Shure MV7i

Shure’s latest USB mic features a built‑in audio interface.

When podcasting became big business, Shure were as surprised as anyone to find that their SM7B dynamic mic was suddenly the hottest ticket in town. Even now, it remains hugely popular, and was recently joined by the active SM7dB variant, but Shure have also developed a more affordable range of dynamic mics known as the MV series. And whereas the SM7 mics require an XLR cable and audio interface to cast pods, the MV range includes USB mics alongside the more traditional MV7X.

The latest in the MV series features both a USB socket and an XLR connector, but the XLR does not carry the mic’s output signal. Instead, it’s a combi XLR/jack socket that allows an additional source to be connected. In other words, the MV7i is not only a USB microphone, but an audio interface as well.

Motive Force

The MV7i is compatible with macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. Whichever platform you use, you’ll want to install Shure’s free MOTIV Mix (desktop) or MOTIV Audio (mobile) app, and not only because it’s the only way to configure the MV7i’s various built‑in DSP options: MOTIV Mix also allows you to aggregate multiple audio sources. You can connect additional MV microphones, in the same way as is possible with Apogee’s Hype Mic, and MOTIV Mix can also accept audio from the built‑in mic on your computer, and from other software. In fact, you don’t need to own any Shure devices in order to use MOTIV Mix, and the icing on the cake is that it can make basic recordings, either of all the sources feeding its mixer simultaneously, or of its stereo mix.

Out of the box, the MV7i resembles a stubbier SM7, and feels similarly robust, but its foam windshield conceals a much more conventional‑looking wire mesh headbasket. At the other end, you’ll find a USB‑C socket, the aforementioned combi connector, and a mini‑jack headphone output. A multi‑colour LED strip halfway along the body provides visual feedback, including slightly vague but funky signal metering, and can be tapped with a finger to mute the mic, whereupon it turns red.

As you’d expect, the combi socket can be used to connect another microphone, with a 60dB gain range and optional 48V phantom power available, or an instrument such as an electric guitar; but it can also be configured as an unbalanced stereo input for synths, backing tracks and so on. All of this configuration is handled within MOTIV Mix, and there are...