Shure MV7+: The best USB podcast mic gets better

Picture Credit: Brian Heater

I used to be pleased — excited, even — to take a look at Shure’s newest USB microphone. Its predecessor, the MV7, has been my default podcasting mic because it was launched towards to finish of 2020. I’ve recorded greater than 100 episodes of my present on the factor — to not point out utilizing it for conferences, social engagements and even telehealth visits.

In the event you’re on the lookout for a desktop microphone for podcasts or streaming and don’t thoughts investing a bit of money, however don’t need to trouble with a separate audio interface (thoughts you, there’s additionally XLR on-board, if that’s your factor), you’d be hard-pressed to beat the MV7 — till now, that’s.

Because the identify suggests, Shure’s MV7+ doesn’t signify an enormous departure from its predecessor. In the event you’ve requested me sooner or later over the previous 12 months and a half to advocate a USB mic, I probably instructed its predecessor. In the event you occurred to heed my recommendation throughout that point, no worries. The brand new {hardware} doesn’t current a ample sufficient departure to advocate an improve at this stage. Greater than something, the MV7+ is the refinement of an industry-leading mic.

Picture Credit: Brian Heater

I used to be frankly a bit shocked when Shure reached out to supply the brand new microphone for evaluate. It’s a (comparatively) quick follow-up to a well-received product. That’s to not say the MV7 didn’t have its shortcomings, after all. In reality, there was one evident concern in regards to the product. It’s the primary query I requested the corporate when it advised me the brand new product was coming.

Sure, the MV7+ has USB-C. It was, frankly, weird {that a} $300 or so machine launched on the finish of 2022 didn’t. With day-to-day use, this oversight was extra of an annoyance. However the longer I used the product as my day by day driver, the extra pronounced the difficulty grew to become. I’m my very own podcast producer. This typically doesn’t current an enormous concern for the reveals I file, however now and again, one thing will occur to the sound high quality and I gained’t have the ability to reply in actual time, as I’m too centered on the dialog.

It took me a bit to understand why my audio high quality all of a sudden went on the fritz for just a few episodes. Seems the micro-USB cable was coming free. Upon nearer inspection, the wire was starting to separate on the connector. I invested in an extended, braided micro- to USB-C cable to repair the difficulty, however the injury had already been executed for these episodes. Wanting on-line, it seems I’m not the one individual to have that concern.

Picture Credit: Brian Heater

I haven’t had any unintended unplugs with the MV7+ — although, granted, I’ve solely been utilizing the microphone for a few weeks at this level. That stated, USB-C cables are, as a rule, extra sturdy and sturdy than their predecessors and customarily extra up for the kinds of damage and tear you’ll put a wire via when connected to one thing like a swiveling mic arm. In fact, if robustness is your solely concern, each programs additionally help XLR cables, for many who need to take an additional step past plug and play performance.

As for sound, I’ve been fairly happy with the MV7+. I unintentionally put the mic via the final word check final week, once I had producer Don Was on my present. The man has produced a few of the all-time greats, together with Dylan and the Stones, runs legendary label Blue Observe Data and has successful or two of his personal in entrance of the mic. Naturally, his first query to me was which microphone I used to be utilizing. Somewhat, he requested whether or not it was the SM7B — Shure’s much-loved vocal mic, which has change into one thing of a gold normal within the podcast world.

Picture Credit: Brian Heater

The 2 mics do look pretty comparable, although the USB model is a little more compact. That’s to not say that the MV7+ competes with the SM7B when related through USB. The extra conventional mic has a richer, hotter tone — there’s a purpose so many individuals take into account it the perfect. You may get nearer to the MV7+ when it’s related through XLR. The reality is, nevertheless, that the Shure mics should not designed to be in competitors with each other.

The MV7+’s actual competitors is different USB microphones. That is the place it really shines, as a plug-and-play machine for the proliferation of beginner podcasters and streamers on the market. The microphone sounds nice out of the field, and whereas it does function EQ settings past enter quantity, it’s a must to dig in to entry them. Whereas that will sound like a knock towards the product, the reality is a few of the greatest sound points in podcasting are a product of getting settings which are manner too simple to entry.

Blue mics present a fantastic instance of this. So many recordings on these programs sound worse than a built-in mic, as a consequence of twiddling with the acquire and different settings. It’s good that Snowballs have multidirectional recording and all that jazz, however should you’re on the lookout for a desktop mic for distant recording, you’ll be well-served by one thing unidirectional just like the MV7+. When you’ve been at it for some time, you possibly can all the time take the subsequent step and choose up an XLR interface.

Digging into settings right here requires you to obtain the Shure Motiv Combine software program. The interface is pretty easy. All the things is on auto by default — that features acquire, tone (darkish to gentle) and reverb. You possibly can flip any of these over to handbook and modify the slider accordingly. Additionally new is a “pop stopper” function, which algorithmically protects towards plosives — seems like “p” and “b,” which trigger expelled air to hit the mic’s diaphragm. The function isn’t excellent, however I discovered it really works effectively sufficient (when coupled with the froth cowl) to permit me to ditch my unwieldy windscreen.

Picture Credit: Brian Heater

Motiv Combine offers management over one other new function: the LED gentle up prime, which replaces the MV7’s contact panel. It’s clear the corporate is focusing on streamers particularly with the function, which brings a small, customizable rainbow strip. By default, you possibly can toggle between pulsing, strong and stay, the latter of which pulses based mostly on sound enter. There are 4 default colour palettes, together with an choice to create a customized one. The settings will nonetheless be saved on the mic’s firmware after unplugging.

I’m sticking with the comparatively impartial blues of “House.” I’m not streaming video games on Twitch or something, so my choice is one thing that doesn’t draw the attention. I do, nevertheless, like the only faucet for mute, and the truth that its pink glow is hard to overlook (I’ve nonetheless managed to neglect that I’ve had myself muted at instances, as is the human situation).

Further choices embrace a digital “denoiser” to take away undesirable sounds and a “monitor combine” for when your headphones are hardwired into the mic to examine your ranges (one thing I ought to be doing extra typically).

Shure’s MV7+ is now obtainable in black, priced at $280 — that’s a $30 premium over the MV7. It’s dear in comparison with different USB mics, nevertheless it’s arduous to beat out of the field.

This story was up to date to appropriate the MV7 launch date from 2022 to 2020.