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Shure MV88 Portable iOS Microphone for iPhone/iPad/iPod via Lightning Connector, Professional-Quality Sound, Digital Stereo Condenser Mic for Vloggers, Filmmakers, Music Makers and Journalists

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Availability: In Stock.
Fulfilled by Amazon

Arrives Thursday, May 2
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Style: MV88/A


Features

  • IOS LIGHTNING CONNECTION - Apple MFi certified and compatible with all iOS devices with a Lightning connector
  • POCKET-FRIENDLY - Capture powerful audio recordings on the move without the need for large and heavy audio equipment
  • FULLY ADJUSTABLE - Flexibility to tilt, flip and rotate the microphone up to 90 to get stereo clarity, whatever your sound source
  • TWO FREE APPS - ShurePlus MOTIV Audio and ShurePlus MOTIV Video allow you to customize the performance and set-up of the microphone for professional audio and video capture. Download directly from App Store
  • NO WIND NOISE - Includes a black foam windscreen (part number AMV88-WS); please note that the windscreen comes attached and can be removed if desired
  • BUILT TO LAST - All-metal construction and quality Shure engineering that has stood the test of touring and live stages across the world over the past 90 years
  • PROTECTION IN TRANSIT - High-quality zip carry case included for protection when traveling
  • IN THE BOX - 2-Year Warranty, MV88 microphone, foam windshield, carry case, headphone monitor adaptor cable

Description

With an innovative mid-side architecture for clean, clear stereo sound, the MOTIV MV88 Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone directly connects to any Apple iPhone, iPod or iPad equipped with a Lightning connector to capture high- quality recordings on the go. The mid-side microphone element is mounted to a unique 90-degree hinge with built-in rotation that allows for highly flexible microphone position, even in video applications. Five built-in DSP preset modes (Speech, Singing, Flat, Acoustic Instrument, Loud) can be accessed via the Shure Plus MOTIV Recording App, a free download from the Apple App Store. The MOTIV app also allows for real-time adjustments including microphone gain, stereo width, and high-quality 24-bit/48 kHz recording for optimal results in virtually any environment. Shure-tested, all-metal construction provides confident performance in any environment. Adjustable Gain Range0 to +36 dB.


Item Weight: 2.46 ounces


Product Dimensions: 2.8 x 4.6 x 3.6 inches


Country of Origin: China


Item model number: MV88/A


Batteries: 1 A batteries required.


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No


Date First Available: August 1, 2015


Color Name: Silver


Compatible Devices: Compatible with iOS, Mac and PC devices


Connector Type: Lightning


Hardware Interface: USB


Material Type: Metal


Hardware Platform: Lightning Connector


Power Source: PHANTOM POWER All condenser microphones require phantom power to operate. Please refer to the User Manual for more details on power requirements.


