The Shure MV7 is sure to be a favourite with professional podcasters, streamers and DIY musicians, with a built-in headphone jack along with XLR and microUSB outputs, all of which can be used simultaneously.The ShurePlus MOTIV app is Excellent. You can control the microphone completely manually or set it to automatic. Either way, you are left with a beautiful recording that you can easily edit in your favourite DAW.
The touchscreen is cool, if a little out of keeping with the design of this classic microphone, but it seems less effective than standard knobs, dials and switches. It is difficult to adjust the volume during a conversation as it requires two hands to hold the microphone and slide the touchscreen. It does not take a lot of effort, but the drawback is that touching the microphone records extra noise. If you need to adjust the gain, stop moving the microphone and then resume recording.
This microphone has one of the simplest initial setups. It comes with almost everything you need: a USB-C to USB 3.0 as well as a USB-C to USB-C cable, a boom arm adaptor and, on my review unit, a desk tripod bundled with it. Unfortunately, no XLR cables of any kind were bundled. However, the lack of XLR cables is forgivable. Especially since anyone using an XLR setup for audio will already have at least one cable, and even if they don’t, it’s fairly inexpensive – AmazonBasics’ six-foot XLR cable costs about $9, and is a good option for those just starting out with an XLR setup or for those who want an inexpensive It’s a great option for recording and streaming professionals who want a back-up connector cable.
It would be ideal for people who don’t have a lot of desk space or who need to mount a microphone to a computer monitor or light stand because of the difficulties of setting up. However, the tripod does not add a lot of weight to the microphone when mounted, making it easy to pick up and move around on a desk, record audio on location, or hold it when shooting video while moving around the set. You can grip the microphone’s horseshoe bracket, but this can become uncomfortable after a while and can lead to muddy or clipped audio, as you have to hold the microphone close to your face.