Inside Blackbird

Inside Blackbird Inside Blackbird is the premier place to get education, insight, & exclusive interviews from the best musicians, producers, & engineers in the world.

09/03/2026

Three generations of the Shure SM7. Which one would you choose?

Listen as we compare the SM7A, SM7B and SM7dB using the same musical performance. This audio engineer hears more low-mid buildup in the later versions. For this particular recording, his preference is the SM7A because he feels it would require less EQ in the mix.

But the point of a microphone shootout is to use your own ears. Listen first. Then tell us your pick.

Watch the complete shootout and explore the history behind the microphone on Inside Blackbird:
https://f.mtr.cool/gjwg9e239g

09/01/2026

Price doesn’t always predict which microphone a vocalist will choose.

Many engineers regularly put the Shure SM7 into blind vocal shootouts against microphones costing many times more, including studio icons like the U47, U67 and 251.

Again and again, the SM7 ends up among the top choices. That ability to hold its own against some of the most respected microphones in recording is a major reason the SM7 has become a studio standard.

Hear the different generations for yourself in our complete Shure SM7 series on Inside Blackbird:
https://f.mtr.cool/ulmqllik2b

08/30/2026

There’s a reason the Shure SM7 became legendary, and Michael Jackson is part of the story.

Engineer Bruce Swedien famously used the SM7 while recording Michael Jackson, including vocals for Thriller. That association helped give the microphone almost mythical status in recording studios.

But as Michael Walter explains, the SM7 didn’t become a studio staple just because a superstar used one. The microphone itself earned the reputation.

Go deeper into the history of the SM7 and hear the different generations compared in our full series on Inside Blackbird:

https://f.mtr.cool/5qftf911yy



08/27/2026

One of the great ironies in microphone history: the engineer whose work helped transform live rock performance reportedly hated rock & roll.

Shure engineer Ernie Seeler developed the Unidyne III, the technology behind microphones including the SM57 and SM58.

Its impact went well beyond sound. End-address microphone design helped performers take the microphone off the stand, move around the stage, and turn the mic itself into part of the performance.

Michael Walter traces that history and the technology that ultimately helped lead to the Shure SM7.

Watch the full Shure SM7 Microphones series on Inside Blackbird:
https://f.mtr.cool/wl6iy3lpih


08/23/2026

A songwriter’s writer share and publisher share are different parts of the performance-royalty structure. Understanding how each side is registered becomes increasingly important as the songwriter’s catalog and career grow.

In this discussion, the panel uses ASCAP as an example to explain why independent writers should establish the right structure early.

Watch the complete Indie Music Business series: https://f.mtr.cool/bluesdlhsn

08/22/2026

What's shakin' this weekend?

08/19/2026

Hiring a manager, distributor or administrator can help an independent artist build a sustainable business. But it does not remove the artist’s responsibility to understand what each party handles, what percentage each agreement takes and whether the required work is actually being completed.

Nobody has more incentive to protect an artist’s career than the artist.

Watch the complete Indie Music Business series: https://f.mtr.cool/qtslbpydtb

08/13/2026

A guitar part recorded for a demo eventually appeared on a Backstreet Boys record. But the contribution was not credited appropriately, resulting in years of missed royalties.

It is a real-world example of why artists and musicians must confirm that their credits, registrations and metadata follow the work all the way to release.

Watch the complete Business of Indie Music series: https://f.mtr.cool/vbwjarnshu

08/12/2026

Independent artists are not only responsible for creating the music. They are also operating a startup: managing decisions, administration, records and finances.

Understanding that responsibility is the first step toward protecting the work and getting paid correctly.

Watch the complete Indie Music Business series: https://f.mtr.cool/guhusaobwj

08/10/2026

Asked to choose a favorite between Joe’s Garage and Icky Thump, Joe Chiccarelli gives a surprisingly candid answer. He still hears the vocal performances, guitar sounds and mix decisions he wishes he could improve.

It is a familiar conflict for anyone who makes records. Eventually the work has to leave the studio, even when its creator can still hear what might have been different.

Watch the complete conversation: https://insideblackbird.com/series/joe-chiccarelli-interview

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