Pros & Cons
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- Captures warm, pleasing sound
- Easy to setup and use
- Built-in pop filter and denoiser
- Simple desktop and mobile apps
- Plenty of customization options
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- Pricey
- Doesn’t include stand
Shure MV7i Specs
| Bit Depth | 16/24 |
| DSP | |
| Frequency Range | 50Hz-16kHz |
| Headphone Jack | |
| Low-Latency Monitoring | |
| Pattern | Cardioid |
| Sample Rate | 44.1/48kHz |
| Type | Dynamic |
| USB |
The $389 Shure MV7i microphone carries over the excellent audio capture and easy-to-use design of the capable $279 MV7+, and lets you plug in a second mic, allowing for two-mic recording from a single line. It drops the XLR output of the MV7+ in favor of a combined XLR and one-quarter-inch input while keeping the USB-C port for your computer and 3.5mm headphone jack for live monitoring. Paired with Shure's built-in pop filter, automatic gain control, and real-time noise reduction, you have a powerful tool at your disposal. Thanks to its warm sound and user-adjustable level meter, the Shure MV7i is an ideal mic for podcasters and gamers who often have guests, and is our Editors' Choice for multi-input microphones.
Design: It Shure Looks Familiar
Save for the large MV7i designator on the back of the mic, you’d be forgiven if you mistook it for the MV7+ or even the MV7 ($249). It relies on the same aluminum frame, foam windscreen, and customizable LED touch screen on top. It even carries over the same dimensions of 6.7 by 3.5 inches (DW) and a weight of 1.3 pounds. It looks every bit like the prosumer microphone for musicians, gamers, and podcasters that it is.
(Credit: Phil Nickinson)The biggest difference is visible on the rear panel. Whereas the MV7+ included USB-C and XLR outputs and a 3.5mm headphone jack, the MV7i trades the XLR out for a combination quarter-inch/XLR input, complete with phantom power. So you can plug a mic into your mic, and then pipe both signals into whatever capture device or controller you prefer via USB-C. The applications are obvious: It's perfect for a podcaster on the go, or someone who wants to record vocals and another instrument (like a keyboard) simultaneously without having to lug a ton of equipment around to do so.
The MV7i doesn’t come with much. You get the mic with the windscreen already attached to the yoke, the U-shaped bracket for mounting to a stand or boom arm. It comes with a 5/8-inch-to-3/8-inch adapter to help with that endeavor, if needed. A generous 9.8-foot USB-C-to-USB-C cable is provided for connecting the mic to your phone, tablet, or laptop.
You’re on your own for providing the mic stand or boom arm, which adds a few more dollars to your initial cost. Be sure to keep that in mind if you’re budgeting your rig from scratch. If you’re adding a second mic to your recording scheme, you’ll need to outfit that mic, too, and ensure that it has the proper outputs.
(Credit: Phil Nickinson)On the technical end, the MV7i has a cardioid recording pattern and a wide frequency range of 50Hz to 16kHz. A built-in analog-to-digital converter supports 16-bit or 24-bit audio and sample rates of 44.1kHz or 48kHz. These are the same as the MV7+ and MV7 and cover what you'll need for spoken voices, singing vocals, and instruments.
The customizable LED light bar is the most visible design element, and it now has more functionality. It previously served as an easy way to monitor the input level on the mic and mute/unmute the signal: Give the LED bar a short tap for one or the other.
Now, if you add a second microphone into the mix, things get interesting, if not a little overly complicated. When two mics are running simultaneously, the LED panel can be used in split or combined modes. Split mode gives you separate monitor and mute controls for both inputs. Combined mode shows the total level for both inputs and mutes both at once. You can change the color scheme to suit your tastes or jazz up the visuals for your podcast if you're also recording video.
I found the pulsing LED distracting (but you may not). It’s not the color that bothered me as much as it was the live meter flashing in the corner of my eye. A quick trip into the settings of the Shure Motiv Mix app took care of that. I also turned off the tap-to-mute feature while I was in there because the touch panel can be difficult to find in a hurry, depending on how you've positioned the mic and whether it is in arm's reach. This is all to say that the mic allows for customization, so you can adjust it to work for your particular recording scenario.
App Experience: Finding the Right Motiv
Although you don't have to use Shure's apps (available for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows), you'll find some functionality that's worth the download. If for nothing else, you’ll need the Motiv Mix app to download and install firmware updates and to adjust settings on the mic, such as the aforementioned LED touch panel.
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(Credit: Shure/PCMag)Shure's mix of apps has remained mostly unchanged since we last reviewed a Shure mic. There are a ton of features with which you should experiment. There are basics like levels, reverb, tone, and gain, or settings to manage sibilance and plosives when speaking into the mic. The app includes global settings you can apply when capturing singing and instruments.
Motiv Mix is a relatively decent (if entry-level) recording platform. Fire it up, and you are presented with all the audio inputs available on your capture device. From there, you can add any input source to the virtual mixer and hit record.
(Credit: Shure/PCMag)When you're done recording and close the app, it asks if you want to “save your activity.” It's best to do this each time, though the MV7i's settings are preserved even if you don’t.
The app’s user interface is not particularly sophisticated, but you still have to do a lot of menu diving to find all the different settings. Take your time to learn where everything is, and don’t be afraid of that big “Reset to Default” button if you mess things up along the way.
(Credit: Shure/PCMag)The same goes for Shure’s mobile apps. The corresponding Android and iOS apps work in pretty much the same way as the desktop app, right down to allowing for firmware updates. It’s a cool option to have, especially if you’re on the go and trying to keep your gear to a minimum.
Sound: As Excellent as Expected
Based on our experience with the Shure MV7 and MV7+, we had high expectations for the MV7i, and the company didn’t let us down. There are always variables in recording, some of which will be out of your control. With the Shure MV7i, you’re almost guaranteed to sound good out of the box.
(Credit: Phil Nickinson)The MV7i is an excellent vocal mic, which makes it perfect for podcasting, work meetings, and gaming. Getting good sound when recording instruments takes a little more tweaking in the software, but that’s not a surprise, and the end result is still very good.
As we noted in our reviews of the MV7 and MV7+, the MV7i delivers clean audio that has a warm tone that leans toward the mids. Shure’s popper stopper and digital denoiser work their magic in cleaning up your signal without requiring you to lift a finger.
The second input on the rear is a fascinating option. Running a second mic into the MV7i allows you to manage one signal and one connection rather than two, resulting in an easier recording session with balanced sound from both inputs. This makes the MV7i a natural fit for situations when you have a guest for your podcast or a second gamer on-site.
The Shure MV7i delivers a pleasing signal with a clear and warm sound that accurately captures your voice, vocals, or instrument—all while adding the flexibility of recording a second voice.