Shure MV88+ USB stereo condenser microphone for mobile devices

Features
MOTIV App
MV88+ Video App
Recording & Editing
Sharing MOTIV Recordings
Specifications

Features

Overview: The Shure MV88+ is a professional quality condenser microphone designed to plug directly into a mobile device using either a USB-A or USB-C connector, allowing direct recording to your smartphone. The mic can be used in conjunction with video recording on the smartphone or for stand-alone audio recording, making it ideal for capturing a variety of sources, including music, speech, and video blogging.

Microphone: The MV88+ microphone features a durable metal housing with metal-mesh screens to protect the capsules. Two capsules are included: one front facing, with a cardioid pattern for picking up sound directly in front of the microphone; the other is bidirectional, capturing sound from both left and right sides. Each side of the microphone is clearly marked with L and R to quickly identify the correct placement when setting up the mic.

Connections: The MV88+ microphone rear panel includes a micro-B USB port for connecting to your smartphone, tablet, or computer. A 3.5mm headphone output lets you monitor the audio while recording.

Stand Adapter: The MV88+ includes a microphone clip with a 5/8" threaded socket for attaching to most standard-size microphone stands and attachment accessories. A 5/8" to 3/8" adapter is also included.

MOTIV App

Overview: The Shure MOTIV app, available from the Apple App and Google Play stores, allows you to not only record, but also edit and share your recordings. It will also store the most recently used settings for quick setup each time you record. Setup options include:

• Input Meter: Displays the strength of the input signal, both mono and stereo. A "target range" (between -12 and 0dB) is outlined providing the ideal input level range. The Input Meter will also indicate if the signal starts to clip.
• Microphone Gain/Monitor Mix: This graphic slider is used to adjust the mic input gain. Tapping this accesses the Monitor Mix Blend adjustment.
• Stereo Width Handles: A graphic display of the stereo width can be easily changed by sliding the two indicator dots into a wider or narrower pickup pattern.
• Polar Pattern: Four polar patterns can be selected:
  • Stereo: Both front and side capsules are set to On.
  • Mono Cardioid: The front capsule is On while the side capsule is turned Off.
  • Mono Bidirectional: Provides a figure-8 pattern with the front capsule Off and the side capsule On.
  • Raw Mid-Side: This setting provides a cardioid pattern for the front capsule and mono-bidirectional for the side capsule. This is ideal for recording applications that have a mid-side stereo matrix decoder. The stereo image can also be manually adjusted.
• Advanced Features: This setting lets you fine tune your recording with Limiting, Compression (Off, Light, Medium, and Heavy settings), a variable high-pass filter, left-right swap, and 5-band Equalization.
• Preset Modes: Five pre-configured modes let you quickly find a sound mode for most any recording application. Presets include:
  • Speech: Provides a narrow stereo field to reject background noise, equalization that emphasizes clarity and fullness, and gentle compression.
  • Singing: Provides a medium stereo width with subtle equalization to add richness and clarity for a natural sound.
  • Flat: Uses no equalization or compression. This adds flexibility when processing the audio after recording.
  • Acoustic: Provides a medium stereo width with transparent compression to smooth out volume spikes and bring out quiet passages. The equalizer emphasizes detail and an overall natural sound.
  • Loud: This setting provides wide stereo pattern to increase separation between sources. Equalization reduces frequencies that can make the instrumentation sound crowded.
• Lock Mode: Prevents accidental changes to settings when engaged.

MV88+ Video App

Overview:  The Shure MV88+ Video app features controls for video and uncompressed audio recording, providing most of the audio control options as the MOTIV app along with video controls for the smartphone. Video app options for Standby and Record modes include:

Standby:

• Connected Device Status: Displays the model of the microphone along with recording length displayed in Hours, Minutes, and Seconds.
• Device Status: Displays the remaining battery life and available storage space on your device.
• File Information: Displays video format options.
  • Audio File Type: WAV, ALAC, AAC 96, AAC 128, AAC256.
  • Sample Rate: 44.1kHz, 48kHz
  • Video Resolution: 720p, 1080p, 4K.
  • Frame Rate: 24 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps.
• Reverse Camera: Switches the phone to the front-facing camera for shooting selfie videos.
• Mic Setup: Accesses the same advanced microphone settings that are available in the MOTIV app.
• Record/Stop Button
• Flash: Accesses the flash when recording in low-light conditions.
• Preview Window: Tapping this will review the most recently recorded video.
• Grid/Level/Off Display: Tapping this can display can display grid lines or a level display for easy image composition. This option can also be turned off.
• Zoom Level
• Input Meter/Microphone Gain: Provides the same input level/gain options as in the MOTIV app.

