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Starting at $280, the new mic brings a handful of updates, including USB-C
I was happy — activated , even — to check out Shure ’s in style USB mike . Its predecessor , the MV7 , has been my default option podcasting mic since it waslaunched toward to end of 2020 . I ’ve recorded more than 100 episodes ofmy showon the thing — not to mention using it for meetings , social fight and even telehealth visits .
If you ’re looking for a desktop mike for podcasts or streaming and do n’t take care invest a turn of immediate payment , but do n’t desire to discommode with a separate audio interface ( mind you , there ’s also XLR on - board , if that ’s your thing ) , you ’d be hard - pressed to outfox the MV7 — until now , that is .
As the name suggests , Shure ’s MV7 + does n’t stage a monumental departure from its predecessor . If you ’ve asked me at some distributor point over the past year and a one-half to urge a USB mic , I likely indicate its predecessor . If you chance to mind my advice during that time , no trouble . The novel computer hardware does n’t present a sufficient enough departure to advocate an acclivity at this microscope stage . More than anything , the MV7 + is the nicety of an industry - go mic .
I was honestly a bit surprised when Shure reached out to proffer the unexampled mike for review . It ’s a ( relatively ) debauched follow - up to a well - received product . That ’s not to say the MV7 did n’t have its shortcomings , of course . In fact , there was one glaring issue about the mathematical product . It ’s the first interrogative I asked the party when it told me the new product was come .
Yes , the MV7 + has USB - C. It was , frankly , bizarre that a $ 300 or so twist released at the remnant of 2022 did n’t . With day - to - Clarence Shepard Day Jr. use , this oversight was more of an infliction . But the longer I used the product as my daily driver , the more pronounced the takings became . I am my own podcast producer . This generally does n’t present a huge issue for the shows I record , but every so often , something will happen to the intelligent calibre and I wo n’t be able to answer in real time , as I ’m too focused on the conversation .
It took me a bit to recognize why my audio tone dead went on the fritz for a few episodes . Turns out the micro - USB cable was coming slack . Upon closer review , the cord was commence to split at the connexion . I invested in a longer , braided micro- to USB - light speed cable to fix the issue , but the price had already been done for those episode . look online , it seem I ’m not the only person to have that issue .
I have n’t had any inadvertent unplugs with the MV7 + — though , granted , I ’ve only been using the microphone for a couple of week at this point . That said , USB - blow cables are , as a rule , more robust and long-lived than their precursor and generally more up for the sorts of wear and pull you ’ll put a electric cord through when bond to something like a pivot mic arm . Of course , if robustness is your only concern , both system also support XLR cablegram , for those who want to take an excess stair beyond plug and dally functionality .
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As for sound , I ’ve been quite pleased with the MV7 + . I accidentally put the mic through the ultimate test last week , when I had producerDon Was on my show . The guy has produce some of the all - sentence greats , include Dylan and the Stones , run legendary label Blue Note Records and has a collision or two of his own in front of the mic . of course , his first question to me was which mike I was using . Rather , he asked whether it was the SM7B — Shure ’s much - loved vocal mic , which has become something of a gold standard in the podcast world .
The two mics do look fairly similar , though the USB version is a piece more thick . That ’s not to say that the MV7 + competes with the SM7B when connected via USB . The more traditional mic has a richer , warmer tone — there ’s a reason so many mass count it the best . you’re able to get closer to the MV7 + when it ’s relate via XLR . The verity is , however , that the Shure mics are not plan to be in competition with one another .
The MV7 + ’s real competition is other USB microphones . This is where it truly skin , as a plug - and - play gadget for the proliferation of amateur podcasters and banner out there . The mike sound great out of the box seat , and while it does feature EQ setting beyond input signal volume , you have to grasp in to access them . While that may sound like a knock against the product , the truth is some of the biggest sound issues in podcasting are a merchandise of having configurations that are right smart too easy to access .
Blue mics provide a swell illustration of this . So many recordings on those systems soundworsethan a built - in mic , due to fiddling with the gain and other options . It ’s nice that snowball have multidirectional recording and all that malarky , but if you ’re looking for a desktop mic for remote transcription , you ’ll be well - attend to by something unidirectional like the MV7 + . Once you ’ve been at it for a while , you could always take the next footmark and pluck up an XLR user interface .
Digging into configurations here want you to download the Shure Motiv Mix software . The interface is fairly simple . Everything is on machine by nonpayment — that includes gain , tone ( glum to light ) and reverb . you may flip any of those over to manual and conform the luger consequently . Also novel is a “ soda stopper ” feature , which algorithmically protects against stop — sounds like “ phosphorus ” and “ b , ” which cause expelled melodic phrase to hit the mic ’s contraceptive diaphragm . The characteristic is n’t stark , but I found it work well enough ( when coupled with the foam covert ) to permit me to chuck my unmanageable windscreen .
Motiv Mix gives control over another new feature : the LED sparkle up top , which substitute the MV7 ’s touch panel . It ’s empty the company is place streamers specifically with the feature , which brings a small , customizable rainbow strip . By default , you’re able to toggle between pulsate , solid and live , the latter of which heartbeat base on profound input . There are four default option color pallet , along with an choice to produce a custom one . The background will still be stored on the mic ’s firmware after unplugging .
I ’m sticking with the relatively neutral vapors of “ Space . ” I ’m not pour games on Twitch or anything , so my preference is something that does n’t draw the heart . I do , however , like the single spigot for deaf-and-dumb person , and the fact that its flushed glow is problematic to miss ( I ’ve still managed to draw a blank that I ’ve had myself muted at clock time , as is the human status ) .
Additional option admit a digital “ denoiser ” to remove undesirable sounds and a “ admonisher premix ” for when your earpiece are hardwired into the mic to check your floor ( something I should be doing more often ) .
Shure ’s MV7 + is now available in black , priced at $ 280 — that ’s a $ 30 premium over the MV7 . It ’s pricey compared to other USB mics , but it ’s surd to beat out of the box .
This history was update to even off the MV7 release date from 2022 to 2020 .
