Shure MV7I Review: An all-in-one microphone for podcasts and music

I’ve never had a microphone like Shure MV7I in my hand or on my desk. It combines the simplicity of a USB-C connection with the requirements of high quality microphones and instruments. Particularly practical: MV7I also acts as an interface to an extra XLR microphone or a guitar via 6.3 mm Jack input. It can be an exciting solution to travel, because if you only want to register two voices or a voice with a guitar, you do not need a separate interface.

As soon as I unpack, I realize that the MV7i is designed for professional users, or those who want to become one. You can neither keep it lightly in your hand like Shure SM58 vocal microphone (which I will use later for comparison) or place it on a table. Instead, screw it on a microphone stand or boom that you need.

There are three connections on the back of the microphone: a USB-C connector, a 3.5 mm connector for headphones and a combined XLR and line-in connector (6.3 mm jack). Put the included three-meter USB-C cable in the microphone and in TA MAC, headphones in the plug, acoustic guitar connected, garage band started with a new project, two numbers selected, configured for simultaneous recording-ups, the same mix of voice and guitar comes out on both channels. How is it?

Of course, I have fallen victim to my impatience again. The secret lies in the manufacturer’s motive mix app, which you can download to your computer from the shure site by entering your personal details. The first step is to choose that I will send more tracks to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) – in this case, garage band – and not mixing both channels to mono. I could even use the stereo signal for the second input and divide input from the first to both channels.

I have already outlined the promise of MV7I: Recording two voices simultaneously without an extra interface, either two speakers or a singer with guitar. This is easily achieved with the right settings. How well does the microphone separate the two inputs from each other? The manufacturer promises that the main microphone of Channel 1 reduces ambient clothing as soon as you talk or sing into it.

It does a decent job, but I can still hear the sound of the acoustic guitar quite clearly in the background, even in the passages in the recording where I speak. The electric guitar is less audible, it is also much quieter without reinforcement, which should be expected. Conversely, on channel 2 via 6.3 mm jack cable, none of the voice comes through for the recording.

Ideally suitable for live situations

The MV7I is suitable for use in a live performance with a small amount of equipment. The little bit of echo that you hear through the microphone is completely lost in the mixture. With professional study recordings, you usually work differently and register in separate rooms, at different times or both.

In my second small series of tests I used shure SM58 as my other microphone. This is a classic, dynamic microphone with a cardioid property that has been appreciated by speakers and singers on stage and in studios for decades. This makes it a good benchmark for the new MV7i. Here, too, the separation of the two channels is excellent, albeit not perfect, so you can always hear a little about the signal recorded with the other microphone on one channel – as long as a person speaks. At the same time, I simulated talk by holding the SM58 directly next to the MV7I and talking into both microphones. Look and see, MV71 now has a clear priority, with practically nothing coming through the other channel on the soundtrack. Nice.

Shure

Control via “Touchbar” and app

If you want to dampen the other person completely, the touch-sensitive LED beam on top of the microphone can help. This is the only control setting as the microphone has no buttons or checks. The most important feature is undoubtedly silent: a quick push on the side, LED changes from green to red and the box is quiet. What can happen, though, is that you press unintentionally and are surprised when you have more signal on your headphones or output from DAW.

This bar reminiscent of Apple’s touch rod from the past can also be used to control the microphone reinforcement and headphone volume; In the Motiv Mix app you can not only make additional settings but also change the color gradients in the bar.

Additional settings are possible and can also be adjusted directly to the microphone, where the presets are also stored. For example, you can choose between three types of reverb, adjust the sound color from “dark” to “natural” to “light” or set the high pass filter (off, 75Hz, 150Hz) and compressor (off, light, medium, strong). When you record at home with Shure SM58 and guitar via a sound interface (I have one from M-Audio), this is done in the software on Mac.

But the settings stored on the microphone itself have the advantage of being available immediately on any computer, smartphone or tablet in any application, and you don’t have to spend a lot of time making adjustments, at least if you ignore different space acoustics.

The sound is convincing

But how does Shure MV7I sound in practice? I registered myself without further adjustments and immediately noticed clear differences from Shure SM58. MV7I sounds fresher, more natural and unparalleled. This is thanks to several smart features: the intelligent popper stopper minimizes plosive sounds while the denoiser filters distracting sounds in real time. In addition, Smartgate Automatic Volume Control adjusts the uptake to space and distance without sounding unnatural. The increase is automatically adjusted up to 60 dB; I didn’t notice any mowing in the test.

Another interesting feature is what the Motiv Mix -app posts: In addition to the mixture from both tracks, it also detects the separate signals without having to point around in logic, garage band or any other software. This also makes things much easier in recording situations where things need to be done quickly.

Should you buy shure mv7i?

The price of the MV71 is fair considering its sound quality, as decent sound interfaces to two microphones or a microphone plus instrument also cost more. If you only register occasionally and do not have such high requirements in terms of quality, you can get away with cheaper. But then it sounds cheap too.