The Shure SM7B – The Joe Rogan Microphone
The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast is one of the most popular podcasts in the world, with an average of 11 million listeners per episode and over 245 million YouTube views.
A beloved broadcaster, comedian, and all-around commentator, Joe Rogan knows exactly what it takes to make a high-quality podcast. But what gear does he count on?
Joe Rogan famously uses the popular Shure SM7B dynamic mic as his podcast microphone.
To my surprise, The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast is made using reasonably affordable equipment, in a studio setup that can be easily recreated by any amateur and up-and-coming podcaster.
In this article, I’ll be taking a look at Rogan’s trusted microphone, microphone arm, and headphones. Are these the ultimate recording and monitoring tools for podcasters? Are they worth the price? And what is it that makes them great?
Contents
Joe Rogan’s microphone: the Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone
Creating affordable, high-quality dynamic microphones is what Shure is all about. The SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone is one of the best in their catalog. While it’s specifically branded as a podcast microphone, the SM7B can also be used for music recording. It features a cardioid polar pattern, a frequency range of 50 to 20,000 Hz, a sensitivity of -59.0 dB, and an impedance of 150 ohms.
The SM7B is a well-built piece of equipment, with sturdy, all-metal construction. It contains internal shock mounting, meaning you don’t need to pair it up with an external shock mount. It comes with a pop filter (included in the box), which offers the necessary protection against sharp sibilants and loud transients.
The sound quality is great, especially when you consider the price. One of SM7B’s most impressive features is the background noise rejection. It’s a very quiet microphone that works in any room; in the appropriate studio setup, with the right acoustics, it can sound world-class.
Another big plus of the SM7B is its versatility. Dynamic microphones tend to be very flat—they sound the way they sound, and that’s it! However, the SM7B features two adaptable switchers: a low-cut filter and a mid-frequency booster.
These switchers are very useful and allow podcasters and musicians to have a bit more control over their tone. The changes are subtle but can be powerful in the right context.
If you’re looking for a dynamic microphone to use in a live performance or as a music-studio go-to tool, you should probably look for a different, more affordable Shure option. However, if you’re in the market for a podcast microphone, the SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone is the way to go.
Joe Rogan’s microphone arm: the Gator Frameworks Deluxe Desktop Mic Boom Stand
More often than not, podcast makers don’t think too much about the microphone arm they’re getting. Yet, a poor-quality microphone arm can have as much of a negative impact on a podcast as a bad-sounding microphone. Bad microphone arms move around a lot (creating unwanted noises), can be uncomfortable to use, and need to be adjusted constantly.
The Gator Frameworks Deluxe Desktop Mic Boom Stand is an accessible, reliable microphone arm that was used in many episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast. It’s very well-built, and its arm can be locked down, which is great for avoiding constant, annoying manual adjustments. Its compatibility is another great plus, as it works with virtually any microphone.
After using the Gator Frameworks Deluxe Desktop Mic Boom Stand for a while, Joe Rogan replaced it with an O.C. White Co.’s ProBoom Ultima Gen2 Ultra Low Profile Adjustable Mic Booms. The ProBoom Ultima Gen2 is a very similar high-quality microphone arm, but it’s even simpler to set up. It’s also incredibly reliable: YouTuber Joshua Verwers filmed it for a whole hour and realized it didn’t move even an inch.
Both the Gator Frameworks Deluxe Desktop Mic Boom Stand and the O.C. White Co.’s ProBoom Ultima Gen2 Ultra Low Profile Adjustable Mic Booms come with a built-in XLR cable and desk clamp (included in the box).
Joe Rogan’s headphones: the Sennheiser HD280PRO Headphones
The Sennheiser HD280PRO Headphones are Joe Rogan’s main set of headphones, and they make for a great all-around audio solution. Used by podcasters, musicians, and even sound engineers, the Sennheiser HD280PRO Headphones are perfect for monitoring vocals and ideal for people who spend a lot of time in the studio.
The HD280PRO headphones are designed for comfort. While they’re mainly made out of plastic, they’re very well-built and include a soft foam that feels nice—even after a couple of hours of recording.
The ear cups are rotatable and foldable. They come with a coiled cable, which is also a big plus: coiled cables are not only more resistant and aesthetically pleasing, but they’re also less prone to wrinkling.
Featuring a sleek, all-black design, the HD280PRO headphones include a stereo screw-jack adapter and some pretty impressive specs. There’s a sound pressure level of 113 dB, an impedance of 64 ohms, external sound isolation of 32 dB, and a frequency range of 8 to 25,000 Hz.
Summary
The podcast industry is worth over $11 billion, but you don’t need to be a millionaire to compete with the very best. Arguably the world’s most popular podcaster, Joe Rogan influences millions of listeners daily with music equipment pretty much anyone can afford.
If you’re working on your podcast, and you don’t know what kind of gear to get, following in the footsteps of one of the best in the game is probably a good idea. Rogan’s microphone, microphone arms, and headphones definitely stand up to the test.
