As someone who's dealt with mics for decades, Shure is always a sure bet. The company has developed and released so many outstanding microphones over the years that any time I see the name, I feel confident in the product I'm about to test or use.
Such was the case when I unboxed the MV7+ Podcast kit. Before plugging the mic into my MacBook Pro, I felt confident I knew how well it would perform -- and it did not disappoint.
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This mic isn't going to usurp myCAD E100S mic as that device sets a high bar to clear. At this price point, though, and for the intended market, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better podcasting mic.
Let's dive in.
This mic will surely level up your podcast recordings with brilliant (and adjustable) sound.
Instead of just jacking the mic into my laptop and diving in, I decided to go ahead and download the Shure MOTIV Mix app (which is in beta). The app allows you to configure the mic and record. The app is fairly bare-bones but effective for configuring various settings such as gain, reverb, tone, Real-Time Denoiser, Popper Stopper, High Pass Filter, and customizable LEDs.
After the installation, I plugged the mic -- via the included USB-C cable -- into my MacBook Pro, plugged in a pair of headphones, and opened the app. With the headphones on, I was immediately inundated with sound. A quick check on the app showed the mic defaults to Auto Level for gain.
My immediate reaction was, "This mic is hot." My voice sounded authoritative and sure from six to 12 inches away. If I got too close, the sound was overpowering. I discovered that if you disable Auto Level gain control, you can adjust the level manually, but I found Auto Level was solid, so I left it enabled.
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I felt that the default tone was a bit bright, so I darkened it to 40%, which was the sweet spot for my voice. Every voice will sound different, so I recommend you play with the Tone setting (which is why you'll want to install the app).
I did several test recordings and here's what I found:
The question is whether I would use this mic as my go-to podcast option. The answer is a resounding "Yes," but only if I didn't have my CAD mic. Because the Shure MV7+ can connect via USB-C and XLR, it's far more flexible than my XLR-only CAD. That flexibility means the Shure MV7+ would probably be my first choice when recording on the go. I can't think of a better option for a mobile podcast setup. This mic has a nice, rich tone, and is a plug-and-play joy to set up.
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I recommend that you use the MOTIV Mix app (even though it's in beta) because you get far more control over the mic's sound than you would with the MacOS or Windows sound controls.
If you're getting into podcasting or want to improve the quality of your recordings, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more effective, easy-to-use mic. At this price point, theShure MV7+ Podcast Kit is a steal. Not only do you get an outstanding mic, you get a stand and a USB-C cable. The stand does have a short range of extension (maybe 3") but it's rock solid, so it'll keep the mic steady. If you make this podcasting mic your next purchase, you won't regret it.