Hey Tom. Thanks again for your offer. I bought one yesterday from Sweetwater. 
Was looking long and hard for a deal somewhere but couldn't find one. Paid $399.
I figure this may be the best option for my voice and maybe I will be done with mic purchases for a long time now. 
 
All the best. 
 
Rimshot

"maybe I will be done with mic purchases for a long time now"
Good luck with that!
I'm shure you'll be happy with it.
Enjoy
 
T

I bought a Cloud Lifter pre amp for my SM7b and it worked perfectly.

Bought the"lifter", never needed it with the RME or the assorted pres I have.
T

sooo??

I have the SM7b (and TLM-103, Rode and Gefell LDCs) and find the SM7b best in the real-world rehearsal rooms I record local bands in.
 
As others have said, the LDCs pick up too much room sound. With the switches on the SM7b set to flat, it comes close enough (there isn't much vocal audio energy in the area after the 12-14k or so where it rolls off anyway)
 
My Presonus' pres are lo-noise and have the gain needed altho I've moved on to a Tascam 2x2
I used to use an old Edirol UA-25EX and even that was great on even softer female vocals.