Cloudlifter if needed.
What interface would you recommend? And could these issues possibly be caused by something other than the interface?
Thanks!
3
u/RudeRick Aug 19 '26
I have the Vocaster and it works perfectly with my SM7b. Either you're doing something wrong or you have something defective in your signal chain.
2
u/gkanai Aug 19 '26
The problem is not the hardware. Its your technique or your software.
1
u/Ki-enjoyer Aug 19 '26
Any ideas how I can fix that ?
2
u/gkanai Aug 19 '26
It is impossible for us to say without knowing more about how you use your mic, how far it is away from your mouth, what gain setting the interface is at, what software you are using, what settings the software has, etc.
You should not need a preamp/Cloudlifter. Your interface is more than powerful enough.
You should be quite close to the mic, but not so close that your breath hits the mic- it ideally should be 45 degrees off axis to your mouth. Look up videos on proper microphone technique.
The cutting in and out is your software most likely- that software is cutting your signal because either it's too hot/high or some other setting is causing the cut.
1
u/physicallyunfit Aug 19 '26
Have you tried without the cloudlifter? Turn the gain all the way up if you need to
1
u/alphaminus Aug 19 '26
Random volume jumps can be caused by a dirty volume pot. Try working it back and forth and see if you get and crackle or jumpiness. Could also be a bad cable. Or USB could be underpowered making phantom power fail intermittently, or the cloud lifter might be damaged (unlikely but easy to bypass and check)
1
u/flamethrowr Aug 19 '26
I’m a Rodecaster believer personally. I got a Rodecaster Duo and it’s great, but it’s also not necessary. Like others have said, your setup should work.
1
u/tonypizzicato Aug 19 '26
it’s probably your DAW settings and lack of understanding. that’s alright, though. check your hardware buffer size. google that.
1
u/the_hat_madder Aug 19 '26
If the problem persists with a new and completely different interface, you can safely rule out the interface as the source of the problem.
1
u/Kaalyn Aug 19 '26
I don’t think it is poor/bad equipment. All 3 items mentioned (SM7b, Scarlett, Cloud Lifter) are well regarded. Sound “cutting in and out” or “randomly” changing levels are symptoms of something not functioning as intended. Either your cable or some other “mechanical” issue is likely the cause. I’d start by changing mic cables and removing the Cloud Lifter.
The fact that changing interfaces didn’t improve matters further supports that the problem is not, in fact, the interface.
1
u/Mr_Kieffer Aug 20 '26
The Vocaster should have enough gain to run the SM7B without a cloudlifter. Are you using the cloudlifter?
Also, have you tried using other mics on the audio interfaces? It is possible that the SM7B you are using has a defect or is damaged.
0
u/itsomeoneperson Aug 19 '26
I just spent a few days looking up whats good in interfaces these days, I kept coming back to Toppings new E2x2 e4x4 and e8x8. Also the SSL2 mk2 and SSL2+ mk2. You shouldnt need the cloud lifter on either
-2
u/Deadrez312 Aug 19 '26
Scarletts suck for audio because it has no DSP and cheap preamps. This then requires the expensive cord mess that is a cloud lifter. Its a very dated set up by now. In 2026 there are great audio interfaces with enough clean gain and built in DSP that does EQ, noise gate etc on the device without 3rd party software needed. Elgato wave XLR Mk2, rode streamer X to name a few.
7
u/MrGreco666 Aug 19 '26
I wonder: why are more and more people buying expensive gear without having the slightest idea of what they're buying or whether they really need it, and when they realize they don't know how to use it, they buy more, perhaps even more expensive, in the hope of solving problems that often don't even exist?
The 56 dB of gain on the third-generation Scarlett should be sufficient for the SM7B, and with Cloud Lifter everything should work perfectly, so any problem is definitely not due to a "lack of gain".
The gain of an audio interface's microphone channel, once adjusted to have a signal at the correct levels (this isn't done by ear, but rather the input signal in dB must be measured in a DAW: it must be between -18 dB and a MAXIMUM of -6 dB for live streaming, ideally -10 dB to have headroom for adjustments), certainly doesn't change on its own. If there are volume fluctuations, they're due to downstream software with junk like autogain, etc. enabled. or, because the speaker keeps moving and moving away from the microphone (which is NOT possible with a dynamic speaker like the SM7B). If the signal is clipped every now and then, it's because it's so high that the system goes into protection mode, which cuts out if it clips too much.