When it comes to recording high-quality audio directly to your iPhone, Shure MV5 microphone to get the job done.
It wasn’t long ago that the only way to record fairly high quality sound was to use really expensive microphones connected to a mixer and then hooked up to a source for recording, such as a computer. This is still done in recording studios for the best possible sound quality, but recording technology has greatly advanced over the past few years.
There are a handful of iPhone microphone options that come with Lightning connections; which means they can plug directly into your iPhone or iPad with no other tools or cables required, which is pretty cool. However $99 Shure MV5 It stands out with its affordable price, great recording quality and eye-catching beautiful appearance.
The MV5 is a small diaphragm condenser microphone which means it has a wide frequency range and is more sensitive overall. This type of microphone is generally great for recording higher-pitched things like acoustic guitars and cymbals on drum kits, but it works well in many different scenarios.
The microphone itself is literally a sphere shape, slightly smaller than a tennis ball. It also comes with an aluminum stand to support it while recording, and you can adjust the angle by loosening the 1/4 inch mounting screw and tightening it again when you have the right angle you need.
The 1/4″ mount allows you to easily attach it to a tripod or anything with the 1/4″ male screw mount, but you will need an adapter to mount it to some mic stands (anything). like this), as many microphone stands use a different size thread. If you’re serious about recording, you’ll still want your own microphone stand instead of using the small stand that came with the MV5.
On the back, the microphone has a microUSB port that lets you plug it directly into an iPhone or computer (using a Lightning cable or USB cable, respectively). There’s also a headphone jack so you can plug headphones directly into the microphone for live viewing. This is great so you know if your voice sounds good without having to record it first and then play it back to make sure it sounds good. There is a volume adjuster on the microphone so you can adjust the earpiece volume if needed.
As for the buttons, there is a mute button for the microphone and a button that toggles different modes. There are three different modes: one for vocal recording, another for instrument recording, and then neutral mode, which is best suited when you need the best of both worlds.
The MV5 can work like a regular microphone when you plug it into a computer, and on iPhone you can use it in the Voice Memos app or even use it during FaceTime calls if you want. However, to get the most out of MV5, you will want to use the ShurePlus™ MOTIV™ Mobile Recording App.
The MOTIV app is essentially just a recording app, but it comes with a bunch of cool features that unlock the MV5, essentially opening the door and letting the horse go free. If you want better control over bass and treble, you can adjust the gain, the compressor, and even change the values in the EQ.
Once you’re done with the registration, you can share it to various services, including Facebook Messenger and Gmail, and save to your Evernote account or Notes app, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
Of course, all you really want to know is the microphone’s sound quality and how well it records.
First off, let me say that I am by no means an audiophile. I’m not one to be overly picky about the quality of a recording, and if the levels are where they should be, I’m good to go.
However, in high school and college I spent a fair share of my time playing in bands and recording podcasts. My minor was in Media Production, so I spent a lot of time with video and audio equipment. From that, at least I know what sounds good and what doesn’t when something goes in through the mic and out the speaker.
That said, I’d say the Shure MV5 is much better than the recording capabilities of the built-in microphone on the iPhone, but that’s to be expected when you spend $100 on an external microphone to use with your smartphone. On vocals, the bass response is really good and you don’t get any of the annoying pops and harsh “S” sounds that would otherwise require a pop filter.
A microphone, mixer, pre-amp, etc. Would you get better recording quality if you spent a few thousand dollars on it? Sure you would, but you really can’t beat a portable microphone that you plug directly into your iPhone and costs only $99, but why should I tell you what the recordings sound like when you can listen to the Shure MV5 samples I recorded correctly, firsthand? on my iPad.
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Above are three sound recording examples from Shure MV5. One is a vocal sample and the other two are instruments (acoustic guitar and ukulele with some hum).
The microphone placement could have been a little better for the ukulele example, as the microphone was slightly closer to the instrument than the musician’s mouth, which made the ukulele a little overpowering, but it’s something you can easily adjust to do just that. the sound is better and the microphone does not play at all.
Also, the MOTIV app can help you fine-tune the quality of your recording, so if something sounds a little flat or you want a slightly more lively sound, you can play around with the settings in the MOTIV app and get everything to sound exactly how it is. You want them to sound.
Shure MV5, buy from Amazon and at other retailers.
