As an audio writer, engineer, and active musician, I can confidently say that it’s pretty rare to come across a piece of audio gear these days that feels “new.” That is to say, it often feels like it’s all been done, and many products tend to be incremental iterations on an old theme: a resurrected piece of classic hardware, a smaller form factor, slightly higher audio resolutions. So, when the request to review Shure’s interesting new MV7i came across my desk, I was more than just a little intrigued. Could it truly be? An actual new concept in audio products?
Indeed, Shure breaks some new ground here by taking their tried-and-true MV7, the hybrid digital/analog version of their legendary SM7b broadcast mic, and integrating an audio interface to create, to my knowledge, one of the first microphones that can truly replace your two-channel audio interface. Sporting an actual analog audio input, as well as digital USB-C output, the MV7i is a unique piece of gear that can allow content creators, podcasters, and burgeoning musicians to carry a complete audio recording solution with them without the need for bulky computers, mixers, or interfaces. And with the benefits of Shure’s MOTIV software on tap, the MV7i might truly be a holy grail answer to the needs of users who simply want to stay as mobile as possible while retaining a professional level of audio quality.
That’s the short of it, but how does it sound? How easy is the MV7i to set up and operate? Let’s take a look at what I learned after a few recording sessions with a range of applications, including music recording and two-person podcasts.
Basic Design Features
Before we get into the results, let’s talk about the design. If you’re not familiar with the similar MV7/MV7+ microphone from which this product is derived, the MV7 series of mics are dynamic broadcast mics sporting a capsule inspired by the legendary SM7b, renowned for its rich, deep vocal sound, and prized by broadcasters and podcasters for years. The MV7i, like its previous iterations, takes the original SM7b concept further by adding a digital USB-C output to the mix, allowing you to connect the mic directly to your computer or smart device to record, sidestepping the need to plug into an audio interface.
However, whereas previous version of the MV7 mic have featured both the digital USB-C output as well as an analog XLR output for use with more traditional recording set ups, the MV7i swaps out the XLR output for an XLR-1/4” combo input, taking the mic one step further into audio interface territory.
This means you can not only record pristine 24-bit / 48 kHz audio directly into your recording device, but you can also plug a second mic or instrument into the MV7i for 2-channel recording. It’s hard to understate just how unusual this is. By adding an input to this mic, the versatility is expanded enormously, allowing it to fit the same role as a small interface, such as a Focusrite Scarlett or Universal Audio Volt, at a fraction of the size and weight.
The combo jack supports a wide range of inputs, meaning you can plug in a second MV7/MV7X/MV7+ mic or nearly any other analog mic using the second mic’s XLR output, a synthesizer/keyboard/drum machine, or even a Hi-Z source like a guitar or bass. The input can accept mono or stereo line-level signals as well. Throw your mic into your bag with a few cables and a mic stand and you’re off to the races, ready to record on the go. Like previous MV7 mics, the MV7i also features a built-in headphone jack, letting you benefit from direct, low-latency monitoring of your recordings without any extra gear.
The MV7i supports two-channel recording and includes selectable 48V phantom power, meaning it can power a secondary condenser microphone for higher detail and more sensitive capture. The onboard preamp has plenty of juice for whatever you plug into it, with up to 60 dB of clean gain.
The mic enjoys simple plug-and-play operation with a second mic, just plug your dynamic, condenser, or ribbon mic into the into the combo input jack and it will be detected by your MOTIV MIX app on the second channel. One of my favorite design features is the RGB LED meter built into the mic which provides visual feedback of gain levels coming into the mic. This feature is very handy for speakers or performers to know how their levels are looking, though you should note that if you plug an LED-equipped MV7/MV7+ into your MV7i, only the MV7i’s LED meter will function, acting as a master meter for both signals. This is because these microphones connect to one another via XLR, rather than USB.
Like previous iterations, the MV7i is built with an integrated yoke for easy mounting onto broadcast arms, though this design also works fine with traditional floor and desktop mic stands. However, it’s worth noting that since the yoke is primarily designed for mounting upside down on a broadcast arm, mounting it on a standard vertical stand will cause the LEDs to be facing down, away from the speaker. I was able to remedy this easily by unscrewing the yoke (while carefully keeping track of small washers on each side), turning the mic upside down, and screwing the yoke back in. You can also tighten the screws on the side of the yoke by hand to freeze the mic in a particular position.