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Thursday, May 2

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • You may burst out laughing hearing recordings with the MV88 for the first time—it’s that good
Style: MV88/A
Update 16Oct2021 - iPhone Xs Max in 2018 finally introduced stereo mics. The MV88 is still superior in frequency response and doesn't require the always-on compression in the iPhone. I modified a 2021 Spigen Ultra Hybrid case with an X-acto knife to clear the MV88 (see photo). It was possible to leave intact the top edge over the Lightning connector--unlike some cases with an open area there to I’ve used the MV88 for live music performance video recording in stereo, with a handheld iPhone 6s Plus since Dec2015. As of 04Jul2017 there is no competition for this application. As a musician and software engineer coding audio signal processing, I’ve found the sound quality to be excellent. Amazing lows and clear, extended natural highs vs. mics like the Zoom iQ7 and the old Tascam iM2. Amazon apparently doesn’t allow external links, but google “youtube electric eye lucky strike” should yield two videos of the same performance, with audio from the Zoom iQ7 vs. the MV88. There are other great stereo mics from Shure and Rode, but they're significantly bulkier and heavier—impractical for handheld video. And there is no contest vs the mono, overload prone built-in iPhone mics—optimized for noise cancellation and monaural voice, rather than stereo live music. You may burst out laughing hearing recordings with the MV88 for the first time. Commenters saying there is little or no difference—maybe are listening on the iPhone speaker? Headphones, external speakers, are the real test. The MOTIV app is easy to use. Documentation is a joy—clear and detailed, often answering not just how, but why. Its Band preset works amazingly well for rock concerts—just a touch of compression and limiting, to the point i’ve never heard distortion on live performances, other than traceable to overloaded mixer/monitor/amps in the original performance. Even on video of Motley Crue’s Final Tour 31Dec2015, the explosions weren’t distorted (google youtube motley crue antera77, at 27:42) The highly elegant pivot and twist system for the stereo mics gives correctly oriented stereo audio for landscape mode (“horizontal”) video. Mics like the Rode iXYL and the apparently abandoned Blue Mikey Digital Lightning (Blue’s website as of 04Jul2017 touts iOS 7 compatibility—a version introduced Sep2013) require portrait mode for this—rendering them essentially useless for landscape mode video. The jewel-like, all metal construction screams quality, vs. plasticy, deformed Mickey Mouse ears looking mics like the Zoom iQ7. Suggested improvements, 0-10 scale, 10 being highest priority/cost: 10/10: Recording level indication on the mic - add two or three green LED level meters to the single MV88 “Communication Established” LED. My biggest disappointments have involved not knowing audio levels while recording video. Excellent workaround has been an iOS video app like Filmic Pro with on-screen audio level meters. Apple’s default Camera app has none—suggestion to Apple: Make audio level meters a Preferences-selectable option! Much less elegant workaround: carry earbuds or headphones to the live show to monitor the audio. Earbuds are hard to hear in a live music setting, and more bulk and kit to lose and fuss with—especially with iPhone 7 and newer needing an adapter for headphones. The $100 Zoom iQ7 Lightning mic has three LED level meters, so they’re likely cost-effective. 4/10: “Turn Airplane Mode On When MV88 detected” option in the Shure MOTIV app I’ve come home to interference-riddled audio several times, because I forgot to turn Airplane Mode on. No reliable way to tell if interference is occurring while taking video, even with an audio level meter-equipped video app like Filmic Pro. You wouldn’t want Airplane Mode automatic: * not clear that iOS would allow this * some would like to do live streaming, and/or to take calls while recording even if it interrupts the video app 3/10: Improve software system reliability in establishing MV88 communication I don’t know if this is practical. But I’ve had big disappointments from not paying attention to the MV88 green LED. Not noticing the serial data connection wasn’t established meant the horrible, built in mono iPhone mic took over, or worse, no audio. Even using an audio level meter equipped app like Filmic Pro, sometimes I haven’t noticed if the on-screen audio meters were showing stereo vs. mono, or no audio. Apparently it’s fairly common even with the MV88 plugged into the Lightning connector, that a serial data connection is not established. Understandable given several systems have to interact perfectly: * mechanical Lightning connection * three software systems—iOS, video app, Shure MOTIV app The ideal live music recorder would be a dedicated video camera and permanently attached stereo mic and integrated software. It may be that Shure has already maximized communication reliability, given the constraints of integrating with the iPhone hardware and software. 