Record: The Record mode provides many of the same options that are available in Standby mode, with additional features:

• Menu
• Connected Device Status/Recording Length/Focus Lock
• Device Status
• Record/Stop Button
• Flash
• Photo: Allows you to capture still photos during recording. Photos get added to the recording device camera roll.
• Grid: The grid lines can assist in composing an image.
• Audio Recording: Displays the waveform of the audio as its recording.
• Zoom Level
• Input Meter

System Requirements & Compatibility for iOS:

• iOS: iOS 11.3 or higher
• iPhone: iPhone 6 or higher
• iPod Touch: 5th Gen

System Requirements & Compatibility for Android:

• OS: Android Marshmallow 6.0 and higher
• USB Host Power Requirements: ≥100mA
• USB Audio Class Support: 1.1

Recording & Editing

Bit Depth & Sampling Rate: The MV88+ offers four different bit depth and sample rate settings. Selecting a lower sample rate will allow longer recordings and is ideal for recording speech or a podcast for download. A higher sample rate is ideal for music and dynamic recordings. The following selections are available. If none is selected, this setting will default to a 24-bit/48kHz sampling rate.

• 24-bit / 48kHz
• 24-bit / 44.1kHz
• 16-bit / 48kHz
• 16-bit / 44.1kHz

Timeline Display: A graphic waveform of the incoming audio will be displayed in a timeline, showing both signal strength and a time counter along the bottom of the display. If Stereo Recording, a complete waveform (top and bottom) will be displayed representing left and right channels. Mono Recording will display half of the waveform.

Recording Control Bar: Includes the following options:

• Record/Pause: Starts and pauses recordings. The maximum file size for recordings is 2GB, approximately 2 hours of record time, optimizing app performance. Continuous recording for more than 2 hours will generate a second audio file.
• Done: Tapping this checkmark icon will save the current recording.
• Marker: A marker is an audio bookmark that allows you to return to specific points in the recording. Markers are identified by Hour, Minute, Second, and Millisecond, and cannot be placed closer than 2 seconds apart from each other. Tapping the Marker icon will place a marker in that spot on the timeline. A Marker can be used in Record Mode and Edit Mode to mark the beginning of playback.

Editing: After making an audio recording, two modes are available for editing the audio Trim and Split:

• Trim Mode: Allows you to remove "blank" recording space at the beginning and end of an audio clip. Start and End points can be dragged over the graphic waveform to select areas to be deleted.
• Split Mode: This mode is used when you have one long audio file that you'd like to divide into smaller audio files. New files are created when editing, keeping the original file intact.

Looping: A section of a recorded audio file can be selected and repeated, or looped, letting you hear just that section of audio. This option is handy for auditioning a section of edited audio without having to play the whole file.

Sharing MOTIV Recordings

Camera Roll: This feature allows you to convert an audio file into a video file, that can easily be shared over social media, using the Camera Roll feature on your iOS device. Once audio files are saved to a MOTIV folder inside the Camera Roll app, they will become available for sharing. You can also add artwork along with the audio, such as an image or photo.

Dropbox: MOTIV files can be saved to Dropbox for storing and backing up audio tracks, freeing up space on your iOS device.

AirDrop: MOTIV supports the ability to AirDrop WAV files to select contracts.

iTunes: Audio files can easily be transferred between your desktop computer and iOS device using iTunes. They can be added to you iTunes library or imported into any audio editing program.

Specifications

• Transducer Type: Cardioid/bidirectional condenser cartridge
• Polar Pattern: Adjustable width stereo/mono, bidirectional/mono, cardioid/mid-side
• Stereo Principle: Mid-side
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
• Adjustable Gain Range: 0 to +36dB
• Sensitivity: -37dBFS/Pa @ 1kHz
• Maximum SPL: 120dB
• Limiter: Yes
• Compressor: Yes
• Equalizer: 5-Band
• Housing: Metal with metal-mesh capsule screen
• Microphone Dimensions:
  • Without Windscreen: Diameter: 1.07", Length: 3.05"
  • With Windscreen: Diameter: 1.73", Length: 3.05"
• Weight:
  • Without Windscreen: 2.78 oz. (0.17 lbs.)
  • With Windscreen: 2.87 oz. (0.18 lbs.)