REVIEW: MV88+ Video Kit

Distributor: Jands

RRP: $529

Shure are the leaders in practical microphones, having produced some of the most used audio products in history. Their SM57 and SM58 mics speak to their ability to produce products for the working creative, and while historically they’ve been intended for music and audio, their growing MOTIV range of products shift them into the world of video with equally trustworthy products.

The MV88+ Video Kit is a stowable, professional recording rig, including their MV88+ stereo condenser microphone, as well as a small collection of accessories to help you capture great audio on the go.

Being stereo, the MV88+ itself captures professional sounding, polished audio that doesn’t need much work to refine it for professional sounding videos. The included accessories, Manfrotto PIXI mini tripod, phone clamp allow you focus on the content, whether it be video, podcast interviews or foley, and allow the MV88+ to focus on recording. The MV88+ Video Kit is designed to be everything you need to start creating great sounding audio and video, and all with ease within the ShurePlus MOTIV apps. The MV88+ allows you to charge your phone while in use, and there’s some handy LEDs on the mic itself to let you know what’s happening with power, firmware and audio levels.

The MV88+ itself is a stereo condenser microphone, which is powered by a Lightning® or USB-C connector. Being a stereo or mid-side microphone, it harnesses cardioid and bidirectional microphone capsules, meaning it captures the stereo field for more authentic sounding recordings. Onboard DSP offers some different instrument voicings for preset settings, a stereo width control for more or less directional recording, a compressor that ranges from gentle to heavy, as well as a hard limiter to prevent audible distortion. There’s a high-pass filter (HPF) that’s switchable from 75-150Hz, and some basic graphic EQ controls. There’s also a left-right swap for the stereo if needed, for example when filming video where you want to switch to the perspective of the content, i.e. stage left and stage right. All the processing is in addition to the practical portability of the MV88+ Video Kit, the included Manfrotto PIXI mini tripod folding away to a fraction of its fully extended size, and it’s all kept safe while travelling in the included neoprene roll-up bag bag. The Video kit is designed to integrate with an existing setup, with a headphone output for latency free monitoring, and the phone mount being compatible with other tripods if need be. The MV88+ Video Kit works entirely as its own stand alone kit, but is also a bundle of handy accessories to keep in your tool box.

In use, the MV88+ Video Kit is a breeze to set up. It integrates quickly with a phone, which also clamps in easily into the sturdy feeling to the phone clamp for monitoring. The tripod is lightweight, its feet folding down for use as a handle if needed, or splaying out to be stationed on a table or desktop. The neoprene roll up bag, while being such a simple addition, features pockets to store everything included in the kit and then some, including any extra cables and adapters you might need. The MV88+ rotates on its own little axis, which also feels robust and sturdy, so your phone won’t go sliding around and ruining an otherwise perfect shot. The tripod extends, and includes a lock to set your phone and MV88+ in the perfect spot for capture. The ShurePlus MOTIV app for audio really pushes this little Video Kit into its own league, allowing you to quickly set audio levels, as well as treat the audio to retain clarity, even without prior audio knowledge. The HPF allows you to quickly filter out rumble, little bumps and other noise, while the more gentle compression settings are super transparent, but make for a more clear and consistent sounding recording, especially for voice or outside noises where wind might be present. The onboard DSP voicings make set up even faster again, harnessing all of the available effects for a sound preset that works as intended. You can switch between Speech, Singing, Flat, Acoustic or Loud, all of which subtly treat the audio for maximum dynamic range and minimum noise. The DSP settings adjust frequency, gain and dynamic for an optimal level, and serve as a great starting point, if not as a quick fix-all style setting.

The MV88+ would be a welcome purchase for just about anyone. The MV88+ itself, even without the accessories included, is a great option for an easy, portable recording solution. The accessories build the kit into everything you might need, keeping your audio and video stable, both physically and sonically. Shure’s history of practical, robust products have given them a leg up in the world of content creation, where video and audio is created on the fly, and often outside of ideal recording situations. The ShurePlus MOTIV apps make setting up your gear quick, and get you back into the content, whether that be podcasting, foley, or interviews, and keep you engaged with the work rather than fiddly and meddlesome equipment, cables and settings. Different DSP voices serve as a great way to set-andforget, trusting you’ll be capturing great quality audio, and the low latency headphone out, direct from the MV88+, can help you catch any issues if they are present! The Video Kit is a really portable solution, stowing away to a fraction of its size, but the Manfrotto PIXI mini tripod extending to be everything you need it to be, all with low latency monitoring and sturdy, lockable controls available to keep everything rolling when you need it to.

BY LEWIS NOKE EDWARDS