Have you ever bought something online, thinking you scored a fantastic deal, only to realise later that it might not have been what it seemed?

Well, that's exactly what happened to me with the Shure SM7B microphone.

Today, I'm sharing my story of how I ended up with two fake SM7B microphones and the results of an audio battle I conducted between the real deal and its dupe.

Find out if the dupe is worth the savings or if you should stick with the original.

Have you ever been in a situation where an exciting opportunity or brand deal lands in your lap, but something deep down makes you hesitate?

Receiving offers from brands can feel like a huge opportunity, but sometimes, it’s in your best interest to pass on them as they might not serve the long-term goals you have.

Recently, I've started to receive opportunities from different software tools aimed at podcasters and microphone brands looking to partner with me. One brand in particular that I won’t name, reached out and offered to send me some of their latest products for me to review on our YouTube and podcast channels. On the surface, this offer seemed like a great idea and I agreed. I hadn’t heard of them before, but I was eager to give their gear a try.

Over the next couple of days, I started to dig deeper into this brand. I realised I hadn't heard of them for good reason. I have decades of experience in the audio space, and the fact that this brand never crossed my radar was a red flag.

If you’ve ever spent time on YouTube, you’ve probably come across “faceless” channels.

Some even employ AI voices, allowing them to focus purely on content creation without involving their personal identities. This style of creation is becoming increasingly popular for video because it involves far less work. You don’t need a video camera, lighting or recording space. I can see the appeal to some creators.

It made me wonder: could podcasts follow a similar trend and become entirely voiceless? Let’s be clear here as to what “voiceless” means in this context. There is still technically a voice, but it’s not your human voice.

With the increasing popularity of cloning voices using AI, are we on the precipice of stepping into a world where synthetic voices are the norm?

We have one hell of a showdown between two industry-leading microphones from Shure for you today. On one side, is the legendary Shure SM7B. On the other, its modern sibling, the Shure MV7. Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just starting, choosing the right microphone can hugely impact your recordings.

My objective here is to dive into the pros and cons of each mic, give you some sound tests, and help you decide which microphone fits your needs best.

In the end, your choice will depend heavily on your specific needs and setup. Do you prioritise versatility and budget, or are you eager to present yourself like the professional podcasters that you’ve seen using the Shure SM7B. I know that can be a very real factor to consider.

Chris Edwards is no stranger to the world of media. As the founder of the Honeycombers website which reaches over 2 million readers a month, she has learned the value of building connections and delivering quality content to those who visit the site.

It’s no surprise to me that when Chris decided to start a podcast, she would bring that same attention to detail and enthusiastic attitude to this different form of media.

As the host of the Good Business podcast and Founder of the Launchpad community, Chris's journey is packed with takeaways for anyone who wants to leverage podcasting to make more meaningful connections.

Download numbers appear to be the be all and end all statistic to track whether your podcast is making an impact.

Yes, I do agree that you should know your download numbers and certainly track them over time, but what if downloads are just the tip of the iceberg?

What if there's a whole treasure trove of insights waiting to be discovered, a deeper understanding of how your podcast is truly resonating with your audience and how far that reach actually goes?