This is our very comprehensive review of the Shure MV5 Microphone. Designed to work out of the box on your Mac or PC, or lightning iPhone, iPad or iPod. We have also tested it on an android phone, and it is possible to connect it to a newer iPad with the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter. You can check out full compatibility here on the Shure site.
You can watch our detailed video review and listen to an original unedited audio recording made with the Shure MV5 Mic. This is a small desktop microphone with a number of interesting features. The MV5 mic looks as if it might punch above its weight and size. Read on to find out if it does.
The Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Microphone is just one of the USB mics we tested for our Ultimate Guide to USB Mics. Refer to the complete article if you want to compare the MV5 Mic with other best sellers and popular USB mics.
The Shure MV5 is also available in a mobile recording kit complete with Shure headphones.
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Shure MV5 Features
Mic: Shure MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone for PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad
Type: Electret Condenser (16mm)
Pickup Pattern: Unidirectional (Cardioid)
Dual Format: No
Headphone Port: Yes 3.5mm with volume control
Accessories: Desktop Stand
Recording Resolution: 24 bit, 44.1/48kHz
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
Additional Features: Mic Mute Feature; Recording modes for different recording scenarios
Power: USB or Lightning
Pros: Excellent recording quality; Very Low Noise; Multi-Platform (comes with USB and Lightning Cables); Cool Design
Cons: Plastic body
Buy: Buy the Shure MV5
Accessories and Options: Furry Windscreen designed for MV5. Mic also available in a mobile recording kit complete with headphones.
Shure MV5 Video Review – See What It Looks Like
Shure MV5 Original Audio Recording – Hear How It Sounds
The Shure MV5 Microphone In More Detail
Microphone Quality
Our first impression of the MV5 is the body does feel a bit light and plasticky. However, it comes with a sturdy little stand and does look very neat and unobtrusive when assembled and placed on your desk. It has a quarter inch screw thread so you can attach it to any standard camera tripod, which might be handy if you are out and about with it, or you can use a tripod to mic stand adapter to mount it on to any microphone stand.
Connectivity
Out of the box you get the microphone, stand , a USB cable and a lightning cable. Compatibility wise it connects directly to Mac or PC via USB, and to any iOS device with a lightning port.
Many USB mics are USB only, so the addition of the lightning cable is excellent if you want to use it with your iPad or iPhone.
It plugs and plays on your computer. On your iOS device you install the Shure MOTIV App. You can then use that app to record, and to control the mic, but it will also work in Garageband, your video apps etc.
We also tested it on an android phone using an OTG adapter. Success depends on your phone and app being able to use an external microphone. We found it worked well with Open Camera (as you can see in the video review)
Note the included cables are 1m in length, which you might consider quite short. We successfully tested the mic with a USB extension lead.
Hardware Details
On the back you have the connection port, and also a headphone port for real-time monitoring. This will allow you to record yourself along with backing tracks and hear yourself at the same time.
Also on the back are the mode selection button (read more about recording modes below) and a mic mute button.
It is a nice touch that you can mute the mic input. When you connect this mic, you will want to use it as your sound input and output device, so it is really good you can turn the mic off when you are not recording, and just use the headphones for listening to your computer sounds and music.
Recording Modes
The ability to select different recording modes is the thing that differentiates the Shure MV5 from other USB mics of a similar price. It is designed to be an all-rounder microphone with 3 recording pre-sets: Vocal (for speech and singing); Acoustic Instrument Mode for instruments such as guitar, and the Flat unprocessed mode.
These different pre-sets are using DSP (digital signal processing) within the mic to adjust EQ and compression. The idea is you can use the mic out of the box with ‘oven ready’ recording settings for various setups. So whatever it is you want to record, by changing the mode and mic position you should be able to get a really good result.
The processing even features a de-esser in the vocal mode.
Now if you are a recording beginner, these different modes are going to be excellent – the idea is you should be able to get a good recording result without having to adjust the recording too much in your recording software. They would also be good if you want to use the mic for live streaming. You will get a good sound whether you podcast, play guitar, or sing.
The flat mode is good if you want to set your DAW up to process the sound yourself.
Just to clear up potential confusion, the recording modes on this mic do not change the pickup pattern or polar pattern. The polar pattern is fixed. The MV5 has a cardioid pattern which is ‘directional’ so the front of the mic is picking up the sound, not the rear of the mic.
Some USB microphones allow you to adjust the pickup pattern – for example the Blue Snowball allows you to switch between Cardioid, omni and cardioid with 10dB pad.
Technical Specs In Detail
Moving on to the Technical spec: This is a condenser mic, so it is nice and sensitive with a wide frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz.
You have a choice between 2 sampling rates and you also have the option to record at either 16-bit or 24-bit. The ability to record at 24-bit is excellent – It gives you much more headroom when you are recording. Many USB mics are only 16-bit devices, so that is a feature that elevates this microphone above most of the sub £100 competition.
It we go back to the design, the MV5 is a small, neat, round microphone. You can sit is directly on any surface, or you can attach it to the aluminium desktop stand.
Alternatively, you can mount the mic on any camera tripod. To use a microphone stand you just need an inexpensive tripod to mic stand adapter.
Verdict
We think the recording results using the MV5 are excellent. The recording quality is high, and there is very little background noise. Some USB mics are quite noisy with a constant background hiss – the Shure MV5 is among the best we have tested from that point of view. It may lack some clarity compared to more expensive mics – but is easily one of the best at this price point.
Pros
• Cute Design
• Different Recording Modes
• Multi-platform out of the box
• 24-bit recording
• Low noise
• High Quality Recording for the price
• Mic Mute feature
• Provides realtime monitoring via headphones
Cons
• Newer USB-C iPads require an adapter and the app does not have so much functionality
• The cables are a bit short
• Microphone build quality – feels a bit plasticky
• A little Pricy – you pay a premium for the Shure brand and recording quality.
Compare USB Microphones
In summary the Shure MV5 offers really decent recording quality and multi-platform connectivity out of the box. If you want a small desktop microphone for podcasting, live streaming or voiceovers then it does the job very nicely.
You can directly compare the MV5 to every USB microphone we have tested in one place. Refer to our ultimate guide to the best USB microphones.