This review of the Shure MV7i smart microphone first appeared in Recording Magazine. I reprint it here with permission, and I encourage you to subscribe to that publication, as they are a stand up bunch of folk! PS: you may find affiliate links in this post and I may get a commission if you buy something. 🙂
Another timely, useful tool from Shure
The latest in Shure’s long line of vocal-focused dynamic mics is also a sneaky entry into the interface space, and it proves as useful and unique as they say it is. With modern features that make production faster, the MV7i will be useful for a host of different creators.
MV7i Overview
Shure’s new MV7i looks a lot like some familiar classics – the SM7B, SM7DB, MV7+, and MV6 are all close siblings.
They all look and sound similar because they’re all based on a very similar dynamic capsule that’s designed primarily for speech, which also translates well in music. The MV series and SM7 series capsules aren’t exactly the same, but functionally they’re so close I’m not sure I can tell the difference.
The MV7i is the same as the MV7+, it just takes functionality to a new level by providing a second input, turning the USB mic into a 2-channel audio interface, with software features that make it handy for content creators.
The MV7i’s Origin Story
When the MV7+ came out with both a USB output and an XLR output, many people reported a little easter egg – plug an input into the XLR output connector (easily achieved with an XLR gender changer), and you could get a second signal into the unit. This trick was a kludge – it would just combine with the mic input and you couldn’t separate it or apply any of the internal processing to it, but it told the team something about what people wanted.
Hence, the MV7i was born – officially replacing the extra output with an input. This is better than the easter egg kludge, because now you can get all the modern processing benefits the mic provides in that second input, and options as to how to route it.
The MV7i isn’t trying to compete in the audio interface arena, but it provides something unique – a 2-channel interface/mic combo that’s simple, space saving, sounds good, and saves tons of time.
Lots of Functionality
Digging into what the MV7i offers, you get:
- 2 channels – the mic and a combo XLR/1/4” input which senses which you’re using and adjusts internal settings accordingly (you can change this in the MOTIV Mix software). The quarter inch part is tip ring sleeve, which means you can get a stereo input into that channel.
- AutoLevel Mode with SmartGateTM – Dynamically adjusts gain and gating based on many factors.
- DSP features like real-time denoiser, digital pop filter, compressor, limiter and reverb.
- Customizable touch panel which acts as a meter and a mute/unmute button, can split into two, and has adjustable color schemes.
- Real-time monitoring (aka a headphone jack).
- Flexible recording modes – three different recording modes.
- Desktop and mobile apps for recording and adjusting settings.
MV7i Output Modes
The MV7i is meant for podcasters, content creators, and solo musicians, and it’s super useful for those things and potentially for livestreaming or music recording if you don’t have a full studio or you’re on the go.
There is one “limitation” you’ll want to know about, and that involves “stereo mode”. The M7Vi’s audio output can be set to one of 3 modes:
Mixdown
Mixdown mode mixes both the input and the mic into one mono channel. Not great for mix flexibility, but awesome for efficiency.
Multi-Track
Multi-Track mode exports 2 separate mono audio tracks. This is the mode you want for two-person podcasts or singing with a guitar or something.
Stereo
Stereo mode is like mixdown – you only get one output – a stereo track that combines the mic with the stereo input from the TRS connector. Let’s say you have a stereo keyboard. You’d use a Y-connector to combine the two keyboard outputs to one TRS connector and set the unit to Stereo.
Now you could sing into the mic and play – but there’s no way to change the mix in post. This is a bit of a limitation, but it’s a useful feature for something like a livestream where you’re careful about your self-mix. You could even use it for karaoke style stuff.
MV7i Software
The MV7i will work right out of the box without ever downloading the software, set to its defaults. By default, it’s set to mixdown mode, speech settings, with the reverb turned off.
To get to the mic’s full functionality, you’ll need to download the free MOTIV Mix app for desktop (Mac or Windows) and/or the MOTIV Audio mobile app for either Android or iOS. There’s also a MOTIV Video mobile app just for iOS which lets you use the mic with video apps on the iPhone. On Android this is already available internally.
The MOTIV Mix and Audio apps also give you a simple way to record audio from the mic/interface. The desktop app detects other audio sources on your computer too, so you could use it for a variety of things. It’s not really a DAW – you’ll need to pull the audio into a DAW for editing and mixing – or you could just record straight into your DAW.
The mobile app is handy because it lets you record straight to the phone. This is great for making a podcast sleek and easy. Just bring the MV7i, another mic, a cable, and the phone. Voila! You could even also have the phone shoot video at the same time.
And finally, the Assessment…
My experience with the MV7i is that it’s a fabulous tool. It found its way into my workflow on day one – I used it as the Zoom mic when I talked to the guys at Shure before I’d even read up on it. It’s perfect for content creation, both with the laptop and the phone. I can’t imagine a cooler, sleeker way to do a podcast (maybe I’ll start one just because I have this!), and I think it’ll prove useful at home when I’m making new tracks. I would feel perfectly confident doing some backing or scratch vocals with it and maybe even an occasional lead.
The de-noiser is outstanding – I turned it off in the meeting and could hear the whole neighborhood all of a sudden – although it doesn’t remove all the room tone (which is why I probably wouldn’t sing leads at home with it). That’s not a surprise and may even be a good thing – removing all room tone digitally is a nigh-impossible and unnatural thing.
I have a small gripe about not being able to separate a stereo input and the mic but that won’t stop me from trying a livestream performance with it, and given its other uses, I can live with that limitation.
Sound wise the MV7i sounds awesome as a speech mic – I’ve posted several videos already that didn’t need any post mixing. In music, it’s also good – very similar to the SM7B so if your voice sounds good with that, it’ll sound good with the MV7i. It’s not a condenser, so your music mileage may vary, but as another tool in your arsenal, it’s great, and as a content making tool it’s perfect.
Overall, A+ to Shure once again, this is an impressive tool!
Price: $349
More from: shure.com
I’m a singer, songwriter, and producer who has made some songs on some software. Talk to me @RecordingLikeMacgyver and while you’re at it, grab your 10x My Tracks eBook to make your tracks better right now!