1/10: Add RFID—MV88 is so tiny, it’s easy to lose! A passive 916MHz RFID tag would add an insignificant $0.15 (in volume as of 2006) to the $150 cost. You’ve got the radio hardware to sent out RFID signals right there on the iPhone. Most practical would be just a response—tells you the MV88 is in the room somewhere at least, vs. lost at the gig. GPS chips and a beeper in the MV88 would be nice, but almost certainly not cost effective. Source: wikipedia RFID. —— I’d like to address the remainder of this review to errors in the review “Not $150 worth of mic, just ok. By Amazon Customer #99 on March 7, 2017”, as these are common misunderstandings that could dissuade many from making an excellent choice in the MV88: “Bottom line: It's good but, frustratingly, not $150 good…Zoom makes one…at least as good for…less.” I disagree completely. Superior performance, build quality and features are well worth $150 vs competition like the $100 Zoom iQ7. This is generally echoed by the majority of other reviews here. “ “It's fine for speech and podcasts and YouTube videos, but not really good enough for a musician. It is noticeably noisy (hissy)…” For conversations, and live music performances at least, avoiding distortion and overload, is far more important than background hiss—a comparative non-issue. As a musician and audio engineer, I’ve found the MV88 audio excellent—extended bass and highs, and if there’s any distortion, it’s been from overdriven mixers/monitors/amps in the original performance. On quiet passages, audience noise has been more an issue than background hiss. From Shure: “The MV88 was designed primarily to record loud sounds, like a rock concert, or medium sounds, such as conversation. As the sounds gets softer and/or the MV88 is placed farther away from the sound source, at some point the self-noise (hiss level) of the MV88 might become noticeable or objectionable…The MV88 does not have an exceptionally low noise floor like a Shure KSM44A (4 dB SPL-A), however the KSM44A is nearly seven times the price. If the requirement is to record very soft bird sounds in a forest, or the barely audible whispers of wind in the trees, the MV88 may not be appropriate.” (google Shure Customer Help MV88 recording soft sounds) Further, the biggest source of background hiss is presets with Compression on, rather than quiescent mic capsule noise. Turning it off or using Flat preset in the MOTIV app will help. Just be careful to set recording levels low enough to prevent overload. “…even when the phone is in airplane mode.” Airplane mode being off, and microphone signal-to-noise performance are two different noise sources. Airplane mode turns off the iPhone cellular/Bluetooth/wifi radio frequency transmit and receive, which can cause static and other intermittent noise at audio frequencies. This has nothing to do with steady background hiss from the MV88 ADC and mic capsules’ combined signal to noise ratio. “ It has weak midrange and bass response…“ Compared to what? I’ve found the MV88 to have excellent bass response vs other Lightning connector mics like the iQ7. Shure’s User Guide lists response as 20-20kHz. Its frequency response graph shows a gentle rolloff below 300Hz but no dip in the midrange: (From Shure MV88 User Guide - Specifications) You may be comparing the MV88 to a mic with artificially boosted midrange and bass. “… although it's tweakable in the MOTIV app up to a point.” Indeed it is, with the MOTIV 5-band graphic EQ: (From Shure MV88 User Guide - The ShurePlus MOTIV App - Mic setup) “It is heavy and cumbersome unless you hold the phone…on a tripod.” Maybe if you’re a leprechaun. The MV88 mass is 40.5g vs. your favored Zoom iQ7 at 30.5g. Using the MV88 handheld for shooting live music performances with my 192g iPhone 6s Plus and approx 24g Incase Halo Snap case increases the mass as a unit by about 20%. Or the mass vs. using the iQ7 by about 4.1%. (192+24+41)/(192+24). (192+24+41)/(192+24+31) Claiming a 4% increase in mass would push an iPhone-plus-mic into tripod territory is baffling. “It won't work with many cases…” It fits Apple, and some Incase cases. Making sure your case provides clearance around the Lightning connector is a reasonable tradeoff to get the excellent MV88 features. Shure also addresses this: (google Shure Customer Help MV88 use with a phone case) “Alesis and Rode make better ones.” As of Jul2017: * The RODE iXY-L orients its stereo mics incorrectly for landscape mode video. This can outweigh possibly better sound * Alesis lists no mics on its website “It’s an improvement over built in DAC/mic but not a huge improvement.” DAC (digital to analog conversion) is irrelevant to an analog audio source like a microphone. You might be thinking of analog to digital conversion (ADC). “An iPhone really needs a full outboard DAC to record decently. This seems to share…” You seem to be suggesting the MV88 relies on an iPhone internal digital to analog converter (DAC). If so, this is false. Again, digital to analog conversion—outboard or otherwise—is irrelevant to an analog audio source like a microphone. You might be thinking of analog to digital conversion (ADC). This is necessarily done by the MV88, since the iPhone Lightning connector has no analog data signals. It only has pins for a serial digital data stream. That is, the MV88 indeed has an ADC “outboard” from the iPhone. (Wikipedia Lightning Connector) ... show more
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 28, 2017 by stainlesssteel

