My favourite vocal microphone is the Neat King Bee II. It’s a big condenser mic, kind of just like the ever present SM7B, however for the reason that Neat model is seemingly now not energetic, it may be had for pennies. It makes voiceovers sound unimaginable, however the unhappy half is, I hardly ever really use it.
The King Bee II is an XLR microphone that wants 48V phantom energy to operate. This implies you want an audio interface and a pc hooked as much as benefit from it. That’s nice in case you’re streaming video games on Twitch, for instance, however my content material usually takes me exterior, away from the desk, and meaning my favourite mic sits gathering mud till the following Zoom assembly.
Fortunately, that’s altering. Shure despatched me its newest gadget, the MVX2U Gen 2 (catchy title, I do know), and it has unlocked a complete new world of microphones for on-the-go content material creation. I’ve been so impressed with this little gadget, and on this article, I’ll inform you why.
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What’s the Shure MVX2U Gen 2?
You possibly can consider the Shure MVX2U as a USB audio interface. The largest distinction is that it is tiny and it’s licensed to work with iPhones, iPads, Android telephones, and extra.
The MVX2U is simply barely wider than a typical XLR plug, however it helps phantom energy, together with some fairly superior EQ and compression choices. Shure even managed to squeeze in a headphone jack for real-time monitoring.
It actually makes me surprise what’s happening inside my desktop audio interface. Both Shure is the grasp of miniaturisation, or I’ve received a large empty field on my desk.
48V phantom energy activates automatially when required (Picture credit score: Future)
The MVX2U is designed to be caught into the top of an XLR mic, after which you may join it to a telephone, pill, or laptop with a USB-C cable. After all, you could possibly additionally use an XLR cable between the mic and the adapter, for conditions when it is advisable to get additional away.
Methods to use it
The factor that basically shocked me about this setup is how hassle-free it’s. I took the adapter out of the field, plugged it into my mic and telephone (on this case, the Oppo Discover X9 Professional), and that was it; it simply labored.
It’s a stark distinction to my typical XLR setup for PC, the place I’m always having to regulate the acquire to cease the mic from clipping or sounding too quiet on a name.
The MVX2U simply found out the whole lot for me. It recognised that the mic wanted phantom energy, and turned it on, and robotically adjusted the degrees in order that I might whisper or scream whereas the quantity all the time sat round -3 dB.
What to learn subsequent
Right this moment’s finest Neat King Bee II and Shure MVX2U offers
It is plug and play with most telephones (Picture credit score: Future)
After all, you may want extra management than that, and in case you do, you’ll want to put in Shure’s Motiv app. This can permit you to change the enter stage, the quantity of compression, the tone of your recordings, and extra.
I’ve considerably combined emotions in regards to the default auto-level mode. I’m amazed by how nicely it really works, and it’s extremely handy, however it’s so closely compressed that it could sound a bit of unnatural. You possibly can typically catch it off guard, too, like if in case you have a couple of minutes of silence adopted by sudden speaking, when it typically peaks for a cut up second earlier than catching up.
For those who’re severe about your audio, you’ll positively wish to dive into the Motiv app settings. That stated, the auto stage mode has its advantages. It means you may hand this equipment to somebody who doesn’t know the very first thing about audio and know they’ll get strong outcomes. It’s additionally greater than adequate for short-form content material like TikToks and Reels, so in case you’re extra targeted on pace and comfort than polish, it may very well be the best way to go.
The Motiv app allows you to dial in your settings (Picture credit score: Future)
Why must you care?
As of late, I shoot most of my content material with both a smartphone or a pocketable digicam just like the Osmo Pocket 3. Positive, skilled mirrorless our bodies have their benefits, however the video high quality of those units is greater than adequate for many conditions. Plus, with a telephone, you may edit and publish your content material all from one system, to not point out the truth that it is already in your pocket.
Telephones make a whole lot of sense for recording long-form content material like podcasts, too. They’re comparatively low cost, small, light-weight, and straightforward to make use of. However there’s no substitute for good audio.
I have a tendency to make use of my DJI Wi-fi Mics after I’m taking pictures with a telephone, purely for comfort, and so they normally get the job finished completely, however typically you want one thing with a bit of extra constancy – like in case you’re recording a prolonged voiceover, for instance.
My favourite mic plugged into my favourite telephone (Picture credit score: Future)
This helpful adapter is a game-changer for cellular creators, because it unlocks the power to make use of just about any skilled microphone available on the market. Desire a Hollywood-level shotgun microphone to your subsequent quick movie? No drawback. This pocket-sized interface even lets you plumb your self into the blending desk at a gig or a convention – one thing that may very well be extremely helpful for videographers.
With an inventory worth of round $120 / £140, the Shure MVX2U Gen 2 shouldn’t be precisely low cost, however it has already confirmed its price to me. I dare say anybody who owns a pleasant XLR mic and shoots with a telephone will really feel the identical manner. Hats off to Shure for rethinking what an audio interface ought to appear to be in 2026. My YouTube movies are going to sound quite a bit higher for it.
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