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If you use your phone for vlogs or social media videos, but find that its built-in microphone degrades video quality, it may be time for an upgrade. brave MV88 USB-C If you want an easy-to-use solution that offers more customization than a cheap mini lavalier mic, this is a great option.
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However, if you’re looking for a microphone that works from a distance, this isn’t the one. The MV88 USB-C easily upgrades your phone’s microphone, keeping the audio levels of your recordings consistent while reducing background noise. At $160, there are less expensive options, but they may not offer the same production features. Here’s what you need to know before you buy.
The MV88 USB-C is the size of my palm, so it’s easy to slip into a bag or slip into your pocket when not in use. You can plug the MV88 into your smartphone’s port and start recording. Additionally, there are five audio presets for your audio recordings: speech, singing, flat, acoustic, and loud.
These presets can be customized, but I found I stuck to the basic settings. I used Speech mode to record voice-overs, which was especially helpful in reducing the room tone from my home office heater in my recording.
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While recording a daily vlog at CES this year I also used the MV88’s Auto Level mode, a feature that promises to stabilize the microphone’s gain or sensitivity. With this feature turned on, coupled with the real-time denoiser, I didn’t have to worry about ambient noise from a large crowd interfering with my audio.
While recording with the MV88 and walking down the streets of the Las Vegas Strip, car horns added to the mic’s audio feature, but it was dampened enough that it added color to my recording rather than distracting from my voice.
All of these features can be toggled in the Shure Motive app, including adjusting the microphone’s polar pattern and the direction in which it captures audio. The MV88 has a mono cardioid pattern, which records audio directly in front of the microphone, with less emphasis on rear- and side-facing audio. This pickup pattern is most useful for vlog-style recording, so I didn’t stray from it.
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The Sure Motive app saves your favorite microphone settings, even when you disconnect the MV88 from your phone, so you don’t have to fiddle with settings every time you want to record.
The only limitation of the MV88 is that it must be connected to your phone while recording. If you are conducting an interview, you will need to use a bidirectional pickup pattern and stand relatively close to your interviewer. If you want a wireless microphone or a device that performs well for recording remotely, the MV88 won’t work for you.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
Shure MV88 USB-C Microphone is an incredibly simple and beginner-friendly solution for budding content creators or anyone making videos. This significantly improves your audio recording on your phone’s built-in speakers and allows more customization to add a layer of professionalism to your videos. What’s more, the mic easily fits in your pocket or bag without burdening you.
However, the MV88 USB-C is only a viable solution for those who shoot exclusively with their smartphones and prefer vlog-style videos. It’s not a wireless device, and its performance degrades significantly when trying to capture clear audio from a distance.
If you’ve upgraded to other than shooting most of your videos on your phone and no longer find yourself talking straight into it, consider more advanced options.
