SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone

I would not buy a Cloudlifter just so I can use a mediocre mic like the Samson S9U. Seems like a waste of money. I would not buy an SM7B or SM7DB just for work calls and gaming. That’s ballpark $500 just so your coworkers and gaming buddies can hear you. People want the SM7B because we are living in an era of peak SM7B hype… every streamer and podcaster seems to use one. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good mic, but you shouldn’t buy an expensive mic just for the hype. Get a Røde NT1 or AT2035 or similar large-diaphragm condenser under $200. These all have higher sensitivity, which means you can turn the gain down on your audio interface. You’ll sound clear and the mic will work great with your interface. IMO, spending $400 instead of $200 doesn’t get you a much better mic. Most of the really good-sounding mics cost somewhere north of $700, with a few excellent, less-expensive dynamics below that price point (but you need more gain to use them).

Anything can be both great and overrated, including the 7b. It is a great mic, it works in a lot of places just fine. It is not, however, a "just get this mic no matter who you are and you'll get amazing results" type of microphone. And if you think that isnt what hobbyists and amateurs see it as, you're just not talking to these people enough. It's good for the price, it can generally take eq well, and on some voices andsounds it's genuinely good. but it's not a mic everybody needs to own. That doesn't make it not great though.

Got both at home and I tend to prefer the RE20. It feels flatter to my heara when I listen back to my recordings.

Yeah, this is probably the way I’d go to. They’re used on every podcast ever for a reason - good reproduction but super directional. Great metal vocal mic too if you ever decide to go that way.

I used to love the RE20 for everything. Hell, I even influenced its history. But more often than not, I prefer the SM7B.

On some occasions, it has won on vocals against U87s, a C12, an R44, 4038 and every other mic in my cabinet. I am always impressed when i try it out.

Agree with your whole take on the MD421. For the SM7B, we differ. I quite love that mic on many sources. In some contexts, I choose it over many classic condenser mics (U87s, C414s, C12, ribbons, etc.) I generally prefer it over my once revered three RE20s. It feels more relaxed. It has grown on me.

In addition to what everyone else suggested, I’d definitely recommend you use the legendary Shure SM7B for recording. It’s not the cheapest microphone but defo not expensive for what you get, it’s a real workhorse. It’s dynamic, so more directional, and picks up less ambient noise, while delivering condenser-like quality recordings. That’s the one I use, with very little insulation in the room and a a noisy street outfront, and it doesn’t pick up too much rubbish.

SM7B with noise gate. But also, sound treatment can be as easy and temporary as a blanket hung up. Maybe look into some cheap and temporary ways to provide sound treatment, but the SM7B with noise gate and close proximity will cut out a ton of noise.