  • Most detailed recording with a sturdy, top notch quality built mic
Style: MV88/A
Update 11/12/2021: I have recorded hundreds of synthesizer and electric guitar tracks with my MV88 connected to my iPad 7th generation. The app works great and I can record on the fly. I have connected my synthesizers to a setup of three pairs of studio monitors and this is a massive soundscape. Each of my synths is connected to one pair of studio monitors so I do not get a mushy sound mix. The MV88 is that good that it records even the slightest pitch changing from each synth. It is also very sensitive so when you have a midi controller with clunky keys it will record these noises and add it to your recording. I solved some kind of challenging recording situation by placing my iPad on a separate Stativ so that there is no connection to any of my keyboard stands and synth racks. The MV88 is every musician’s dream by simply plugging in a mic into an iPad and starting the recording in full stereo mode. And the output quality is sheer amazing. I play my recordings from my iPad directly through a Hi-Fi stereo system and no one who listens to my tracks would ever guess that these recordings are just made by this small mic. A winner by all means. MV88 delivers excellent quality and by far more than what I expected from such a mini-looking device. I bought this to record some of my synth and keyboard tunes without having to use the periphery of a mixer setup. Well, with this simple mic connected to my iPad recordings work out pretty well. The output quality is not too mushy and one can clearly hear and distinguish between the synth pads, the synth keys and the sequencer and arpeggiator sounds. Awesome! And of course, if my playing is recorded with a software like Ableton and connected thru a mixer, the quality is like when you make a studio recording. This is what the MV88 cannot deliver, because it is placed in front of my studio monitors which means the audio signals it receives and transforms into wav.files are different as if one records his playing with a complete software/mixer setup. A no-brainer . But for recording on the fly, this mic is priceless. The manual is worth to study, especially the settings part is a must to read. Try every knob and turn on/off every feature, you will be surprised what a difference it makes e.g. when it comes to using the compressor and limiter functions. Use ALL of the setting functions in different setups and you will be rewarded by a superb recording quality! Today I recorded for the first time some tunes I played on my electric guitar thru a stereo setup by using two ampheads and cabinets and various delay/echo pedal settings In my home studio. Wow, the MV88 is able to produce a superwide stereo image, I can hear the ping pong trails note by note, and there is no loss in low and high notes. Chords sound clear too! I converted each song into 256 bps mp4a files and emailed it to friends. Their feedback was positively overwhelming! It is true, size does not matter, and in this case I can say that the MV88 delivers such outstanding quality that even a 5*rating does not even come close to what this mic is able to handle when it comes to recording songs on the fly. I use it now every day for each and every recording as it is also a most valuable tool to improve on my playing quality, it is the perfect trainer for anybody who seriously likes to improve his playing abilities! A top notch mic at an affordable price! Superb!! EDIT 04-17-21: I recorded all my studio synth tracks via my iPad by connecting the MV88 to my iPad nd by positioning the MV 88 on a stand between both monitors (Edifier series). The recording quality comes close to recording with a DAW. I played the saved recordings through my amp system by connecting the iPad to my Onkyo system. You can’t tell the difference between playing a CD and playing these recordings. It is that clear in sounding. This mic captures every noise, so don’t cough, sneeze or shuffle your feet during recording. It even captured the chirping of birds in our backyard when I left the window open during my studio sessions. One needs to balance out the input impedance to prevent any distortion. However, this mic is the BEST in terms of recording quality. The Ahure engineers did a truly great job on this one. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 19, 2020 by BHN

  • Wonderful sound
Style: MV88/A
This makes excellent recordings. It’s technically just barely Hi-res at 24 bit/48 khz in wav mode. It does amazing live band recordings and nature recordings. In the widest stereo spread setting the stereo separation is wonderful. Also excellent voiceovers, however I find that a cheap boom mic headset with apple’s white dongle does acceptable voiceovers for my meager purposes, considering voiceovers should normally be in mono. I also have a cheap Tascam digital recorder which is also stunning but it’s awkward to operate, recharge, etc. The built-in iphone mic stinks for almost any purpose. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 11, 2022 by B.Brekke

  • Great Sound
Style: MV88/A
Great Stereo mic, gives a extra boost to my iPhone videoing. Big sound difference especially when using ear buds or headphones.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 8, 2022 by Jerry W. Heavner

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