Shure - MV88+ Stereo USB Microphone

Dynamic mics. Even the shure mv88+ for your phone can give you insane quality for a fraction of the price while being portable. Watch a lot of Marshall McGee and behold how that dude friggin record everything with an iPod headphone speaker.

I ran into this issue when my students had to submit an audition. After some research I purchased a Shure MV 88+ Video kit. The microphone attaches directly to your phone via USB. You can use it to just record audio or both audio and video. https://preview.redd.it/ld7v36rh1jfg1.jpeg?width=3060&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6be93f9497c15fa4d2830f1c2275825185b12367

Depending on you budget, on the lower end, I’d do with the Rode VideoMicro with a type connector. Midrange would be a Shure MV88 or MV88+, on the higher end connecting a powered on camera shotgun like the Rode VideoMic NTG. You could also consider a real audio interface with an XLR microphone, but that will take up more space.

I travel a lot and record every day. I use a tiny little USB microphone, the Shure MV88+. It's very small and it's the only thing you need. You can get it with a stand included (indeed, I don't think you have much choice!) and it's perfect for this. [I've written an article about it over here](https://podnews.net/article/record-podcast-on-the-move-shure) - _Disclosure: I wrote this article, but it's got no display advertising on it, and no affiliate deals or anything_ I gather there's a newer version which has USB-C and also has Bluetooth in some form. I can't find a link to it though.

I use Shure MV88+.

90% of the time I'm using my Apple Wired Lightning headphones with the built it mic and it's actually wild good. Obviously limited to close sample of vocals/cool sounds design, but It's gotten me quite far in combination with a soft synth piano. Otherwise I'm using my Shure SV88+ - also awesome and clear, great for guitar and percussion.

The iPhone mic is really pretty good; the problem is probably the room where you're recording (which will sound pretty much the same with any microphone.) Here's a recording I made with whatever iPhone I had 11 years ago (probably an iPhone 4): [https://soundcloud.com/piperbob/iphonerecording2](https://soundcloud.com/piperbob/iphonerecording2) For comparison, here's a recording I made a little later using a CAD M179 mic ($225) with an audio interface: [https://soundcloud.com/piperbob/m179-minstrelboy](https://soundcloud.com/piperbob/m179-minstrelboy) The Cad M179 is probably better than any iphone accessory microphone, and it's definitely better than any microphone on any stand alone recording device. To me, the differences between that old iPhone and the Cad M179 and pretty slight. Unless you're trying to produce commercial video it's probably not worth paying for. Since then I've bought a lot of audio gear, including some really nice microphones, and it really doesn't make that much difference. Try this though: get the Voice Record Pro app (it's free) and make a recording with it. It's audio only, but we're trying to troubleshoot your problem. If a recording made with Voice Record Pro sounds good while your other recordings do not (same location, etc.), then you know there's some software setting you need to adjust. If you are convinced you need an accessory microphone, then the Shure MV88+ is a great option.

If you have an iPhone with a lightning connector then the Shure mv88 is a great mic. Combined with the voice record pro app you can make great recordings. But it’s not wireless. To get good wireless recordings you’ll need a professional wireless system plugged into an audio interface.

Yeah. It’s flat through the vocal range with just a little boost at the top end. You need a good sounding room though.

If I'm recording others and can be fairly close, an on-camera external mic is best for recording them plus getting some sense of ambience. I don't use wireless on the talent as much, outside of studio/controlled location interview, b/c if you're shooting on location you want some sense of that space. Both can be mixed in post for more control of the end product mix. Wireless that takes a wired lav is best for having talent look their best; hanging a mic transmitter on the talent's clothes is, imo, rather unprofessional looking. As is holding the clip on mic transmitter. If I'm recording music, which is something I do often in church work, I prefer an external recorder (Zoom F6, Zoom L8, or Tascam X8) with external XLR mics if I'm not using a permanently installed mixer in the space (Yamaha TF, in my case). So, fit the method to the need. Note that 32 bit float is useful, but is only applicable to the recorder's stored audio, not the handoff to a line out for camera. You still have to set the mix for that. Built-in camera mics are for scratch audio only, though a few small vlogger cameras (Sony ZV, ZVE series) have rather good mic arrays, all things considered. I make sure to have a sense of stereo image for music and some location audio, but mono for spoken word. Don't think that audio can be casually dealt with; it really is a specialization as important as the camera IQ and exposure. As far as phone, the above applies also, but the more stuff you add on the more cumbersome phone can be. My favorite add on mic for phone is the Shure MV88+ and +W. These are mid-side mics with great flexibility in wired and wireless forms.

