Shure MV7 USB Podcast Microphone - Silver

I'll start right off by saying that the Shure MV7 is an excellent USB microphone, as the vocal clarity and general audio output are an (obvious) upgrade over your average laptop's internal mic. This is marketed as a podcast microphone, though even I am not one of the users in that camp. Instead, I just needed a quality USB microphone for both video conferencing meetings and to record lectures at my college. My previous USB mic was a Zoom H1 recorder, and after weeks of online meetings day in and day out, I started to realize how much better these meetings would go without being asked repeatedly by a coworker to repeat myself or intermittently telling me that they have a hard time hearing me. So by no means am I an audio engineer with enough knowledge for a deep critique on the MV7's audio output (I'll let the other Amazon reviewers handle that area!), but Shure's creators don't intend for this to replace their higher end mics, such as the SM7B. Despite the fact that there is an XLR connection here, the MV7 isn't meant for those trying to get perfect, industry studio-quality sound or music recordings, but that's the point. Instead, if you're needing a mic for podcasting, live-streaming, or surviving Zoom calls, this is one of the best options out there, with enough monitoring options and room for configuration to get the most out of this gorgeous piece of hardware.The whole construction of the mic, right down to the attached mounting bracket, feels incredibly sturdy and premium. Despite only a few days of usage as of writing this review, I have very little concern about its long-term durability. Even the back, metal-rimmed headphone jack port has better quality than what you'll find in most laptops these days (if they include one, of course). Knowing users may opt for a desk microphone arm stand, the included USB cables are thankfully long. When you plug it in via USB, it takes a few seconds to register on your computer each time; there's a row of green lights that breathe while this happens. As a small note, I plan to purchase an arm stand in the future, but for now I have an On-Stage desktop stand that fits perfectly with this mic. It's a simple stand, but I recommend it nonetheless.As I mentioned earlier, I can't speak to the nuances of the MV7's audio quality compared to those who've actually had experience in the studio or recorded with decent sound mixing knowledge. But from my perspective of being the average person working from home and having a day filled with online meetings and lectures, I'm very impressed with how my voice sounds from this mic. Not only does my voice sound crystal clear, but even the echoes bouncing from my high ceilings and the inevitable street noise from outside my window are nowhere to be heard when I record audio from the MV7. Vocals are top priority for this product, hence the brand's naming of this being a podcast microphone. I do agree with Engadget's Devinda Hardawar - one of the first tech writers who wrote about the MV7 - that the plosives, or the "p" sounds, don't sound as perfect as you'd hope compared to what you normally hear in broadcast audio vocals or some high-profile live streamers, but that could very well because of my own loud, bright voice. Likewise, an additional pop filter mask may alleviate this very minor distortion. The software Shure recommends you use is ShurePlus MOTIV, a desktop app available for free on their website. The desktop app is useful enough for users like me, as they include Auto Level settings, which includes configuring for vocal tone and adjusting for microphone position, and Manual settings that allow you adjust the audio gain, EQ, and amount of sound compression. You can save presets and, for macOS at least, the MOTIV app automatically recognizes the Shure MV7 device once you plug it into the computer. Those looking to configure every single frequency and fine-tune the settings even deeper should look beyond MOTIV. In the near future, I hope to update this review with more scientific audio tests, ones that include both USB and XLR output (I'm still looking for the right audio interface).If there's one gripe I have to make about the Shure MV7 so far, it's that I'm not a fan of the touch interface built on the mic. There were plenty of instances where I had to tap an icon or swipe the volume slider multiple times in order for it to respond. The buttons, themselves, also could be bigger, because they were small even for my slim fingers to tap without accidentally touching the adjacent volume slider too. Though not entirely bad, I question why Shure didn't just go with physical controls, such as the volume dial seen in the Blue Yeti Pro. Buttons, whether touch-enabled or physical, aren't exactly needed, since the aforementioned ShurePlus MOTIV app is available, and contains the same controls along with a whole lot more options. Even the location of the touch panel won't suit everyone. I imagine some users might be used to grabbing the middle of the mic to adjust the angle - and the middle just so happens to be where the touch panel is located. Fortunately, you can actually go without ever needing to use the controls if you end up not loving them like me: holding both the Mute icon and the Monitor mix icon for at least two seconds will lock the whole touch panel, indicated by a red light next to a lock icon on the same panel. Of course, it's a matter of successfully getting those two icons to respond first! Perhaps Shure may release firmware that improves these touch controls in the future.Everything else about the Shure MV7, though, is near-perfect. I think having a microphone like this for your computer really makes working with meetings from home much more manageable. The $249 price tag is a worthy investment and easily beats whatever laptop internal mic or cheap, uncomfortable headset you've been stuck with. I'll update this review as time progresses, but for now I give it my highest recommendation![An important warning when first unboxing: for me, the screws holding the mic to the mounting bracket were NOT tightly fastened out of the box. One could easily hold it by the bracket and unknowingly cause the mic to wobble out and drop. Hopefully this is not the case for everyone, but you should keep that in mind when before grabbing the mic from the packaging for the first time; hold it by the mic, not the bracket!]

After noticing how incredible a few of my European colleagues audio sounded on Teams calls and when recording a webinar, I confirmed they were all using various forms of dynamic podcasting mics. I'd been using the built-in stereo mic from my Insta360 Link, which was solid, but noticeably lacked in comparison to my colleagues when listening to a playback. My decision then came down to the MV7, the SM7B, and Rode's Podcaster Pro USB. The MV7 won out because of the USB convenience when I'm in my home office, the "far mode" (I don't want the mic in the shot during regular business meetings, but will close-mic for other purposes), and the ability to use the XLR connection when working from my studio where I have a Scarlett 1820i interface. That kind of versatility is rare but appreciated.Performance-wise, this is immediately an elevation to your sound. I have it plugged in via USB to a Lightning Hub, which my Macbook Pro then plugs into. The MV7 was immediately recognized and I set it to my default audio device. The Motiv software is basic, but useful in terms of setting it up for manual or auto control. I've left it in Auto "far" mode for meetings, meaning it dynamically adjusts the gain to compensate for the 16-18-ish" inch distance I sit from the mic, and the results have been amazing. Flipping to manual control for closer applications takes a couple clicks. This is the best voiceover mic I've ever used. The USB vs XLR difference is predominantly in the bottom end and the lower-mids. The character is exactly the same regardless of interface type, but with the XLR connection running through my Gen3 Scarlett, the MV7 can be made to sound almost indistinguishable from an SM7B, and I don't say that lightly.If you are thinking about getting this mic, you should probably just get this mic. The only other mics I've ever recommend this highly are the Shure SM58 and the AKG C414. All provide exceptional value, quality, and capability for their intended purposes.