Recording and MOTIV MIX App
The ideal way to use the MV7i is with Shure’s free companion app called MOTIV MIX, for which a download QR code is included with this purchase. The MOTIV MIX app can be used on desktop computers or mobile smart devices and is highly recommended even if you’re doing your actual recording with a dedicated DAW or other alternative software. Not only does MOTIV make routing and controlling your two recording channels (MV7i plus second mic/instrument) easy, but it provides a plethora of DSP effects and features for keeping your audio clean and professional sounding.
MOTIVMIX includes FX like reverb and compression, which can be fine tuned to an extent to fit your needs. The reverb is best set to a subtle level, but when combined with some compression, it can really bring out the warmth of a lot of sources, especially vocals, and give it a nice sense of space without the need for meticulous postproduction.
FX can be applied either to your individual channels or globally (to both). However, you can only control presets and intensity with the global FX tab. Much like the FX In button on a mixer, each input must have its FX turned on individually. Once you get a hang of this, the software is fairly simple to use, though perhaps more rudimentary than a DAW plug-in. Nonetheless, it’s an ideal choice for those looking to quickly bang out quality-sounding content.
MOTIV MIX will let you record directly into the app and save audio files, but some people integrating a computer into the mix may prefer to use their own DAW and plug-ins for recording projects. In this case, you can load MOTIV MIX and its inputs as a virtual input in most DAWs. I tested this process with Logic Pro and found it easy to detect the MOTIV MIX app and record both my MV7i and a second MV7+ as separate tracks in my DAW. This gives you great flexibility, as you can not only use your own DAW-specific plug-ins, but you can also still apply MOTIV MIX processing to your inputs before they hit your DAW.
One such feature that can be useful even with DAW recording is Auto Gain. This handy feature controls your input gain automatically for optimal results. Auto Gain is nearly indispensable for vocal capture, especially talking applications like podcasting. Since the MV7i is built around minimal hardware, you likely won’t be actively adjusting gain during recording. Auto Gain does a great job at controlling levels to not only prevent overloads but keep your gain at an optimal level for maximum impact and richness.
One should keep in mind that Auto Gain is best applied to voice-centric applications. When I tested it with acoustic guitar recording, the results were less consistent. Another limitation of Auto Gain is its use with reverb. Sometimes, these two features don’t work well together. Most of the time, there was no issue with vocal capture, but when capturing instruments, Auto Gain and reverb sometimes produced strange results, and in these cases, its best to just cut out Auto Gain, and manually set your instrument gain.
The Results
Well, what can I say? The MV7i’s capsule doesn’t disappoint. Without a doubt, the MV7i maintains a smooth, rich, and warm tone, especially when applied to voices. To record a mock podcast conversation for this interview, I used my own voice. I can say that, like most people, I detest the sound of my own voice in recordings. Yet when captured through this capsule, and with the benefits of MOTIV MIX processing, I was really impressed with the results.
Probably more impressive, though, was the job it did on instruments. The MV7 series mics aren’t really known for their use with instruments, outside of niche applications. And while it’s certainly true that there are far more optimal mics you could spend large sums of money on to capture specific instruments, I was surprised how effective the MV7i was at capturing instruments like acoustic guitar.
When you need an absolute minimum of gear and are recording straight into your smart phone or throwing up a live stream of your singer-songwriter performances, the MV7i can deliver excellent results. The capsule offers a full-sounding response on acoustic guitar. The preamp also ensures plenty of headroom for cranking synths and drum machines to accompany you. You can even plug in a second mic for stereo recording, or dedicate one mic to your guitar, and the other to your voice. Or, plug an acoustic/electric directly into the mic’s combo jack while using the capsule to capture the body.
Alternatively, the MV7i can help facilitate an incredibly mobile interview and podcast set up. All you need is your MV7i, a second mic, an XLR cable, and two mic stands, and you have everything you need. This can easily fit in a bag and can be set up in minutes. Then you just plug your MV7i into your smartphone or tablet with a USB-C OTG cable and you can use your MOTIV app to produce content rapidly and ready for upload, without any more hardware or software.
Even if you already have a dedicated podcasting set up at home, the MV7i allows you to create a portable system for situations where interviewees can’t be looped in remotely or come to you. The same concept applies to musicians, who want to be able to quickly record ideas or demos on the go or like to collaborate in person and capture takes on the move.
For more information about this microphone, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product page for the Shure MV7i.