If you're going to be fairly close to the phone, anything from Shure's MV88 range could work. I think the original MV88 which clipped into an iPhone's Lightning port (which I have) might be discontinued - I still see it on Shure's website but don't see if for sale new in my region; but the MV88+ and Movemic 88 could all work. There are XY stereo mics that plug into smartphones but the advantage of a mid/side stereo mic is that it will also do mono natively, which is better if you're doing a piece to camera. I find it annoying when I'm listening in earbuds and a YT host has recorded in stereo and the voice keeps moving around the stereo field between edits. That said, you're probably better off with one of the wireless lav solutions that works directly into smartphones. I think the Hollyland Lark M2 sounds better than a lot of the competition.

I should add you'll need a 3.5mm dongle adapter for your phone. Being omni, it should capture the environmental sounds you want as well. However if you want stereo, there's a good option that's a lot pricier but still under $300 in the US, the Shure MV88+. I use the earlier Lightning version with an iPhone 14 Pro and it works well, plus the MOTIV app gives lots of preset options for various scenarios - importantly including mono for when it's just a piece to camera. I hate it when presenters use a stereo mic and the voice is moving all over the stereo field, especially jumping from ear to ear across edits.

If you're going to be fairly close to the phone, anything from Shure's MV88 range could work. I think the original MV88 which clipped into an iPhone's Lightning port (which I have) might be discontinued - I still see it on Shure's website but don't see if for sale new in my region; but the MV88+ and Movemic 88 could all work. There are XY stereo mics that plug into smartphones but the advantage of a mid/side stereo mic is that it will also do mono natively, which is better if you're doing a piece to camera. I find it annoying when I'm listening in earbuds and a YT host has recorded in stereo and the voice keeps moving around the stereo field between edits. That said, you're probably better off with one of the wireless lav solutions that works directly into smartphones. I think the Hollyland Lark M2 sounds better than a lot of the competition.

Shure MV88 is a small stereo mic that plugs into the lightning comnector. Should be able to find on Ebay. Has been replaced with the Shure MV88+. [Shure MV88 works well.](https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/mv88?variant=MV88%252FA) [Shure MV88+](https://www.amazon.com/Shure-MV88-Stereo-USB-Microphone/dp/B09BZXP8Y1/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?adgrpid=159407780323&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vTZlYkz9Cm3dQU_GZ9kyPIKbod3PfGGg7sQBZQv2nRVEZMLFbOrrkhVUVHTo7LiMYtRsUA83Onopyc08iS58aYCfjmY5iz9OcU6qjvYretaOdRk-XduQuLUDYlsl_xk0xT-m5X4Wg4z3FHQvUiWSkKhzAfneQ4GKftvZAIUP-86WJsqRIuY3izPKXT5DSRA0wbukXkr24YGLmcbnQ8Oq-w.1O85Ru62B239TWl5HQweFGRbL2MaKw5r00ESRQvcquc&dib_tag=se&hvadid=693139658766&hvdev=m&hvexpln=68&hvlocphy=9027580&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15260811451870998541--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15260811451870998541&hvtargid=kwd-118490280022&hydadcr=12833_13466098&keywords=shure+mv88&mcid=910801a0bebd36f595556597e15df6de&qid=1756486392&sr=8-2-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.5998aa40-ec6f-4947-a68f-cd087fee0848&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1)